After the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then reinstated, the Broncos played seven games, compiling a 5–2 record (5–0 in conference play). The team then lost to San Jose State in the Mountain West Championship Game. On December 20, the team announced that it had decided to forgo playing in any bowl game.[2] The program had appeared in 18 consecutive bowl games, dating back to the 2002 Humanitarian Bowl.[3]
On December 22, head coach Bryan Harsin resigned to become the head coach at Auburn.[4] He finished at Boise State with a seven-year record of 69–19.
Boise State announced its 2020 football schedule on February 27, 2020.[5] The 2020 schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference announced the suspension of the football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7] The new schedule was released by the Mountain West on October 1, 2020.[8]
Referee: Mike Cuttone • Umpire: Mark Warner • Linesman: Justin Gragg • Line judge: Carlos Owens • Back judge: M. Aaronian • Field judge: Michael Defee • Side judge: T. Castleberry • Center judge: Ian Malepeai
Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: 17 MPH N
Referee: Brandon Cruse • Umpire: Sheldon Davis • Linesman: George Gusman • Line judge: Jay Bilbo • Back judge: Donnie Aultman • Field judge: Scott Gaines • Side judge: Rick Ockey
Referee: David Alvarez • Umpire: Stuart Schake • Linesman: Rick Smith • Line judge: Mark Estermyer • Back judge: Terrance Jones • Field judge: Jason Ledet • Side judge: Corey Luxner • Center judge: Kenneth Ray
Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C) • Weather: Mostly Cloudy • Wind: 9 MPH E
Referee: Timothy Davis • Umpire: Rico Orsot • Linesman: Eric Carmouche • Line judge: J Weatherford • Back judge: Robert Lewis • Field judge: Brian Wirfel • Side judge: Keith Claiborne
Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: 21 MPH E
Referee: Mike Cuttone • Umpire: Mark Wagner • Linesman: Justin Gragg • Line judge: Carlos Owens • Back judge: M. Aaronian • Field judge: Michael Defee • Side judge: T. Castleberry
Referee: Cal McNeill • Umpire: David Williams • Linesman: George Shoup • Line judge: Steve Hoslett • Back judge: Al Moore • Field judge: Albert Bryant • Side judge: Tom Bessant
Following a game against the Brigham Young University Cougars on November 6, 2020, most of the players of both teams knelt midfield at Boise's Albertsons Stadium.[9] Images of the unusual prayer circulated on social media and the story was covered by Deseret News who reported that the prayer was led by Boise State's team chaplain Pastor Mark Thornton. "We started with prayer, we're going to end with prayer, and we're going to give the glory to God," said Thornton. The chaplain had regularly lead prayer on the field after games and held chapel the night before.
The story of Boise State, a public university, having an official team chaplain organizing religious services drew the attention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). The foundation sent a letter to Boise State President Marlene Tromp stating that employing a chaplain was a constitutional violation and that it could make some student athletes feel coerced into prayers against their wishes.[10] FFRF Staff Attorney Christopher Line explained, "Government chaplains may only exist as an accommodation of a public employee’s religious beliefs when the government makes it difficult or impossible to seek out private ministries...Boise State football players have no government-imposed burden on their religion, so there is no need — or legitimate legal reason — for Boise State to provide a chaplain for them."
Boise State responded by eliminating the official chaplain position and pledged to take measures to "resolve the issue and establish appropriate constitutional boundaries."[11] President Tromp emphasized the importance of students' rights to make their own choices about their spiritual lives, telling Deseret News, "Boise State will always support our students’ right to pray, should they wish to do so. As a public institution, we cannot sponsor or endorse a specific religious advisor."[12]
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a non-profit law firm promoting religious accommodationism, criticized the FFRF after Boise State's pledge to reform. Becket Fund vice president Luke Goodrich called the FFRF "bullies" and erroneously claimed that it had forced a Kansas middle school to end their Christmas toy drive.[13][14] "Many public universities have team chaplains, and it’s not only constitutional but good to accommodate players’ voluntary religious practices in this way," said Goodrich.
