Despite title game loss, QB Taylen Green the ‘spark’ behind Boise State’s turnaround
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Fresno State 28, Boise State 16
Special teams blunders proved costly for the Broncos as Fresno State pulled away and claimed the Mountain West Conference championship.
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Taylen Green’s on-field talent speaks for itself.
His character? Green might want to consider using outgoing Boise State senior Davis Koetter on any future resumes.
“This kid right here is a special kid. Boise State is in a really good spot with him at the helm here for the next however many years,” Koetter said. “It’s not even what we see on the field. His talents are special and everyone sees that, but it’s the person he is in the locker room and the person he is.
“I’ve never seen this kid have a bad day. He shows up every day with a smile on his face and he’s fun to be around. We’re in a good spot and I think Bronco Nation has lots to look forward to with 10 at quarterback.”
While Green and the Broncos couldn’t get it done Saturday, falling 28-16 to Fresno State in the Mountain West championship game at Albertsons Stadium, the future looks to be in good hands.
Green, a redshirt freshman, owns a 7-2 record since he took over as a starter in Week 5 against San Diego State — after offensive coordinator Tim Plough was fired and quarterback Hank Bachmeier entered the transfer portal.
“It’s been crazy, but everything I’m doing, I’m just learning from it the first time,” Green said. “I’m just trying not to make the same mistakes.”
Boise State coach Andy Avalos said Green was a major reason the Broncos found their way out of the chaos.
“We’re just so grateful for the energy and the spark that he brought when he got his opportunity to jump in there,” Avalos said. “Because I think everybody could see how much different it was.”
Green owns a QB rating of 138.12, having completed 153-of-249 passes for 1,905 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. But he’s been equally dangerous with his legs, with 61 carries for 495 yards and eight touchdowns. He is the only quarterback in Boise State history with two 100-yard rushing games in a single season.
But it’s more than his skill on the field, Avalos said
“How he practices, the type of person he is ... the excitement that that brings, but who he is as a person, he’s got the biggest heart, and that’s huge for our team,” Avalos said. “His commitment and what he puts in. Again, how he impacts other people around him, because when you play that position, a lot like a coach, it’s as much about how you lead and impact others, let alone how you lead yourself.”
Against Fresno State, Green went 17-for-38 for 175 yards and one touchdown, but threw two costly interceptions. He also rushed for 30 yards on eight carries.
“Our goal was to win a Mountain West championship,” Green said. “But like Coach Avalos says, it’s experience, and we’ve got to look at this from both ends. You know, we lost, but this experience and just the camaraderie that we built in this locker room, we came together this year. The team just loves each other, and the brotherhood that we’ve built is amazing.”
Thompson proud of CFP expansion
Sitting on stage in Boise State’s Allen Noble Hall of Fame before Saturday’s championship game, outgoing Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson had to laugh about the last time he was in Boise for the conference title game.
“The last time I was here, I was getting chewed out by (former Boise State coach Bryan) Harsin for not pushing hard enough for Boise State to be included in the playoff,” Thompson said.
Thompson doesn’t have to worry about stumping for a Mountain West team anymore. The College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams beginning in 2024 after the Rose Bowl reached an agreement to accommodate the new system.
Thompson has been fighting for an expanded playoff for years. He testified before Congress on the need for a playoff in 2009 and has been part of a four-person working committee that’s been focused on the subject for years.
Thompson announced in September that he was retiring at the end of the year. He’s the only commissioner in the 24-year history of the Mountain West, and he couldn’t be more excited that one of his last acts was helping to expand the playoffs.
“It’s an absolute game-changer for the sport of college football,” Thompson said Saturday.
The expanded bracket would have been especially beneficial for the Broncos had it happened earlier. The six highest-ranked conference champions and the next six highest-ranked teams will make the field.
If the playoff had expanded when the BCS era began back in 1998, Boise State would have made the field eight times: 2004, ‘06, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12 and ‘14. That’s more appearances than programs like Clemson, Michigan and Texas.
Boise State is the favorite to win the Mountain West title almost every year, but hasn’t done so since 2019. The Broncos’ competition from other conferences will also dwindle in the next couple of years as Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are scheduled to leave the American Athletic Conference and join the Big 12 in July 2023.
Boise State Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey went to social media to express his excitement on Thursday.
“Massive, I believe was my quote, and it is,” Dickey said. “It’s been part of our vision from everything we’re doing with NIL, facilities, the collective and everything we’re investing back into our department. It’s huge for us and our brand and what we’re here to accomplish, which is to compete on a national level.”
Incoming Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez was also at Boise State for the championship game on Saturday. She mentioned the expansion of the playoff as one of the top items she’s focused on.
“(The CFP) is run by a Board of Managers, who are commissioners that I know really well, so I’m already calling and getting downloads from everyone about that,” Nevarez said.
Washington returns to lineup
After missing the Broncos’ last two games, edge Demitri Washington returned to the lineup Saturday.
The redshirt senior from Solana Beach, California, recorded one tackle. Washington is tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks this season.
Broncos missing two players
Boise State was without two players for Saturday’s Mountain West championship against Fresno State, including one starter.
Redshirt senior starting wide receiver Stefan Cobbs missed his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. He was injured against Wyoming on Nov. 19. Cobbs has 29 receptions for 396 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Backup nickel Zion Washington, a redshirt freshman, missed his third game in a row. Washington has appeared in nine games this season and contributed three total tackles.
Boise State’s inactive list was significantly shorter than it was last week, when 12 players were listed as out for the Broncos’ regular-season finale against Utah State.
Quick hits
The Broncos wore blue jerseys, blue pants and blue helmets. ... Team captains Scott Matlock and John Ojukwu were joined by linebacker Ezekiel Noa and tight end Riley Smith as game captains. ... Fresno State won the coin toss and elected to defer. ... Boise State was led onto the field by tight end Matthew Lauter, who carried the Dan Paul Hammer. ... Offensive lineman Will Farrar carried the American flag and edge Demitri Washington carried the Bleed Blue flag. … Fifth-year senior cornerback Caleb Biggers recorded his first-career sack in the second quarter. … Sixth-year senior wide receiver Davis Koetter tallied season highs in receptions (five) and yards receiving (93).
This story was originally published December 3, 2022 at 8:01 PM.
