Boise State wants to defend Blue Turf against UCF

Things will get even tougher for UCF when they head to Idaho on Saturday night to take on Boise State.

Although Boise State (0-1) suffered a 56-19 loss in Washington last week, they are slight favorites against UCF (1-0).

The Knights defeated Kent State 56-6 and were preparing for their first season in the Big 12.

John Rhys Plumlee rushed for 281 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 90 yards and a score against the Golden Flashes.

“We showed how good we can be,” Plumlee said after the win.

The Knights rushed for 389 yards and five touchdowns against Kent State. Johnny Richardson ran for 100 yards and RJ Harvey added 134 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving.

The pressure is on Boise State defense coordinator Spencer Danielson, who took the blame for last week’s loss.

It was the most points the Broncos had conceded in a regular game since 1998. Washington’s Heisman Trophy nominee Michael Penix Jr. rushed for 450 yards and five touchdowns.

“I take full responsibility,” Danielson said. “I didn’t do well in getting our boys ready to play.”

UCF coach Gus Malzahn said the Knights will practice at least once this week on a blue field in Orlando as they prepare for the blue turf at Albertsons Stadium in Boise.

“They’re a national brand,” Malzahn said of Boise State. “You’re used to winning.”

In fact, over the past 23 years, only Oklahoma (90.8 percent) has been more successful at home than Boise State (130-15, 89.7 percent).

The Broncos will be hoping for a rebound game Saturday from Taylen Green, who completed just 19 of 39 passes for 244 yards, a TD and two interceptions against the Huskies.

Green was the 2022 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, posting an 8-2 record as a starter. Extremely athletic at 6’1″ and 230 pounds, Green had 2,042 yards, 14 touchdowns and six picks last year. He also rushed for 588 yards and 10 touchdowns.

—Field-level media