Boise State Fans Told to Cheer For Oregon's Recovery

Boise State fans are being asked to pull for Oregon this week, a shift driven by how the College Football Playoff ranks teams. Oregon lost its quarterback and too many games to qualify for the twelve-team field, but a strong finish could lift the Ducks back into the top twenty-five. A higher Oregon ranking would improve how Boise State is viewed by the commission, according to the analysis published October 31, 2026.

Oregon spent at or near the top of the market on this year's roster, with costs estimated between $40 million and $50 million. Boise State's roster is estimated at $5 million to $7 million, and possibly as much as $9 million. The Broncos are ranked number twenty in the Associated Press Top Twenty-Five.

The Broncos compete in the Pac-12, which is grouped with the American, the Sun Belt, Conference USA, and the Mountain West. Those conferences vie for the twelfth playoff spot against the Power Four. A berth would mark a program as one of the twelve best in the country.

New Mexico, coached by Jason Eck, is the only other non-Power Conference team with a close loss to a Power Four opponent. Michigan has fallen off, while Oregon won a close game. The Broncos need to win every game because they lack the large backers of schools such as LSU, Oregon, and Ohio State.

Playoff access depends on ranking and conference standing, and the analysis ties Oregon's recovery to Boise State's position. The Ducks closed out a game on October 31, 2026, and any move back toward the top twenty-five would affect how the commission weighs the Broncos.