When it comes to Boise State football and their schedule, one thing is fairly certain: the Lil’ Non-BcS School That Could will pretty much take on all comers.
Virginia Tech and Oregon State this year, Oregon the previous two years. Then, the Beavers in 2012, as well as future match-ups with Utah ('11, ’12, ’13) and Brigham Young ('12, ’13, ’14, ’15).
Now, the school has announced yet another game with a BcS school, and this one is against a team from the best conference in the nation.
According to a press release issued by BSU, the Broncos will open the 2011 season against the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford’s Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. There is no return trip to Boise and Ole Miss is paying Boise State a game guarantee of $900,000.
“This will be a great game to start the 2011 season,” Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier stated. “Playing a team coached by Houston Nutt will add to the fun and excitement.”
This will mark the first time Boise State and Ole Miss have met on the football field, and it will also be a reunion of sorts for Nutt as the current Rebels coach was the Broncos’ head coach in 1997 before taking the head coaching position at Arkansas the following season.
“Diane and I had a wonderful experience there, and we’re glad they’re coming to Oxford,” Coach Nutt said. “Boise State is one of the top programs now, and we have an awesome respect for them. It really takes our schedule to another level.”
“We’re excited for the match-up against Ole Miss,” BSU head coach Chris Petersen said. “It will be great for Bronco Nation and the Boise State program to open the 2011 season against an opponent of that caliber.”
The one-and-done against the Rebels gives Boise five non-conference games on their 2011 schedule.