BOISE – The question looms around the Boise State football program.

Will Hermiston graduate Jared Zabransky start the season opener against rival University of Idaho at 5:05 p.m. (PST) Saturday at Boise, Idaho?

That question will not be answered until the Broncos’ offensive unit takes the field Saturday according to team sources.

Zabransky, a red-shirt sophomore, who graduated from Hermiston High School in 2001, has competed against Boise State senior Mike Sanford for the starting job.

The depth chart released Monday, lists quarterback as Sanford or Zabransky.

Boise State has been picked to repeat as the Western Athletic Conference champions. The Broncos are ranked No. 30 in the Associated Press preseason Top-25 national rankings.

Zabranksy (6-foot-2, 197 pounds) and Sanford have learned from quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie, who posted large numbers in leading Boise State to a 13-1 record last year, highlighted with a win over TCU in the Plains Capital Fort Worth Bowl. With Dinwiddie gone to the NFL, the spot opened for Zabransky or Sanford.

This past spring the starting quarterback role became a competition after Zabranksy wrapped-up spring practice by completing 9-of-11 passes for 132 yards and had a quarterback rating of 212.6 in the annual Blue-Orange game.

Zabransky saw limited time last season, completing 11 of 23 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown.

While at Hermiston, Zabransky passed for 1,600 yards as a senior and earned All-Intermountain Conference honors both his junior and senior seasons. Zabransky also played in the Oregon Bowl All-star game an was a three-year letterman in football, basketball and an all-IMC shortstop in baseball.

Zabransky is majoring in General Arts and Sciences.