| Boise State vs. Utah State
GAME: Utah State at Boise State
TIME: 03:00 P.M. EST
VENUE: Bronco Stadium
Boise State is on track to play in a BCS bowl game. Right now, though, the Broncos are more concerned about their star running back.
The 13th-ranked Broncos (10-0, 6-0 WAC) may be without Ian Johnson on Saturday when they face Utah State (1-9, 1-5) in their final home game of the season.
Boise State held off San Jose State 23-20 on Saturday, winning on Anthony Montgomery's field goal as time expired to remain one of four undefeated teams along with Ohio State, Michigan and Rutgers.
The Broncos moved up to No. 12 in the BCS standings and can earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if they finish the season in the top 12, or if they are in the top 16 and ahead of one of the six conference champions with an automatic bid. Wake Forest is the highest ranked ACC team, in 16th place.
Boise State is looking to become just the second team from outside the BCS conferences to earn a berth. Utah played in the Fiesta Bowl in 2004.
Boise State leads second-place Hawaii by a half-game in the WAC and can capture at least a share of the league title with a win over Utah State. The Broncos, who wrap up their regular season Nov. 25 at Nevada, have won 50 of their last 52 games on their home blue turf.
Saturday's win came at a cost, however, as Johnson suffered a partially collapsed lung sometime during the game. He came out late in the fourth quarter and was taken to the hospital after the final whistle.
Johnson left O'Connor Hospital in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday after five days of treatment, but his status for this game is uncertain.
"It's still up in the air, but we're not going to rush him," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said Monday.
Johnson ranks fourth in the nation with 146.6 rushing yards per game and leads the country with 21 rushing touchdowns. It was not clear exactly when he was injured.
"I think in a lot of ways that's why it was so perplexing," Petersen said. "Usually a guy gets popped, gets drilled, and he goes down and you know exactly to check him out. It just kind of came on him."
Johnson ran for 149 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries against the Spartans. Boise State trailed by eight in the fourth quarter before rallying.
The Broncos were behind at the half for the first time this season and scored fewer than 36 points in a game for just the second time. Quarterback Jared Zabransky directed two fourth-quarter scoring drives despite a draining illness.
"He's a little sick, but he's fine," Petersen said of his senior quarterback, who couldn't speak to reporters after going 14-of-20 for 181 yards. "He only has so many games left as a Bronco. He'll be out there. If we don't make those plays he made in our passing game, we're in big trouble."
Utah State was shut out for the fourth time this season Saturday, 42-0 by Nevada. Junior tailback Antraun McDaniel made his first start and ran for 78 yards on 14 carries, and the Aggies were held to 207 total yards after averaging 345 in their previous three games.
Utah State has lost all six of its road games and four straight overall. The Aggies' only win this season came Oct. 7, 13-12 over Fresno State.
"Even without Ian Johnson's presence, they are still very capable of scoring points," coach Brent Guy said of Boise State. "They are very tough on defense and it is going to be hard to score points.
"Great atmosphere. It will be sold out. It is a place you want to go play a college football game."
Boise State leads the series with Utah State 8-4 and has won five straight meetings. Zabransky threw four touchdown passes in his team's 45-21 win at Utah State last season. |