Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson didn’t dress up the Milk Can rivalry with any sugarcoating on Monday. Ahead of Saturday’s road game at Fresno State, he made it clear where things stand.
“Rivalries are back and forth; right now it ain’t back and forth. It’s been a long time coming. I’m not a guy that focuses on that a ton, but … those are the facts.”
That was Danielson’s blunt read on a series that has tilted hard toward the Bulldogs lately. Fresno State has won three straight against the 23rd-ranked Broncos, including last season’s 30-7 blowout on The Blue.
Boise State, now 4-1 and 1-0 in the Pac-12, is trying to stop that slide at 8:30 p.m. Mountain time Saturday at Valley Children’s Stadium.
The numbers tell the story, too. Fresno State leads the all-time series 17-10.
Boise State’s last win in the matchup came in October 2022, when Fresno State was missing quarterback Jake Haener. In that 40-20 Broncos win, George Holani and Ashton Jeanty each topped 100 rushing yards.
Haener returned three weeks later and helped Fresno State beat Boise State again in the Mountain West championship game rematch, a 28-16 Bulldogs win. Fresno State then closed that season with a victory over Washington State in the LA Bowl to finish 10-3.
The next year brought another Fresno State win, this time a 37-30 shootout at Valley Children’s Stadium. The teams did not meet in 2024.
Before this recent run, Boise State had won four of the previous five meetings.
Danielson said there’s plenty of respect on his side for the Bulldogs and the program they’ve built.
“We’ve been playing them for so long, there’s been so many good games for years,” Danielson said. “You look at all the players that have come out of Fresno State, all the success that’s come out of Fresno State, I’ve just got a ton of respect for them.
“Obviously, there’s the Milk Can. I don’t even know what it looks like, we haven’t had it in years. Shoot, I’m going to have to Google Image it to find out what it even looks like.”
Fresno State coach Matt Entz said the trophy will be part of the week’s routine, sitting at every practice as his team prepares for the matchup.
“It’s a great rivalry,” Entz said. “I think both teams have very similar philosophies.
Run-first, protect the clock, play really good defense, have really talented special teams, or special teams that can impact games. It’ll be fun, it’ll create a buzz about the game.
Hopefully (the Fresno State fan base) continues to create a bigger buzz just with the energy on Saturday in the stadium.”
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 🡒]