Boise State will head into Saturday night’s rivalry game at Fresno State short-handed on offense, with starting wide receiver Cam Bates and left guard Carson Rasmussen both ruled out again.
The Broncos disclosed the news in their Wednesday evening player availability report, and it means both players will miss a second straight week. Boise State also listed three reserves as out: wide receiver Darren Morris, defensive lineman Jaden Williams and linebacker Logan Brantley.
A few key names, though, are still in play. Star receiver Rasean Jones, rotation defensive lineman Deuce Alailefaleula and backup linebacker Sam Brooks were all listed as questionable.
The bigger relief for Boise State came with the running back room. Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines were not on the injury report.
Riley, who leads the nation with 108 carries for 685 yards and five touchdowns, left last week’s 38-17 win over Utah State in the fourth quarter while limping off the field. Gaines has missed the last two games with a wrist injury, but he has returned to practice. In three games this season, he has 45 carries for 234 yards and three total touchdowns.
Earlier this week, Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said he was “in a positive mindset” about both backs being available for Fresno State.
Jones’ status matters too. He exited the Utah State game after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the fourth quarter. The true freshman has become Boise State’s top target, with 23 catches for 359 yards and two total touchdowns.
Bates, meanwhile, has filled a secondary role alongside Jones this season. He has eight receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns, and he also brought back a punt 72 yards for a score against Memphis.
Rasmussen had started the first four games at left guard before an undisclosed injury knocked him out against Western Michigan. Jason Steele started in his place against Utah State.
Fresno State has its own injury list, with six players out for Saturday: linebacker Niko Baumgartner, wide receiver Harold Duvall, offensive lineman Gino Quinones, linebacker Logan Studt, defensive back Ryan Wilson and defensive lineman Noah Yeh.
The matchup carries plenty of history, too. Fresno State will try to win its fourth straight against Boise State when the teams meet at Valley Children’s Stadium. The Bulldogs rolled to a 30-7 win at Albertsons Stadium last season.
Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. Mountain time, with the game airing nationally on The CW.
As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Boise State as a 6.5-point favorite, with the over/under at 48.5 points.
In Other News...
Boise State Basketball Enters Pac-12 With Two Big Questions
Boise States move into the Pac-12 brings a fresh layer of intrigue for both basketball programs, and it starts with rosters that look different from what the Broncos have leaned on in recent seasons. On the womens side, Gordy Presnell is working with a young group that still has plenty of growing to do, but there is optimism around how quickly that group can settle in against a higher level of weekly competition. For the men, Leon Rice is piecing together a new mix of players and trying to establish the kind of identity that can travel in a league known for making teams prove it every night.
Both teams will get an immediate sense of what the jump means when conference play opens on the road in January. That kind of start can be a difficult introduction, especially for squads still learning each other and adapting to new expectations, but it also offers a clean early read on where Boise State stands. The Broncos are entering the Pac-12 with a lot still to sort out, and the first stretch away from home will show whether the early optimism can hold up under the league spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Gets One Offensive Boost But A Real Concern Remains
Boise State got a little clarity on its injury situation Friday when the program released its first Pac-12 availability report ahead of the Fresno State game. The good news for the Broncos is in the backfield, where junior running backs Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley are expected to play after missing time with injuries, giving the offense at least one much-needed boost as it heads into a pivotal matchup.
The bigger concern is at receiver, where the group is still shorthanded. Leading receiver Rasean Jones is questionable after a head injury scare, while Cam Bates and Darren Morris are out, leaving Spencer Danielson to lean on the depth Boise State has tried to build at the position. How much that depth can hold up against Fresno State is the more pressing question as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Heads To Fresno With The Milk Can Finally Feeling Personal
The Milk Can has been around long enough to carry some weight, but the rivalry heading into Saturday at Valley Childrens Stadium feels especially pointed this week. Boise State coach Spencer Danielson talked about the current state of the series with Fresno State, while Bulldogs coach Matt Entz also addressed the matchup and the way the trophy has been part of their practice setting, a reminder that both sides know exactly what is at stake even before kickoff.
For Boise State, the trip comes with a little extra edge because Fresno State has owned the recent history of the series, and the Broncos are trying to change the tone of a game that has started to feel personal again. Danielsons comments suggested as much, with the trophy and the streak both lingering in the background as Boise State heads into a setting where the rivalry will get another chance to define itself. [Read more 🡒]