No. 23 Boise State has put itself in prime position entering the stretch run, and the path ahead looks manageable enough that a perfect finish is at least in play.
The Broncos sit at 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Pac-12 play after five straight wins, and they’ll use a week off to reset before the final five games of the regular season. DraftKings Sportsbook has Boise State at -180 to win the Pac-12 and +140 to make the College Football Playoff. Oregon State is the main challenger at 4-2 and 2-0, sitting at +210 to win the league and +3000 to reach the CFP.
Boise State is tentatively set for a Nov. 28 non-conference trip to Utah State during the Pac-12’s flex week, though the Broncos could also be sent to Colorado State, Fresno State or Washington State. The Pac-12’s four flex games will be finalized in November.
The most straightforward stop on the schedule comes first. Washington State is 1-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play, and Kirby Moore’s first season has been rough on the offensive side.
Against FBS opponents, the Cougars have managed just four offensive touchdowns in five games. Moore took over play-calling duties last week and said Monday that starting quarterback Caden Pinnick has been benched for Owen Eshelman before the matchup with Oregon State.
Road games are never simple, but Boise State should have the edge in Pullman.
From there, the Broncos move into a three-game run that will test them against the league’s top passing attacks. Texas State is next, and Brad Jackson gives the Bobcats a real dual-threat problem at quarterback.
Texas State also has two of the Pac-12’s top seven rushers in Torrance Burgess Jr. and Davian Jackson. The Bobcats can score, but their defense has been a liability, allowing 33.2 points and 423.2 yards per game.
That kind of number plays right into Boise State’s hands.
Colorado State may be even more dangerous on offense. The Rams rank second in the Pac-12 in scoring at 37.4 points per game, but they also have the worst scoring defense in the league at 38.6 points allowed per game and the worst total defense at 493.2 yards per game.
Hauss Hejny leads an attack that can punish Boise State if it gives up explosive plays, yet the Rams’ rushing defense has been even softer, giving up a conference-worst 228.6 yards per game. Boise State has a real chance to light up the scoreboard in Fort Collins, with 50 points hardly out of the question.
Then comes the toughest test by a wide margin: Oregon State. The Beavers lead the Pac-12 in scoring offense at 41.8 points per game, rank second in scoring defense at 22 points allowed per game and sit first in total defense at 326.3 yards allowed per game.
Braden Atkinson has been the nation’s leading passer, while Jesse Legree leads the country in receiving yards and touchdowns. That combination is built to attack the Broncos’ defensive weak spots.
Boise State will need to control the ball in one of the most anticipated regular-season home games in years. As of Tuesday morning, the cheapest resale tickets were just under $400.
The regular season closes with San Diego State, and the Aztecs have been one of the conference’s biggest disappointments in 2026. They’re 2-4 overall and 1-1 in league play after a 66-14 loss at Oregon State last week.
San Diego State sits last among Pac-12 teams in total offense at 277.7 yards per game and ranks seventh in total defense at 477.8 yards per game and scoring defense at 35 points allowed per game. That’s a stunning fall for a team that ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense last season at 15.4 points per game and went 9-4.
It’s difficult to see the Aztecs pushing Boise State much on The Blue in November.
In Other News...
Boise States Biggest Defensive Concern Could Finally Get Exposed After The Bye
Boise States defense has spent the season looking better in the broad numbers than it sometimes feels in real time. The Broncos have held up well in overall Pac-12 statistical rankings, and their ball-control offense has done plenty of heavy lifting by keeping the defense on the sideline and the game on Boise States terms. That formula has helped cover for a unit that has otherwise shown a clear weakness when opponents do break free.
The concern now is whether the bye only delays the reckoning. Colorado State, Oregon State and Texas State are all waiting on the other side, and those are the kinds of matchups that can stress a defense in ways a slower pace usually masks. Oregon State stands out as the most daunting of the bunch, with an offense that can force the Broncos out of their comfort zone and make those hidden cracks much harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Has A New Milk Can Controversy Fans Will Hate
Boise States rivalry keeps finding new ways to get under fans skin, and this one is a doozy. After Fresno States 2023 win, the Bulldogs had a new Milk Can made, replacing the original trophy that had tracked the history of football victories between the two schools for years. The old version, complete with all of the previous plaques, stayed in Fresno, while the updated one is the trophy Boise State now gets back.
What makes the switch sting for Broncos fans is simple: the new Milk Can does not tell the full story anymore. Boise State and Fresno State have both confirmed the change, and Boise State is aware that some of the older plaques are missing from the version in circulation now. For a rivalry that already carries plenty of pride, even the trophy itself has become part of the argument. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Has A Real Pac-12 Edge Fans Need To See
Boise State has spent the early part of the season looking like more than just another name in the rebuilt Pac-12 picture. At 5-1, the Broncos sit well in the mix alongside Oregon State, with both programs showing up near the top of the league in the numbers that tend to matter most. Boise State holds the edge in ESPNs FPI and SP+ rankings, while Oregon State has made its case with the conferences best scoring offense and total defense.
The race should only sharpen over the next stretch, starting with Oregon State hosting Washington State and Fresno State heading to San Diego State. For Boise State, the path gets even more interesting soon enough, and the matchup that may tell the most about where this league is headed is still waiting down the road. [Read more 🡒]