Before Boise State became a national powerhouse, before the run of victories against the Pac-12 and made-for-TV showdowns, before those three Fiesta Bowls, the Broncos were one of the most predictable programs in college football.
They dominated their conference. They were untouchable at home. They forced turnovers in bunches. They threw the ball with precision. And they overwhelmed opponents with head-shaking depth.
As the program has slipped in recent years — the Broncos have finished outside the Top 25 three of the past four years — all of those givens have disappeared.
For the Broncos to regain their status as a Top 25 program and rejoin the conversation for New Year’s Six bowl spots, they’ll need to thrive in those five areas again.