Boise State is turning the page on its Mountain West run and opening a new chapter Saturday night, and the first opponent in the Pac-12 is a familiar one.
The Broncos host Utah State at Albertsons Stadium at 5:30 p.m. Mountain time, with CBS Sports Network carrying the game. Boise State enters at 3-1 and 0-0, while Utah State comes in at 1-3 and 0-0.
For Boise State, this is more than just another conference opener. The program spent 15 years in the Mountain West and stacked up seven league titles along with nine seasons of double-digit wins. Now the Broncos start fresh against an old rival.
“We start Pac-12 play, which is really awesome,” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson told local media on Thursday. “We’ve got a big test this week.
“Every time we play Utah State, it’s an absolute dogfight. I think the world of (head coach) Bronco Mendenhall, his staff, his players. They’re going to come in well-coached, they’re going to come in hungry, and they’re going to play really, really hard.”
These teams know each other well, and last year’s Black Friday meeting came down to the wire. Utah State led 24-13 with 19 minutes left before backup quarterback Max Cutforth sparked two touchdown drives and Boise State escaped with a 25-24 win. That victory sent the Broncos into the MWC championship game, where they later beat UNLV for their third straight title.
Boise State’s offense has looked sharp again early this season. Fifth-year senior quarterback Maddux Madsen, who missed last year’s Utah State game because of injury, has thrown for 814 yards with 10 total touchdowns and no turnovers. On the ground, Dylan Riley has been one of the country’s most productive runners, ranking third nationally with 592 rushing yards on 90 carries and three touchdowns.
Utah State will lean on Grady Brosterhous, who started the season as the backup but has taken over the last three weeks. He has 635 passing yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions on the season. But he showed a different gear in last week’s win over Troy, throwing for 242 yards and two scores while adding 89 rushing yards.
“Their quarterback is really getting in rhythm,” Danielson said. “I think he played his best game last weekend against Troy, who is a really good football team.
He’s playing his best football. … We know we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Boise State will have to manage some personnel issues as well. Starting left guard Carson Rasmussen is out after suffering an undisclosed injury in last week’s win over Western Michigan, and running back Sire Gaines is questionable.
Jordan Kent will handle play-by-play, Doug Pederson will be the analyst and Brandon Baylor will report from the sideline.
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Maddux Madsen has become one of the defining figures of Boise States recent run, steering the Broncos to back-to-back conference titles and a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2024. Even with a 23-7 record as a starter, he has drawn his share of scrutiny from fans who question his size and the way he plays, which has kept the conversation around him from ever fully settling down.
Doug Pederson just added a notable voice to that debate, offering praise for Madsen as a winning quarterback who fits Boise States offense. The timing matters, too, with Madsen still without a turnover through four games and on pace for what could be a career-best season, giving the Broncos plenty of reason to keep trusting the same formula even as the outside noise lingers. [Read more 🡒]
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Boise State Is Bringing Back A Moment Broncos Fans Still Feel
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