BOISE, Idaho — The Boise State football teams announced a home-at-home series with the University of Central Florida. Boise State will open the 2021 season in Orlando, Florida at Spectrum Stadium. The UCF Knights will make a return trip to Albertsons Stadium in 2023.
The game marks the meeting of two "Group of Five" programs that have pushed for national respect in college football.
“We are excited to have this series on the schedule, and thrilled to be able to bring our fans another marquee game on The Blue,” Apsey said. “I believe this is a match-up that college football fans throughout the country want to see, and one that our student-athletes will be excited to play.”
The two programs have pushed their way into the national conversation both in the former BCS and current college football playoffs but have largely been seen as unworthy of scheduling traditional power conference teams. UCF particularly has been criticized for their scheduling strategy opting to demand home games from SEC teams. Boise State has traditionally accepted neutral site games against Power Five schools.
Boise State and UCF have not previously met in football.
To accommodate the series with UCF, the Broncos have moved their 2021 game at Houston to the 2025 season, and their 2023 game against Rice to 2029.
For the 2021 nonconference slate, the Broncos will now play on the road against UCF and BYU, and home games against UTEP and Oklahoma State. In 2023, nonconference tilts will be played at home against both Oregon State and UCF, and on the road against Michigan State and BYU.
Boise State has played just two games against the American Athletic Conference, going 2-0 against Connecticut. However, against schools that currently comprise the league, the Broncos are 10-1 all-time. Boise State is 6-0 against Tulsa, and 2-0 against both SMU and UConn. The only blemish came against East Carolina in the 2007 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
Here’s a complete look at the Broncos’ future nonconference schedules through 2029. (Dates are subject to change for television)
2020
Sept. 5 - Georgia Southern
Sept. 19 - Florida State
Oct. 3 - @ Marshall
Nov. 7 - BYU
2021
TBD/Week One - @ UCF
Sept. 11 - UTEP
Sept. 18 - Oklahoma State
Oct. 9 - @ BYU
2022
Sept. 3 - @ Oregon State
Sept. 17 - Michigan State
Sept. 24 - @ UTEP
Nov. 5 - BYU
2023
Sept. 2 - Oregon State
Sept. 9 - UCF
Sept. 16 - @ Michigan State
Oct. 21 - @ BYU
2024
Aug. 31 - @ Georgia Southern
Sept. 7 - Houston
Sept. 14 - @ Oregon
2025
Aug. 30 - @ USF
Sept. 13 - Oregon
Sept. 20 - @ Houston
Oct. 25 - BYU
2026
Sept. 5 - @ Oregon
Sept. 12 - East Carolina
Sept. 19 - @ Washington State
Nov. 7 - @ BYU
2027
Sept. 4 - @ Rice
Sept. 11 - USF
Sept. 18 - Washington State
Sept. 25 - BYU
2028
Sept. 2 - Cincinnati
Sept. 9 - @ East Carolina
Sept. 23 - @ BYU
2029
Sept. 1 - @ Cincinnati
Sept. 15 - Rice
Sept. 22 - BYU
