Saturday’s meeting at Albertsons Stadium puts the Pac-12’s most explosive ground games in the same frame.
No. 20 Boise State comes in at 6-1, 3-0, with a rushing attack that ranks seventh in FBS at 237.9 yards per game.
Texas State is right there at No. 4 nationally, averaging 272 rushing yards per game. The matchup is built around two headliners: Boise State’s Dylan Riley and Texas State’s Torrance Burgess Jr.
Riley has been the country’s most productive runner with 963 yards, while Burgess Jr. has piled up 889 yards and sits firmly among the Pac-12’s top rushers. San Diego State’s Javion Kinnard is third in the league with 526 yards, well behind that top pair.
Boise State’s backfield doesn’t stop with Riley. Sire Gaines has given the Broncos a bruising second option, and his five total touchdowns underline how much damage he can do around the goal line. Texas State answers with dual-threat quarterback Brad Jackson and another productive runner in Davian Jackson, giving the Bobcats multiple ways to attack on the ground.
The quarterbacks bring efficiency and production through the air as well. Boise State’s Maddux Madsen has completed 124 of 189 passes, good for 66 percent, and thrown for 1,445 yards with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. Brad Jackson has been even sharper in completion rate, hitting 133 of 194 throws for 69 percent, while totaling 1,606 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The receiving numbers show where each offense has leaned. For Boise State, Rasean Jones leads the way with 29 catches for 437 yards and one touchdown, followed by Matt Wagner with 23 receptions for 261 yards and four scores, and Akeem Wright with 13 catches for 205 yards and one touchdown. Texas State’s Chris Dawn Jr. has 36 receptions for 396 yards and four touchdowns, and Beau Sparks has added 25 catches for 339 yards and two scores.
The defenses feature impact plays in key spots, too. Boise State safety Travis Anderson has 30 total tackles, three interceptions and one pass breakup, while linebacker Boen Phelps has 41 tackles, one interception, one sack and one pass breakup. Edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan has three sacks among his 19 tackles.
For Texas State, safety Jayden Bradley leads with 47 total tackles, two pass breakups and one sack. Defensive lineman Tymere Jackson has 23 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The numbers set up a game where both teams can lean on the run, but neither side is one-dimensional. Boise State’s balance, Texas State’s quarterback-run game, and the big-play threat from both backfields make this one about much more than just a ground attack.
In Other News...
Boise State Faces A Massive CFP Moment Amid Growing Noise Around The Program
Boise State gets back to work this week with a home date against Texas State, but the spotlight around the program stretches well beyond the matchup itself. The Broncos are ranked No. 20, sitting at 6-1, and still trying to keep their push steady in a season where every game carries added weight. Spencer Danielson has tried to keep the focus on the field, while Texas State coach GJ Kinne also acknowledged the chatter around job speculation during a week when both teams have had to navigate a little extra noise.
The backdrop will make Saturday feel like more than a routine home game in Boise. Along with the football stakes, the school is set to honor one of its most celebrated former players when it unveils a statue of Kellen Moore at halftime, adding another layer to an already charged atmosphere. For a program trying to balance momentum, attention and expectations, it is the kind of weekend that can say plenty about where Boise State stands right now. [Read more 🡒]
Boise States Playoff Path Suddenly Looks A Lot More Real
Boise States road to the College Football Playoff got a little clearer after a Week 8 win over Washington State, and the rest of the Group of Six race did the Broncos a favor, too. The latest odds have Boise State at +105 to make the playoff, a notable jump from earlier in the season, and the Broncos are now in the best position among the Group of Six contenders.
There is still work to do, starting with a home game against Texas State and later a matchup with Oregon State. The opportunity is real enough now that every week matters, especially for a Boise State team that suddenly has a path worth watching all the way into the playoff conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Has Extra Buzz Around A Game That Already Feels Huge
Texas State coach G.J. Kinne is already treating Saturdays trip to No. 20 Boise State like a measuring-stick game, and it is easy to see why. He praised the Broncos culture and the challenge they present, noting the physical style both teams bring to the field, which should make for a rugged matchup even before kickoff.
The extra attention around the game has only raised the profile of a meeting that was going to draw interest anyway. Kinne also brushed aside the coaching chatter swirling around both sidelines, saying his focus is on Boise State and nothing else, as the Broncos prepare for a day that will carry added significance around the program. [Read more 🡒]