College Football's Crossroads Intersect at Boise State

LOS ANGELES — No program through the first two decades of the 21st Century more consistently ran up against but also chipped away at college football’s glass ceiling than Boise State. With the sport amid a period of more major changes in a shorter span than any time since in modern history, the Boise States of the world perhaps face an even stronger barrier between them and the game’s upper echelon.

Following a 35-22 loss to UCLA in the L.A. Bowl, Broncos coach Spencer Danielson — upgraded from interim head coach following Andy Avalos’ firing in November to the permanent position after leading Boise State to the Mountain West Conference championship — unintentionally addressed the uncharted territory for programs like his.

“My number one goal is to continue to make Boise State a place where players come, they stay, they're developed, they play in the NFL,” he said.

Danielson and BSU will be one of the most interesting programs to follow in the coming years, navigating the new landscape, because of all Broncos football did to gain relevance in the previous 20 years.