While the Boise St. Broncos finished at No. 6/8 in the postseason Coaches and AP polls, the 2012 preseason rankings in August won't have the team that high. The early 2012 preseason polls that are coming out in the days after the end of the 2011 college season aren't as bullish on the Broncos as the end-of-the season polls, either. However, SB Nation's Bill Connelly has his own 2012 preseason Top 25 and the Broncos come in at No. 15:
How much respect do I have for Boise State? They are losing virtually every Bronco I can name, on both sides of the ball, but I just assume they won't take a huge step backwards.
Connelly then goes on to compare the 2012 Broncos to the TCU Horned Frogs of 2011, a team that opened with a loss and then gelled over the final months of the season after losing its longtime starting quarterback. TCU, incidentally, is ranked No. 12 in this preseason Top 25.
The Broncos open the season against the Michigan St. Spartans, ranked No. 20 by Connelly. Will the Broncos need to overcome a season-opening road loss to the Spartans? We'll find out on Aug. 31.
For more on the Broncos, visit Boise State blog One Bronco Nation Under God. For more college football news and notes, visit SB Nation NCAA Football.