The beat goes on heading into Year 5 of the Bryan Harsin era at Boise State.
The Broncos, coming off their first Mountain West championship since 2014, should be the favorites to once again claim the conference title — and even make a run at a New Year's Day Six bowl. That starts on offense with quarterback Brett Rypien and running back Alexander Mattison. Those two will lead the charge for the Broncos this season.
MORE: Group of 5 early conference primer
Boise State opens at No. 25 in Sporting News' updated way-too-early top 25. Here's a closer look at the Broncos' 2018 season:
Boise State football schedule 2018
| Date | Opponent | Location |
| Sept. 1 | at Troy | Troy, Ala. |
| Sept. 8 | UConn | Boise, Idaho |
| Sept. 15 | at No. 21 Oklahoma State | Stillwater, Okla. |
| Sept. 22 | Bye | Off |
| Sept. 29 | at Wyoming | Laramie, Wyo. |
| Oct. 6 | San Diego State | Boise, Idaho |
| Oct. 13 | at Nevada | Reno, Nev. |
| Oct. 19 | Colorado State | Boise, Idaho |
| Oct. 27 | at Air Force | Colorado Spring, Colo. |
| Nov. 3 | BYU | Boise, Idaho |
| Nov. 9 | Fresno State | Boise, Idaho |
| Nov. 16 | at New Mexico | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Nov. 24 | Utah State | Boise, Idaho |
| Dec. 1 | MWC championship | TBD |
*Games in bold denote MWC games
Boise State football recruiting 2018
The Broncos ranked 56th in 247Sports' Composite 2018 team rankings, good enough for first in the Mountain West and second among all Group of 5 schools. The headline of Harsin's latest class if four-star athlete Khalil Shakir of Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.). He projects at wide receiver in college and offers another explosive, versatile target for quarterback Brett Rypien. This class also features three of the top five players in the state of Idaho.
MORE: Group of 5's Playoff plight not helped by UCF
Boise State football roster 2018
| No. | Name | Pos. | Year |
| 3 | Brandon Hawkins | LB | Fr. |
| 4 | DeAndre Pierce | S | Jr. |
| 4 | Brett Rypien | QB | Sr. |
| 5 | Garrett Collingham | TE | R-Jr. |
| 6 | CT Thomas | WR | So. |
| 7 | Ezekiel Noa | LB | R-Fr. |
| 7 | A.J. Richardson | WR | R-Sr. |
| 8 | Jabril Frazier | STUD | R-Sr. |
| 8 | Sean Modster | WR | R-Sr. |
| 9 | Jaylon Henderson | QB | R-Jr. |
| 9 | Desmond Williams | LB | R-So. |
| 10 | Chase Cord | QB | R-Fr. |
| 10 | Kekoa Nawahine | S | Jr. |
| 13 | Marques Evans | CB | R-Fr. |
| 14 | Tyler Horton | B | Sr. |
| 15 | Evan Tyler | S | R-Jr. |
| 15 | Jalen Walker | CB | R-So. |
| 17 | Brandon Bea | QB | R-So. |
| 17 | Phillip Mills | LB | Fr. |
| 18 | Jermani Brown | CB | R-Fr. |
| 19 | Aisa Kelemete | STUD | R-Fr. |
| 20 | Roman Kafentzis | LB | R-Fr. |
| 21 | Tyreque Jones | S | R-Fr. |
| 22 | Alexander Mattison | RB | Jr. |
| 23 | Damion Wright | S | R-Jr. |
| 25 | Benton Wickersham | LB | So. |
| 26 | Avery Williams | CB | R-SSo. |
| 28 | Kekaula Kaniho | S | So. |
| 29 | Drake Beasley | RB | R-Fr. |
| 30 | Robert Lewis | CB | R-So. |
| 31 | Justin Collins | WR | R-So. |
| 31 | Skyler Seibold | RB | R-Sr. |
| 32 | Jordan Happle | S | R-So. |
| 34 | Robert Mahone | RB | R-So. |
| 34 | Solo Taylor | LB | R-So. |
| 35 | Derriyon Shaw | DE | R-So. |
| 36 | Blake Whitlock | LB | R-Sr. |
| 39 | Jake Shaddox | RB | R-Jr. |
| 40 | Jabari Watson | DT | R-So. |
| 41 | Will Heffner | LB | R-Jr. |
| 43 | Joe Provenzano | LB | R-Sr. |
| 44 | Riley Whimpey | LB | So. |
| 45 | Kayode Rufai | DE | R-So. |
| 46 | Cody Shoemaker | TE | R-Jr. |
| 46 | Joel Velazquez | K/P | R-So. |
| 47 | Matt Pistone | TE | R-Jr. |
| 48 | Bruno DeRose | LB | R-So. |
| 49 | Quinn Skillin | P | R-Sr. |
| 50 | Nicholai Pitman | LS | Jr. |
| 51 | Daniel Cantrell | TE | R-Fr. |
| 52 | DJ Schramm | LB | Fr. |
| 53 | Sam Whitney | STUD | R-Jr. |
| 54 | Matt Locher | NT | R-Jr. |
| 55 | David Moa | DT | R-Sr. |
| 56 | Joseph Inda | LB | R-Sr. |
| 57 | Emmanuel Fesili | NT | Jr. |
| 58 | Tyson Maeva | LB | Jr. |
| 64 | Ben Vering | OL | R-So. |
| 65 | Zachary Troughton | OL | Sr. |
| 66 | Isiah Moore | OL | R-Jr. |
| 67 | Garrett Larson | OL | R-Jr. |
| 68 | Jake Stetz | OL | R-Fr. |
| 69 | Austin Dixon | OL | R-So. |
| 70 | John Ojukwu | OL | R-Fr. |
| 71 | Donte Harrington | OL | R-So. |
| 73 | Nick Crabtree | OL | R-So. |
| 75 | Kole Bailey | OL | R-So. |
| 76 | Ezra Cleveland | OL | R-So, |
| 77 | John Molchon | OL | R-Jr. |
| 78 | Andres Preciado | OL | R-Sr. |
| 79 | Eric Quevedo | OL | R-Jr. |
| 80 | Christian Blaser | WR | R-So. |
| 81 | Akilian Butler | WR | R-Jr. |
| 82 | Octavius Evans | WR | So. |
| 83 | Damon Cole | WR | R-Fr. |
| 85 | John Bates | TE | R-So. |
| 86 | Chase Blakley | TE | R-Sr. |
| 91 | Durrant Miles | DE | Sr. |
| 92 | Paul Semons | DT | R-Sr. |
| 93 | Chase Hatada | DT | Jr. |
| 95 | Nick Provenzano | LB | R-So. |
| 96 | Haden Hoggarth | K | R-Sr. |
| 98 | Sonatane Lui | NT | Jr. |
| 99 | Curtis Weaver | STUD | R-So. |
What to watch in 2018
1. Can the Broncos make a bid at the New Year's Day Six?
The Broncos finished ranked 22nd in last year's final AP poll and 25th in the final College Football Playoff rankings after beating Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. But can Boise State go a step further in 2018 and make a bid in the New Year's Day Six? It's a tough task, considering the Broncos will likely have to be undefeated in conference and can only afford one defeat in nonconference play (likely on the road against Oklahoma State). It would be their first such bowl game since their 2014 Fiest Bowl win over Arizona.
2. The first four games
Boise State doesn't exactly have an easy start to the season. They open the season by raveling to defending Sun Belt co-champion Troy, return home to take on American opponent UConn and then travel to take on 21st-ranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater. After what will likely be a much-needed bye, the Broncos open conference play against Wyoming in Laramie. It's a tough stretch, but if the Broncos can come away with at least a 3-1 record, they'll be set up for a fantastic run through the end of the season.
3. Can Rypien get back to form?
Rypien's passing yardage (2,877) and touchdowns (16) fell off significantly from his 2015 and '16 seasons, and it will be worth watching to see if he can return to form in 2018. The four-year starter has Mattison in the backfield to take some pressure on him, but it's likely he'll be tasked with willing the Broncos to a few wins in 2018. In order to do that, he'll need to maintain his efficiency while ramping up the stats a bit. Losing receiver Cedrick Wilson — who led all receivers with 1,511 yards last year — hurts. But the arrival of Shakir should alleviate that some.
