In the final quarter of the College Football Playoff (CFP) at the Fiesta Bowl, two very different versions of the Boise State football team were on the field. The first was a conference champion having a dream season, and the other, a team struggling against a stronger and more skilled Penn State squad. The Broncos, led by star player Ashton Jeanty, had a difficult game with the team committing four turnovers and 13 penalties. However, head coach Spencer Danielson said he was extremely proud of the team despite the shortcomings.
The game underscored a significant flaw in the existing rounding system which is intended to reward conference champions. The Playoff formula, which allows the four highest-ranked conference champions a bye, was criticized even before selection Sunday. This system resulted in Boise State, the ninth-ranked team, being awarded the No. 3 seed due to a Mountain West championship win. The hiccup then led to a lopsided matchup between a higher-ranked but lower-seeded Penn State team and the No. 3 seed Broncos, with Penn eventually gaining a 17-point victory.
Boise State’s performance was not all bad. The team outgained Penn State 412 yards to 387, indicating the loss could be credited to self-inflicted issues as much as the Playoff structure. Despite the loss, there is no dispute that the Broncos were well-deserving of a Playoff spot. The team’s play embodied the sport’s bigger-tent approach, a factor that was notably absent from the game for many years.
The game reaffirmed praise for No. 4 seed Arizona State out of the Big 12, and substantiated the sentiments of the panel of critics, many of whom wore t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Please count us out.” The result of the game also sparked conversation about the seemingly skewed system that awards higher positions to No.5 and No.6 seeds. Despite this controversy, Boise State made no apologies.
Boise State offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter, admitted that changes to the seeding system might be necessary and could be implemented as early as next season. He noted that while the team deserves to be in the playoffs, they may not be the third-best team on the field. Boise State’s loss to Penn State has not blemished its credibility, but it has generated discussion about the future of the Playoff’s seeding system.
In 2025, College football expanded its playoffs to include more teams, and Boise State benefitted from this widening of opportunity. It is expected that the path for Boise State and future players will look somewhat different due to the inevitable tweaking of the Playoff’s selection and seeding system.
