In 2024, the Boise State Broncos didn’t just play football—they threw a party on their iconic blue turf and invited the nation to watch. Under first-year head coach Spencer Danielson, the Broncos went 12-2, won the Mountain West Conference, and crashed the College Football Playoff (CFP) as the No. 3 seed, the highest-ranked Group of Five team ever. They rode the back of Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, who ran for 2,497 yards, and danced their way to the Fiesta Bowl, where Penn State ended the dream, 31-14. Now, with a $25 million athletics gift—the largest in school history—and a Pac-12 move looming in 2026, Boise State’s at a crossroads. Was 2024 a one-hit wonder, or the start of a new dynasty? Let’s unpack the magic, the mania, and the migraines awaiting the Broncos.
The Danielson Difference
From Interim to Icon
Spencer Danielson, a 36-year-old former Boise State linebacker, wasn’t supposed to be the guy. Hired as interim coach after Andy Avalos’ firing in November 2023, he went 3-1, including a 35-22 LA Bowl win over UCLA. That earned him the permanent gig, despite no prior head-coaching experience. In 2024, he delivered a 12-2 masterpiece, earning a five-year, $11 million contract and AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year honors. His .857 winning percentage ranked fourth among FBS coaches, per ESPN. Danielson’s secret? A high school-heavy roster (22 of 26 starters were homegrown signees) and a “Build Different” mantra that fueled a $25 million donor boost for football, per Idaho Statesman.
Culture Over Cash
Danielson leaned hard into Boise’s underdog identity, calling high school recruiting the “lifeblood” of the program. Unlike Power Four teams splashing NIL millions, Boise State built a roster with grit, not glitz. Of their 114 players, 17 hailed from Idaho high schools, per KTVB.com. Danielson’s staff, including coordinators Nate Potter (offense) and Erik Chinander (defense), maximized talent like quarterback Maddux Madsen (1,974 passing yards, 17 TDs) and safety Ty Benefield (72 tackles). The result: a No. 10 AP ranking and a CFP quarterfinal berth.
Ashton Jeanty: The Human Highlight Reel
A Record-Smashing Season
If Boise State was a movie, Ashton Jeanty was the Oscar-winning star. The junior running back ran for 2,497 yards—third-most in FBS history—and 29 touchdowns, earning unanimous All-American honors and the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards. He broke Boise State’s single-season rushing record (previously 1,823 by Jay Ajayi) and led the FBS in rushing yards per game (178.4), per Sports-Reference.com. Drafted No. 6 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, Jeanty turned down lucrative NIL deals to stay loyal, per Bleacher Report. His 267-yard, three-TD performance against Oregon nearly upset the No. 7 Ducks, cementing his legend.
Beyond the Numbers
Jeanty wasn’t just a stat machine; he was a cultural force. Fans on X dubbed him “The Blue Turf Beast,” and his Heisman runner-up finish (behind Colorado’s Travis Hunter) sparked debates about Group of Five bias. Jeanty’s 6.0 yards per carry and 13 100-yard games powered Boise’s offense, which ranked 28th nationally (413.1 YPG), despite a 90th-ranked passing attack (191.3 YPG). His absence in 2025 looms large, as no returning rusher topped 200 yards in 2024.
Defining Moments of 2024
The Oregon Near-Miss
Boise State’s season nearly peaked in Week 2 at No. 7 Oregon. Down 34-20, the Broncos rallied to 34-30, with Jeanty’s 186 yards and two TDs fueling the charge. A late interception by Madsen sealed a 34-30 loss, but the game announced Boise as a CFP contender. Nationally televised on Peacock, it drew 5.2 million viewers, per ESPN, proving the Broncos could hang with Power Four elites.
Mountain West Dominance
Boise State rolled through the Mountain West, finishing 7-0 in conference play. They crushed Utah State 62-30, with Jeanty running for 186 yards, and clinched the title with a 21-7 win over No. 20 UNLV, holding the Rebels to 235 yards. The Broncos’ 31.6 PPG in conference games outpaced all but UNLV, per FOX Sports. Their only regular-season loss came at Wyoming (17-13), where a flu-ridden roster struggled, per Idaho Press.
Fiesta Bowl Heartbreak
The CFP run was historic but short. Boise State earned a first-round bye as the No. 3 seed, then faced No. 4 Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal. The Nittany Lions’ defense smothered Boise, limiting Jeanty to 104 yards and the team to 254 total yards. Penn State’s 31-14 win ended Boise’s dream, but the Broncos’ 12-2 record and No. 10 final AP ranking were their best since 2014’s 12-2 campaign.
Challenges Ahead
Replacing Jeanty and NFL Talent
Jeanty’s departure to the NFL, alongside defensive end Ahmed Hassanein (No. 139 pick, Detroit Lions), leaves massive holes. Boise State’s 2024 roster produced two draft picks and three undrafted free agents, per Bleacher Report. Returning rusher Breezy Dubar (195 yards) and quarterback Malachi Nelson, a USC transfer, must step up. Nelson’s 66.7% completion rate in limited 2024 action offers promise, but replacing Jeanty’s 65% of rushing production is daunting.
Transfer Portal Pressure
The transfer portal is a double-edged sword. Boise State added 16 transfers for 2024, including linebacker Tavion Woodard, but lost defensive tackle Braxton Fely to the portal in spring 2025, per FOX Sports. With Power Four schools offering bigger NIL deals, retaining talent like linebacker Andrew Simpson (69 tackles) is critical. Danielson’s high school recruiting focus helps, but the portal’s churn—12 departures post-2024—threatens depth.
Pac-12 Transition
Boise State joins the Pac-12 in 2026, alongside Fresno State, San Diego State, and Colorado State, per Wikipedia. The move from the Mountain West (65th-ranked conference strength, per ESPN) to the Pac-12 (23rd) means tougher foes like Oregon and Washington State. The “Snake River Rivalry” with WSU, sparked by a 38-35 Boise win in 2024, adds spice, but the Pac-12’s deeper rosters and budgets—Oregon’s $85 million vs. Boise’s $48 million athletics budget—pose risks. A $2.8 billion NCAA settlement looms, potentially forcing Group of Five schools to share revenue with players, per ESPN, which could strain Boise’s finances despite the $25 million gift.
The Bigger Picture
Sustaining the Magic
Boise State’s 2024 season wasn’t just a fluke—it was a blueprint. Their .727 all-time winning percentage (fifth in FBS) and 27 straight winning seasons, per Sports-Reference.com, scream consistency. Danielson’s 22 homegrown starters, including All-Mountain West picks like Ty Benefield and Kage Casey, show high school recruiting can still compete. The $25 million gift will fund facility upgrades, but Boise must navigate NIL and revenue-sharing without losing its soul.
Can They Do It Again?
The 2025 schedule, starting at South Florida and including Oregon State, tests Boise early. With a top-50 recruiting class (No. 48, per 247Sports) and Danielson’s five-year deal, the pieces are there. But the Pac-12’s grind and Jeanty’s absence mean 10 wins, not 12, might be the ceiling. If Nelson delivers and the defense—2nd in FBS sacks (4.1 per game)—stays stout, Boise could stay in the top 25.
The Verdict
Boise State’s 2024 was a blue-turf fairy tale: a 12-2 record, a CFP quarterfinal, and a Heisman runner-up who ran like he was escaping a zombie apocalypse. Spencer Danielson proved he’s more than an interim fluke, and the $25 million gift signals big ambitions. But losing Jeanty, portal pressures, and the Pac-12 leap loom like storm clouds. Boise’s not just a Group of Five darling anymore—they’re a program with Power Four dreams. Whether they keep dancing on that Smurf-blue field depends on Danielson’s recruiting wizardry and a roster that believes it can “Build Different.” For now, Bronco Nation’s still buzzing, and that’s a win in itself.
Leave a comment