Boise State came into Autzen Stadium as a 24.5-point underdog and nearly turned Saturday into a stunner, pushing No. 2 Oregon before the Ducks finished off a 34-27 win.
The Broncos held a 10-point lead in the first half, but couldn’t keep it there. Still, the performance left head coach Spencer Danielson pointing to the fight his team showed even in defeat.
“Proud of how we battled, wasn’t enough,” Danielson said after the game. “There’s no moral victories. We’ve got to be better.”
One of the biggest takeaways from Week 1 was how tightly Boise State managed its rotations. Up front on offense, the five starting linemen never left the field, each playing all 68 snaps. The backfield was just as condensed, with Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines as the only Broncos running backs to see the field.
The defense followed a similar pattern in several spots. Boise State went two deep at defensive tackle, edge rusher and linebacker, but mostly stayed with its top unit in the secondary. Linebacker Boen Phelps and safety Derek Ganter Jr. were on the field for every one of the 64 defensive snaps.
There were also three true freshmen with roles against Oregon. Wide receiver Rasean Jones played 66 snaps and stood out as one of Boise State’s bright spots.
Nickel Madden Soliai also drew meaningful work with 12 snaps. Tight end Keawe Browne saw four snaps.
Here are the snap counts for every Boise State player on offense and defense from the Oregon game.
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One of the bigger developments involved the offensive line, where redshirt freshman right tackle Jacob Tracy is out for the season after suffering an injury before Week 1, according to head coach Spencer Danielson. For Boise State, that creates an immediate test up front as it prepares for a Memphis team that will see a line under pressure to stabilize quickly, while the kicking competition remains another issue the Broncos are still working through. [Read more 🡒]
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Boise State Just Got One More Reason To Watch Oregon Closely
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Moores night added a layer of concern late, when he took a hard hit and briefly left the field before coming back. He was able to return and later walked off under his own power after the win, a small but important reassurance for Oregon after a play that had everyone in the stadium watching closely. For Boise State, it was another reminder that the Ducks have real playmaking depth, and that Moore is already a name to keep in mind on the schedule ahead. [Read more 🡒]