# 2015 Boise State Broncos football team

The 2015 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Bryan Harsin and played their home games at Albertsons Stadium. They were members of the Mountain West Conference in the Mountain Division. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in Mountain West play to finish in a four-way tie for second place in the Mountain Division. They were invited to the Poinsettia Bowl where they defeated Northern Illinois.

## Preseason
### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released.
Paul Hornung Award – Sr. WR Shane Williams-Rhodes
Chuck Bednarik Award – Jr. DE Kamalei Correa & Sr. S Darian Thompson
Rimington Trophy – Sr. C Marcus Henry
Outland Trophy – Sr. C Marcus Henry
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Jr. DE Kamalei Correa & Sr. S Darian Thompson
Jim Thorpe Award – Sr. CB Donte Deayon & Sr. S Darian Thompson
Lombardi Award – Jr. DE Kamalei Correa, Sr. C Marcus Henry, Sr. OL Rees Odhiambo & Jr. LB Tanner Vallejo
Fred Biletnikoff Award – Jr. WR Thomas Sperbeck
Wuerffel Trophy – Sr. WR Shane Williams-Rhodes
Walter Camp Award – Sr. S Darian Thompson

### Mountain West media days

At the Mountain West media days, held at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Broncos were picked as the overwhelming favorites to win the Mountain Division title, receiving 28 of a possible 30 first place votes. Sr. C Marcus Henry and Sr. OL Rees Odhiambo were selected to the all-conference first team offense. Jr. DE Kamalei Correa, Jr. LB Tanner Vallejo, Sr. CB Donte Deayon and Sr. S Darian Thompson were selected to the all-conference first team defense.

### Media poll
#### Mountain Division

* Boise State – 177 (28)
* Utah State – 150 (2)
* Colorado State – 108
* Air Force – 90
* Wyoming – 64
* New Mexico – 41

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 8:15 p.m. | Washington* | No. 23 | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID | ESPN | W 16–13 | 36,836 |
| September 12 | 8:15 p.m. | at BYU* | No. 20 | LaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, UT | ESPN2 | L 24–35 | 63,470 |
| September 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Idaho State* | | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID (Battle for the Liberty Bell) | CBSSN | W 52–0 | 33,868 |
| September 25 | 6:00 p.m. | at Virginia* | | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ESPN | W 56–14 | 42,427 |
| October 3 | 8:15 p.m. | Hawaii | | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID | ESPN2 | W 55–0 | 35,907 |
| October 10 | 5:00 p.m. | at Colorado State | No. 25 | Hughes StadiumFort Collins, CO | CBSSN | W 41–10 | 26,117 |
| October 16 | 7:00 p.m. | at Utah State | No. 21 | Maverik StadiumLogan, UT | CBSSN | L 26–52 | 22,509 |
| October 24 | 8:15 p.m. | Wyoming | | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID | ESPN2 | W 34–14 | 31,946 |
| October 31 | 1:30 p.m. | at UNLV | | Sam Boyd StadiumWhitney, NV | ESPNU | W 55–27 | 14,315 |
| November 14 | 8:15 p.m. | New Mexico | | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID | ESPNU | L 24–31 | 32,780 |
| November 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Air Force | | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID | ESPN2 | L 30–37 | 30,332 |
| November 27 | 1:30 p.m. | at San Jose State | | Spartan StadiumSan Jose, CA | CBSSN | W 40–23 | 15,770 |
| December 23 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. Northern Illinois* | | Qualcomm StadiumSan Diego, CA (Poinsettia Bowl) | ESPN | W 55–7 | 21,501 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Mountain time ||||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| No. 24 Broncos | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Ryan Finley (BSU): 16–26, 129 YDS, 1 INT; Jake Browning (WASH): 20–34, 150 YDS, 1 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 24 CAR, 89 YDS, 2 TD; Dwayne Washington (WASH): 8 CAR, 14 YDS
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 3 REC, 28 YDS; Dwayne Washington (WASH): 7 REC, 68 YDS.

### At BYU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 Broncos | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Cougars | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 35 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Ryan Finley (BSU): 25–38, 297 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT; Tanner Mangum (BYU): 17–28, 309 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 15 CAR, 46 YDS, 2 TD; Adam Hine (BYU): 19 CAR, 93 YDS, 1 TD.
* Receiving leaders: Shane William-Rhodes (BSU): 11 REC, 107 YDS; Mitchell Juergens (BYU): 4 REC, 172 YDS, 2 TD.

### Idaho State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broncos | 14 | 7 | 28 | 3 | 52 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 8–9, 126 YDS; Michael Sanders (ISU): 21–42, 169 YDS, 1 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 15 CAR, 69 YDS, 3 TD; Xavier Finney (ISU): 14 CAR, 38 YDS.
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 7 REC, 99 YDS; Madison Mangum (ISU): 7 REC, 98 YDS.
In the first quarter, starting quarterback Ryan Finley left the game after fracturing his right ankle. He was expected to miss eight weeks. However, he did not return in the 2015 season. The last two Boise State starting quarterbacks to miss time with injuries were also from broken right ankles (Ryan Dinwiddie in 2002 and Joe Southwick in 2013).

### At Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 17 | 12 | 17 | 10 | 56 |
| Cavaliers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 24–35, 321 YDS, 3 TD; Matt Johns (UVA): 12–25, 199 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 9 CAR, 69 YDS, 1 TD; Daniel Hamm (UVA): 8 CAR, 22 YDS
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 5 REC, 121 YDS, 2 TD; Taquan Mizzell (UVA): 5 REC, 59 YDS, 1 TD

### Hawaii

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rainbow Warriors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broncos | 14 | 35 | 3 | 3 | 55 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 19–25, 271 YDS, 3 TD; Max Wittek (UH): 7–24, 66 YDS, 2 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 20 CAR, 108 YDS, 2 TD; Steven Lakalaka (UH): 8 CAR, 34 YDS.
* Receiving leaders: Chaz Anderson (BSU): 5 REC, 95 YDS, 1 TD; Marcus Kemp (UH): 5 REC, 39 YDS.

### At Colorado State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 24 Broncos | 17 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 41 |
| Rams | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 22–35, 339 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Coleman Key (CSU): 5–19, 56 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 17 CAR, 104 YDS, 2 TD; Jasen Oden, Jr. (CSU): 19 CAR, 52 YDS.
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 5 REC, 178 YDS, 2 TD; Rashard Higgins (CSU): 3 REC, 42 YDS.

### At Utah State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 20 Broncos | 3 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 26 |
| Aggies | 17 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 52 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 25–50, 299 YDS, 3 INT; Kent Myers (USU): 17–24, 157 YDS, 3 TD.
* Rushing leaders: Kelsey Young (BSU): 20 CAR, 60 YDS, 2 TD; Devante Mays (USU): 11 CAR, 63 YDS, 1 TD.
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 156 YDS; Hunter Sharp (USU): 7 REC, 42 YDS, 2 TD.

### Wyoming

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Broncos | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 34 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 22–28, 211 YDS, 3 TD; Cameron Coffman (WYO): 8–13, 70 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 33 CAR, 166 YDS, 1 TD; Brian Hill (WYO): 23 CAR, 76 YDS.
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 84 YDS, 2 TD; Jake Maulhardt (WYO): 6 REC, 76 YDS, 1 TD.

### At UNLV

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 10 | 14 | 3 | 28 | 55 |
| Rebels | 3 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 35–52, 469 YDS, 2 TD; Blake Decker (UNLV): 29–50, 357 YDS, 2 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 22 CAR, 122 YDS, 1 TD; Xzaviar Campbell (UNLV): 9 CAR, 29 YDS, 1 TD.
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 10 REC, 163 YDS; Devonte Boyd (UNLV): 10 REC, 116 YDS.

### New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lobos | 7 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 31 |
| Broncos | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 41–75, 506 YDS, 2 TD, 3 INT; Austin Apodaca (UNM): 8–12, 172 YDS, 1 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 26 CAR, 128 YDS, 1 TD; Jhurell Pressley (UNM): 9 CAR, 132 YDS, 1 TD.
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 20 REC, 281 YDS; Delane Hart-Johnson (UNM): 1 REC, 81 YDS.

### Air Force

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 3 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 37 |
| Broncos | 13 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 30 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 23–48, 237 YDS, 1 TD; Karson Roberts (AF): 9–16, 279 YDS, 2 TD, 3 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 20 CAR, 151 YDS, 1 TD; Jacobi Owens (AF): 9 CAR, 132 YDS.
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 7 REC, 79 YDS, 1 TD; Garrett Griffin (AF): 3 REC, 107 YDS, 1 TD.

### At San Jose State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 0 | 9 | 7 | 24 | 40 |
| Spartans | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 25–33, 197 YDS, 2 TD; Kenny Potter (SJSU): 28–41, 336 YDS, 3 TD, 2 INT.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 20 CAR, 192 YDS, 2 TD; Tyler Ervin (SJSU): 11 CAR, 52 YDS.
* Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 45 YDS; Billy Freeman (SJSU): 7 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD.

### Northern Illinois–Poinsettia Bowl

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 21 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 55 |
| Huskies | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Uniform Combination :
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
* Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 29–40, 377 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT; Ryan Graham (NIU): 7–21, 38 YDS.
* Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 19 CAR, 93 YDS, 2 TD; Joel Bouagnon (NIU): 8 CAR, 16 YDS.
* Receiving leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 5 REC, 96 YDS, 1 TD; Kenny Golladay (NIU): 3 REC, 12 YDS.
Boise State out-gained Northern Illinois 654–33 in total yards. Boise State had 2 more first downs (35) than Northern Illinois had in total yards.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 23 | 20 | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 21 | RV | — | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | RV |
| Coaches | 24 | 22 | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 20 | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | RV |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Scores by quarter

All opponents
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Boise State | 139 | 127 | 120 | 122 | 508 |
| Opponents | 47 | 108 | 40 | 68 | 263 |
Mountain West opponents
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Boise State | 57 | 78 | 34 | 95 | 264 |
| MW Opponents | 33 | 87 | 20 | 44 | 184 |

## Post-season awards
### Mountain West Freshman of the Year

Brett Rypien – Fr. QB (first Boise State player to win MW freshman of the year award)

### Mountain West first team

Offense
Brett Rypien – Fr. QB
Thomas Sperbeck – Jr. WR
Marcus Henry – Sr. OL
Rees Odhiambo – Sr. OL
Tyler Rausa – Jr. K
Defense
Darian Thompson – Sr. DB

### Mountain West second team

Offense
Jeremy McNichols – So. RB
Jake Roh – So. TE
Defense
Kamalei Correa – Jr. DL
Donte Deayon – Sr. DB

### Mountain West honorable mention

Tyler Horn – Sr. DL
Tanner Vallejo – Jr. LB
Mario Yakoo – Jr. OL
    Award Reference: