Boise State is back in the AP top 25, and the Broncos earned their way in with a road performance that left little doubt.
The Broncos landed at No. 22 in the Week 4 AP Poll, released Sunday, marking their first appearance in one of the two major national polls this season. Boise State was also the lone Group of Six team ranked in the top 25.
That bump came on the heels of a 32-7 win at Western Michigan on Saturday, a game controlled from the start by Boise State’s defense. Western Michigan finished with just 223 total yards, went 2 for 11 on third down and came up empty on all three fourth-down tries.
“Hats off to our defensive staff, the plan they put together every week,” Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson said after the game. “And then our players going out and going through walkthroughs, going through the situations, what we’re seeing, how we’ve got to defend it.
And our guys are going out and executing. That’s the eraser.
We know we had to tighten up the explosives, but we’ve got to continue to play really good on third and fourth down on defense.”
The Broncos have now won three straight after opening the year with a 34-27 loss at No. 15 Oregon. Boise State is 3-1 overall and 0-0 in Pac-12 play.
On offense, Dylan Riley did plenty of heavy lifting. He set a career high with 28 carries, turning them into 138 yards and a touchdown. Riley is now third nationally with 592 rushing yards.
Maddux Madsen kept the passing game efficient, throwing for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
Boise State’s last time in the AP top 25 came in the 2025 preseason poll, when it was ranked No. 25 before dropping out after a blowout loss to South Florida.
Elsewhere in the Week 4 poll, Texas stayed at No. 1, with Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State right behind. Two other Group of Six teams also picked up votes: James Madison with 10 and North Dakota State with six.
Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 102, Duke 101, Penn State 98, Wake Forest 88, Virginia Tech 86, Michigan 54, Pittsburgh 52, Nebraska 36, Louisville 25, Cincinnati 20, James Madison 10, Arizona 8, Minnesota 7, North Dakota State 6, Northwestern 1.
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The opener brings more than the usual league-pageantry feel, because Boise State is expected to look the part in a conference race that will help define its standing nationally. Early betting lines have made the Broncos a strong home favorite, which only adds to the pressure to handle business and keep the momentum from their recent run from getting interrupted. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Sent A Clear Message Before Pac-12 Play
Boise States trip to Western Michigan offered the kind of complete performance coaches usually point to when the calendar starts turning toward league play. The Broncos left with a 32-7 win built on efficiency and control, with quarterback Maddux Madsen throwing three touchdown passes without an interception and Dylan Riley powering the run game with 138 yards and a score.
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Boise State Is Turning Its Pac-12 Home Opener Into A Throwback Moment
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The milestone celebration will carry into Albertsons Stadium, where several members of that 2007 team are set to be on hand, including Jared Zabransky and Ian Johnson. For a fan base that still takes pride in that era, it gives this home opener a little extra meaning beyond the standings and the conference debut. [Read more 🡒]