As the Boise State Broncos touched down in Phoenix for their first ever College Football Playoff appearance, a defiant message emblazoned their chests: “Please count us out.” Head coach Spencer Danielson insists it wasn’t a premeditated slogan, but it perfectly captures the underdog spirit that has defined this program for decades.
Boise State, seeded No. 3 in the expanded 12-team playoff, faces a tall task in their quarterfinal matchup against the vaunted Penn State Nittany Lions. The oddsmakers have the Broncos as 11.5-point underdogs, a role they’ve thrived in throughout their history of upset victories.
Echoes of Fiesta Bowls Past
The stage is set at the Fiesta Bowl, a venue that has played host to some of Boise State’s most iconic triumphs. From the Statue of Liberty play to stun Oklahoma in 2007, to toppling TCU in 2010, the Broncos have a perfect 3-0 record in this desert crucible as underdogs.
That’s what draws people to Boise State… The country watched the Broncos beat Oklahoma after being counted out. That’s what I believe in.
– Coach Spencer Danielson
Jeanty Chasing History
While the team embraces the underdog label, Boise State boasts a bonafide superstar in running back Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman Trophy runner-up needs just 131 yards to eclipse Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record that has stood since 1988.
Jeanty, who embodies the “count us out” ethos, said:
Boise State as a program is just counted out. Group of 5 is counted out… We’re just here to prove that we can compete with the best of the best.
– Ashton Jeanty, Boise State RB
Shock the World, Again
As Boise State prepares for its toughest test yet, the rallying cry is clear. This program, long overlooked and underestimated, is on a mission to prove the doubters wrong on the biggest stage in college football.
The Broncos have made a tradition out of shocking the world. On Tuesday, they’ll aim to author another unforgettable chapter in their underdog story. Penn State may have the pedigree, but Boise State has the heart of a giant slayer. Please, count them out at your own peril.
