Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time. IT’S THAT TIME. Tonight, rip off your advent-ual calendars, leave the egg nog, brownies, and your $8 stadium beers under the fading cover of your household (or apartmenthold) deciduous trees and REJOICE. For tomorrow ’tis the culmination of the most wonderful time of the year. Like a large and gentle snowflake softly drifting until its eventual finale, we too have waited patiently for this appointed time. Perhaps on Sunday, regardless of outcome, I will declare that the Mountain West championship is all that really mattered, but tomorrow? I’ll take 11 losses if it means one sweet victory over the Cougars of BYU.
Game facts
- Time: November 5th, 2022, 5:00 PM MST
- Location: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
- Weather at kickoff: 48° Partly Cloudy
- Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
- Odds: Boise State by 8
- TV: FS2
- Radio: 670 KBOI
- Commentators: Petros “I just made my name up” Papadakis and Dan “the Van” Hellie
Other facts
I hold the belief that such a game as this deserves an extended trip down memory lane, and well, you’re already here. I’ll jog your memory with unabated truth and you can skip through these videos as you please.
2003:
2004:
2012:
2013:
Unfortunately, I can’t find a reputable source that corroborates the existence of 2013. We at First Kick pride ourselves in journalistic integrity, and would never rob you of that which is most dear, which is truth.
2014:
2015:
If that link doesn’t work, try here
2016:
2017
2018:
2019:
2020:
It’s a shame they canceled the year because of Covid. Certainly would’ve been cool to get another W against the ‘Cougs.
2021:

Well, now that we got our bases covered, let’s begin.
Other Other facts
1. Don’t call it a rivalry!
Bronco coaches were certainly hesitant to call the matchup with BYU a rivalry, but who else, pray tell might our rivals be? As a student of data science I ran a perfect poll that provides the conclusive answer.
It was overwhelmingly BYU. Glad we could clear that up.
2. Playoffs to Potato Bowl
Certainly 2022 was a rude awakening for the Cougars. The Cougars started fairly quickly with wins over USF in Florida, plus a home win against then Top-10 Baylor. Sprinkle in a pair of wins over our mountain division comrades, and you have BYU right before they saw their 4 game slide. Norte Dame, Arkansas, Liberty, and East Carolina showed, and gifted the Cougars with their current 4-5 record. They are not a bad team, nor dare I suggest a blowout, given the rivalry. All I’m saying is that if we changed our school name to Freedom Tech, we’d hang a hundred. Alas, we are the beloved Broncos of Boise State, and that means 1 point games with BYU regardless of cholesterol or talent levels. It’s likely they will enter the time machine and pull out the week 2 Cougars, and it’ll be a dogfight. Hold onto your butts.
3. The Rapid Ascension of Taylen Green
TG has gone from a wildcat RB to a legitimate threat at QB. I’d like to announce that I’m on the believer train without qualm. Granted, he still is a Freshman, and was fortunate to get a couple drops on potential picks last week. He also sauced 5 dudes on the 5 yard line and scored what was essentially a Heisman play. BYU ain’t no CSU, but expect the progression to be steady. Another fun note is that BYU hasn’t logged a sack since September, and the shifty Taylen Green likely won’t make it easy for ’em.
4. Turbulent Air?
To me, the biggest story of this game is the BYU passing attack vs. the Boise State secondary. The Broncos rank first in passing yards allowed (the good way), while BYU enters ranked #55 in Passing Yards. Technically Fresno was ranked higher, but they ran with QB2 against us, meaning that on paper, this is the true test of our secondary. My heart says we’ll suffer at least one long TD, but INTs could prove the difference.
Streaks
Boise State – Won 4
BYU – Lost 4
Best name on their roster
When the fall sniffles come ’round, you might be wont to sneeze “(BYU Sr. LB) Chaz Ah You”, but don’t expect to hear any bless yous from the Bronco faithful.
Best Picture on their roster
Ya just gotta respect the hair, Cash Peterman means business.

Players to Watch
Jaren Hall, QB
Pre-Season hype/hysteria had him as potential 1st round draft draft pick. That seemed possible at the start of the year, but he’s since lost a ‘lil mojo. When he’s on, he’s deadly accurate, and even without star WR Gunner Romney, he has the tools to make Saturday extremely annoying.
Puka Nacua, WR
The borderline 4/5 star WR initially committed to Washington in 2019, but transferred to BYU last season. When healthy, he’s a favorite target for Jaren Hall, leading the receiving core the last 3 weeks, including a 141 Yard 1 TD performance against Arkansas.
Keanu Hill, WR
Normally I’d put a RB here, but with their injury mountain, it’s unclear who remains with a pulse. Keanu Hill actually leads the team in receiving yards despite him being something of a #3 or #4 receiver. The reason is of course health, and he’s been a very useful Billy Bowens type receiver for the ‘Cougs.
Ben Bywater, LB
Leading tackler, lead healthy person-er. I think? Anyway 69 tackles, a sack, couple ints, he’s been having a good year. BYU has been lacking in the run defense department but they have the guys to turn it around. Expect Ben to uh, try his best?
Keys to victory
- Turnovers Cannot understate the importance of this here. In this series, turnovers have broken backs and shattered spines. Defense needs to get a couple, offense has to hold on to the ball. It’ll keep out any funny business.
- Run. The. Ball All week and frankly all year I’ve heard about BYU’s porous run defense. I want to see it. I want proof. I’m a skeptical man, and I will be there in assorted layers on the blue carpet with a camera searching for proof. Run for 300 yards, do it. I dare you.
- No big throws It’s unfortunate happenstance that our Broncos have ben victims to the deep pass from time to time, and frankly, that’s BYU’s thing. Skinner needs to take a body and Nacua needs to be on a cold, snowy, blue island. This will be the difference between a stressful game and a blowout.
- The “It” Factor There will be adversity, and there will be challenge. This game has always come down to who wants it more. Shakir took matters into his own hands last year: double coverage? don’t matter, ballgame. 2018 it was Tyson Maeva dragging down Zach Wilson on the goaline. 2016 and 2004 it was a blocked kick at the buzzer (more or less). In 2012, DT Mike Atkinson ran a pick-6 back for the only Bronco TD of the game. Tomorrow a man’s gonna have to become a dude, and he will. Book it.
Score prediction
All I’ve ever wanted was a reverse of 2020, but I’m expecting a dogfight and a walk-off winner. Jonah Buckets will prove huge again for the Good Guys. Taylen Green will make a couple early mistakes, but clutch gene will kick in yet again. Taylen Green is that guy.
Boise State 27, BYU 24
👏👏👏👏
Peering into the future (flux capacitor is working again):
Date: November 5, 2022 8:30 pm’ish
Streaks
Boise State – Won 5
BYU – Lost 5
I was on a cruise during the 2003 game and there was no way to watch that game on the ship or even get live updates. I was surrounded by a bunch of trash talking cougar fans who were sure byu would win. When we finally got word boise state won (and won big) it was the best part of the entire cruise.
Yeah. Too bad nothing happened at all in 2020.
The important implications of this game cannot be expressed enough. Last night Oregon State lost. They may drop from the top 25. Syracuse and UCF, ranked 20th and 25th, play at Pitt and Memphis. An upset of either or both might move them from the top 25. Number 24 Texas plays 13 Kansas at Kansas. An expected Kansas win will likely drop Texas from the top 25. 21st Wake Forest goes to 22nd NC State. What ever happens, one will drop from the top 25. This is not to mention the Tulane/Tulsa game–can’t believe the Tulane thing. The bubble has… Read more »
I’m glad BSU is red hot but, figured BYU would be riding in with a few more wins. So if it would have a little more impact for the rankings if BSU were to win
I’m gonna miss this rivalry so much. I can’t tell you how much I’ve quietly relished in the sad looks on my coworkers’ faces on those Mondays after yet another supposedly stunning loss for their beloved nut punchers.
I don’t see a game thread so I am just gonna comment here. Why isn’t TG pulling the ball more and adding an extra running back. They are running the ball okay but at times they load up on the run…pull that and go!
Yeah no idea about the game thread. Green should have kept multiple times in the first half. The final O call which led to the fumble was unexpectedly bad…I thought BYU scored but I’ll take it. If our O doesn’t start putting together drives with green’s feet and Jeanty/Holani the D is gonna get gassed.
Boise st. D. Hold your ground
Refs goal line calls have been horrible but consistent
Apparently the flux capacitor is still broken🤬