Boise State Broncos
· 2026-07-15
The Boise State Broncos are the preseason favorite to claim a spot in the College Football Playoff, despite not making it last year and having a five-loss season. According to sportsbooks, the Broncos are the top pick to represent the Group of 6 in the CFP.
The Broncos' success can be attributed to their strong recruiting and coaching, which has earned them a spot as the highest-ranked Group of 6 team in multiple preseason polls. In the CBS Sports rankings, the Broncos are the only Group of 6 team to make the top 25, coming in at No. 26. The next-closest Group of 6 team is UNLV at No. 46.
Boise State's chances of making the CFP are significant, especially with the new qualification rules that give the highest-ranked Group of 6 team a spot in the bracket. This means that the Broncos will be competing against the Power 4 teams, which include the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC. With automatic qualifiers going to the winners of the Power 4, the Group of 6 will likely have only one team in the field.
The Broncos' next game is against the Oregon Ducks on September 5, which will be their first game of the 2026 season. This will be a crucial test for the team, as they look to start the season strong and make a push for the CFP. With their strong recruiting and coaching, the Broncos are well-positioned to make a deep run in the playoffs.
And with the new conference alignment, the Broncos will be competing in the revitalized Pac-12 Conference alongside four other former Mountain West teams, the Sun Belt's Texas State, and Pac-12 holdovers Washington State and Oregon State. The new conference appears to sit atop the newly coined Group of 6 list, which comprises the Pac-12, Mountain West, American, Sun Belt, Mid-American, and Conference USA.
The Broncos' FPI (Expected Points Added) is 4, meaning they would be expected to win by 4 points against an average team on a neutral field. The next-closest Group of 6 team is the American's Tulane, with an FPI of 2.3, and then UNLV, with an FPI of 1.8.
With the season just around the corner, the Broncos are looking to make a strong statement and prove themselves as one of the top teams in the country. With their strong recruiting and coaching, they are well-positioned to make a deep run in the playoffs and bring home a championship.