The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of Division I as a member of the Mountain West Conference.
Originally a junior college, Boise State's football program moved up to four-year status in 1968 and competed as an NAIA independent for two seasons. The Broncos were accepted into the NCAA in October 1969, and a month later into the Big Sky Conference, effective the following July. The Broncos began NCAA competition in 1970 in Division II ("College Division" prior to 1973) in a brand new Bronco Stadium. In 1978, the Broncos and the Big Sky moved up to the new Division I-AA (renamed FCS in 2006) and BSU won its first national championship two years later. In 1996, the Broncos joined the Big West Conference and moved up to Division I-A (now FBS).
In three seasons under head coach Dirk Koetter, the Broncos won two Big West championships and moved to the WAC in 2001, when Dan Hawkins took over and guided the Broncos to four WAC titles in five seasons before handing the reins over to Chris Petersen. Under Petersen, Boise State has recorded two undefeated seasons, three undefeated regular seasons, and reached the Bowl Championship Series twice. The2006 season was capped with a win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the memorable 2007 Fiesta Bowl, while the 2009 team defeated Texas Christian in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl to finish the season 14–0. They were just the second team ever to go 14–0 in major college football history. The2010 team achieved their highest preseason ranking in history as the Associated Press ranked the Broncos as the 3rd best team in the country. That same offseason, Boise State accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference starting in 2011. Later in the 2010 season, Boise State achieved the highest rankings in its history, being voted in at #2 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll, as well as earning the #3 slot in the first BCS ranking.
Shortly after the 2010 season, the NCAA accused Boise State of a large number of athletic violations in 5 sports, including football. Due to the large number of violations, and the large number of sports the violations were committed in, the NCAA leveled the charge of "lack of institutional control". The Boise State football program was given three years probation. During this time, they are to receive a reduction of 3 scholarships a year, and a reduction in the number of practices permitted.