Boise State didn’t just beat Texas State on Sunday - it turned a tight, scoreless match into a statement, rolling to a 4-0 victory to secure a spot in the Pac-12 Championship.
The Broncos were in control from the start, even before the goals arrived. Boise State outshot the Bobcats 13-4 in the first half and held a 6-2 edge in shots on goal, but Texas State kept the match level through halftime. Boise State goalkeeper Ava de Leest had to make an early stop in the 16th minute on Lilah Dupree’s shot to preserve the clean sheet, and the Broncos had to wait until the second half to finally break through.
Once they did, the floodgates opened.
Sophie Schmautz got Boise State on the board in the 67th minute, sending a shot into the upper-right corner. Madie Donovan doubled the lead in the 80th minute by slipping a shot past the right side of the Texas State goalkeeper. Campbell Wilson followed three minutes later, scoring after going to the ground during the attempt, and Asia Lawyer finished the run in the 88th minute off a corner kick from Jillian Anderson.
That four-goal burst came in a 21-minute stretch and was more than enough for the Broncos, who limited Texas State to just two shots on goal in the second half. De Leest finished with four saves and earned the shutout.
The win moved Boise State to 13-2-2 overall and 5-1-1 in Pac-12 play, while Texas State dropped to 9-4-4 and 2-3-2. It also locked up Boise State’s place in the four-team Pac-12 Championship in Logan, Utah, set for Nov. 11-15, with the first rounds beginning Nov. 11 and the title match on Nov. 15.
“I am so incredibly proud of the girls and the resilience they showed in overcoming everything they faced,” head coach Jim Thomas said. “An amazing opponent, challenging conditions and the pressure that only exists at the end of a season!
They faced it all and showed great togetherness and class. What a tremendous performance!”
Boise State still has one regular-season match left, and there’s more on the line. The Broncos can clinch a share of the Pac-12 regular season title with a win over Washington State on Thursday, Nov.
- That match will be played in Boise at 7 p.m.
MT and streamed live on Pac-12 YouTube.
The numbers behind the season keep stacking up, too. Boise State has scored 39 goals, the fourth most in program history, and 22 of those have come in the second half. Sunday’s win was the fifth time this season the Broncos have scored four goals, and the fourth time they’ve had four different scorers in one match.
De Leest’s shutout was her 10th of the season, tying Tara Fisher (2018) and Genevieve Crenshaw (2022) for the second-most in program history. It was also her 13th goalkeeper win of the year, which ties for the third-most in a single season in program history, and her 23rd career win moved her into sole possession of sixth place in program history.
Wilson also added to her place in the record book. Her 12 goals this season moved her into sole possession of fifth place for most goals in a single season in program history, behind Raimee Sherle’s 16 in 2019.
She also picked up her eighth assist of the season, moving into sole possession of second place for most assists in a single season in program history. A Bronco has now posted at least eight assists in each of the past three seasons: Jillian Anderson in 2024, Kenzie MacMillan in 2025 and Wilson in 2026.
In Other News...
Boise State Heads Into Key Pac-12 Test With Two Big Offensive Losses
Boise States offense will have to adjust again this week, with the Broncos heading into their Pac-12 matchup against Texas State missing two key pieces up front and in the backfield. Sire Gaines was officially ruled out because of a leg injury, while Carson Rasmussen is also unavailable, leaving Boise State to shuffle its protection and run-game plans for a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Jason Steele is set to start at left guard in Rasmussens place, giving the Broncos a new look on the interior line as they try to keep the offense on schedule. There is at least some good news for Boise State, with wide receiver Ben Ford and tight end Austin Terry both available, but the absences of Gaines and Rasmussen still leave a noticeable gap in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State's Favorite Status Suddenly Feels Less Comfortable Than Expected
Boise State heads into its matchup with Texas State carrying the kind of profile that usually brings confidence with it. The Broncos are riding a six-game winning streak and opened as a 12.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, a number that reflected both their recent form and the expectation that they would control the game on the ground. Even so, this is not the sort of opponent that lets a favorite get too comfortable, especially with both teams showing up near the top of the rushing charts.
Texas State brings a fast-moving offense and enough balance to make the Broncos pay attention on every series, with quarterback Brad Jackson and running back Torrance Burgess Jr. driving much of what the Bobcats do. Boise State coach Spencer Danielson has already pointed to the strengths on both sides of the ball that make this a tricky test, and the market has noticed too, with the spread tightening before kickoff. For a team that has spent the week looking like the safer play, this one suddenly has a little more edge than the opening number suggested. [Read more 🡒]
Boise States Playoff Grip Suddenly Looks More Fragile Than Fans Realize
Georgias win over Florida did more than shake up the SEC race. It also sent another ripple through the College Football Playoff picture, where Boise State is trying to protect its place in a field that still feels very much in motion. With conference title races and seed projections shifting week by week, the Broncos remain in the mix, but the path they thought they had is not as secure as it looked a short time ago.
For Boise State, the bigger issue is not just where the bracket stands today, but how quickly it can change once the next round of games hits. The projections still have the Broncos in position to matter, yet the margin for error is thin and the teams chasing them are not going away. Every result from here on out carries extra weight, and Boise States standing could look different again before long. [Read more 🡒]