No. 17 Boise State, boasting the best scoring offense in the nation and led by a running back who could win the Heisman Trophy, faces a Hawaii team with a losing record this weekend in Honolulu.
The Broncos (4-1, 1-0 Mountain West) have defeated the Rainbow Warriors in their past nine matchups, with the most recent Boise State loss in the series coming in 2007. Third-year coach Timmy Chang has a 10-21 record overall, and looking at Hawaii’s results this season, the team wouldn’t seem to be much of a threat. In fact, the Broncos enter the game as 20.5-point favorites.
But hold on. Because of a particular matchup in Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 9 p.m. Mountain time, things might not be as straightforward as expected.
Hawaii boasts the 37th-best passing offense in the nation, averaging 266.6 yards per game, and likes to spread the field while throwing at least 40 times. Meanwhile, Boise State ranks 123rd out of 133 FBS teams for passing yards allowed, at 278.8 per game, and is coming off a game in which Utah State struck for 372 passing yards.
“Whatever defense you’re in, they’re going to have answers to have open receivers,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said this week of Hawaii.
The Rainbow Warriors (2-3, 0-1) are led by senior quarterback Brayden Schager, who’s thrown for 1,328 yards and 11 touchdowns this season while completing about 60% of his passes. Danielson said he also has an eye on sophomore wide receiver Pofele Ashlock, who’s racked up 428 receiving yards on 40 catches — that’s nearly twice as many receptions as Hawaii’s No. 2 receiver.
But it’s not just Schager’s and Ashlock’s playmaking ability that the Broncos are keeping an eye on. Hawaii’s receivers often adjust their routes based on the type of defensive coverage, and Danielson called the offense “very, very sound.”
“A run-and-shoot style offense. They’ve done it for a long time,” Boise State defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said Monday. “I think the biggest thing when you’re facing a group like this is they’re not going to stretch you as much as Utah State did. But I think this group does a really, really good job of adjusting routes based on coverage.”
Redshirt senior safety Rodney Robinson also mentioned Hawaii’s approach to having receivers change their route post-snap, saying it’s not something the Broncos have really faced this year.
Robinson said there are ways to combat route changes, including for Boise State to offer different presnap pictures of coverage before switching up once the quarterback has the ball.
“We have to really communicate because Hawaii will give you some ... I wouldn’t say there’s a huge variation in formations, but there is a variation in the splits,” Chinander said. “So what tools and coverage do we want to play based on what splits we jump?”
Schager has thrown six interceptions this season, and Boise State would love to add to that total. The Broncos have just one interception on the year, which came from sophomore safety Ty Benefield at the end of the first half against Washington State.
“There’s definitely been opportunities where we could come down with picks,” Robinson said. “But as long as we clean up the little things on defense and continue winning, that’s the biggest thing.”
Hawaii vs. Boise State
When: 9 p.m. Mountain time, Saturday
Where: Clarence T.C. Ching Complex (15,194, Turf)
TV: CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz, Robert Turbin)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM/Sirius XM Ch. 160 or 201 (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State 4-1; Hawaii 2-3
Series: Boise State leads the series 15-3
Vegas line: Boise State by 20.5 points
Weather: High of 85, low of 75, humidity 62%, partly cloudy skies, 6% chance of rain
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