Boise State Opens 2025 Home Schedule with Statement Win Over Eastern Washington, 51–14
Welcome Back To The Blue Bronco Nation
September 6, 2025
Article By Nick Wade
BOISE, IDAHO – The blue turf was alive again, buzzing with the sound of more than 32,887 fans as Boise State opened its 2025 home campaign in dominant fashion. A 51–14 rout of Eastern Washington was more than a comfortable victory; it was a statement, a showcase of depth, firepower, and the promise of what this season might hold. But it was also a reminder of the crucial decisions that must be made in the weeks ahead as the Broncos look toward battles against FBS powers, especially the looming clash with Notre Dame.
The win was comprehensive. Boise State’s defense suffocated, its passing game sparkled, and its rushing attack pounded away until Eastern Washington had no answers. Yet, even in a game where victory seemed inevitable, the storylines that emerged told us much more than the score line ever could.
Maddux Madsen’s Commanding Night
Quarterback Maddux “Maddog” Madsen left little doubt about his control over this offense. He completed 16 of 26 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns while adding 35 yards and another score on the ground. It was the kind of balanced, authoritative performance that reminds everyone why he’s not just a starter but the heartbeat of this team.
What stood out most wasn’t simply his stat line—it was how he responded to momentum. After Boise State’s rushing attack opened the game with a statement run from Sire Gaines, Madsen orchestrated the offense with poise, mixing precision strikes through the air with timely scrambles that broke Eastern Washington’s defensive structure. His two touchdown passes were products of rhythm and chemistry, particularly with Chris Marshall and Ben Ford, whose emergence only deepened the arsenal of weapons at his disposal.
Against an FCS opponent, Madsen looked almost effortless. But the test ahead will demand that same efficiency against defenses capable of rattling quarterbacks. For now, though, fans could only marvel at the way he dictated tempo and made the game feel entirely under Boise State’s control.
Sire Gaines’ Spark
If there was a single moment that defined the night’s momentum swing, it was Sire Gaines bursting through a gap for a 46-yard run in the opening quarter. That dash didn’t just put Boise State on the board—it broke Eastern Washington’s resistance early. From that point on, the Eagles seemed reactive, always playing on their heels as Gaines’ run had set a tone that they would never recover from.
Gaines finished with 98 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, embodying the type of steady, bruising style that wears down defenses. His performance reminded everyone why his reliability is so valuable, particularly when paired with someone capable of producing fireworks on nearly every touch. That brings us to Dylan Riley.
The Case for Riley - and the One - Two Punch
Once again, Dylan Riley made the kind of statement that cannot be ignored. With only six carries, Riley erupted for 123 yards and a touchdown. His average of more than 20 yards per attempt was staggering, but even more telling was how he created yards seemingly out of nothing. His cuts were decisive, his acceleration devastating, and his runs demoralized Eastern Washington defenders who looked helpless in the open field.
For weeks, I have argued that Riley deserves to be prioritized in Boise State’s rushing scheme, citing pieces I’ve written in BroncoNationUpdates.com. This performance only reinforces that conviction. However, Saturday night also highlighted something equally important: Riley does not need to replace Gaines – he needs to complement him. Together, they form a one-two punch that has the potential to be the most dynamic rushing tandem Boise State has fielded in years.
Think of Gaines as the body blow, pounding away at defenses with consistency and physicality, while Riley delivers the knockout punch, the explosive play that changes momentum and silences crowds. Sherrod remains a capable option, evidenced by his 42 yards and touchdown, but the path forward is clear: Gaines and Riley must be the centerpiece.
This isn’t just about numbers. Against Notre Dame and other FBS powers, efficiency and explosiveness in the run game will be non-negotiable. Gaines provides the former. Riley provides the latter. Together, they can give Boise State the balance it needs to not just compete but win.
Explosiveness in the Receiving Game
While the run game set the foundation, the air attack put the exclamation points on the victory. Chris Marshall delivered four receptions for 132 yards, each one a dagger into Eastern Washington’s secondary. His ability to stretch the field vertically forced safeties deep and opened up everything underneath. On the other side, Ben Ford emerged as the breakout star of the night with three catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
Ford’s red-zone connection with Madsen was particularly striking. Twice he found the soft spots in coverage and made Eastern Washington pay, providing the type of complementary scoring threat that transforms Boise State’s offense from dangerous to deadly. Together, Marshall and Ford showcased a dynamic that, if it carries into October, will test even Notre Dame’s talented secondary.
This was not just about yardage or touchdowns. It was about Boise State discovering that its passing attack has layers—Marshall as the big-play threat, Ford as the efficient scorer, and Madsen as the conductor. Add in Riley’s ability to catch passes out of the backfield, and the Broncos have an offense capable of dictating terms to nearly any opponent.
Defensive Statement and Secondary Shifts
On defense, Boise State was suffocating. Buck Benefield’s nine tackles anchored the defense, Lopez Sanusi added a key sack, and Trey Tolmaire’s interception punctuated the unit’s dominance. Yet perhaps the most intriguing storyline came from the secondary.
Jaden Mickey, the transfer from Notre Dame, was sensational in his Boise State starting debut. His coverage was sticky, his instincts sharp, and his presence stabilizing. Fans immediately saw why he was so highly regarded coming out of South Bend. Fans also saw moments of opportunities to improve on coverage and text book tackles. Just as notable was the benching of Davon Banks. Whether it was discipline or performance-related, the message was unmistakable: the standard is non-negotiable, and only those who meet it will play.
The result was a defensive backfield that looked refreshed, focused, and aggressive. For a team that struggled in moments last season, the emergence of Mickey could be the factor this unit has long needed.
Area Of Great Concern
Special teams continue to be a space that has an abundance of opportunities to improve. Colton Boomer who earned the starting Kicking job struggled early in the home opener having his first extra point attempt blocked in the first quarter and missing 36 yard field goal attempt in the second quarter. A change was made to true freshman Canaan Moore who only joined the team a week before fall camp who made the first field goal of the game from 37 yards. Moore finished the 1 for 2 field goal attempts with 4 successful extra points. It is extremely important that the kicking game woes be resolved and very quickly.
Atmosphere and Meaning
Albertsons Stadium was alive from kickoff to the final whistle. Fans filled the stands, a sea of blue and orange that roared with every big play and reveled in the return of football. It was a celebration as much as a game, a reminder of the passion that defines Bronco Nation.
Yet as dominant as the victory was, perspective remains essential. Eastern Washington is an FCS opponent, a program that never truly threatened the Broncos. The win matters because it built momentum, highlighted stars, and answered lingering questions. But it will not define this season. What will define it are the games against elite competition, the ones where talent alone will not be enough.
The Road Ahead
The Broncos will now focus their attention on the next opponent, Mountain West’s Air Force after the bye week. Then the Broncos will host Appalachian State, Sept 27th, on the Iconic Blue. For fans all eyes are on October 4, when Boise State visits the hallowed Notre Dame Campas at South Bend. That matchup is the real measuring stick, the one that will show whether the lessons from games like Eastern Washington, Air Force, and App State have been absorbed.
Boise State will need Madsen to be sharp, Marshall and Ford to be explosive, the Defense to maintain a standard of excellence, and above all, the rushing game to be efficient and devastating. That means embracing the platoon of Gaines and Riley as a strategic necessity, not a luxury. It means acknowledging that Riley’s ceiling is too high to limit and Gaines’s consistency is too valuable to overlook. Together, they can control tempo, set up play-action, and give the Broncos the balance required to topple giants.
Final Thoughts
The 51–14 win over Eastern Washington was everything Boise State could have hoped for in a home opener to get back on track. It was dominant, explosive, and energizing. But its greatest value may be the clarity it provided: Madsen is ready to lead, the receiving corps is deeper than expected, the defense has new anchors, and the rushing attack must revolve around the one-two punch of Gaines and Riley.
This was a victory to celebrate, but it was also a foundation to build on. Because in just a few weeks, the Notre Dame game arrives, bringing with it the chance to prove that Boise State is not just dominant against FCS, FBS, and Conference foes, but ready to reclaim its place among college football’s Top 25.