Boise State is walking into Autzen Stadium with one obvious problem on its hands: Oregon’s defensive front.
The Broncos already spent Thursday looking at one matchup they can attack, but the bigger issue Saturday against the No. 2 Ducks is clear. If Boise State wants to function on offense, it has to deal with a loaded Oregon line that brings star power at every spot.
Defensive tackles Bear Alexander and A’Mauri Washington, along with edge rushers Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei, give Oregon a front that Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson didn’t hesitate to praise on Monday.
“Probably one of the top front fours in the entire country,” Danielson said during Monday’s press conference. “And honestly in this day and age, really cool to see all four of them come back.
I love seeing that where guys come back to school, finish what they started. … All four would’ve had opportunities to go be top-round picks in the NFL, all four came back.
They’re a really, really good front.”
The numbers back up the reputation. Washington, listed at 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, posted 33 total tackles and seven pass breakups as a junior. FOX Sports’ Rob Rang projected him as the No. 10 overall pick in a recent 2027 NFL mock draft.
Alexander, a 6-foot-3, 316-pound force, set a career high with 50 total tackles last season and could push himself into first-round territory with another strong year.
Uiagalelei, who checks in at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, was projected at No. 30 in that same FOX Sports mock draft after a junior season that included 34 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He could be a double-digit sack player this fall.
Tuioti, the 6-foot-3, 263-pound edge, piled up 16 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks as a junior and is also viewed as an early-round draft prospect. He also happens to be the older brother of Boise State linebacker Mana Tuioti.
That group is about to meet a Boise State offensive line with plenty to prove. The Broncos do have an experienced piece in fifth-year senior Roger Carreon at right guard, but the rest of the unit is still taking shape.
Boise State is expected to start Tyler Ethridge, a senior transfer from Division II Colorado State-Pueblo, at left tackle. Carson Rasmussen, a fourth-year junior and former backup, is set to step in at left guard, while redshirt freshman Stewart Taufa takes over at center after serving as a backup last year.
Right tackle is also unsettled, with returning starter Daylon Metoyer and redshirt freshman Jacob Tracy both expected to get chances at Autzen Stadium.
Against Oregon’s front, that rebuilt line is heading straight into a major test.
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Boise State Faces An Early Test That Will Say A Lot
Boise States season starts with no easing in, no warm-up tuneup, and no room to settle in at Autzen Stadium. The Broncos will open on the road against No. 2 Oregon, with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff and the game airing live on CBS2, which makes the matchup feel like more than just a September opener. It is an early measuring stick for a team that knows exactly how much attention comes with walking into one of college footballs toughest environments.
Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander made it clear the challenge begins with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, while CBS analyst Charles Davis pointed to the different problems both sides have to solve and said Boise State is carrying confidence into the game. On the other side, offensive coordinator Nate Potter is giving Maddux Madsen the freedom to use his mobility, a wrinkle that could help the Broncos keep things from getting static if the offense needs to respond on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Must Show Oregon Last Years Special Teams Disaster Is Fixed
Boise State is heading back to Autzen Stadium with last years narrow loss to Oregon still serving as a reminder of how quickly special teams can swing a high-level game. Spencer Danielson said the Broncos took lessons from that defeat, and much of the focus this week has centered on making sure the kicking game does not hand the Ducks extra chances. That means a familiar cast should be in place, with senior punter Oscar Doyle, kickoff specialist Colton Boomer and field goal kicker Canaan Moore handling the duties.
Stacy Collins has made the return game a central point of emphasis, knowing Oregon can change a game with field position and momentum if given space. Boise States staff wants cleaner operation, fewer risky moments and a more controlled approach on kickoffs as the Broncos try to avoid the kind of special teams breakdowns that can turn a close road game into a chase. The challenge is not just executing well, but doing it under the pressure that comes with facing Oregon again in the same building. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State's Oregon Opener Comes With A Family Rivalry Twist
Boise States trip to Oregon to open the 2026 season already had the feel of a heavyweight early test, but the matchup comes with a personal layer, too. The Ducks are coached by Dan Lanning and feature defensive line coach Tony Tuioti, whose son Teitum is set for his senior season and is coming off a strong 2025 campaign that has him on the radar as a potential NFL draft pick.
For Boise State, the game also puts the Broncos in the middle of a family storyline that stretches beyond the usual conference and nonconference intrigue. It adds a little extra juice to a season opener that will draw plenty of attention anyway, with Oregon expecting Teitum to remain a key piece on defense and Boise State looking to make its own statement in a tough road environment. [Read more 🡒]