Boise State’s faith-driven journey to the College Football Playoffs

For many sports fans, college football takes center stage in December and January, and this year is no different. With the Army-Navy game, the Heisman Trophy Ceremony, and 47 bowl games, college football will certainly be difficult to avoid in the coming weeks. That’s nothing new, but the 12-team College Football Playoff is. From the radical program turnarounds at Indiana and Arizona State to the long-awaited revival of SMU, the newly expanded Playoff is ripe with inspiring stories. 

But the most fascinating storyline might be that of the Boise State Broncos, a smaller scale program with an underrated history. The buzz around Boise is about more than just football. It’s about a faith foundation laid by the head coach, adopted by the star player, and seen throughout the team culture.

The influence of a godly man

On December 6, Boise State defeated UNLV 21-7 in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game. While the Mountain West does not typically play an impactful role in the sport’s national landscape, changes to the College Football Playoff format meant that the winner of Friday night’s matchup would clinch a playoff berth and have the opportunity to compete for a National Championship.

Immediately after finishing off one of the most important victories in school history, Broncos’ head coach Spencer Danielson had this to say: “Jesus deserves all the glory. We serve a champion. He died on the cross, but He rose three days later. That’s the God I serve. Anything is possible.” 

Danielson’s short but explicit gospel presentation stands out amongst a crowd of players and coaches who have offered vaguely spiritual platitudes for decades on TV. He shared similar words during an interview on ESPN’s special playoff selection show on Sunday afternoon. 

Throughout his career, Danielson has refused to shy away from talking about his faith in Jesus. Danielson spoke on the College Gameday podcast in June and shared his heartfelt belief that coaching is about developing young men, which ultimately, he views as inseparable from his faith. 

Danielson took over the head coaching role after the firing of Andy Avalos toward the end of the 2023 season. The Broncos went 3-1 to finish the season, turning around what had otherwise been a disappointing year. With a 12-1 record so far in 2024, Danielson is 15-2 in his head coaching career. At 36, he was the fifth youngest among the 134 head coaches at the highest level of the sport this season.

An incredible example of the influence of Danielson’s public faith can be found in his star running back, Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty is statistically the best running back in college football, a future first-round NFL draft pick, and one of the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy. His platform is large and only growing larger. The star junior credits his time at Boise State for his newfound faith in Jesus: “an ultimate transformation.”

In August, Jeanty was baptized by none other than Coach Danielson. Jeanty now refers to himself as “a Christian cleverly disguised as an All-American running back.” In a September interview with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jeanty went in-depth about the struggle of moving from Texas to Idaho, how he came to follow Jesus, and the role of faith in the team culture.

Following an October victory against Hawaii, a large portion of both teams gathered together on the field for a moment of prayer. Having outspoken Christian leaders in the locker room can change a program’s culture and, from the outside looking in, that appears to be the case in Boise. In every interview, Coach Danielson displays humility and grace while also caring deeply about his players and the competition at hand.

Why it matters

There are other faith-related storylines believers should be aware of while watching the playoffs this year. Both Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and SMU coach Rhett Lashlee regularly talk about their faith openly. Earlier this season, Ohio State players participated in a mass worship and prayer service that changed many lives.

Overall, there is value in Christians being aware of the platform that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have been given. It is good for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren to see Christlikeness modeled by those who inhabit significant positions in our culture. We should pray for those like Coach Danielson, who are often subject to extreme pressure and a higher standard due to the publicity of their faith walk.

There is a lot to admire about the new College Football Playoff beyond simply the great football we will witness in the weeks ahead. If your team is out and you are looking for a rooting interest, consider cheering on the Boise State Broncos, where a young coach is developing young men in a Godly way.

What’s next?

Ashton Jeanty will be center-stage this Saturday night for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Jeanty is one of four finalists vying for the award. Because of extensive pre-recorded and live interviews, conversation surrounding his faith is expected. 

On December 31, Boise State will play in the Fiesta Bowl against the winner of next week’s matchup between SMU and Penn State. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. If they win, they will advance to the semi-final round.

Whether you cheer for Boise State or any of the other teams playing over the coming weeks, please take a moment to pray that God continues to use their platform and that they compete in ways that amplify their witness. Then ask that he would do the same in your own life, using the platform you have—regardless of how public it may appear to be—to bring him glory and help others know him better.

After all, you don’t have to be a Heisman trophy candidate or a playoff-caliber coach to make a difference for the kingdom. Where will you make a difference today?