Virginia football will face its third preseason ranked opponent in just the fourth week of the season. UVa matches up against the Boise State Broncos under the lights at Scott Stadium on Friday, September 25. The waters are a little murkier than they have been in past years for Boise State due to the end of the Chris Petersen era. Petersen, as head coach of the Broncos, compiled a 92-12 record, including two Fiesta Bowl victories, before departing for the head coaching position at Washington. Boise State comes off a strong 2014 season, their first under coach Bryan Harsin, which ended with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Arizona.

Boise State Peek

• Head Coach (record at school): Bryan Harsin (12-2)
• 2014 Record: 12-2
• Offense: Pro-style
• Offense Returning Starters: 9
• Offense 2014 Total Yards/Game (national rankings): 494 (14th)
• Offense 2014 Points/Game: 39.7 (9th)
• Defense: 3-4
• Defense Returning Starters: 8
• Defense 2014 Total Yards/Game: 366 (40th)
• Defense 2014 Points/Game: 26.5 (65th)

What To Expect On Game Day

Offense: The workhorse of one of the most run-heavy offenses in recent Boise State history, although that is not saying much, is gone. Jay Ajayi, one of the nation’s most prolific rushers in 2014 with 1,823 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground, is now a Dolphin. The running back spot this year likely will feature a committee of running backs, at least in the early going. Boise State returns just more than 40 carries and 300 yards of rushing experience, split fairly evenly between junior Devin Demas and sophomore Jeremy McNichols. This duo will get help from graduate transfer Kelsey Young, who rushed for 331 yards at Stanford last year. The offensive line returns all of its 2014 starters and looks to duplicate the success from last year.

The Broncos lost the most accurate passer in the FBS in 2014 in Grant Hedrick (70.8% completion percentage). Sophomore Ryan Finley will fill in for Hedrick under center to begin the season. That was the result of a four-way race this offseason. Finley will be looking to get the ball to Thomas Sperbeck and Shane Williams-Rhodes (5’6”), who led the team last year together with a combined 1,462 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.

Another significant change for BSU: Eliah Drinkwitz has moved up to offensive coordinator after serving as tight ends coach in 2014. He brings both valuable experience with good offenses and familiarity with Coach Harsin’s system to the table. He was a graduate assistant on the Auburn team that won the National Championship in 2010, and has coached with Bryan Harsin for three years now, including one year at Arkansas State. Look for tight end Jake Roh to build on his 408-yard, two-touchdown freshman season with his former position coach now at the helm.

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