Watch Epic Flyover as Boise State Hosts ESPN College GameDay for First Time Since 2010

The show returned to the campus for the first time since 2010 ahead of a matchup against the Oregon State Beavers. The three-hour pregame broadcast began at 7 a.m. Two F-15E Strike Eagle fighter planes from the Mountain Home Air Force Base executed an aerial flyover above the crowd during the morning broadcast, as Bleacher Report reported.

Travel Disruptions and Set Arrivals

Oregon State arrived in Boise late Friday night around 9:45 p.m. MT after being caught in a Federal Aviation Administration ground stop, according to Sports Illustrated. Show panelist Pat McAfee incorporated the transportation delays into his arrival by riding a horse onto the set.

Governor Brad Little designated November 13 through November 15 as “College GameDay Weekend” across Idaho to commemorate the broadcast, KIVI-TV reported. The governor also met with members of the broadcast crew during their visit to the state.

Beginning Friday, November 13 at 11:59 p.m., several campus parking lots closed. These included the University Plaza Broadway parking lot, the Alumni and Friends parking lot, the East Stadium parking lot, the West Stadium parking lot, the Bronco Lane area, the Engineering Technology parking lot, and the Norco parking lot. Permit holders were required to clear these zones to avoid citations and towing.

On Saturday morning at 8 a.m., the West Reserve and Towers parking lot was closed to new entries to accommodate a performance scheduled at the Morrison Center later in the day. Traffic closures affected Manitou Avenue and Grant Avenue between Belmont Street and University Drive from midnight on Saturday until the conclusion of the game.

For visitors with limited mobility, Boise State Bronco Shuttles operated on game day from designated parking zones to Albertsons Stadium. Pickup stations were established at the Lincoln Garage on the west side of Lincoln Avenue and the Brady Garage on the north side near the parking lot. Shuttle services ran every 10 to 15 minutes starting at 2 p.m. until one hour after the final whistle.

Unanimous Picks on Blue Turf

All GameDay panelists, alongside guest picker and former running back Ian Johnson, selected No. 24 Boise State to defeat Oregon State, Sports Illustrated noted. Johnson returned to campus nearly two decades after scoring the winning two-point conversion in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma, KIVI-TV reported.

“Boise, watch out. Oregon State can score lots of points. But you will outscore them today,” Nick Saban said on the broadcast.

“When it comes down to playing on that blue turf and the physicality, how do you ever pick against Boise State?” Kirk Herbstreit said.

Pat McAfee added commentary on the individual player matchups during the broadcast. “Jesse Legree might be the best receiver in all of football … but give me Boise State,” Pat McAfee said during the broadcast.

Leighton Vander Esch Secures $1 Million for Make-A-Wish

Former player Leighton Vander Esch converted a second-chance field goal attempt during the morning event to secure $1 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Sports Illustrated reported. Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson spoke about the impact of hosting the program during the week under sunny skies following a rainy and windy night at DeChevrieux Field.

“For our players and our coaches, it is ‘How can we play our best on Saturday at 4 o’clock?’ But when you think program-wide—now, for the future, for the future of college football for Boise State—these are pillars in the college football world … for a long time,” Danielson said.

The visiting Beavers enter the afternoon contest with a 5-4 overall record and a 3-2 mark in conference play. The nationally ranked Broncos hold an 8-1 record overall and stand at 5-0 in conference competition.

Kickoff at Albertsons Stadium, which features a 34,423 seating capacity on turf, is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT on USA Network. Radio coverage is provided via KBOI 670 AM, KBOI 93.1 FM, and SiriusXM.

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