No. 20 Boise State heads into Saturday’s Pac-12 matchup with Colorado State carrying a clear edge on one side of the ball that could tilt the night.
Both teams sit in the top half of the conference in most offensive categories, but the defensive gap is where this game starts to separate. Boise State brings an elite run defense. Colorado State, by contrast, has not found a defensive category where it truly stands out and sits last nationally in multiple metrics.
That mismatch gives the Broncos a path to control the game, even with uncertainty at quarterback. Boise State could be without starter Maddux Madsen, though backup Max Cutforth looked sharp in the fourth quarter of last week’s comeback win.
Here’s a closer look at the numbers for Boise State (7-1, 4-0) and Colorado State (3-5, 1-3).
Madsen has completed 148 of 222 passes for 1,681 yards, 15 touchdowns and one interception. Cutforth has gone 8 of 13 for 131 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
For Colorado State, Hauss Hejny has completed 90 of 134 passes for 1,138 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions, while K’saan Farrar has completed 89 of 144 for 931 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
On the ground, Boise State leans on Dylan Riley, who has 165 carries for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns. Sire Gaines has added 75 carries for 418 yards and four scores.
Colorado State’s rushing attack has been split between Mel Brown, who has 52 carries for 454 yards and three touchdowns, and Durell Robinson, who has 104 carries for 449 yards and nine touchdowns.
At receiver, Boise State’s top targets include Rasean Jones with 38 catches for 554 yards and four touchdowns, Matt Wagner with 29 receptions for 328 yards and four touchdowns, and Akeem Wright with 21 catches for 321 yards and two touchdowns.
Colorado State has gotten production from RJ Vick, who has 29 receptions for 425 yards and four touchdowns, Terrence Smith Jr. with 28 catches for 369 yards and four touchdowns, and Jackson Harper with 27 receptions for 351 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Boise State has playmakers at every level. Safety Travis Anderson has 35 total tackles, three interceptions and one pass breakup.
Linebacker Boen Phelps has 49 total tackles, two pass breakups, one sack and one interception. Edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan has 23 total tackles, 3.5 sacks and one pass breakup.
Colorado State’s defensive production has been led by linebacker Oumar Diomande, who has 76 total tackles and two interceptions, and safety Tre’Shawn Moore, who has 60 total tackles, two pass breakups, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
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Boise State Brings A Brutal Mismatch Into Colorado State
Colorado States week-to-week reality has gotten bleak enough that Jim Mora spent part of his pregame availability spelling out just how steep the challenge is. The Rams have dropped five of their last six and sit last in the FBS in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, which is not exactly the backdrop you want when Boise State comes to town with one of the nations most punishing ground games.
Mora pointed directly to Dylan Riley as the engine of that attack, and he also noted what the Broncos have shown behind center when the depth chart gets tested. Boise States offense did not appear to lose its edge with Max Cutforth in the game, which only adds another layer to a matchup Colorado State badly needs to stabilize before it gets away from them early. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Gets Encouraging Maddux Madsen Update Before Colorado State
Boise State got a little breathing room this week with its quarterback situation after Maddux Madsen went down with a left knee injury. The Broncos still have to wait and see how he responds, but the early signs have been encouraging enough to keep hope alive heading into the matchup with Colorado State.
Coach Spencer Danielson has sounded optimistic about Madsens recovery, and the team is treating the injury as a day-to-day situation rather than something that could linger. If Madsen is unable to go, Boise State has a ready option behind him, with Max Cutforth prepared to step in and handle the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Jeantys Raiders Role Just Raised A Bigger Question
Ashton Jeantys usage in Las Vegas turned heads in Sundays 38-33 win over the Jets, but the box score only told part of the story. The former Boise State standout finished with just two carries for nine yards, a career low on the ground, yet still made an impact as a receiver with three catches for 64 yards, showing how the Raiders found ways to keep him involved even in a lighter rushing role.
What makes the split worth watching is what it could mean going forward for a player who has been one of the more closely tracked former Broncos in the NFL. Week 8 also brought a broader snapshot of Boise State alumni around the league, but Jeantys role stands out because it leaves open a bigger question about how Las Vegas plans to deploy him as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]