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Boise State opens WAC play against Louisiana Tech

Sep 30, 2008 - 2:43 PM Louisiana Tech (2-1) at (18) Boise State (3-0), 8:00 pm EDT

BOISE, Idaho (Ticker) -- Last season, Boise State's five-year reign atop the Western Athletic Conference was ended by Hawaii.

The 18th-ranked Broncos begin a quest for their sixth WAC title in seven years Wednesday when they host Louisiana Tech in the conference opener for both teams.

Boise State (3-0, 0-0 WAC) has been off since upsetting then-No. 12 Oregon, 37-32, on September 20. It was a signature win for the program, as the Broncos defeated a BCS conference school on the road for the first time.

The victory vaulted the Broncos into the top 25 at No. 22, and they climbed four spots last week despite not playing.

Boise State freshman quarterback Kellen Moore raised a few eyebrows in his first road start, passing for 386 yards and three touchdowns in a difficult environment against the Ducks.

The Broncos are the winningest program in the Football Bowl Subdivision in the decade, posting an 89-16 record since 2000, with their most memorable victory being their 43-42 win over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Since 2003, they also boast the best home mark in the FBS, winning 34 of their last 35 games on the blue turf.

Louisiana Tech (2-1, 0-0) also has not played since September 20, when it posted a 41-26 victory over Southeast Louisiana. The week before, the Bulldogs were blanked at Kansas, 29-0.

Tailback Ian Johnson did not play in Boise State's 45-31 win over Louisiana Tech last season due to a bruised kidney. But he was hardly missed, as Taylor Tharp threw five touchdown passes.

In Boise State's first three games this season, Johnson has rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries.