Boise State’s fall camp opens Monday, and with the Broncos stepping into their first season in the reborn Pac-12, a few battles are already worth watching closely.
The backup quarterback job looks like one of the sharpest competitions on the roster. Maddux Madsen is back for his third year as the full-time starter, but the real intrigue sits behind him, where Cutforth and Herrera are set to fight it out.
Cutforth has already logged meaningful game reps, starting three times last season and appearing in two other contests. He finished his sophomore year 95 of 167 passing for 1,059 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions, and Boise State went 2-3 in those games.
Herrera arrived in January after a strong career at Southern California’s The Bishop’s School, and he came in as a highly rated three-star prospect after decommitting from eventual national champion Indiana in November before signing with the Broncos. He made noticeable progress during spring practice, and the expectation here is that Herrera wins the backup job and becomes the leading candidate to take over after Madsen.
Another name to keep on the radar is Riley, who broke out in a big way in 2025 with 1,274 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns. His freshman season in 2024 looked different, with limited offensive touches behind Ashton Jeanty and a bigger role as the Broncos’ main kick returner.
Riley had eight returns for 237 yards, a 29.6-yard average, and took one back 96 yards for a touchdown against Utah State. The one issue was consistency catching kickoffs cleanly, but special teams coordinator Stacy Collins said during the spring that Riley has “made a ton of growth and spent a lot of time on that.”
He may be too important on offense to handle the full-time return job now, but he should still have chances to contribute on special teams this season.
At linebacker, Boen Phelps already has one spot sewn up, and fifth-year senior Jake Ripp is the favorite to fill the other opening left by Marco Notarainni. Ripp has played in 41 games over the past three seasons and made six starts, so he should be in the lineup against Oregon.
Still, Brackett-Lambey is pushing hard for a bigger role. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound linebacker appeared in 11 games as a true freshman last season on defense and special teams, and the coaching staff came away impressed with his tackling and tenacity during spring practice.
He looks like a player who can force his way onto the field, and by the end of the season, he could be starting.
In Other News...
Boise State Could Get A Surprise Defensive Boost Before The Opener
A Colorado judges injunction this week created a new eligibility wrinkle for former high school class of 2022 athletes who used up their four years last spring, and it could end up reaching Boise State before long. For a program that is always trying to manage roster churn and keep its defense stocked, the ruling has opened the door to a possible late boost, with the Broncos now watching a situation that did not exist when the offseason began.
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson confirmed there have been ongoing conversations with two former players who could be affected, but the timing and roster fit still have to be sorted out. For now, the possibility is more intriguing than definite, and the Broncos will have to balance the appeal of adding experienced help against the practical questions that come with turning a court ruling into an actual return to the field. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Opens Pac-12 Era With Title Pressure Already Building
Fall camp has arrived with Boise State stepping into a new era, and the expectations have traveled with them. The Broncos are moving into the Pac-12 in 2026 alongside four other Mountain West schools, but the baseline remains familiar: they are once again being talked about as a team that should be in the championship mix. With key starters back and Spencer Danielson sounding confident about the rosters direction, Boise State enters the season with the kind of pressure that comes from being judged not just on the move, but on whether the winning standard follows them.
Danielsons group has already built a run of conference success, and the chance at a fourth straight title hangs over the start of camp. The schedule gives them a few weeks to sort through the transition before the home opener against Memphis on Sept. 12, which should offer an early read on how the Broncos look against outside competition. For Boise State, the Pac-12 move is the headline, but the real story is whether the program can keep playing like the favorite even as the conference name on the jersey changes. [Read more 🡒]