Boise State’s wild 46-45 win over Texas State came with a major concern attached: starting quarterback Maddux Madsen left in the fourth quarter with an injury, and head coach Spencer Danielson said afterward that he “doesn’t know” how serious it is yet.
“We’re going through it. I know it initially didn’t look great, and our doctors are going through it,” Danielson said.
“So we’ll see what it is. He’s a warrior.
He’s a competitor.”
Madsen exited with about eight minutes left and Boise State trailing 39-28. He later came out of the medical tent with an ice pack on his left knee and spent the rest of the game on the sideline using crutches.
That opened the door for senior backup Max Cutforth, who helped fuel the Broncos’ comeback in one of the night’s biggest swings. Cutforth went 8-for-13 for 131 yards and threw three touchdowns.
It wasn’t the first time Cutforth has had to step in for Madsen. He also filled that role late last season, though the outcome was far different.
When Madsen was injured early in a home game against Fresno State on Nov. 1, Cutforth completed less than half his passes in a 30-7 loss.
He then started three straight games while Madsen was sidelined, with Boise State going 2-1 in that stretch.
“I’m super proud of Max,” Danielson said. “Especially in a backup quarterback role, it’s tough.
He’s been in this role, and he’s done a really good job. But you never know until you get out there, and we didn’t want him to have to get out there in this type of situation.”
Danielson also said Madsen is still “our guy,” but added that Cutforth - along with other backups who may also need to fill in for the injured Sire Gaines and Matt Wagner - will need to “step up.”
If Cutforth is asked to handle multiple starts in the coming weeks, he says he’s ready.
“I’m absolutely ready. I’m preparing,” Cutforth said. “I think I’ve done a really good job this year at preparing like I’m starting.”
In Other News...
Boise State Survived A Fourth Quarter Broncos Fans Wont Believe
Boise State spent most of the night looking like it had the game under control against Texas State, carrying a 28-3 halftime lead and appearing headed for a comfortable finish. Instead, the fourth quarter turned into a wild, back-and-forth shootout, with the Broncos suddenly trailing 32-28 early in the period before the game kept swinging from one side to the other.
The finish only added to the drama for Boise State, which had to navigate the closing stretch without quarterback Maddux Madsen after he was hurt late. Max Cutforth stepped in and helped steady the offense as the Broncos kept answering in a final quarter that felt anything but routine, before Boise State finally escaped with a 46-45 win. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Escaped Disaster But Now Faces A Huge QB Question
Boise State got the kind of win that can make a season feel both exhilarating and unsettling at the same time, surviving Texas State 46-45 in a Pac-12 game at Albertsons Stadium. The Broncos also spent halftime honoring one of their most iconic quarterbacks, unveiling a bronze statue of Kellen Moore, a reminder of the standard Boise State has long tried to match at the position.
The celebration was tempered by what happened on the field, where the Broncos had to rally through a second-half surge and lean on backup quarterback Max Cutforth to finish the job. With the offense suddenly in a different hands, Boise State is now left sorting through the immediate aftermath of a game it escaped, but one that may have changed the conversation around the most important spot on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Escaped One Disaster But A Bigger Concern Just Emerged
Boise State spent Saturday night surviving one crisis after another, and somehow still walked away with a 46-45 win over Texas State after staring at a 36-point deficit. The Broncos also had to navigate the loss of starting quarterback Maddux Madsen to a knee injury, a setback that could have easily buried a team already reeling on the scoreboard.
Backup Max Cutforth steadied the offense in the fourth quarter and helped fuel the rally, giving Boise State a much-needed escape hatch when the game seemed lost. But the bigger concern now is Madsens status, and head coach Spencer Danielson said the injury is still being evaluated while indicating the starter is expected to miss the next game, leaving the Broncos to sort out the fallout from a wild finish. [Read more 🡒]