Boise State stayed in the Associated Press Top 25 this week, but the Broncos still slid a notch after their 37-18 win over Utah State.
After debuting at No. 22 last week, Boise State dropped to No. 23 in the new poll released Oct. 4, 2026.
The Broncos picked up 271 points, putting them just behind Big 12 member Houston, which earned 279. SMU followed Boise State with 167 points.
The move down came even with a victory on the field, and Boise State was one of two teams passed by UCLA, which climbed without playing after a bye week. Missouri made the biggest jump near the Broncos, rising from No. 25 to No. 14 after beating then-No. 8 Florida 45-17.
Even with the drop, Boise State remains the highest-ranked Group of Six team in the AP poll. That group includes the Pac-12, American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Conference USA and Mid-American conferences.
That matters because the latest 12-team College Football Playoff model gives a spot to the highest-ranked G6 team in the CFP Committee’s rankings, which begin coming out weekly in early November. The AP poll doesn’t decide playoff qualification, but right now it shows Boise State in the lead position among those teams.
The next closest Group of Six program is James Madison of the Sun Belt, which received 12 votes and would sit 34th if the poll extended beyond 25 teams.
Boise State also remains just outside the USA Today Coaches’ Poll, which is voted on by head coaches around the country, including Boise State’s Spencer Danielson. The Broncos received 161 points there, good for 27th overall and again the top spot among Group of Six teams.
Here is the full AP Top 25 for Week 4, with point totals in parentheses:
Texas (1,737, 61 first-place votes)
Georgia (1,647, 6 first-place votes)
Notre Dame (1,532)
Miami (1,524, 2 first-place votes)
Ohio State (1,490)
Alabama (1,460)
Indiana (1,380, 1 first-place vote)
BYU (1,144)
Ole Miss (1,095)
LSU (1,087)
Texas Tech (1,062)
Utah (996)
Oregon (831)
Missouri (755)
Tennessee (746)
Florida (691)
Mississippi State
Oklahoma State (477)
USC (439)
Iowa (367)
UCLA (287)
Houston (279)
Boise State (271)
SMU (167)
Pittsburgh (162)
In Other News...
Boise State Made Its Pac-12 Statement But One Concern Lingers
Boise State handled Utah State 37-18 at Albertsons Stadium, a result that served as another reminder of how comfortably the Broncos have controlled this matchup over the years. The win lifted Boise State to 4-1 and kept it unbeaten in Pac-12 play, while also preserving its spot among the nationally ranked teams, with quarterback Maddux Madsen and running back Dylan Riley leading the way on offense.
Madsen was sharp throughout, completing 81% of his passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and Riley added 93 rushing yards and two scores to keep the Broncos in command. Even with the strong showing and the conference statement it provided, Boise State still leaves the game with one issue to sort through as the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Keeps Winning But One Poll Snub Still Looms
Boise State kept its momentum rolling with a win over Utah State and got a little more recognition in the Week 5 Coaches Poll, but the Broncos are still waiting for a number next to their name. Quarterback Maddux Madsen turned in a strong performance, and Boise State drew the most votes among Group of Six teams, a sign that the people doing the voting are at least paying closer attention.
Still, the Broncos remain on the outside looking in while the top seven stayed put and Florida slid from No. 8 to No. 15 after a loss. For Boise State, the frustration is clear: the wins are piling up, the respect is inching forward, but the ranking itself is still just out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Looked In Control But Fresno State Questions Are Already Building
Boise State wasted little time establishing control against Utah State, scoring touchdowns on its first three drives and never really letting the game drift after that. The Broncos rolled to a 37-18 win, moving to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in Pac-12 play, with quarterback Maddux Madsen handling the offense efficiently and the defense adding its own spark through linebacker Jake Ripps pick-six.
The bigger test now is whether that momentum carries into a Fresno State matchup that already has some built-in questions around it. Boise State looked sharp in every phase against Utah State, with Madsen completing 17 of 21 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns and Dylan Riley adding 93 rushing yards and two scores, but the next step will be proving that kind of control can travel into a game where the pressure figure is likely to be much higher. [Read more 🡒]