Boise State answered its South Dakota stumble with a performance that looked much more like the team people expected to see.
The Broncos went on the road Saturday and handled Western Michigan 32-7, closing out non-conference play with a game that never felt particularly close. Boise State controlled the yardage battle 377-223 at Waldo Stadium on a clean day, then watched Western Michigan score late only to avoid the shutout.
Maddux Madsen did his part in the passing game, finishing 16 of 23 for 204 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers. He also added four rushing first downs. Tight end Matt Wagner was the big-play finisher, piling up a career-best seven catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
Even without Sire Gaines, Boise State’s ground game kept rolling. Dylan Riley took on a much larger workload and delivered in a big way, carrying 28 times for a career-high 138 yards and a touchdown behind a powerful offensive line.
Riley was involved right away, touching the ball on Boise State’s first four plays, including a 15-yard run and a 15-yard screen pass. That opening drive ended with Wagner’s 34-yard touchdown grab and a Zeke Martinez two-point run, giving the Broncos an early 8-0 edge.
Riley kept it going midway through the second quarter, capping a 15-play, 78-yard march with a five-yard touchdown run that stretched the lead to 15-0 at halftime. Boise State kept control from there and turned the afternoon into a comfortable road win. Through four games, Riley now has 90 carries for 592 yards and three touchdowns.
The Broncos also got a much-needed lift from a pass defense that had been under the microscope. Western Michigan found some openings, but Boise State’s secondary was far more steady than it had been earlier in the season. The home Broncos managed only one passing play of 20 or more yards, a first-quarter swing pass to Jalen Buckley, and had just 90 total yards in the first half and 156 through three quarters.
Boise State’s front made life difficult for Broc Lowry, and the Western Michigan quarterback finished 15 of 28 for 110 yards with an interception. The Broncos also held the line on fourth down, stopping Western Michigan on all three tries. Boise State has now denied nine straight fourth-down attempts this season.
The win also mattered beyond the box score. Boise State entered the day as the heavy favorite to claim the Group of Six spot in the College Football Playoff, and this kind of road result only strengthens that case. DraftKings Sportsbook had the Broncos at +140 to make the CFP after they entered the week at +230.
Between the win over MAC preseason favorite Western Michigan, the victory over top American Conference contender Memphis and the competitive loss at No. 20 Oregon, Boise State has built a resume that looks strong heading into Pac-12 play. If the Broncos handle business in Year 1 of the rebuilt league, they could be back in the CFP for the second time in three seasons.
In Other News...
Boise State Takes First Step Toward A Stadium Change Fans Will Feel
Boise State has taken the first formal step toward a potential redevelopment around Albertsons Stadium, with the university announcing plans to explore a project on the east side of the venue and portions of south campus. The idea is still in the exploratory phase, but the scope is broad enough to reshape how the area around the stadium functions on game days and beyond.
The university is set to release a Request for Proposals to find a development advisor to help guide the process as part of its 10-Year Campus Master Plan. If the project moves forward, it could bring a mix of hotel, conference, event, retail, dining, housing and parking options to one of the most visible parts of campus, leaving fans to watch not only what gets built, but how much the stadium experience changes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Added Real Juice To This Western Michigan Showdown
Boise State has a little extra context going into its upcoming meeting with Western Michigan, and it starts with Spencer Danielson giving the Broncos next opponent a public dose of respect. In a recent press conference, Danielson said he believed Western Michigan deserved to beat Michigan after a last-second sequence hinged on whether the proper replay protocols were followed, and the NCAA later confirmed those protocols were not handled correctly, even though the result stands.
For Boise State, the bigger takeaway is not the controversy but the challenge waiting on the field. Danielson praised Western Michigans defense and pointed to the fact that the Broncos from Kalamazoo are still unbeaten, which only adds to the intrigue around a matchup Boise State will have to earn the hard way. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Suddenly Faces A Backfield Test Without Sire Gaines
Boise State heads into its matchup with Western Michigan already dealing with a backfield wrinkle, as running back Sire Gaines will not play after hurting his wrist in the previous game. The Broncos had listed him as questionable on the official injury report, a sign the staff was at least holding out hope, but now the offense will have to adjust without one of its backs on the field.
The injury report also marked reserve linebacker Sam Brooks as out, while offensive guard Roger Carreon and edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan are expected to start. Western Michigan has its own availability questions to sort through, with six players out, including starting safety Micah Davis, and star wide receiver Aveion Chenault listed as questionable, but Boise States immediate concern is how it pieces together the run game without Gaines. [Read more 🡒]