Boise State AD says playoff seeding changes a ‘point of pride’ for program
The College Football Playoff seeding format underwent significant changes last month, ostensibly making it much tougher for Boise State to appear in a major playoff bowl game in the future.
Just months after Boise State crashed the party by winning the Mountain West championship and earning a first-round bye as the No. 3 seed, the CFP committee voted to award first-round byes to the top four teams in the rankings.
The four highest-ranked conference champions will still be guaranteed a spot in the playoff, but they will now have to play a first-round game unless they are also ranked among the selection committee’s top four teams.
The decision drew the ire of Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey, who labeled it on social media as the “Boise State Policy.”
However, when speaking to the media last Friday during a topping-off ceremony for Albertsons Stadium’s North End Zone Project, Dickey noted that there’s also a “point of pride” about Boise State likely being a reason why the change was made.
“If we’re impacting an industry that way, then give us credit,” Dickey said.
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson, who was also at the ceremony, agreed with Dickey’s sentiment, referencing the “built different” motto that has become synonymous with Danielson’s team.
However, Danielson also said he’s less concerned about the decision-makers and more about getting his team back to the playoff next fall.
“As long as we’ve got an opportunity, we’re working our tail off to go kick the door down,” Danielson said. “And we’re going to find a way to make it happen.”
The Big 12’s Arizona State is also being pointed to as a reason for the change. The Sun Devils were ranked No. 12 overall, but as one of the top four conference champions earned a first-round bye. No. 9 Boise State earned similar treatment, with the ACC champion, No. 16 Clemson, pushed into a first-round game.
However, the Big 12 champion has a much better chance of being a top-four-seeded champion than a Group of Five champ. Dickey also noted that when he was in Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl in December, he was repeatedly asked if he thought the sport would change the seeding rules because of Boise State.
“I think this just shows the divide and the lack of unity across our industry,” Dickey said. “And that’s something that’s not rocket science, you know, the various conference commissioners, presidents, ADs, everyone is doing what’s in their best interests.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM.
