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Home , Bryan Harsin, Chris Petersen, Hawaii Bowl, Kellen Moore, Orlando Scandrick, Statue of Liberty play

It might be hard to believe for some that it’s been ten years since Boise State shocked the world in the against Oklahoma. The game is easily one of the most memorable in the history of the sport, and the programs meteoric rise leading up to January 2007 seemed liked something only accomplished on NCAA Football Dynasty Mode.

But I’d argue that what the program has done in the ten years since is even more remarkable. We’ve seen Group of 5 programs rise to the top on the back of a great recruiting class or coach (Utah, TCU, Western Michigan, to name a few). But none of these programs have put together the sustained run that Boise has, through coaching changes, NFL attrition and moves to a more difficult conference. Boise State has made itself the yardstick by which every G5 program is measured, and when you take a look at the team over the last decade, it’s not hard to see why.

Since 2007, the Broncos have averaged exactly 11 wins per season. That’s a 110-22 record (88.3%) over 10 seasons. Only Alabama and Ohio State have higher winning percentages in that span, and Houston is the next closest G5 program at 66.4%. I’m breaking the rules a little bit here, but if you extend the timeframe to 14 years, no team has won more games than Boise State. From 2008-11, Boise State won 50 games, something that had never been done before and may never be done again.

The Broncos never missed a step after moving to the Mountain West in 2011, or after losing to . The Broncos WORST season was Petersen’s last in 2013, when the Broncos went 8-5, with two conference losses by a combined four points and a loss to Oregon State in the Bowl. Save for a handful of programs, most G5 fanbases would be thrilled with a season like that every few years. stepped in as in 2014 and won 12 games, including the MWC title.

As far as the Fiesta Bowl, the Broncos have owned University of Phoenix Stadium over the past decade:

2007: Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 OT

The Broncos put Boise, Idaho on the map with its first-ever undefeated season, capped off with one of the most memorable games in the history of the sport. Tying the game up with an improbable hook-and-ladder play was by itself one of the more amazing plays in recent memory. But a in overtime and Chris Petersen’s decision to go for the win with a two-point conversion, a play to Ian Johnson, solidified this game as the most exciting finish ever in my mind, right next to Vince Young vs. USC in 2006.

Boise started the season unranked, but quickly gained attention as it defeated Oregon State and Utah on the road before cruising through the WAC. Boise State and Ohio State finished the year as the only undefeated teams in the country, but the Broncos only reached as high as 9th in the BCS standings and a Florida team which was clearly superior earned a berth in the national title game. After Florida embarassed Ohio State and the Broncos upended Oklahoma, Boise State was the only undefeated team in the 2006-07 season.

Petersen put himself and his program on the national map with the undefeated run. At the time, the BCS was less friendly to the G5 programs than the current system, and the Broncos were just the second team ever to play in a BCS bowl from outside of the “power” conferences. Petersen was given the Bear Bryant Award as national coach of the year.

2009: Boise State 17, TCU 10

Once again cruising through the WAC unbeaten and surviving a showdown with No. 14 Oregon to start the season, the Broncos still were on the outside looking in when it came to the National Championship. Storied programs Texas and Alabama ran the table in much tougher conferences, leaving no room for debate on whether the Broncos deserved a shot.

Instead, Boise found itself back in Arizona for an unofficial G5 championship game against unbeaten TCU, out of the Mountain West. The Horned Frogs had spoiled an undefeated year for Boise the season before, winning narrowly in the Poinsettia Bowl, 17-16.

The game was another instant classic, this time a defensive struggle for the ages. True to its nature, Boise State kept what would eventually be the game-winning 4th quarter touchdown drive alive with a from its own 33 yard-line. Doug Martin later punched it in from 2 yards to give the Broncos a 17-10 lead. drove TCU down the field with time ticking down, but a Winston Venable with 18 seconds left sealed the win for Boise.

A 14-0 season has only been replicated two other times (2002 Ohio State and 2010 Alabama, though Alabama has a chance to be 15-0 this year) in college football history. Petersen again was named Coach of the Year (over ), and sophomore was the WAC offensive player of the year. Moore put up video game numbers in the undefeated season: 277-431 passing, 3536 yards, 39 and 3 .

If anyone was good enough to lead Boise’s breakthrough to playing for a national title, it was Moore. The following season, the Broncos looked poised to run the table again on Moore’s back, and would have had a serious claim at a spot in the title game after being ranked as high as No. 3 in the BCS standings. But facing a 19th-ranked, -led Nevada team on the road proved too much for the Broncos. Kyle Brotzman missed a at the end of regulation and another in overtime, and Nevada won 34-31. I maintain that this was one of the craziest finishes to a game I’ve ever seen. Seriously, do yourself a favor and go watch the highlights from this game.

Brotzman’s meltdown was unfortunate for him, as the loss overshadowed a great career in a Broncos uniform. His 439 career points is the fifth-most for a kicker in NCAA history and he also served as a reliable punter over his four years. As you’ll see below, Boise State never saw a better kicker than Brotzman in its history.

Such is life for #collegekickers.

Following another 12-1 season the next season, Moore broke Colt McCoy’s record for all-time wins as a quarterback in FBS history. Falling only to TCU again that year, the Broncos won 50 games with Moore at the helm, losing just three.

2014: Boise State 38, Arizona 30

With Bryan Harsin in charge the Broncos returned to the Fiesta Bowl after a six-year hiatus after a 10-2 regular season. Boise lost to open the year against Ole Miss and then again during the season to Air Force. But the team earned a berth in the Mountain West championship game, defeating Fresno State 28-14.

In the first year of the playoff system, the Broncos earned a trip back to the Fiesta Bowl as the highest-ranked G5 team at 21st, while Arizona came in ranked 11th after losing to Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship. Jay Ajayi ran for 3 first-half touchdowns and Boise held off a comeback effort from the Wildcats to complete its third Fiesta Bowl win. The Broncos would finish the season ranked 16th in final polls.

Despite the remarkable consistency Boise State has shown, there will always be doubters and naysayers. While the new system giving one G5 team a chance to play in the New Year's Six every year has helped the conferences earn some respect, some will still refuse to believe that a G5 team could be deserving of inclusion among the top-tier programs. To those people, and to everyone else, I will leave two things. The first, is Boise State’s history against P5 teams since its Fiesta Bowl triumph over Oklahoma. The second, is an all-decade team, with a note about where the player ended up in the NFL draft. I have a feeling they both will surprise you.

History against Power 5 teams (2006-16)

2006: Oregon State (W 45-0) Fiesta Bowl: No. 10 Oklahoma (W 43-42 OT)

2007: at Washington (L 10-24)

2008: at No. 12 Oregon (W 37-32)

2009: No. 14 Oregon (W 19-8)

2010: No. 6 Virginia Tech (W 33-30) Oregon State (W 37-24)

2011: No. 22 Georgia (W 35-21) : Arizona State (W 56-24)

2012: at No. 13 Michigan State (L 13-17) Las Vegas Bowl: Washington (W 28-26)

2013: at Washington (L 6-38) Hawaii Bowl: Oregon State (L 23-28)

2014: vs. No 19 Ole Miss (L 13-35) Fiesta Bowl: No. 11 Arizona (W 38-30)

2015: Washington (W 16-13) at Virginia (W 56-14)

2016: Washington State (W 31-28) at Oregon State (W 38-24) Cactus Bowl: Baylor (L 12-31)

All-Decade team (2006-16)

QB: Kellen Moore (2008-2011) RB: Jay Ajayi, 2014 5th round (Dolphins) WR: Titus Young, 2011 2nd round (Lions) WR: Thomas Sperbeck (2013-2016) WR: Austin Pettis 2011, 3rd round (Rams) WR: Matt Miller (2011-14) T: , 2008 1st round (Broncos) G: , 2016 3rd round (Seahawks) C: Matt Paradis, 2014 6th round (Broncos) G: Charles Leno Jr., 2014 7th round (Bears) T: Nate Potter, 2012 7th round (Cardinals) K: Kyle Brotzman (2007-10)

DE: Shea McClellin, 2012 1st round (Bears) DT: Billy Winn, 2012 6th round (Browns) DT: , 2012 3rd round (Cowboys) DE: Demarcus Lawrence, 2014 2nd round (Cowboys) LB: Kamalei Correa, 2016 2nd round (Ravens) LB: Winston Venable (2009-10) CB: Jamar Taylor, 2013 2nd round (Dolphins) CB: Kyle Wilson, 2010 1st round (Jets) CB: Orlando Scandrick, 2008 5th round (Cowboys) S: Darian Thompson, 2016 3rd round (Giants) S: George Iloka, 2012 5th round (Bengals)