December 1, 2012: Boise State clinches a share of the Mountain West championship in its final conference game, beating Nevada 27-21 in Reno. The win gave the Broncos their seventh consecutive 10-win season and their 11th triumph over Nevada in 12 years.
There’s an overly simple comparison when you size up the Boise State-Utah State Friday afternoon in Logan. The Aggies have an experienced quarterback, and the Broncos do not.
November 25, 2005, 20 years ago today: Caldwell native Gary Stevens announces his retirement after a 26-year Hall of Fame horse racing career during which he won over 5,000 times.
November 24, 2018: In a winner-take-all game for the Mountain Division title in the Mountain West, Boise State outlasts Utah State 33-24 on the blue turf to earn a spot in the conference championship game the following week at home against Fresno State.
November 21, 1998: Bronco Stadium’s first crowd of 30,000-plus gathers for the 28th meeting between Boise State and Idaho, and it stays until the end—and beyond. The game see-sawed throughout.
November 20, 1982: On the final play of the game, now known as “The Play,” California makes five laterals on a kickoff return to score the game-winning touchdown as the Bears defeat Stanford in the Big Game 25-20, spoiling John Elway’s final game with the Cardinal.
One thing I haven’t been able to process yet: how did this season unravel so quickly for Boise State? One month ago, the Broncos waxed UNLV 56-31, rolling up 558 yards of total offense.
November 18, 2000, 25 years ago today: In the final regular season game in Big West football history, Boise State pounds Idaho 66-24 in sold-out Bronco Stadium. The Broncos rolled up a 42-10 halftime lead on four of Bart Hendricks’ five touchdown passes on the day.
November 17, 2018: Running back Alexander Mattison goes over the 1,000-yard mark to extend Boise State’s streak of 1,000-yard rushers to 10 consecutive years, the longest in the nation.
November 14, 2015, 10 years ago today: Junior wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck makes 20 receptions for 281 yards, shattering Boise State records in both categories, but it comes in a loss as the Broncos are stunned 31-24 by 30.5-point underdog New Mexico.