
Entering Thursday night's season opener at USF, Boise State was a strong favorite to represent the Group of 5 conferences in the College Football Playoff for the second straight year. After an embarrassing showing in Tampa, that dream may be dead before the calendar flips to September.
The Broncos were absolutely steamrolled by the Bulls at Raymond James Stadium, falling 34–7. While replacing Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty was always going to be a tall task for Spencer Danielson's program, Boise State hoped to do so in the aggregate, with quarterback Maddux Madsen returning behind an experienced offensive line, with a pair of promising running backs in Sire Gaines and Malik Sherrod.