The Boise State–Nevada football rivalry is a college football rivalry between the Boise State Broncos football team of Boise State University and Nevada Wolf Pack football team of University of Nevada, Reno. The game was played every year from 1971 to 2025, with the exception of 1978, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2015–2016 and 2019–2020. The teams met twice in 1990 as the second game was a Division I-AA semifinal playoff game; it remains the only post-season game played between the two programs.
The series has often been a conference match-up, with the exception of ten games: 1971–1977, 1993–1994 and 2011. Boise State and Nevada have met as conference rivals in four conferences—Big Sky, Big West, Western Athletic and Mountain West. These have included three NCAA classifications: Division II (originally "college division"), Division I-AA (now FCS) and Division I FBS.
Following the Mountain West's expansion to twelve football members in 2013, the conference was split into two six-team divisions for football, with Boise State placed in the Mountain Division and Nevada in the West Division. The scheduling format adopted at the time included five divisional games and three cross-division games, with no permanent cross-division opponents. In a four-year cycle, teams in opposite divisions played twice (two years in which the game occurred followed by two years in which it did not). As a result, Boise State and Nevada remained frequent opponents but no longer played annually.
Boise State's 2026 move to the Pac-12 Conference has left the future of the rivalry uncertain.
Notable games December 8, 1990: Division I-AA semifinal, triple overtime, Nevada advanced to the national title game. November 25, 2006: Boise State victory to complete a perfect regular season and earn a BCS bowl bid. October 14, 2007: Highest scoring game in the history of the series, 69–67 in four overtime periods. The 136 points is the second most combined points in an FBS game (tied with the Navy vs North Texas on November 10, 2007). November 26, 2010: Nevada's overtime victory ended previously undefeated Boise State's BCS hopes.
Game results
Non-conference games (11: 1971–1977, 1990 (playoff), 1993–1994 and 2011) Second meeting in 1990 was Division I-AA semifinal; Nevada won in triple overtime Three overtime games: 1990 playoff (3OT), 2007 (4OT) and 2010 (OT) Not played in 11 seasons (1978, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2015–2016, 2019–2020, 2023 and 2026–2027)
Coaching records
Since first game on September 25, 1971
Boise State Head CoachGamesSeasonsWinsLossesTiesPct.Tony Knap51968–1975410Jim Criner61976–19825Lyle Setencich41983–198613Skip Hall61987–19923Pokey Allen31993–199612Houston Nutt1199701 Dirk Koetter21998–20001 Dan Hawkins52001–200550 Chris Petersen82006–201371 Bryan Harsin32014–202030 Andy Avalos22021–202311 Spencer Danielson2023–present20
Nevada Head CoachGamesSeasonsWinsLossesTiesPct.Jerry Scattini51969–1975140Chris Ault 161976–199279Jeff Horton1199310 Chris Ault 1994–199501Jeff Tisdel41996–19993 Chris Tormey32000–200303 Chris Ault 92004–201218 Brian Polian22013–201602 Jay Norvell32017–20211 Ken Wilson2022–202301 Jeff Choate22024–present2 Chris Ault's overall record in series is 8–18–0 () There have been no ties in this series; Big Sky went to overtime for conference games in 1980& all Division I games went to overtime in 1996.
See also
List of NCAA college football rivalry games
References