Boise State’s trip to Fresno comes with more than a conference game attached to it. The No. 23 Broncos are trying to stop a three-game slide against a rival that has repeatedly gotten the better of them, and they’ll have to do it on the road late Saturday night.
Both teams enter the annual Milk Can game at 4-1, and each has already picked up a Pac-12 win. Fresno State has won the last three meetings, including a 30-7 result in the most recent matchup that ended Boise State’s 16-game home winning streak.
Boise State arrives after a strong start in its Pac-12 opener, a 37-18 victory over Utah State on Saturday night. The Broncos built that win with a 28-point first half.
Maddux Madsen sparked the first drive by finding Rasean Jones for a 63-yard gain, and Dylan Riley capped the series with a 5-yard rushing touchdown. Madsen later hit Matt Wagner on an 11-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 14-0, then Riley broke loose again with a 33-yard run to make it 21-0.
Right before halftime, Jake Ripp picked off a tipped ball and took it back for a touchdown.
“We know football is a game of momentum. Momentum is created by execution.
But we got to be able to be consistent throughout an entire four quarters,” Boise State Head Coach Spencer Danielson said. “I thought there was a lot of really good football on the field by our team.
But there's still some things on the field that we got to find a way to tighten up.”
Danielson also pointed directly to the recent history with Fresno State.
“Ever since 22. We've just gotten beat.
So, call that what you want to call it,” Danielson said. “I remember 22 the championship game brutal experience.
I remember very clearly in 23 going down there. Brutal experience losing the football game last season we lost 30 to 7.
I mean it wasn't even close.”
Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. local time Saturday in Fresno, and the game will air on The CW. Fresno State currently holds the Milk Can.
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 Heads Into Fresno State With A Big Offensive Concern
Boise State heads into Saturday nights trip to Fresno State carrying a familiar offensive concern, with at least two starters unavailable again. Wide receiver Cam Bates and left guard Carson Rasmussen are out for the matchup, leaving the Broncos to piece together protection and targets as they prepare for an 8:30 p.m. Mountain time kickoff on The CW.
The rest of the injury picture is still worth watching because several players from both teams are listed as out or questionable. Boise State does have a few encouraging notes in the backfield and at receiver, but the final availability report could still shape how aggressive the Broncos can be in a game that already comes with plenty of pressure. [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 🡒]