Coming off a successful previous season of 13–2 and the runner-up in the national championship,[2] BSU was ranked eighth in the preseason I-AA poll,[3] and climbed to third after an opening victory at Division I-A Utah State.

[7][8] After five consecutive wins, the Broncos climbed back to #16 prior to the regular season finale at rival Idaho,[9] whom they defeated the previous year in Boise to break a twelve-game losing streak in the series.

[10] With a likely playoff berth on the line;[11][12] BSU lost by twenty in the Kibbie Dome to end their season in a four-way tied for second place.

[13][14][15] Surging Idaho (6–4) was selected for the final at-large berth for the postseason,[16][17][18] but was matched against top-ranked McNeese State in southwest Louisiana and made a quick exit.

[22][23] The tumor in his upper right arm was removed in March and he underwent extensive chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant in July at the Fred Hutchinson Center in Seattle.