Riley ran with a determination that was unmistakable, pounding through Air Force defenders with a blend of speed and vision that kept the chains moving and the clock ticking. By the final whistle, he had amassed 255 total yards and scored five touchdowns—four on the ground and one through the air. His rushing stat line read like a workhorse: 19 carries for 171 yards, capped by runs that shredded Air Force’s second level. He also caught two passes for 84 yards, including a momentum-seizing touchdown reception that silenced the Falcon faithful late in the third quarter. For weeks, I have argued that Riley’s role needed to be elevated into the centerpiece of Boise State’s rushing scheme, and this performance solidified that belief beyond any reasonable doubt. He is not simply a complementary back; he is the engine that makes this offense run, a one-two RB punch when paired with Sire Gaines but more than capable of being the lead force.

Madsen, despite the scare and limited mobility, turned in a solid performance. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 276 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also showed the poise to add vertically, connecting with Latrell Caples for five receptions totaling 87 yards and spreading the ball to Riley on explosive plays. His lone interception was costly at the time, giving Air Force life to stick around in the game at the end of the first half, but his ability to come back and command the huddle after returning from injury deserves recognition.

Complementing Riley’s heroics was Malik Sherrod, who provided a spark off the bench with seven carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. His presence gave Boise State a change of pace that helped tire out Air Force’s front seven. While Sherrod’s role has been questioned in relation to Riley’s emergence, his burst and vision were undeniable in this game, giving the Broncos the ability to attack with multiple options out of the backfield.

The defensive side of the ball told a more complicated story. For much of the night, Boise State’s defenders were in position to stymie Air Force’s option, but missed tackles and poor pursuit angles turned what could have been minimal gains into drive-sustaining plays. Buck Benefield once again served as the cornerstone of the unit, recording 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception. His ability to diagnose the option, disrupt the mesh point, and provide leadership in the trenches was critical in preventing Air Force from gaining complete control. Marco Notarianni chipped in with 10 tackles of his own, while Zion Washington matched him with another double-digit tackling performance. Malakai Williams added a sack, flashing the kind of edge pressure Boise State will need in upcoming weeks.

Yet, as effective as Benefield and company were in spurts, the defense collectively struggled in the open field. Too often, defenders failed to wrap up, allowing Falcon runners to slip through arm tackles and extend drives. It was this lack of consistency that kept the score closer than it should have been for much of the contest. Air Force’s quarterback Liam Szarka exploited those miscues both with his legs and his arm, finishing 13 of 18 for 246 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, while also rushing 20 times for 110 yards. His connection with Cade Harris proved devastating at times, with Harris hauling in eight catches for 177 yards, including a backbreaking 74-yard reception that swung momentum. Dylan Carson added 109 rushing yards and a touchdown, further demonstrating why Air Force’s option remains one of the most difficult schemes to contain.

Air Force’s defensive leader, Max Mustell, finished with 13 tackles, trying to corral Riley and Sherrod, but the Broncos’ offensive line was able to create running lanes consistently. Still, the game’s tenor echoed many of the matchups in this rivalry: tense, physical, and closer than the final score indicated. As noted in the preview to this game, Boise State’s ability to defend the option hinged on assignment discipline. Too often, those assignments broke down, and the Falcons capitalized.

The win nonetheless carries weight. Boise State has now started its Mountain West campaign 1-0, a critical first step in defending its title. At 2-1 overall, the Broncos remain on track for national relevance, but there are lessons to take from this night in Colorado Springs. The offense, powered by Dylan Riley’s emergence, is as dynamic as any in the league, capable of grinding out yards or striking with quick-hitting big plays. The defense, while anchored by stars like Benefield, still has room for growth in tackling and secondary discipline. And hovering over it all is the reality that the kicking game remains untested in a pressure situation, a concern that will linger until proven otherwise.

Looking ahead, Boise State will return home to the Blue to face Appalachian State, a team that enters at 2-1 and eager to make a statement of its own. The matchup promises to test Boise State’s ability to clean up the mistakes from Air Force while continuing to ride the momentum of Riley’s dominance. The Broncos will look to refine their open-field tackling, solidify their assignment discipline, and prove that their offense can hum against an opponent less reliant on the option and more balanced in its attack.

This win against Air Force may not have been as dominant as the score suggested, but it carried with it the resilience and adaptability that championship teams need. Boise State overcame an early injury scare to its quarterback, leaned into its offensive star’s breakout, and held firm against one of the most methodical attacks in college football. The path forward remains challenging, but with Riley establishing himself as the offensive cornerstone and the defense continuing to grow, Boise State remains firmly in the driver’s seat of its Mountain West title defense.

And as the crowd of filtered out of Falcon Stadium, the story was clear: the Broncos had survived another Air Force gauntlet, and in doing so, they reminded the league and themselves that the blue-collar grit that defines their program remains intact. Now, the focus shifts to next Saturday, when the Blue will once again become the stage for the next chapter of their season against Appalachian State.