The 2011 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos were led by head coach Chris Petersen, winner of the 2010 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award, and played their home games at Bronco Stadium. This season was Boise State's first in the Mountain West Conference after spending the previous ten years in the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 12–1, 6–1 Mountain West play to finish in second place. They were invited the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas for the second consecutive year where they defeated Arizona State 56–24.
Between 2008 and 2011, the Broncos went 50–3 to become the first team in FBS history to win 50 games in four years. With the 50–3 record, quarterback Kellen Moore set a new record for the most wins by a starting quarterback in FBS history, passing former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (45 wins).
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released.
Maxwell Award – Sr. QB Kellen Moore, Sr. RB Doug Martin.
Chuck Bednarik Award – Sr. DT Billy Winn.
John Mackey Award – Sr. TE Kyle Efaw.
Fred Biletnikoff Award – Sr. WR Tyler Shoemaker.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Sr. DT Billy Winn.
Outland Trophy – Sr. DT Billy Winn, Sr. OT Nate Potter.
Jim Thorpe Award – Sr. S George Iloka
Lombardi Award – Sr. C Thomas Byrd, Sr. DE Shae McClellin, Sr. OT Nate Potter, Sr. DT Billy Winn.
Rimington Trophy – Sr. C Thomas Byrd.
Davey O'Brien Award – Sr. QB Kellen Moore.
Doak Walker Award – Sr. RB Doug Martin.
Walter Camp Award – Sr. QB Kellen Moore.
Ted Hendricks Award – Sr. DE Shea McClellin.
Manning Award – Sr. QB Kellen Moore.
Kellen Moore also won the Anson Mount Scholar/Athlete award on the Playboy Preseason All-America Team. Playboy also ranked Boise State #2 to start the season.
Mountain West media days During the Mountain West media days held on July 26–27 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Boise State was picked as the overwhelming favorite to win the conference, garnering 28 of 31 first place votes. Sr. QB Kellen Moore was selected as the preseason offensive player of the year and thus was the QB on the preseason All–Conference team. Joining him on the All–Conference team were Sr. RB Doug Martin, Sr. OL Thomas Bryd, Sr. OL Nate Potter, Sr. DL Billy Winn, Sr. DL Shea McClellin, and Sr. S George Iloka.
Media poll Boise State – 236 (28) TCU – 208 (3) Air Force – 176 San Diego State – 160 Colorado State – 104 Wyoming – 80 UNLV – 77 New Mexico – 39
All-blue uniform ban Boise State was banned by the Mountain West Conference from wearing their traditional all-blue uniforms during conference home games. MW commissioner Craig Thompson's reason for the rule was that coaches had stated that the Broncos received a "competitive advantage" when wearing all blue on the blue turf of Bronco Stadium. Boise State head coach Chris Petersen was quoted that he thought the ban was "ridiculous".
Preseason polls On August 3, Boise State was ranked #7 in the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll, receiving 1,065 points. Their season opening opponent, Georgia, started the year ranked #22 making this the third straight season Boise State opened the year against a ranked team from a BCS conference. Boise State won the previous two (Oregon and Virginia Tech).
On August 20, Boise State was ranked #5 in the preseason AP Poll, receiving 1,200 points including 2 first place votes.
Schedule
Denotes the then largest crowd in Bronco Stadium history. Previous high was 34,137 vs Oregon State in 2010. The record was beaten on September 20, 2012 vs BYU with 36,864.
Boise State was set to play Utah in Boise in 2011, with games in 2012 and 2013 also scheduled. However, due to their move to the Pac-12, where they will play nine conference games, and their desire to continue their rivalry with former conference member and newly independent BYU, Utah bought their way out of the series. Boise State replaced Utah with Fresno State and Nevada as both schools were also looking for another game due to having one less conference game due to Boise State's departure from the WAC. Fresno State and Nevada will become conference games again in 2012 as they will join the Mountain West.
Locations for Mountain West Conference games were announced on November 4, 2010.
Boise State was scheduled to open the 2011 season at Mississippi, however, on November 20, 2010 they announced they would open the season against Georgia in the 2011 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. Their meeting with Mississippi will be pushed back to 2014 also in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
On January 25, Boise State's conference game with TCU, which was originally scheduled to be played in Fort Worth, was moved to Boise.http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/01/26/1502583/horned-frogs-headed-to-boise.html The move was due in part to TCU announcing they would be leaving for the Big East Conference in 2012 (they ultimately went to the Big 12 instead). To accommodate the change, the Broncos played San Diego State in San Diego instead of Boise.
The Mountain West released dates for conference games on March 3, 2011.
On March 21, as part of the WAC's TV contract with ESPN, it was announced that the game at Fresno State would be moved to Friday, October 7 to be broadcast on ESPN. This was the 11th straight year the Battle for the Milk Can that was broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.
On April 7, the Mountain West announced times and TV for all conference and home MW games.
For the first time in 40 years, Boise State did not play their in-state rival Idaho and currently have no future matchups scheduled.
Game summaries
Vs. Georgia–Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
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Boise State opened the season with a win against a top 20 (AP poll) team from a BCS conference for the third straight year with their 35–21 win in the fourth annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Georgia got on the board first with an 80-yard touchdown run by Brandon Boykin, which was his first career offensive play. Boise State tie the game up later in the first quarter when Kellen Moore found freshman wide receiver Matt Miller for a 17-yard touchdown. The TD pass was Moore's 100th career touchdown pass. 48 seconds before halftime, Boise State would take the lead when Moore connected on his second touchdown pass, this time from 12 yards out to tight end Kyle Efaw to give the Broncos a 14–7 halftime lead. Boise State increased their lead in the third quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run by Doug Martin and Moore's third touchdown pass of 3 yards to Tyler Shoemaker for a 28–7 lead. After Boise State was penalized for being offsides on a fourth and seven during a punt, Georgia went for it on fourth and two and scored on a 36-yard touchdown to Orson Charles from Aaron Murray to cut into the lead at the end of the third quarter. The Broncos drove the ball 76 yards on their last scoring drive, capped off by a 1-yard D.J. Harper touchdown run. Another long Georgia touchdown from 51 yards out brought the scoring to an end and the Broncos would leave Atlanta with their first ever win against a team from the SEC (previously 0–4). Kellen Moore is now 5–0 in his career against BCS teams. The Bronco defense finished with six sacks, 2.5 by Shea McClellin, and one interception by Jerrell Gavins.
Passing Leaders Rushing Leaders Receiving Leaders Total Yards Kellen Moore: 28/34, 261 YDS, 3 TDS, 1 INT Doug Martin: 24 CAR, 57 YDS, 1 TD, LG of 9 Tyler Shoemaker: 5 REC, 57 YDS, 1 TD, LG of 17 BSU: 390 D.J. Harper: 8 CAR, 44 YDS, 1 TD, LG of 17 Kyle Efaw: 6 REC, 53 YDS, 1 TD, LG of 18 UGA: 373
On September 5, Kellen Moore was named the Mountain West offensive player of the week, becoming the first Bronco to win the award in their first game as a conference member. This was the second straight year Moore won a player of the week award after the season opening game. The Broncos moved up one spot in the AP poll to #4 with 2 first place votes and moved up 2 spots in the coaches poll to #5. Following their bye week, they moved up to #4 in the coaches.
At Toledo
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Kellen Moore completed a career-high 32 passes to nine different receivers for 455 yards and five touchdowns as the Broncos rolled to a 40–15 win over preseason MAC favorite Toledo. After forcing the Broncos to punt on their first possession, Toledo took and early lead on a 24-yard touchdown pass to go up 6–0 (pat failed). The Broncos would answer on Moore's first TD pass of the night from 26 yards out to Tyler Shoemaker. His second TD pass of the night came on the Broncos next possession when Doug Martin took a screen pass 71 yards for a 13–6 Bronco lead at the end of the first quarter. After trading punts throughout the second quarter, the Broncos would put together a 7-play, 64-yard drive in only 1:05, capped off with a 1-yard TD pass from Moore to Shoemaker, to score with 17 seconds before halftime. A kickoff out of bounds gave the Rockets great field possession and managed a 35-yard field goal and cut the Bronco lead to 20–9 at the half. In the third quarter, Toledo looked like they were going to keep the game close as they drove to the Bronco's 11-yard line. However, Shae McClellin tipped a Rocket pass that was intercepted by Chase Baker to end the Toledo hopes. The Broncos followed by marching 88 yards, capped off with Moore's fourth TD pass to Kyle Efaw, to take a 27–9 lead. Toledo's last chance to get back into the game came when Moore was intercepted and the Rockets drove to the six-yard line. However, the Broncos forced a fumble that was recovered by J.C. Percy. Moore would add another TD pass to Shoemaker for 17 yards later in the 4th to put the Broncos up 33–9. Toledo would score quick to make it 33–15 but the Broncos would milk the clock with their second string and add a final touchdown by Drew Wright for a final score of 40–15.
Passing Leaders Rushing Leaders Receiving Leaders Total Yards Kellen Moore: 32/42, 455 YDS, 5 TDS, 1 INT Doug Martin: 19 CAR, 70 YDS, LG of 12 Tyler Shoemaker: 4 REC, 52 YDS, 3 TDS, LG of 26 BSU: 610 Joe Southwick: 1/1, 10 YDS Drew Wright: 5 CAR, 29 YDS, 1 TD, LG of 8 Doug Martin: 5 REC, 122 YDS, 1 TD, LG of 71 TOL: 349 Mitch Burroughs: 6 REC, 76 YDS, LG of 27 1st Quarter 11:35 TOL–Danny Noble 24 Yd Pass From Austin Dantin (Pat Failed) 0–6 06:56 BSU–Tyler Shoemaker 26 Yd Pass From Kellen Moore (Dan Goodale Kick) 7–6 02:45 BSU–Doug Martin 71 Yd Pass From Kellen Moore (Pat Failed) 13–6 2nd Quarter 00:17 BSU–Tyler Shoemaker 1 Yd Pass From Kellen Moore (Michael Frisina Kick) 20–6 00:00 TOL–Ryan Casano 35 Yd FG 20–9 3rd Quarter 06:30 BSU–Kyle Efaw 12 Yd Pass From Kellen Moore (Michael Frisina Kick) 27–9 4th Quarter 05:58 BSU–Tyler Shoemaker 17 Yd Pass From Kellen Moore (Pat Failed) 33–9 04:33 TOL–Adonis Thomas 1 Yd Run (Pat Failed) 33–15 01:30 BSU–Drew Wright 8 Yd Run (Michael Frisina Kick) 40–15
On September 19, Kellen Moore was named the Mountain West Offensive player of the week for the second time, this week shared with San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman. Moore was also named the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week. The Broncos remained at #4 in both polls and did retain their two first place votes in the AP poll.
Tulsa
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