October 4, 2026

Article By Nick Wade  

BOISE, Idaho. — The first chapter of Boise State football’s PAC-12 era ended exactly as Bronco Nation hoped it would, with a victory under the lights on the Blue, but the 37-18 win over Utah State on Saturday night also delivered a familiar warning that this defense still has work to do.

On a perfect evening for football at Albertsons Stadium, the No. 22 Broncos opened conference play with an offensive performance that was efficient, explosive and balanced enough to control Utah State for most of the night. Maddux Madsen was nearly flawless, Dylan Riley found the end zone twice, the offensive line consistently created opportunities, and Boise State’s defense produced six sacks, nine tackles for loss and a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Yet for all the reasons to celebrate becoming the first Boise State team to win a PAC-12 conference game, there was one problem that continues to follow the Broncos into October.

Boise State is still allowing too many explosive plays.

Utah State finished with 345 total yards, including 169 on the ground and 176 through the air. The Aggies repeatedly found ways to create chunks of yardage, most notably Javen Jacobs’ 64-yard touchdown-setting run in the second quarter and a 31-yard touchdown pass from Grady Brosterhous to Eli Wood in the fourth quarter. Utah State also produced a 27-yard completion and several other substantial gains that kept the Aggies from completely disappearing from the game.

The Broncos ultimately held the Aggies scoreless in the first and third quarters, but the defense surrendered 18 points and allowed Utah State to remain within striking distance longer than Boise State would have preferred.

That is the paradox of this Boise State team. There is plenty of evidence that the defense is getting better, but there is still too much evidence that explosive plays can erase otherwise dominant stretches.

Head coach Spencer Danielson acknowledged the importance of continuing to build rather than simply celebrating the result.

The Broncos entered the game emphasizing the idea of “stacking days” and continuing to elevate their standard, and Saturday represented another step in that progression. Boise State’s official gamebook shows the Broncos controlling 32:14 of possession while converting 8-of-13 third downs. Utah State converted only 4-of-13 third downs and finished 1-of-3 on fourth down.

The night began with Boise State looking every bit like a team ready for its new conference home.

Madsen immediately attacked Utah State’s secondary, connecting with Rasean Jones for a 63-yard completion on the opening scoring drive. Three plays later, Riley powered into the end zone from five yards out, giving Boise State a 7-0 lead.

Riley then handed the offense another jolt in the second quarter when he broke free for a 33-yard touchdown run, his second score of the night.

He finished with 18 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns, while Harry Stewart III helped carry the load with nine carries for 26 yards as Sire Gaines was unavailable.

Madsen, however, was the story of the night.

The fifth-year senior completed 17 of 21 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception. He also rushed seven times for 42 yards, repeatedly using his legs to extend drives and punish Utah State when its coverage forced him to scramble. His 81-percent completion rate was exactly what Boise State needed from its quarterback in the first game of conference play.

That performance earned Madsen Bronco Nation Updates’ Offensive Player of the Game.

Madsen said afterward that the Broncos wanted to establish control immediately.

“You come out on your first three drives with touchdowns, that’s going to send a message early,” Madsen said. “And that’s kind of what we talked about all week, not allowing any hope at all. I think that was very well done.”

That early statement became particularly important because Utah State answered in the second quarter.

Jacobs ripped through the defense for 64 yards, setting up the Aggies at the Boise State 3-yard line before Utah State eventually scored on a one-yard pass to Jacobs. Later, another long drive ended with a field goal as Utah State entered halftime trailing 28-10.

Boise State answered with perhaps its most important defensive play of the first half.

Jake Ripp intercepted a tipped pass and raced 21 yards for a touchdown, turning a potential Utah State scoring opportunity into seven points for the Broncos. The play was helped by Boen Phelps, who deflected the pass at the line of scrimmage before Ripp secured the interception.

Ripp finished with six tackles and the pick-six, while true freshman Madden Soliai continued to look increasingly comfortable at the next level.

Soliai finished with seven tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss, tying Sherrod Smith for the team lead in tackles.

That earned Soliai Bronco Nation Updates’ Defensive Player of the Game.

Danielson has repeatedly emphasized how much young talent Boise State is asking to contribute this season, and he singled out Soliai after the game.

“We’re playing a lot of young players, man. Freshmen, sophomores,” Danielson said. “Madden Soliai is a football guy. Since he showed up in January … how he studies, how he loves the game. He had his first start today, and he grabbed the reins and ran with it. He’s physical, he can tackle, he can cover. His future is extremely bright at Boise State.”

The defensive front certainly made its presence felt.

Max Stege and Lopez Sanusi combined for a sack early, Jayden Virgin-Morgan added another, David Latu recorded a sack, Soliai got to the quarterback and Jake Ripp later joined the sack party. Boise State finished with six sacks for 32 yards and nine tackles for loss.

Still, the Broncos cannot overlook the explosive plays.

Jacobs alone rushed for 139 yards on 10 carries, averaging 13.9 yards per attempt, with the 64-yarder accounting for nearly half of his total. Wood added 102 receiving yards, including the 31-yard touchdown. Those are the kinds of plays Boise State cannot afford to surrender repeatedly as the competition becomes more difficult.

The offense eventually delivered the response Danielson wanted.

After Utah State scored a late touchdown and two-point conversion to cut the margin to 31-18, Boise State did not panic. Madsen immediately answered with a 33-yard completion to Akeem Wright, followed by a 31-yard completion to Ben Ford. Three plays after the Aggies scored, Madsen found Ford for an 11-yard touchdown.

Ford finished with three receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown, while Jones led Boise State receivers with five catches for 88 yards. Matt Wagner added three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown, giving him another important red-zone contribution.

The response mattered as much as the points.

“I think part of that, too, is the mindset our offense plays with,” Madsen said. “They score, and we had to respond. I think that was great being able to see that response and kind of go down there, drive the field and score a touchdown, which is what we needed.”

Boise State finished with 429 total yards, including 244 passing and 185 rushing. The Broncos produced 20 first downs, averaged 6.9 yards per offensive play and converted eight of 13 third downs. They also scored three touchdowns on four trips inside the red zone.

And there was history attached to every one of those numbers.

The 34,616 fans inside Albertsons Stadium represented Boise State’s 16th consecutive sellout, while the victory gave the Broncos their first PAC-12 conference win and moved them to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.

For the program, it was the beginning of a new era.

For the players, however, it was simply the next game.

That mentality may be more important than anything else as Boise State turns toward Fresno State.

The Bulldogs enter the matchup at 4-1, and the Broncos will travel to Fresno next Saturday for the Milk Can Trophy. It will be Boise State’s first PAC-12 road game and another opportunity to establish itself in a conference that suddenly has real stakes attached to every Saturday.

The rivalry carries its own history, but the circumstances make this meeting different. Fresno State has won the last three meetings, while Boise State holds a 17-10 advantage in the all-time series. The Milk Can will be waiting, but so will one of the most important tests of the young PAC-12 season.

Boise State has every reason to feel good about Saturday night. Madsen looked decisive, Riley continued to establish himself as a reliable workhorse, the offensive line played at a high level, and a young defense generated pressure when it mattered most.

But championship teams are not built on the ability to celebrate what they did well.

They are built by identifying what still needs to be fixed.

For Boise State, that means eliminating the explosive plays that have repeatedly allowed opponents to stay alive. The Broncos have shown they can create sacks, force turnovers and win critical downs, but Fresno State will provide another test of whether this defense can finally make an opponent earn every yard.

The first PAC-12 victory belongs to Boise State.

Now the Broncos have to prove it was only the beginning.