Boise State reaches the top 10 of the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2011

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) – Boise State has moved into the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 2011.

The Broncos were ranked 10th in the latest rankings released Sunday, moving up from 11th last week. Boise State defeated Oregon State 34-18 on Friday to finish the regular season with an 11-1 record.

The Broncos will next face No. 19 UNLV in the Mountain West championship game on Friday at Albertsons Stadium. The winner of that match will likely earn an automatic spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Boise State swept No. 14 Miami, which lost 42-38 to Syracuse, which was unranked at the time. The win helped Syracuse jump back into the rankings to No. 23. Aside from its current No. 10, Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to unranked Michigan meant there were no other surprises in the top 10. which would have allowed the Broncos to climb much further up the rankings.

Bronco fans will be watching closely for the CFP committee’s next rankings, which will be released on Tuesday. The CFP rankings matter at the end of the season heading into the playoffs and bowl games, and they have often followed the AP rankings closely.

Last week, Boise State was ranked No. 11 in the CFP rankings. Since the rankings are very similar, Boise State fans should keep an eye on No. 12 Arizona State and No. 16 Iowa State in the Big 12.

The two teams will meet in the Big 12 championship game on December 7th. The top five ranked conference champions automatically receive a spot in the playoffs, but only the top four of those teams receive first-round byes.

Depending on the results of the conference championship games, it could be a tight race between the Mountain West and Big 12 winners for the final bye spot.

Of course, it’s also possible that another team from the Group of Five conferences – Mountain West, AAC, Conference USA, MAC and Sun Belt – could unseat the Mountain West champion. But that’s unlikely to happen since the top candidate is No. 24 in the AAC Army.

Boise State received 1,036 points in the latest poll, behind No. 9 Indiana (1,059 points) and ahead of No. 11 Alabama (840 points). The Broncos also ranked No. 10 in the coaches poll. Boise State amassed 840 points, trailing No. Indiana (895 points) and ahead of No. 11 Alabama (733 points).

AP TOP 25
l: 1. Oregon
2.Texas
3. Penn State
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgia
6. Tennessee
7. Ohio State
8. SMU
9.Indiana
10. Boise State
11.Alabama
12. Arizona State
13.South Carolina
14.Miami
15. Ole Miss
16. Iowa State
17.BYU
18. Clemson
19.UNLV
20.Colorado
21. Illinois
22. Missouri
23. Syracuse
24th Army
25. Memphis