2016 Boise State Broncos football team

2016 Boise State Broncos football
2016 Boise State Broncos football
MW Mountain Division co-champion
Cactus Bowl, L 12–31 vs. Baylor
Conference	Mountain West Conference
	Mountain Division
Record	10–3 (6–2 MW)
Head coach	Bryan Harsin (3rd season);
Co-offensive coordinator	Zak Hill (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Scott Huff (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Andy Avalos (1st season)
Base defense	Multiple
Home stadium	Albertsons Stadium
	Seasons ← 2015 2017 →

The 2016 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It marked the Broncos' 80th season overall, sixth as a member of the Mountain West Conference and fourth within the Mountain Division. They played their home games at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. They were led by third-year head coach Bryan Harsin. They finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in Mountain West play to finish in a three-way tie for the Mountain Division title. After tiebreakers, they did not represent the Mountain Division in the Mountain West Championship Game. They were invited to the Cactus Bowl where they lost to Baylor.

2016 Mountain West Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Mountain Division
Wyoming xy	6	–	2	8	–	6
Boise State x	6	–	2	10	–	3
New Mexico x	6	–	2	9	–	4
Air Force	5	–	3	10	–	3
Colorado State	5	–	3	7	–	6
Utah State	1	–	7	3	–	9
West Division
No. 25 San Diego State xy$	6	–	2	11	–	3
Hawaii	4	–	4	7	–	7
Nevada	3	–	5	5	–	7
San Jose State	3	–	5	4	–	8
UNLV	3	–	5	4	–	8
Fresno State	0	–	8	1	–	11
Championship: San Diego State 27, Wyoming 24
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

This season marked the 30th anniversary season that the Broncos have played on the Blue Turf.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released.

Maxwell Award – So. QB Brett Rypien & Jr. RB Jeremy McNichols^[1]

Mackey Award – Jr. TE Jake Roh^[2]

Lou Groza Award – Sr. K Tyler Rausa^[3]

Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Sr. LB Tanner Vallejo^[4]

Butkus Award – Sr. LB Tanner Vallejo^[5]

Fred Biletnikoff Award – Sr. WR Thomas Sperbeck^[6]

Davey O'Brien Award – So. QB Brett Rypien^[7]

Doak Walker Award – Jr. RB Jeremy McNichols^[8]^[9]

Walter Camp Award – So. QB Brett Rypien^[10]

Mountain West media days

At the Mountain West media days, held at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Broncos were picked as the overwhelming favorites to win the Mountain Division title, receiving 27 of a possible 29 first place votes. So. QB Brett Rypien, Sr. WR Thomas Sperbeck and Sr. K Tyler Rausa were selected to the all-conference first team.^[11]^[12]

Media poll

Mountain Division

Boise State – 172 (27)
Air Force – 126 (2)
Utah State – 95
Colorado State – 95
New Mexico – 74
Wyoming – 31

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	10:00 a.m.	at Louisiana–Lafayette*		Cajun Field Lafayette, LA	ASN/ESPN3	W 45–10	22,661
September 10	8:15 p.m.	Washington State*		Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID	ESPN2	W 31–28	36,163
September 24	1:30 p.m.	at Oregon State*		Reser Stadium Corvallis, OR	FS1	W 38–24	42,846
October 1	8:15 p.m.	Utah State	No. 24	Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID	ESPN2	W 21–10	36,602
October 7	7:00 p.m.	at New Mexico	No. 19	University Stadium Albuquerque, NM	CBSSN	W 49–21	20,090
October 15	8:15 p.m.	Colorado State	No. 15	Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID	ESPN2	W 28–23	33,448
October 20	8:15 p.m.	BYU*	No. 14	Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID	ESPN	W 28–27	34,575
October 29	5:00 p.m.	at Wyoming	No. 13	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	CBSSN	L 28–30	26,023
November 4	8:15 p.m.	San Jose State	No. 24	Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID	ESPN2	W 45–31	31,863
November 12	5:00 p.m.	at Hawaii	No. 22	Aloha Stadium Honolulu, HI	CBSSN	W 52–16	22,731
November 18	7:00 p.m.	UNLV	No. 20	Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID	ESPN2	W 42–25	32,989
November 25	1:30 p.m.	at Air Force	No. 19	Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	CBSSN	L 20–27	23,556
December 27	8:15 p.m.	vs. Baylor*		Chase Field Phoenix, AZ (Cactus Bowl)	ESPN	L 12–31	33,328
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 1 released prior to game All times are in Mountain time

Schedule Source:^[13]

Roster

2016 Boise State Broncos football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`1`	Cedrick Wilson Jr.	Jr
WR	`2`	Julian Carter	Fr
QB	`3`	Thomas Stuart	Jr
QB	`4`	Brett Rypien	So
WR	`5`	Garrett Collingham	Fr
WR	`6`	Chaz Anderson	Sr
QB	`7`	Anthony Upshaw	So
WR	`8`	Sean Modster	So
WR	`9`	Bryan Jefferson	Fr
RB	`10`	Cory Young	So
RB	`13`	Jeremy McNichols	Jr
QB	`14`	Camron Humphrey	Fr
QB	`15`	Jake Constantine	Fr
WR	`16`	Taylor Pope	Sr
WR	`17`	Austin Cottrell	Jr
WR	`18`	Bubba Ogbebor	Fr
RB	`20`	Jake Roper	Fr
RB	`22`	Alexander Mattison	Fr
RB	`26`	Devan Demas	Sr
WR	`28`	A. J. Richardson	So
RB	`30`	Ryan Wolpin	Jr
RB	`34`	Robert Mahone	Fr
RB	`39`	Jake Shaddox	Fr
TE	`47`	Matt Pistone	Fr
OL	`52`	Andrew Tercek	Jr
OL	`59`	Mason Hampton	Jr
OL	`60`	Kellen Buhr	Sr
OL	`64`	Ben Vering	Fr
OL	`66`	Mario Yakoo	Sr
OL	`67`	Garrett Larson	Fr
OL	`69`	Austin Dixon	Fr
OL	`70`	Steven Baggett	Sr
OL	`71`	Donte Harrington	Fr
OL	`72`	Will Adams	Sr
OL	`73`	Travis Averill	Sr
OL	`74`	Archie Lewis	Jr
OL	`75`	Kole Bailey	Fr
OL	`76`	Ezra Cleveland	Fr
OL	`77`	John Molchon	Fr
OL	`78`	Andres Preciado	So
OL	`79`	Eric Quevedo	Fr
WR	`80`	Christian Blaser	Fr
WR	`81`	Akilian Butler	So
WR	`82`	Thomas Sperbeck	Sr
WR	`83`	David McKinzie	Jr
TE	`84`	Jake Knight	So
TE	`85`	John Bates	Fr
TE	`86`	Chase Blakley	So
TE	`87`	Alec Dhaenans	Jr
TE	`88`	Jake Roh	Jr
WR	`89`	Brock Barr	Jr
TE	`93`	Nick Crabtree	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
CB	`2`	Jonathan Moxey	Sr
S	`3`	Chanceller James	Sr
CB	`4`	DeAndre Pierce	Fr
MLB	`7`	Joe Martarano	Jr
DE	`8`	Jabril Frazier	So
OLB	`9`	Desmond Williams	Fr
S	`10`	Kekoa Nawahine	Fr
CB	`14`	Tyler Horton	So
S	`15`	Evan Tyler	Fr
S	`17`	Jalen Walker	Fr
OLB	`20`	Tanner Vallejo	Sr
S	`22`	Hayden Israelson	Fr
S	`23`	Damion Wright	Fr
LB	`24`	Kameron Miles	Jr
CB	`25`	Raymond Ford	Sr
CB	`26`	Avery Williams	Fr
CB	`27`	Reid Harrison-Ducros	Fr
CB	`30`	Robert Lewis	Fr
S	`31`	Skyler Seibold	So
S	`32`	Jordan Happle	Fr
OLB	`33`	Gabe Perez	Jr
MLB	`34`	Solo Taylor	Fr
DE	`35`	Derriyon Shaw	Fr
OLB	`36`	Blake Whitlock	Jr
S	`37`	Cameron Hartsfield	Jr
OLB	`38`	Leighton Vander Esch	So
DE	`40`	Jabari Watson	Fr
OLB	`41`	Will Heffner	Fr
MLB	`43`	Joe Provenzano	So
MLB	`44`	Darren Lee	Sr
DE	`45`	Kayode Rufai	Fr
S	`47`	Ma'a Tanuvasa	Fr
MLB	`48`	Bruno DeRose	Fr
OLB	`51`	Ben Weaver	Sr
DE	`53`	Sam Whitney	Fr
DT	`54`	Matt Locher	Fr
DT	`55`	David Moa	So
DL	`56`	Dane Kordopatis	Fr
DT	`57`	Emmanuel Fesili	Fr
MLB	`58`	Tyson Maeva	Fr
DT	`90`	Daniel Auelua	Jr
DE	`91`	Durrant Miles	So
DT	`92`	Paul Semons	So
DT	`93`	Chase Hatada	Fr
DE	`94`	Sam McCaskill	Sr
OLB	`95`	Nick Provenzano	Fr
DT	`96`	Elliot Hoyte	Sr
DT	`97`	Austin Silsby	Jr
DT	`98`	Sonatane Lui	Fr
DE	`99`	Curtis Weaver	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
P	`19`	Sean Wale	Sr
LS	`42`	Matt Cota	Jr
K	`46`	Joel Velazquez	Fr
K	`49`	Tyler Rausa	Sr
LS	`50`	Nicholai Pitman	Fr

Head coach

Bryan Harsin

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Kent Riddle – Associate head coach/Special teams coordinator/Tight ends
Steve Caldwell – Associate head coach/Defensive linemen
Zak Hill – Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks
Andy Avalos – Defensive coordinator
Scott Huff – Co-offensive coordinator/Offensive linemen
Junior Adams – Passing game coordinator/Wide receivers
Lee Marks – Running backs
Ashley Ambrose – Defensive backs
Gabe Franklin – Safeties
Jeff Pitman – Director, Strength and Conditioning
D. J. Harper – Graduate assistant
Latu Heimuli – Graduate assistant
Nate Potter – Graduate assistant

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 8/14/23

Game summaries

At Louisiana–Lafayette

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	14	21	3	7	45
Ragin' Cajuns	0	3	0	7	10

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 22–33, 347 YDS, 2 TD; Anthony Jennings (ULL): 21–33, 186 YDS, 1 TD.
Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 11 CAR, 61 YDS, 1 TD; Elijah McGuire (ULL): 14 CAR, 46 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 130 YDS, 1 TD; Ja'Marcus Bradley (ULL): 3 REC, 50 YDS.

Washington State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	0	7	7	14	28
Broncos	14	3	7	7	31

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 19–35, 299 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT; Luke Falk (WSU): 55–71, 480 YDS, 4 TD, 1 INT.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 22 CAR, 116 YDS, 2 TD; Jamal Morrow (WSU): 8 CAR, 22 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 7 REC, 133 YDS, 1 TD; Tavares Martin Jr. (WSU): 12 REC, 158 YDS, 1 TD.

At Oregon State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	14	17	0	7	38
Beavers	7	0	10	7	24

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 19–36, 215 YDS, 1 TD; Conor Blount (OSU): 11–18, 138 YDS.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 28 CAR, 208 YDS, 3 TD; Ryan Nall (OSU): 14 CAR, 66 YDS, 2 TD.
Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 104 YDS; Seth Collins (OSU): 9 REC, 106 YDS.

Utah State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	0	3	0	7	10
Broncos	7	0	7	7	21

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 15–24, 163 YDS, 2 TD; Kent Myers (USU): 29–50, 287 YDS, 1 TD.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 30 CAR, 132 YDS; Kent Myers (USU): 12 CAR, 47 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 6 REC, 73 YDS, 1 TD; Andrew Rodriguez (USU): 6 REC, 89 YDS, 1 TD.

At New Mexico

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 19 Broncos	14	28	7	0	49
Lobos	7	0	0	14	21

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 21–28, 391 YDS, 5 TD; Lamar Jordan (UNM): 4–14, 39 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 21 CAR, 54 YDS, 2 TD; Lamar Jordan (UNM): 21 CAR, 139 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 9 REC, 198 YDS, 2 TD; Matt Quarells (UNM): 1 REC, 13 YDS.

Colorado State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	3	0	0	20	23
No. 15 Broncos	0	7	14	7	28

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 16–24, 207 YDS, 1 TD; Nick Stevens (CSU): 17–31, 184 YDS, 2 TD.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 40 CAR, 217 YDS, 2 TD; Dalyn Dawkins (CSU): 14 CAR, 66 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 5 REC, 72 YDS, 1 TD; Michael Gallup (CSU): 4 REC, 91 YDS, 1 TD.

BYU

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	0	17	7	3	27
No. 14 Broncos	14	7	0	7	28

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 25–39, 442 YDS, 3 TD, 2 INT; Taysom Hill (BYU): 21–42, 187 YDS.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 30 CAR, 140 YDS, 1 TD; Squally Canada (BYU): 21 CAR, 88 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 5 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD and Tyler Sperbeck 9 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD; Mitchell Juergens (BYU): 4 REC, 57 YDS.

At Wyoming

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 13 Broncos	7	14	0	7	28
Cowboys	0	17	0	13	30

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 22–35, 295 YDS, 1 INT; Josh Allen (WYO): 18–31, 274 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 18 CAR, 143 YDS, 2 TD; Brian Hill (WYO): 28 CAR, 146 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson Jr. (BSU): 4 REC, 84 YDS; Jacob Hollister (WYO): 6 REC, 144 YDS, 2 TD.

San Jose State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	6	10	0	15	31
No. 24 Broncos	7	17	7	14	45

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 16–21, 219 YDS, 3 TD; Kenny Potter (SJSU): 23–36, 278 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 28 CAR, 158 YDS, 2 TD; Malik Roberson (SJSU): 12 CAR, 109 YDS, 1 TD.
Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson (BSU): 6 REC, 102 YDS, 2 TD; Justin Holmes (SJSU): 6 REC, 106 YDS, 1 TD.

At Hawaii

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 24 Broncos	14	21	10	7	52
Rainbow Warriors	0	3	3	10	16

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 18–22, 338 YDS, 4 TD; Dru Brown (UH): 16–31, 125 YDS, 1 TD.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 16 CAR, 153 YDS, 2 TD; Paul Harris (UH): 14 CAR, 145 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson (BSU): 7 REC, 141 YDS, 1 TD; Dakota Torres (UH): 3 REC, 35 YDS.

UNLV

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rebels	3	7	7	8	25
No. 23 Broncos	14	7	14	7	42

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 10–20, 109 YDS; Kurt Palandech (UNLV): 10–20, 113 YDS, 1 TD.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 31 CAR, 206 YDS, 4 TD; Kurt Palandech (UNLV): 9 CAR, 64 YDS, 2 TD.
Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 5 REC, 47 YDS; Andrew Price (UNLV): 3 REC, 65 YDS, 1 TD.

At Air Force

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 19 Broncos	7	3	3	7	20
Falcons	7	10	7	3	27

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 9–26, 316 YDS, 1 TD; Arion Worthman (AF): 3–5, 45 YDS.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 22 CAR, 88 YDS, 1 TD; Arion Worthman (AF): 26 CAR, 80 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson (BSU): 4 REC, 193 YDS, 1 TD; Jalen Robinette (AF): 3 REC, 45 YDS.

Air Force became the first team to beat Boise State for three consecutive season since Nevada in 1996–98.

Baylor–Cactus Bowl

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	6	0	6	12
Bears	7	14	3	7	31

Helmet	Jersey	Pants
Uniform Combination

Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 32–51, 305 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT; Zach Smith (BAY): 28–39, 375 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT.
Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 19 CAR, 46 YDS; Terence Williams (BAY): 25 CAR, 103 YDS.
Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson (BSU): 6 REC, 88 YDS, 1 TD; K. D. Cannon (BAY): 14 REC, 226 YDS, 2 TD.

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	RV	RV	RV	RV	24	19	15	14	13	24	24	22	20	RV	RV	RV
Coaches	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	19	15	14	13	24	24	23	19	RV	RV	RV
CFP	Not released									24	22	20	19	—	—	Not released

Scores by quarter

All opponents

	1	2	3	4	Total
Boise State	126	151	72	90	439
Opponents	40	91	44	128	303

Mountain West opponents

	1	2	3	4	Total
Boise State	70	97	62	56	285
MW Opponents	26	50	17	90	183

Post-season awards

Mountain West first team

Offense

Brett Rypien – So. QB

Thomas Sperbeck – Sr. WR

Travis Averill – Sr. OL

Mario Yakoo – Sr. OL

Defense

Sam McCaskill – Sr. DL

David Moa – So. DL

Mountain West second team

Offense

Jeremy McNichols – Jr. RB

Defense

Ben Weaver – Sr. LB

Chanceller James – Sr. DB

Jonathan Moxey – Sr. DB

Sean Wale – Sr. P

Mountain West honorable mention

Steven Baggett – Sr. OL

Mason Hampton – Jr. OL

Tanner Vallejo – Sr. LB

Cedrick Wilson Jr. – Jr. WR

Award Reference:^[14]

References

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

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