In eight seasons at Boise State, he posted a record of 92–12, won five conference titles and two BCS games.

Boise State was originally set to join the Big East Conference, along with fellow Mountain West member San Diego State, for football in 2013; however, after the Big East announced a split between its FBS members (which eventually became the American Athletic Conference) and its non-FBS schools (which kept the Big East name), Boise State announced on December 31, 2012 that it would stay in the Mountain West Conference.

This was the second consecutive meeting between the Broncos and the Huskies as they met at the end of the 2012 season in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas.

The previous highest margin of defeat was 14, also coming against Washington in 2007, Petersen's second year as head coach.

The Broncos were allowed to wear their all blue uniforms for the first time during a home conference game since joining the Mountain West in 2011.