By state
Idaho teams
A blue field visible from orbit, and the program that made the strongest case that the sport's hierarchy was not fixed.
Programs
Football in Idaho
Idaho
The blue turf
Boise State installed a blue playing surface in 1986, the first non-green field in college football. It was an unusual decision at the time and became the most recognizable single image any Group of Five program has.
It is also a genuine identity rather than a gimmick. The field is distinctive enough that a still photograph identifies the program instantly, which is worth more to a school outside the traditional power structure than almost any amount of advertising.
Idaho
Punching up
Boise State's run of upsets over programs with far larger budgets — most famously in bowl games against teams from the traditional powers — did more than any argument to establish that the gap between the tiers was smaller than assumed.
That history matters more now than it did. With an expanded playoff, the route from the Mountain West to the national bracket is real rather than theoretical, and Boise State is the program most often expected to take it.
Leagues
Conference represented
FAQ
Idaho football questions
Which college football teams are in Idaho?
This site covers the Boise State Broncos, based in Boise and competing in the Mountain West. Coverage is being expanded program by program.
Why is Boise State's field blue?
The blue surface was installed in 1986, the first non-green playing field in college football. It has become the program's most recognizable feature.
What conference is Boise State in?
The Mountain West, where it has consistently been among the strongest programs and the most likely route to a playoff place from outside the traditional power conferences.
Why is Boise State significant in college football?
A sustained record of beating programs with much larger resources helped establish that the gap between the sport's tiers was narrower than assumed, which shaped the argument for a wider playoff.