Washington Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian will have to gameplan for Boise State in 2013. (Drew Sellers/Sports Press Northwest)

Strike up the band and clear the streets, Washington will open 2013 in the renovated Husky Stadium against Boise State.

Or just bring the band to the game and deal with traffic. Be excited it’s an opener. Hey, it’s not Portland State, right?

In a move to pacify the masses and pump up the return to Husky Stadium, Washington announced on Wednesday the Sept. 7, 2013, opener against the mighty Broncos. The Huskies will hoof to Idaho on Sept. 19, 2015, to return the favor.

“Historically, the Huskies at Husky Stadium have taken on great opponents,” Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian said. “And not just in the Pac-10 – now going to be the Pac-12 – but in the non-conference schedule, as well. Having the first game at Husky Stadium against Boise State is something special.”

Almost. Boise State’s rise and Washington’s simultaneous decline lead to the claim this is big news. It’s not. It’s all right news.

The 2011 and 2012 schedule backoff became necessary for a rebuilding program. Tyrone Willingham’s final parting gift was the ferocious scheduling of the last two years. This is not college basketball. The RPI is of little issue when the title game is not an option. Why frontload the non-conference schedule when you play in one of the best conferences in America?

Washington and Boise State have only played once. The Huskies beat the Broncos, 24-10, on Sept. 8, 2007, at Husky Stadium.

That’s also part of the underwhelming aspects of this announcement. Boise State’s recent visit dulls this news. A big-name, big-tradition treat was expected. A rare bird flying west.

Boise State is a powerful team. One to be respected, that is a dominating 38-2 the last three seasons. One of the best programs in the country.

For whatever reason, the news carries moderate weight, not the anticipated anvil.

Washington’s 2011 schedule:
Sept. 3: Eastern Washington
Sept. 10: Hawaii
Sept. 17: at Nebraska
Sept. 24: Cal
Oct. 1: at Utah
Oct. 8: BYE
Oct. 15: Colorado
Oct. 22: at Stanford
Oct. 29: Arizona
Nov. 5: Oregon
Nov. 12: at USC
Nov. 19: at Oregon State
Nov. 26: Washington State

2012 non-conference schedule:
Sept. 1: Portland State
Sept. 8: Nevada
Sept. 29: at LSU

2013 non-conference schedule:
Sept. 7: Boise State
Sept. 14: at Illinois
Sept. 21: TBD
Conference games to follow.

2014 non-conference schedule
Aug. 30: at Hawaii
Sept. 6: Eastern Washington
Sept. 13: Illinois

2015 non-conference schedule
Sept. 5: Sacramento State
Sept. 12: at Hawaii
Sept. 19: at Boise State

2017 non-conference schedule
Aug. 31: at Wisconsin

2016 non-conference schedule
TBD

2018 non-conference schedule
Sept. 18: Wisconsin