Fresno State hosts Boise State Friday night at Bulldog Stadium in a Mountain West Conference showdown may well have implications on this year’s league championship.

The Broncos have won the past seven games against the Bulldogs. Both teams are the preseason picks to win their respective divisions this season: Fresno State (2-0) in the West and Boise State (2-1) in the Mountain.

Michael Steen, assistant sports editor of The Arbiter, Boise State’s student newspaper, covers the Broncos and says Boise State has seen improvement from quarterback Joe Southwick and the emergence of running back Jay Ajayi.

Boise State won last year’s meeting at home 20-10.

Here’s more of what Steen had to share with The Collegian.

THE COLLEGIAN: Friday night’s matchup between Fresno State and Boise State is a continuation of a rivalry that has been lopsided. What is the mindset of the Boise State football team and community heading into Friday night’s game?

THE ARBITER: Following the opening 32-point loss to Washington, Bronco Nation was beside themselves. It was the worst loss for the Broncos since a 43-15 loss at Georgia in 2005. The offense received a lot of scrutiny due to the lack of creative play calling we are used to seeing.

Now as the offense seems to have turned the corner, it will be interesting to see how it fares against a team that is equal in caliber. I believe there are still a lot of questions waiting to be answered.

Joe Southwick seems to have found a groove these last few games. What are some of the improvements and progressions he’s made, and what’s his role within the Broncos team?

Joe Southwick really began to find his stride at the end of the 2012 season, throwing for 888 yards, along with nine touchdowns and zero interceptions over the final four games of the year.

Minus the hiccup against Washington, Southwick seems to have picked up right where he left off. Southwick’s improved decision making led to him setting the Boise State single-game completion percentage record against Air Force, as he completed 27-of-29 passes on the night.

Defensively, the secondary is younger than last year’s edition. What should we expect from those players on Friday, and how will they factor into the game plan against Derek Carr?

The Bronco secondary lost a couple of key defensive backs last year in Jerrell Gavins and 2013 second-round NFL draft pick Jamar Taylor. Redshirt sophomore safety Darian Thompson and sophomore cornerback Donte Deayon, however, have stepped in nicely for the Broncos.

Pair them with redshirt junior cornerback Bryan Douglas and redshirt junior safety Jeremy Ioane, and the Bronco secondary can pose a threat to Carr and his arsenal of receivers.­ In three games, the Bronco secondary has pulled down five interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Broncos coach Chris Petersen has maintained the national success the Broncos have found over the years… What’s the impact he’s had on the program and on the Boise State fan base?

With an 86-9 record, Chris Petersen has had tremendous success right from the start when he took over as head coach in 2006 after serving as offensive coordinator from 2001-2005.

Petersen is revered in the Boise community and is arguably the best coach to ever come through the ranks of Boise State, and probably college football in general. Petersen has certainly been an important factor, if not the most important, in solidifying Boise State as one of the most consistent programs in the nation.

Who are some players to look out for on the Broncos defense?­

The Broncos defense seems to have hit its stride after the Washington loss and seems like a completely different squad. Redshirt junior defensive end Demarcus Lawrence was named the MWC defensive player of the week after his performance against Air Force.

Lawrence leads the Broncos in tackling this season, and getting pressure on Derek Carr with be a premium for him and redshirt senior defensive tackle Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe.

In the secondary, Douglas and Thompson have had great showings in the Broncos last two games, snatching two interceptions each.

Jay Ajayi has had solid performances these last two games. How will he play into Boise State’s offensive plans?

Redshirt junior running back Jay Ajayi has emerged as the Broncos’ go-to guy on the ground this year, as he exploded on to the scene against Air Force last week. Ajayi had a lot of hype around him here in Boise this summer, but the four-touchdown output against Air Force last week really solidified everyone’s thoughts about him.

Ajayi’s combination of speed and power reminds Bronco fans a lot of former Boise State running back and Tampa Bay star Doug Martin. Boise State relies on a balance between the run and passing game, and if Ajayi can get his yards, it really opens up the Bronco offense.

For the Fresno State fan base, Boise State is the biggest game of the year — it’s huge. What seems to be the Boise State fan base’s perception toward the Bulldogs in terms of the series between the teams?

Obviously, Boise State has been the more dominant program in the series, losing just once since 2001, but the Boise State fan base values the Fresno State rivalry more than any other conference game each year.

The “Milk Can,” sponsored by the dairy farmers both in Fresno and Boise, brings an added touch to the game each year and puts a little bit more on the line when the teams play each other. I believe both teams and fan bases have a mutual respect for one another, and it shows both on and off the field.