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Boise • Having played in venues such as 110,000-seat Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, 100,000-seat Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, 90,000-seat Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., and 80,000-seat Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., the past few years, the BYU football team knows what loud, raucous and rowdy is all about.

Taysom Hill, Mitchell Juergens, Jamaal Williams, Nick Kurtz, Harvey Langi and other BYU seniors have pretty much seen — and heard — it all, including games at Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, which is always at full-throat when the Cougars roll into Salt Lake City.

But none of that noise at some of college football's most hallowed and tradition-steeped grounds compares to the wild, cacophonic scene at relatively intimate Albertsons Stadium (capacity 36,387) on the banks of the Boise River, where the resurgent Cougars (4-3) will put their three-game winning streak on the line late Thursday night against the undefeated and No. 14-ranked Broncos of Boise State.

"Mitch Juergens told me it is the loudest place he has ever played in," BYU sophomore receiver Moroni Laulu-Pututau said. "I was like, 'More than Nebraska?' And he said, 'Yeah, louder than Nebraska.' He said he doesn't know how, but they have some great fans up there and on third down you can't hear anything."

Two years ago, BYU stunk it up here in a defenseless, putrid showing that resulted in a 55-30 loss and took a bite out of then-coach Bronco Mendenhall's reputation as a defensive genius.

"I remember we lost pretty bad. It was a painful game. The environment there, it is a loud, hostile crowd. … This is a rivalry, so to speak, for them, as I understand it. So they come out and bring their A-game. It is a loud place to play. The blue field messes with everybody's heads," BYU defensive end Sae Tautu said of the 2014 debacle.

The Cougars trimmed their series deficit with Boise State to 2-4 last year at LaVell Edwards Stadium with a 35-24 win, further fueling the burgeoning rivalry. BYU's biggest rival is Utah, and always will be, but the Broncos have talked all week as if the Cougars are now their top rival.

"I would definitely say [it is a rivalry]," BSU linebacker Ben Weaver told the Idaho Statesman. "Losing to them a few times [sparked it], especially after last year. It is a physical game every single time we play them."

Said former Bingham High star Durrant Miles, one of four returned LDS missionaries on Boise State's roster: "We take every opponent seriously each week, but is something special when we play BYU."

Hill, an Idahoan who almost pulled off an upset on The Blue his freshman season in 2012, losing 7-6 when his two-point conversion pass failed, said the Cougars have already talked about the need to win at Boise before they can call it a big-time rivalry.

"At least in my time here at BYU, we've won every game here and they've won every game there, so I think it is a great opportunity for us to go up there and get a W," he said. "It is loud, but we have been in those environments multiple times."

Defensively, the Cougars will have their hands full against a balanced attack that ranks 34th in the country, averaging 466.7 yards per game. Senior receiver Thomas Sperbeck needs 34 yards to become the school's career receiving yardage leader, while junior running back Jeremy McNichols is fifth in the country in rushing yards per game, 134.6.

"They have a lot of great athletes. Their run game is really good and their quarterback [Brett Rypien] is really efficient," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. "They have a strong and physical O-line. They are a tough opponent and we look forward to playing our best and seeing if we can get it done on Thursday."

Offensively, BYU would like to calm the crowd with a better start than it has had in the past two games. They scored just three points in the first half of the 31-14 win at Michigan State and seven points before halftime last Friday before edging Mississippi State 28-21 in double overtime.

Sitake said the Cougars are prepared to "empty the tank" because they won't play again until Nov. 5 at Cincinnati.

"If we do our jobs and play a clean football game, I think we will be in a great spot," he said.

Twitter: @drewjay —

BYU at No. 14 Boise State

P At Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho

Kickoff • 8:21 p.m.

TV • ESPN

Radio: •1160 AM, 102.7 FM, Sirius XM 143

Records • BYU 4-3, Boise State 6-0

Series history • Boise State leads, 4-2

Last meeting • BYU 35, Boise State 24 (Sept. 12, 2015)

About the Broncos • They are No. 14 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, and are coming off a 28-23 win over Colorado State at home. … They are 3-0 against BYU in Boise, with wins in 2004, 2012 and 2014. … They are one of only 11 unbeaten teams in the country and are playing their first Thursday night game at home since hosting BYU in 2012, a 7-6 victory. … They rank 11th nationally in red-zone scoring (19 for 20).

About the Cougars • Jamaal Williams is No. 2 nationally in rushing yards (942), fourth in rushing yards per game (134.6) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (11). … They are 14th in the country in third-down conversion percentage (49 percent) and 68th in total offense (405.1 ypg.). … They are extremely balanced offensively with 1,406 rushing yards and 1,429 passing yards through seven games. … They have a bye next week and will play next at Cincinnati on Nov. 5.