Looking ahead to the college football season, one of the things we have to talk about is the top representatives for the Group of 6 in the College Football Playoff. The team with the target on its back is easily Boise State. But, it just makes too much sense to bet on the Broncos getting back to the college football playoff this season.

Now I want to be clear. I made a pick for Texas State previously, and of course I was biased in that as a graduate from that school. But this is my actual prediction on who I think represents the Group of 6, and the Broncos check just about every single box.

Boise State’s roster continuity is real for Spencer Danielson’s squad

Maddux Madsen returns at the quarterback position, and it feels like he’s been playing college football forever. You have continuity there paired with a running back duo that’s one of the best in the entire country. You have an offensive line that has continuity. The coaching staff has that continuity as well. That kind of stability across the board is rare, and it matters when you’re talking about a team trying to make a deep postseason run.

Defensively, you expect the secondary to take a step forward because Boise State made some great additions in the transfer portal. I’m always skeptical of transfer additions, but when you’re supplementing an already established identity rather than building one from scratch, that’s a completely different situation.

And then there’s the home-field advantage, which is one of the best in all of college football, especially late into the year. Once we get to the cold weather, nobody wants to go play on that blue turf outdoors against a Boise State program that’s going to be physical, that’s going to run the football on you with a competent quarterback who has veteran experience and has already made it to a college football playoff. That combination is brutal for visiting teams.

The schedule is more than manageable for the Broncos to make a strong push

Now let’s talk about the schedule, which in my opinion is more than manageable. The Broncos face off against Oregon early. If that game is anything remotely competitive, it only helps their case going forward. But then the three main matchups that matter are Memphis at home, Fresno State on the road (I’ll be fascinated by that one), and then late into the season, Texas State. You’re asking a Texas school to travel in the middle of November to Boise, Idaho. I like your chances there.

By all means, there are great contenders in the Group of 6. But I want the team where I know exactly what I’m going to get, where the identity is already solidified with a quarterback and a coaching staff I fully believe in. Boise State is my pick to make the College Football Playoff, and I’m stamping it.