Boise State’s offense is showing some real promise in fall camp, but the line of scrimmage is still where the biggest questions live.
That’s the snapshot coming out of the Broncos’ first scrimmage of camp, with head coach Spencer Danielson noting standout work on both sides of the ball as Boise State pushes through the dog days before its Week 1 trip to face No. 2 Oregon at Autzen Stadium. Danielson said the two numbers he tracks closest are turnover margin and explosive play rate, and the offense appears to be trending better on the second front.
That matters because Boise State’s big-play output last season came and went from game to game. This year, the Broncos look more capable of creating chunk plays on a consistent basis.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Maddux Madsen is said to be in the best shape of his life, and he already showed during his sophomore season that he can push the ball downfield. He’s got more help around him now, too, with a receiver group that brings several vertical threats into the mix, including transfers Akeem Wright and Darren Morris, true freshman Rasean Jones and returnees Cam Bates and Quinton Brown.
The backfield may be the most explosive part of the offense, though. Boise State’s running back room came into camp with high expectations and has backed them up so far.
Dylan Riley, who totaled 1,274 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and Sire Gaines, who put up 883 total yards and nine touchdowns, both are aiming to clear 1,000 rushing yards in 2026. Gaines brings the power at 220 pounds, while Riley is one of the fastest players in the program.
The Broncos also added Juelz Goff from Pittsburgh and Harry Stewart III from Kansas, giving the group more depth and another potential weapon. At 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds, Goff could end up handling the team’s third-down duties.
Even with the passing game expected to improve, Boise State’s offense still runs through the ground game. That hasn’t changed.
Up front, the Broncos feel good about two key spots. Colorado State-Pueblo transfer Tyler Ethridge has looked like a difference-maker at left tackle, and Roger Carreon could be the best right guard in the new Pac-12 if he stays healthy.
Beyond that, there’s plenty still to sort out. Redshirt freshman Jacob Tracy is challenging fifth-year senior Daylon Metoyer for the right tackle job, and Jason Steele, Carson Rasmussen, Stewart Taufa and Zander Esty are all in the mix for interior snaps.
That leaves the offensive line with a chance to grow into a strength by Pac-12 play. Right now, though, it looks like the area most likely to be tested when Boise State lines up against Oregon.
In Other News...
Boise State Just Made A Blue Turf Change Fans Will Notice
Boise States famous Blue Turf is getting a new look this fall, and it will be hard for fans to miss. The university announced a corporate sponsorship with Progressive Insurance that will put the companys wordmark at midfield at Albertsons Stadium, beginning with the home opener on Sept. 12. The deal, arranged through Learfield, is part of a broader push that also includes game day and digital integrations around the program.
For a brand that has built so much of its identity around that unique field, even a single new marking carries plenty of weight. Boise State said the partnership is intended to support the athletic departments growth and help strengthen its long-term stability, and the Broncos are one of 13 schools working with Progressive. The on-field addition is the most visible piece, but it also signals how college athletics keeps leaning further into sponsorships as schools look for fresh revenue and a steadier financial footing. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State May Have Found The Answer To A Growing Backcourt Concern
Boise States backcourt picture got a little clearer with the addition of Lamar Washington, a former Georgia Tech shooting guard who brings one year of eligibility to the Broncos for the upcoming season. With the roster still taking shape, his arrival gives the staff another proven piece to plug into a lineup that already had some projection questions, and it adds an experienced guard option at a position that mattered even before this latest move.
Washingtons path to Boise State comes with a built-in layer of urgency, because the Broncos were already dealing with a growing concern on the perimeter. The roster now has to account for a key guard situation that could reshape the starting five, and Washingtons fit will be worth watching as Boise State sorts out how the backcourt will line up once the season opens. [Read more 🡒]