Sep 25, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Boise State Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien (4) throws the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
KICKOFF: Friday, 9 p.m. ET
GAMEDATE: 10/16/15
SITE: Maverik Stadium, Logan, Utah
TV: CBS Sports Network
SERIES: Boise State leads Utah State 15-4. The Broncos won 50-19 in 2014 in Boise.
RANKINGS: Boise State 21st
KEYS TO THE GAME
Boise State coach Bryan Harsin knew when he looked at the Broncos’ schedule that mid-October was going to be a challenge.
The Broncos are playing their first nine games of the season without a bye. They played Saturday at Colorado State and will play Friday at Utah State — a pair of road games in a six-day span against possibly the two most physical Mountain West teams on the schedule, Harsin said.
“Bye weeks usually happen right about now and we don’t have it until (after) Week 9,” said Harsin, whose team also will have a home game against Wyoming and a trip to UNLV before getting a break.”
That raises potential injury concerns.
“We’re going to have to find ways to be creative to keep our guys healthy and have them ready to play,” Harsin said. “But we also knew what we were getting into before we started. How we handle it, I don’t know yet.”
The Broncos took their day off Sunday. They sacrificed some of their time to enjoy the Colorado State victory and analyze the video to turn quickly to Utah State preparation.
The program usually has a “24-hour rule” for digesting the previous game. That was shorter this week.
“That’s over now,” junior nickel Chanceller James said about 16 hours after the game. “It’s not 24 hours this week.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Broncos
–RB Jeremy McNichols leads the nation with 14 touchdowns. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the past two games, but is questionable this week.
–WR Thomas Sperbeck has five touchdown catches in the past four games. He had five grabs for 178 yards and two touchdowns last week against Colorado State.
–S Darian Thompson tied the Mountain West record with his 18th career interception last week against Colorado State. He is one ahead of teammate Donte Deayon.
Aggies
–RB Devante Mays had a career performance in his last outing, rushing for 92 yards and scoring three touchdowns on just nine carries in the rout of Fresno State. For the season, the junior has rushed 35 times for 259 yards.
–WR Devonte Robinson had his first touchdown reception of the season in the win over Fresno State. He is tied for the team lead in receptions with 16 and leads in receiving yards with 254.
–LB Kyler Fackrell leads the Aggies in three defensive categories. He has eight tackles-for-loss with three sacks along with another eight quarterback hurries.
