Boise State didn’t just survive Fresno State with patchwork at wide receiver. It found something it can use later.
Down two starting receivers before kickoff and then forced to play without another by halftime, the Broncos leaned on an underclassman group that had barely made a ripple through the first five games. Terrious Favors, Qumonte Williams Jr. and Quinton Brown had combined for just two catches and 15 yards coming into Saturday night. In Boise State’s 38-31 win at Fresno State, they matched that total in a single game with six catches for 55 yards, and Favors added the biggest grab of the bunch: a 22-yard touchdown for his first score as a Bronco.
“It was a night for young guys to step up and make plays,” head coach Spencer Danielson said after the game. “These are guys that in some games hadn’t had (any catches), didn’t even play a ton,” Danielson said.
“They stepped up. So proud of them for finding a way.”
Boise State had already entered the night without freshman receiver Rasean Jones, who leads the team in receiving yards, and junior Cam Bates. Then sixth-year receiver Ben Ford left at halftime after catching four passes for 45 yards.
That could have cracked the passing game wide open in the wrong direction. Instead, quarterback Maddux Madsen kept feeding the younger options and never looked rattled.
His first three completions went to the new faces: one to Favors and two to Brown, good for 18 yards. Soon after, Madsen floated another pass to Favors, who shed a tackle and outran the defense for the touchdown that pushed Boise State ahead 15-7. It was the first reception of Favors’ college career, and the first touchdown of it too.
“I got to meet him down in the end zone. That’s the coolest part,” Madsen said. “He’s done good things… and the way he practices, it was cool to see him get rewarded with a touchdown.”
Madsen spread the ball around all night, connecting with nine different teammates for 238 yards. Senior tight end Matt Wagner led the team with five catches, while junior Dylan Riley finished with a team-high 64 yards on four receptions.
That distribution stands out for Boise State. Even with preseason buzz around a young receiving group, Madsen has mostly leaned on a smaller circle this season - Jones, Wagner, Ford and senior wideout Akeem Wright. Add Riley to that mix, and those five are the only Broncos with double-digit catches through six games.
It has also been a familiar pattern in past seasons, with Madsen sticking to a tight receiver rotation and the downfield passing game rarely stretching much beyond it. Saturday suggested a different option is now available when the Broncos need it most.
“That group’s a group of guys that I have full trust in, and that’s not been the same as years past,” Madsen said. “These guys are going and ready to play football at all times, which is huge.”
In Other News...
Boise State Just Lost A Key Weapon For Fresno State
Boise State heads into its matchup with Fresno State dealing with a thinner-than-usual receiver room, and the biggest absence is a familiar one for anyone who watched last weeks win over Utah State. True freshman wideout Rasean Jones will not play after leaving that game following a helmet-to-helmet hit, taking away one of the Broncos more dynamic first-year contributors at an inconvenient time.
Jones has become a key piece in Boise States passing game as a true freshman, so his absence changes the look of the offense even before the ball is snapped. The Broncos are also dealing with several other players who have already been ruled out or listed as unavailable, though there is better news in the backfield, where running backs Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines are expected to be available after recent injuries. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Enters Fresno State Rivalry With One Big Concern
Boise State heads into its Milk Can rivalry game with Fresno State in a familiar spot: highly ranked in the Mountain West chase, favored by 8.5 points at DraftKings Sportsbook and tied with the Bulldogs at 4-1. The timing also adds a little extra weight, with UNLV hosting North Dakota State in another game that could help shape the league picture while Boise State and Fresno State renew a rivalry that usually carries more than bragging rights.
The bigger issue for the Broncos is availability, because they will be without starting wide receivers Rasean Jones and Cam Bates, along with left guard Carson Rasmussen. Jones has been the teams most productive target so far, and losing that kind of production on the perimeter changes how Boise State can approach a game that already demands clean execution up front and enough balance to keep Fresno State from keying on one side of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Got The Ranking Broncos Fans Have Waited For
Boise States surge into the top 25 of the Week 6 Coaches Poll gave the Broncos the kind of national recognition they had been chasing, and it came after a 38-31 road win over Fresno State that carried extra weight because of the way it was earned. Even short-handed, the Broncos found enough offense to keep moving, with quarterback Maddux Madsen throwing for 238 yards and two touchdowns to help steady a game that tested their depth.
The ranking matters because it signals that Boise States early-season work is starting to register beyond its own locker room, with Georgia still sitting No. 1 and the usual national contenders filling out the top of the poll. For a program trying to build momentum, the challenge now is making sure the vote reflects more than one strong road win, especially with injuries already forcing the Broncos to adjust on the fly. [Read more 🡒]