October 21, 2025

Article By Nick Wade

As the late autumn sky fades to the crisp blue of fall in Reno this Friday night, the Boise State Broncos travel to take on the Nevada Wolf Pack in a game that, though on paper appears one-sided, is rich with history, emotion, and the subtleties of college football’s long memories. The Broncos arrive at 5-2 overall and 3-0 in Mountain West play, fresh off an emphatic win on The Blue and now beginning to draw national attention as they receive votes in the Coaches Poll. On the opposite sideline, Nevada stands at 1-6 and 0-3 in the league, under the direction of former Boise State linebacker and special-teams coach Jeff Choate—an adversary with a chip on his shoulder, overlooked for the Bronco job that landed with Spencer Danielson. This Friday’s kickoff at 8 p.m. MST on CBS Sports Network is far more than a must-win; it is a chance for Boise State to build on momentum, honor legacy, and guard against the kind of upset that the Wolf Pack inflicted in 2010, when they crushed No. 3 Boise State’s national-championship hopes in a 34-31 overtime shocker.

For Bronco Nation, the message is clear: win the turnover battle, establish the run game, control the clock, and cure the leaks in the special-teams and open-field tackling departments. The Wolf Pack may be down in the standings, but that history—Reno’s cold field, a hostile crowd, a coach eager to prove a point—could easily tilt this into a trap game. The Broncos must arrive focused, professional, and relentless.

Offensively, Boise State enters this contest with growing confidence and production. Quarterback Maddux “Maddog” Madsen has completed 136 of 223 passes for 1,823 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. That places him in the Top 10 of all-time Boise State quarterbacks—ranked No. 8—with a passer rating that hovers near elite mark at 146.0 and a leadership presence off the field that has increasingly defined this team’s identity. Behind him, the thunder-and-lightning combination of Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines is beginning to hum at full speed. Riley has 86 carries for 695 yards and six touchdowns, including a long of 77 yards, placing him on pace for a 1,000-yard season if he keeps this pace. In fact, his historic 201‐yard, one‐touchdown rush performance against UNLV placed him among the elite 13 Broncos ever to eclipse 200 yards rushing in a game. Gaines, meanwhile, has 75 carries for 373 yards and four touchdowns with a long of 46 yards—he may not carry the headline, but his physicality and ability to ride defenses play after play keeps this offense balanced and dangerous.

The receiving corps continues to evolve with Chris Marshall now at 22 catches for 440 yards and two touchdowns, Latrell Caples at 22 catches for 299 yards and three touchdowns, and Ben Ford at 21 catches for 325 yards and five touchdowns. The depth and creativity of Boise State’s pass game now complement the run game in a way that opponents cannot simply stack the box and dare the Broncos to beat them through the air. But this scheme should shine while the offensive line continues to dominate. In last week’s game, the line performed elite to give Madsen time and Riley creases. That surge must continue to be the standard as the Broncos face a Nevada front coached by Choate, who knows Boise State’s tendencies and will look to rear-end a vulnerable offense.

Defensively, Boise State enters with strengths and still with refinements to make. Buck Benefield leads the team with 49 tackles and two interceptions with one forced fumble; Braxton Fely has 15 tackles and 4.5 sacks; Jayden Virgin-Morgan has 31 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles; Marco Notarainni has 41 tackles and 1.5 sacks; A’Marion McCoy has 16 tackles, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns; Jaden Mickey, with 16 tackles, 1 sack and a forced fumble has become a fan favorite and a dominant force on defense. The Broncos’ identity on defense remains first and foremost assignment football—gap discipline, pursuit, open-field tackling—and against Nevada these tenets will be tested. The Wolf Pack bring a run game anchored by Caleb Ramseur (70 carries for 310 yards and two touchdowns, long 27) and a freshman quarterback, Carter Jones, with three touchdowns, three interceptions and 517 passing yards so far. If Boise State allows Nevada to run with confidence, or lets the freshman QB find rhythm, this game could slide off script.

Adding further weight to this matchup is the emotional element. Boise State is mourning the passing of Bronco legend Doug Martin, and plans to honor him during this game with a helmet sticker or patch, a tribute coordinated by the program and still under deliberation according to Coach Danielson: “We’re working through how to do that the right way—maybe working through even a decal on our helmet.” As the Broncos travel to Reno, they’ll carry with them that legacy, that commitment to tradition, and a reminder of what Boise State football represents.

While Nevada stands at 1-6, the Wolf Pack and Jeff Choate are far from harmless. Choate was heavily considered for the Boise job, studied under Chris Ault’s Sac System, and knows how to disrupt. He will elevate this game. The memory of Reno’s 2010 upset of Boise State remains vivid within the Broncos’ program. That game is part of the undercurrent; Boise State has never forgotten it. The Wolf Pack haven’t accepted their role as doormat; they respect the history, they relish the upset, and they cherish the moment where they can make the Broncos bleed.

For Bronco Nation, this means showing up. The faithful travelling contingent must roar, fill the stadium, and sustain energy beyond kickoff. The game being on CBS Sports Network gives the national audience a peek at Bronco Nation in rare road conditions—this is not just attendance, it’s atmosphere. The crowd must be part of the game plan.

In practice this week, the Broncos have emphasized three keys: win the turnover battle, establish the run, and control the clock. If Boise State can do that, they’ll limit Nevada’s opportunities. Establishing the run with Riley and Gaines sets up play-action passes to Marshall, Caples, and Ford; controlling the clock keeps a freshman quarterback off rhythm; winning the turnover battle gives the Broncos margin for error. The defense must lock down the line against Ramseur, disrupt the angles, pursue with urgency on open field, and keep Jones from digging out of mistakes.

Special teams, too, demand attention. In previous games, the coverage units have suffered. The Broncos allowed a touchdown return against New Mexico, a fumble against UNLV, and while the kicking game—led by Colton Boomer’s 50-yard field goal and Oscar Doyle’s improvisational touchdown pass to Troy Grizzle—has delivered, the return and coverage units cannot remain a liability.  The Wolf  Pack may look to toggle tempo and special teams gimmicks; the Broncos need to be prepared.

As the Broncos board their plane to Reno, they carry confidence and momentum, but also humility. They know that the biggest games often hide in the small ones. A matchup against Nevada is technically a road game against a struggling opponent, but in college football, traps are everywhere. Boise State cannot assume anything. They must play like champions.

If they do, they will win this game and continue their roll toward a Mountain West crown—and perhaps, just perhaps, a shot at something more. The votes in the Coaches Poll may be small now, but if Boise State runs the table, dominates at home, and remains disciplined on the road, the conversation will grow louder.
For Bronco Nation, the ride is far from over. This Friday in Reno, the Blue turf might be miles away, but the spirit of Boise State football is ever present. The players, the coaches, the fans—they’re a single unit. The road to a three-peat begins now, and every game, every assignment, every tackle, every drive counts.