Boise State’s offense will have to move on without its most explosive runner on Saturday.
Sire Gaines is out for the Broncos’ non-conference game against Western Michigan after being limited in practice all week with a wrist injury he picked up in last week’s 38-24 win over South Dakota. He was considered a game-time decision, went through pregame warmups, and still ended up being held out in Kalamazoo.
The Broncos’ official injury report, released two hours before kickoff, listed Gaines as questionable. Reserve linebacker Sam Brooks was also ruled out, while offensive guard Roger Carreon and edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan were not given injury designations and were set to start against Western Michigan.
Gaines was hurt in the fourth quarter against South Dakota, but he still finished with 17 carries for a season-high 102 yards and a touchdown. Through three games in 2026, he has totaled 45 carries for 234 yards and two touchdowns, while adding six catches for 58 yards and another score.
Boise State will now lean on Dylan Riley, who leads the team with 62 carries for 454 yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos are also expected to turn to a pair of Power Four transfer backs: Juelz Goff from Pittsburgh and Harry Stewart III from Kansas. Goff has three carries for 22 yards this fall, and Stewart III has nine yards on two touches.
“Harry and JG both came here to play, are really good football players, really good running backs,” Danielson said. “Next man up, carry the flag.
I’m sure Western Michigan is going to have some guys that don’t play. That’s our mentality.
We brought you here to play. Your part of this is how you prepped since you’ve stepped foot on campus for this time.
And, here we go.”
Brooks, who played in 11 games last season and had eight total tackles, has not appeared in a game this year.
Western Michigan has injury issues of its own. The Broncos listed six players out on their official report, including starting safety Micah Davis, who has 15 total tackles and one pass breakup this season.
Star wideout Aveion Chenault is questionable. He leads Western Michigan with 13 receptions for 216 yards and a touchdown and has also run three times for 35 yards.
The matchup between Boise State and Western Michigan, both 2-1, kicked off at 1:36 p.m. Mountain time and is being televised nationally on ESPN2.
In Other News...
Boise State Takes First Step Toward A Stadium Change Fans Will Feel
Boise State has taken the first formal step toward a potential redevelopment around Albertsons Stadium, with the university announcing plans to explore a project on the east side of the venue and portions of south campus. The idea is still in the exploratory phase, but the scope is broad enough to reshape how the area around the stadium functions on game days and beyond.
The university is set to release a Request for Proposals to find a development advisor to help guide the process as part of its 10-Year Campus Master Plan. If the project moves forward, it could bring a mix of hotel, conference, event, retail, dining, housing and parking options to one of the most visible parts of campus, leaving fans to watch not only what gets built, but how much the stadium experience changes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Added Real Juice To This Western Michigan Showdown
Boise State has a little extra context going into its upcoming meeting with Western Michigan, and it starts with Spencer Danielson giving the Broncos next opponent a public dose of respect. In a recent press conference, Danielson said he believed Western Michigan deserved to beat Michigan after a last-second sequence hinged on whether the proper replay protocols were followed, and the NCAA later confirmed those protocols were not handled correctly, even though the result stands.
For Boise State, the bigger takeaway is not the controversy but the challenge waiting on the field. Danielson praised Western Michigans defense and pointed to the fact that the Broncos from Kalamazoo are still unbeaten, which only adds to the intrigue around a matchup Boise State will have to earn the hard way. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Gave Fans Real Hope About This Team
Boise State went on the road and handled Western Michigan with the kind of efficiency that tends to travel well, leaving with a 32-7 non-conference win that offered a clear early-season boost. Running back Dylan Riley and quarterback Maddux Madsen helped set the tone on offense, while the defense kept Western Michigan from ever finding a rhythm.
For the Broncos, the bigger picture matters just as much as the final score. A win like this can move the needle in the College Football Playoff conversation, and it also gives Boise State some momentum as Pac-12 play arrives next. The challenge now is turning one convincing road performance into something more lasting once the schedule stiffens. [Read more 🡒]