Boise State’s Season Ends With a Thud in LA Bowl, But There’s More to the Story
BOISE, Idaho - December 15, 2025
Boise State’s trip to the LA Bowl on Saturday night felt all too familiar-and not in a good way. The 38-10 loss to Washington brought back echoes of the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl, another postseason matchup against the Huskies that ended in a lopsided defeat.
That 2019 team still finished 12-2. This year’s squad closes the book at 9-5.
So what do we make of the 2025 season? In a word: complex.
There’s no denying the resilience it took to rebound from a rough November and clinch a third straight Mountain West title-something no Boise State team had ever done. But the sting comes from how the Broncos lost.
In all five defeats, they managed just one touchdown apiece. That’s not a winning formula, and it’s not the standard this program holds itself to.
Power 4 Wall Still Standing
The loss to Washington also extended Boise State’s losing streak against Power 4 opponents to 10 games. And while a few of those-like Oregon last year or Oklahoma State in 2021-were winnable, this one wasn’t close.
Washington simply outclassed the Broncos, and that’s where the bigger picture comes into focus. The Huskies are now a Big Ten program with all the financial and recruiting firepower that comes with it: elite facilities, deep rosters, and a war chest of NIL money.
That’s not an excuse-it’s reality. The gap between the Power 4 and the Group of 5 (soon to be Group of 6 with the Pac-12’s reformation) is widening, and Saturday night was just the latest reminder.
A Bright Start, a Rough Finish
Things actually started on a high note. Malik Sherrod ripped off a 41-yard kickoff return, and Colton Boomer followed with a booming 52-yard field goal-the longest ever by a Bronco in a postseason game.
The defense held up early, too. But the offense never found its rhythm.
After quarterback Maddux Madsen exited with an injury, Max Cutforth took over, but the results didn’t improve. The turning point came on a back-breaking 78-yard touchdown pass from Demond Williams to a wide-open Denzel Boston.
From there, it unraveled.
Two stats tell the story: five interceptions thrown-tying a postseason program record that had stood for 37 years-and four touchdown passes allowed, also a postseason record. That’s not just a bad night; it’s a collapse on both sides of the ball.
Kage Casey’s Absence Felt, But Not the Difference
Left tackle Kage Casey opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft, a decision that came to light Friday. It’s become a standard move in today’s college football landscape, and while his absence was noticeable, it wouldn’t have changed the outcome.
Still, Casey leaves behind an impressive legacy: 2,762 career snaps, just seven sacks allowed, and only three penalties. Even more impressive-he never gave up a sack or committed a penalty in any game against Power 4 opponents.
Next April, he’ll look to become the eighth Boise State left tackle drafted into the NFL since 2000.
Veterans Go Out Swinging
For the seniors who suited up one last time, there were a few bright spots. Linebacker Marco Notarainni was all over the field, leading the team with eight tackles, including two for loss and a sack-six of those stops came in the first quarter alone.
Wide receiver Latrell Caples, a sixth-year senior, caught five passes for 70 yards, wrapping up the season with 51 receptions-14 more than any other Bronco. That matches his team-leading total from 2022.
Tight end Matt Lauter added an eight-yard touchdown in the closing minutes, his second of the season. Lauter finished with 37 catches this year, second on the team.
Caples ends his Boise State career with 144 receptions; Lauter with 97.
Bronco Hoops Survive Saint Mary’s Scare
On the hardwood, Boise State men’s basketball pulled off a gutsy win Sunday afternoon in Idaho Falls, edging No. 17 Saint Mary’s 68-67 in a game that was anything but ordinary. It was the third straight neutral-site battle between these two in Idaho Falls, and like the previous matchups, it came down to the wire.
The Broncos opened with a 13-0 run, only to see the Gaels immediately respond with a 13-0 burst of their own. Boise State seemed to have it in hand, leading 66-52 with just over four minutes left, but Saint Mary’s stormed back with 12 straight points. A late turnover by the Gaels with one second remaining sealed the win for Boise State.
Drew Fielder led the charge with 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting and added six rebounds. The former Rocky Mountain standout and Georgetown transfer held his own against Saint Mary’s twin towers, Andrew McKeever and Harry Wessels, limiting them to just seven combined points.
Former Owyhee High star Liam Campbell, now a freshman for the Gaels, chipped in seven points off the bench. Saint Mary’s, by the way, still has ambitions of joining the Pac-12 as a non-football member.
A Familiar Face Now Leading the Cougars
Next season, Boise State will begin an annual series with Washington State-and there’ll be a familiar name on the opposing sideline. Kirby Moore, younger brother of Boise State legend Kellen Moore, was named Wazzu’s new head coach on Friday after a strong stint as Missouri’s offensive coordinator. It’s a full-circle moment for Kirby, who started his coaching career at the College of Idaho back in 2014.
One of the most memorable moments from his playing days? His first career touchdown catch-a 61-yarder from Kellen back in 2009. It was the first brother-to-brother touchdown in Boise State history, and it came in style, with Kellen dropping a perfect pass over the top of a defender for Kirby to take to the house.
College of Idaho’s Run Ends in Florida
Speaking of the College of Idaho, the Coyotes saw their impressive season come to a close in the NAIA semifinals at Keiser University in Florida-the same place their 2021 season ended. The Yotes led 21-9 at halftime but couldn’t hold off Keiser’s second-half rally, falling 36-27.
Quarterback Caden Young capped off a stellar season with a monster performance: 281 passing yards, two touchdowns through the air, and another 131 yards and two scores on the ground. The Coyotes finish the year at 11-2, cementing themselves once again as one of the top programs in the NAIA ranks.
This Day in Sports - December 15, 1997
It was a fitting farewell for one of the greatest to ever do it. On this day in 1997, the San Francisco 49ers retired Joe Montana’s No. 16 jersey in an emotional ceremony at Candlestick Park.
Montana, who led the Niners to four Super Bowl titles during his 14-year run in San Francisco, was honored with a video replay of “The Catch”-his iconic touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Championship that lifted the 49ers over the Cowboys, 28-27. It remains one of the most legendary moments in NFL history, and a defining play in the career of a quarterback who helped shape the modern era of the game.