If you are a Boise State fan, then you must have enjoyed your team’s run to the college football playoffs. While the performance against Penn State might have left a bad taste in your team, you saw some positive signs. But it seems the fairytale is slowly turning into a nightmare. Why? Players are taking an exit door, and a staff shakeup has also started. The latest to drop the Broncos’ uniform is Malachi Nelson.

On3’s Pete Nakos took to his X handle and shared the latest buzz surrounding the transfer portal. While the portal is already officially closed for other teams, the players in the CFB playoff had an additional window of 5 days since their last playoff game to register their names. It seems Nelson, a 5-star QB in the 2023 class, is the latest to put his name through after witnessing the Broncos’ loss to the Lions.

Nakos wrote, “Boise State transfer QB Malachi Nelson has officially signed with UTEP, @On3sports has learned.” This exit comes days after they lost WR Prince Strachan to the transfer portal. Notably, Strachan was the first starter but, overall, the 12th Broncos man to take to the portal. These two losses to the squad will sting Boise State, as they wanted to build on this season’s success and make strides in the next season.

What’s more? They had already lost their offensive coach, Dirk Koetter, who could only spend one season at the Boise State. The reason? Growing frustration with other teams raiding the Broncos after their successful campaign. He admitted that their team couldn’t match the financial might and the NIL offer put on the table by others.

Penning an emotional message on Facebook, Koetter said, “Our best players are getting offered between 2 and 10 times what we can offer. We are losing recruits in the portal to schools that are just flat-outbidding us. I know it’s not all about the money, and Coach D and staff will undoubtedly continue to find the ‘right kind of guys’. But money is an issue.”

If Boise State still could somehow clinch onto its players, what about the players who have declared for the NFL? If you had watched them closely this season, they appeared overly reliant on the heroics of Ashton Jeanty. So, what happens after that amid the outflow of players and growing concerns for the next season?

Boise State’s college football season in 2025

All is not bleak for Boise State. They have the defensive duo of Demetrius Freeney and Keanu Mailoto joining from Arizona. But the offensive line still needs a major boost. It was their offensive line against the Lions that failed to run the ball, and they paid the price by getting knocked out of the quarterfinals. With Koetter stepping down, some serious questions lie ahead for Spencer Danielson.

But if you look at the Broncos’ season, they picked up 11 straight wins, culminating in winning the Mountain West title and earning the number 3 seed. However, their loss might raise some eyebrows about the automatic bye systemic. If you keep that aside, you have seen encouraging signs, and you can expect the Boise State to build on this season’s success. Their biggest question will be the replacement for Jeanty and a firing offensive line. If they manage that, maybe a route to a second consecutive college football playoffs might open up.