Boise State Football: Broncos Set for BYU Upset Following Saturday's Victory

One of the major factors in an athlete's ability to perform on game day is the athlete's mental state of mind. 

Physical ability is important, but the player must have the necessary confidence and mindset in order to perform effectively. 

After D.J. Haper's 183-yard and four-touchdown performance against Miami of Ohio, it's probably safe to say that his confidence on the field has reached a level he has never experienced in his five seasons with Boise State. 

And it's not just Harper who has gained confidence throughout the first two games of the season—it's the entire team. 

In the opening week, the Broncos gave Michigan State fits after nearly handing them an upset. The Spartans eventually won 17-13, but it was an impressive performance. 

And this weekend, they were able to convincingly defeat Miami of Ohio in a 39-12 victory. 

The Broncos will face Brigham Young University in Week 3. 

BYU is a ranked team at No. 25, while Boise is unranked, but it's clear that Brigham Young will have knots in their stomachs leading up to the game. 

Sure, BYU had convincing wins over Washington State and Weber State, but they have not seen a competent opponent at any point this season, while Boise's game against Michigan State gave them a considerable amount of preparation. 

What Boise Must Do to Pull Off Upset Over BYU

The Boise State defense has been phenomenal throughout the first two weeks.

They limited Miami of Ohio to only 12 points and only 227 total yards. And against Michigan State, they allowed an unacceptable 213 rushing yards, but they greatly limited their scoring and allowed only 17 points. 

BYU has scored 75 points in its first two games. Even if that's against weak competition, it's still clear that the Broncos defense will have to show up for a third consecutive week. 

On offense, the Broncos need Harper to have a repeat performance. 

Harper's 162 rushing yards were impressive, but it was a career game for the undersized running back. 

For the Broncos' sake, they need to hope that Harper can maintain his confidence and perform once again.