College football Week 1 is here, and you need to mark your calendar for Saturday because Boise State is rolling into town as a brand-new Pac-12 program to face the mighty No. 2 Oregon Ducks. This isn’t just some ho-hum opener; this could be a preview of a College Football Playoff rematch, and the stakes are absolutely bonkers right out of the gate for this 3:30 PM ET kick.
Boise State Has Oregon’s Number, And Everyone Forgot About It
If you think this is an easy stroll for the Ducks, you’re not paying attention. The history between these two teams is wild, giving the Broncos a serious edge. Boise State actually leads the all-time series 3-1! Let that sink in. Since 2008, Oregon has lost to Boise three times, which is more than they’ve lost to *any other non-conference opponent* in that entire span. These Broncos know how to make life miserable for the Ducks.
Remember that 2024 showdown? It was one of the best regular season games, with Boise State losing to No. 7 Oregon 37-34 on a 25-yard field goal as time expired. That game showed exactly what Boise is capable of. Ashton Jeanty, their tailback then, went off for 200 yards from scrimmage and three rushing scores. Yeah, he’s in the NFL now, and so is Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, who still managed 18 of 21 for 243 yards and two scores in that nail-biter. But the point stands: Boise can hang, and they *have* beaten Oregon before.
The New-Look Pac-12’s Dark Horse Is About To Make Noise
This season, Boise State isn’t just showing up; they’re showing up with something massive to prove as the favorites in a re-imagined Pac-12. That league, by the way, is down to eight football schools and isn’t a power conference anymore, but don’t tell Boise that! They’ve got the shortest odds of any non-power conference school to even *get* to the College Football Playoff this season at +450. Plus, they’re the +135 favorites to win the entire new Pac-12. That’s big-time respect.
And let’s talk playoff format. We’ve got a 12-team playoff now, with no separate Group of 6 automatic bid. Instead, it’s the five highest-ranked conference champions overall plus seven at-large bids. That means Boise State, if they win the Pac-12, has a real shot. These Broncos are no fluke. They’ve rocked an FBS-best 28 straight winning seasons. With Maddux Madsen back at starting quarterback, boasting a 20-6 career record, which is the fourth-best by any active FBS QB with at least 10 starts, this team is legit. They might not even be underdogs again after Saturday’s game. Charles Davis also makes his debut as CBS Sports’ lead college football analyst for this game, replacing Gary Danielson.
This Saturday isn’t just about a Week 1 win or loss for Boise State. It’s about setting the tone for their Pac-12 debut, signaling their CFP intentions, and letting the college football world know that the Broncos are a serious threat, even against a No. 2 team like Oregon. The oddsmakers are looking at a parlay with Boise covering +32.5, and the Alt Over 44.5 at +104 on DraftKings, which tells you they expect points and a closer game than you might think. Get ready, because this is going to be an absolute barnburner!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply