BOISE - Rivalry is defined as two opposing forces pursuant of the same goal. This rivalry between the University of Idaho and Boise State University is not perfect in those terms. The goals are different in many regards and identical in others.

The No. 9 Broncos pursue a berth in the Bowl Championship Series, an undefeated season and unparalleled recruiting prowess in the state of Idaho. The Vandals are looking for substantiation, respect and the ability to boast about beating a BCS-bound Bronco squad.

But the battle for supremacy in the state goes beyond the football field and into the living rooms and high school practice facilities on all competition levels in Idaho. This identical goal is the off-field battle over landing recruits.

The Vandals have 12 Idaho players on their roster. The Broncos have eight, and five are starters.

"We've done a pretty good job with keeping as many guys here who can help us win," BSU head coach Chris Petersen said. "I wish they all came from Idaho, it would make our job so tremendously easy."

The majority of Broncos who are Idaho natives are from the Treasure Valley, the highest-populated area in the state with a growing pool of athletes. Tim Brady, Kyle Efaw, Sean King, Nate Potter, Jerrell Root, Andy Silsy, Kyle Brotzman, Mitch Burroughs, Tyler Shoemaker, Shea McClellin and Matt Kaiserman all came from the valley. Only Byron Hout (Coeur d'Alene) is from outside the area. Even Cedric Febis, originally from Amsterdam, went to Bishop Kelly High.

"Recruiting, to me, is so population based," Petersen said. "The more people there are, the more football players there's going to be. For the amount of people in Idaho, with three universities here, all kind of vying for the same kid, we've done a pretty good job."

The winning, the bowl games, the television coverage, the national rankings, all of it surely helps the BSU recruiting staff land Idaho's top recruits.

"The more you can win ... your chances of getting guys you want certainly increases," Petersen said. "The state is so partial. When you go up north there's a lot more people that have been Vandal fans for a long time, down here, probably Bronco fans, east, probably Idaho State fans. The more you win and your name's out there, the more they may pay attention to you for different reasons."

The Bronco roster reaches beyond Gem State borders. California has a huge population advantage on Idaho, hence BSU has 42 players from there. But the Broncos reach farther: Colorado (2), Texas (4), Washington (4), Pennsylvania, Montana, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada (3), Oregon (7), Georgia, Florida, Maryland (2), New Jersey, Wyoming (2), Canada (2), Arizona (5) and even Amsterdam.

But in Idaho it's hard sometimes to find those diamonds. Some of the best players didn't get scholarships immediately (Petersen mentioned two walk-ons, Jeb Putzier and Brock Forsey).

"Recruiting is such an art," Petersen said. "It's hard to know. There's a lot of guys we think have a chance and if we think they're ready we'll give them a scholarship. There are a lot of other guys that we're just uncertain about. We really want them in our program and hey, if they can play, we'll take care of them once they're here."

Others play for hard-to-find, seldom-noticed schools, like Glenns Ferry (Korey Hall) or Marsing (Shea McClellin). Guys like that often get overlooked in the recruiting world.

"There's always those type of guys and they can play at all levels," Petersen said. "It is an art and you're never going to be perfect, but we're going to look hard."

Petersen said his staff's relationship with in-state high school coaches greatly increases their likelihood of finding a great player other school may never take a look at.

"They're really developing guys and making it easier on us," Petersen said. "They'll say 'hey, we think we have a guy you need to pay attention to.' As soon as they say that, we're all about it."

Petersen always says he's looking for blue-collar, un-assuming guys who put the team first. Wherever they have to go, they'll find them.