Boise State didn’t disappear from the national picture after its Pac-12 opener, but it did take a small step back in the latest AP Poll.
The Broncos landed at No. 23 in the Week 5 rankings released Sunday, slipping one spot from No. 22 despite a convincing 37-18 home win over Utah State on Saturday. Boise State is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in Pac-12 play, and its vote total actually climbed from 221 to 271.
The move down came because UCLA jumped ahead of the Broncos. The Bruins rose two places during a bye week, tightening the cluster near the bottom of the poll.
Boise State controlled its conference opener from the start, racing out to a 21-0 lead in the first half and never letting Utah State back into it. The win pushed the Broncos to 11 straight against the Aggies and gave them their fourth consecutive victory since a Week 1 loss to Oregon.
Maddux Madsen was sharp again for Boise State. The fifth-year senior went 17 of 21 for 244 yards, threw two touchdowns and did not turn the ball over. He also added 42 rushing yards on seven carries.
Through five games, Madsen has completed 87 of 132 passes, good for 66 percent, and has piled up 1,058 passing yards with 12 total touchdowns and zero turnovers.
Utah State head coach Bronco Mendenhall gave Boise State its due afterward.
“They have a good football team and their execution was superior to ours,” Utah State head coach Bronco Mendenhall said after the game. “They made the critical plays, and they deserve to win.”
At the bottom of the AP Poll, the margin was razor-thin. No.
21 UCLA had 287 votes, followed by No. 22 Houston with 279, Boise State with 271, No.
24 SMU with 167 and No. 25 Pittsburgh with 162.
Two other Group of Six teams also picked up votes: James Madison with 12 and North Dakota State with seven.
The top of the poll stayed unchanged, with Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State holding the top five spots. The highest-ranked Group of Six conference champion in the final College Football Playoff rankings earns an automatic berth to the CFP.
Others receiving votes: Kentucky 160, Wake Forest 142, Wisconsin 88, Duke 83, Northwestern 59, Nebraska 48, Minnesota 19, Arizona 19, James Madison 12, North Dakota State 7
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 🡒]