Boise State to face Pac-12 opponent, defending Mountain West champ on road this season
The Mountain West released its 2023 football schedule not long after Boise State wrapped up its first spring practice on Thursday.
The Broncos are facing a brutal stretch to open the season, beginning with the season opener at Washington on Saturday, Sept. 2.
The Huskies have been ranked anywhere from No. 9 to No. 16 in recent preseason polls. ESPN ranked them No. 11, in part because of the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who led the Pac-12 with 357 passing yards a game last season.
The Broncos are 2-3 all-time against the Huskies. They last met in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl, which Washington won 38-7 in what was former Boise State head coach Chris Petersen’s final game as the Huskies’ coach before retirement.
UCF comes to town for Boise State’s home opener on Sept. 9. It’s the second act of a home-and-home series that began with a 36-31 win by the Knights in the 2021 season opener in Orlando, Florida.
It will also be the first time Boise State and UCF won’t play as members of the Group of Five. The Knights, Cincinnati, BYU and Houston join the Big 12 this year.
Boise State hits the road for its Mountain West opener at San Diego State on Sept. 22, the only Friday night game on the schedule currently, and the Broncos will make the long journey to Memphis just eight days later, on Sept. 30.
Their only reprieve early in the season is a home game against FCS North Dakota on Saturday, Sept. 16.
The rest of Boise State’s road schedule includes trips to defending Mountain West champion Fresno State (Nov. 4), 2021 champion Utah State (Nov. 18) and Colorado State (Oct. 18).
Boise State will host San Jose State (Oct. 7), Wyoming (Oct. 28) and New Mexico (Nov. 11) before ending the regular season at home against Air Force (Nov. 25) on Thanksgiving weekend.
The Mountain West championship game is scheduled for Dec. 2. The conference voted last May to eliminate its two-division format, ensuring the title game will feature the teams with the highest conference winning percentage.
Boise State’s 2023 schedule
Some of the games listed on Saturdays could still change depending on television demands.
Saturday, Sept. 2: at Washington
Saturday, Sept. 9: vs. UCF
Saturday, Sept. 16: vs. North Dakota
Friday, Sept. 22: at San Diego State
Saturday, Sept. 30: at Memphis
Saturday, Oct 7.: vs. San Jose State
Saturday, Oct. 14: at Colorado State
Oct. 21: Bye week
Saturday, Oct. 28: vs. Wyoming
Saturday, Nov. 4: at Fresno State
Saturday, Nov. 11: vs. New Mexico
Saturday, Nov. 18: at Utah State
Saturday, Nov. 25: vs. Air Force
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 2:16 PM.
