Boise State Football Preview 2026: Can the Broncos Rule the New Pac-12?

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Before joining the FBS level of college football in 1996, Boise State won six Big Sky championships.

It won two Big West titles, and then it moved to the WAC.

It won eight WAC championships, and then it was off to the Mountain West. It won seven championships in the last 14 seasons, including the last three, and now …

Welcome to the Pac-12, Boise State. After 17 conference titles in 30 years of FBS football, yeah, nothing less than total dominance in the new league will do.

Boise State Has Expectations To Win the Pac-12 Right Away

No, this isn't your older self's Pac-12.

There's obviously no USC, Washington, Oregon, etc., and in reality, for now, the new Pac-12 is nothing more than the Mountain West Select Cuts league with a few others along for the ride.

Whatever. Give Boise State a conference to play in, and it'll demand nothing less than a championship.

– 2026 Boise State Schedule Analysis

Boise State Quick Hits

• Head Coach: Spencer Danielson (4th year, 24-8)
• Best Case / Worst Case: Win the Pac-12 Championship and go to the College Football Playoff/Pac-12 also-ran and doesn't look the part
• Key Player: Maddux Madsen, QB Sr.
• 2025 Record: 9-5
• Biggest Question: Can Boise State maintain the same high level in a better conference?

Boise State Key 2025 Stats

• Passing Yards: Boise State 3,429, Opponents 2,458
• Time of Possession: Boise State 33:07, Opponents 26:54 
• 1st Quarter Scoring: Boise State 113, Opponents 50 

Offense

Nate Potter did a decent job in his first year as the offensive coordinator, considering 1) star quarterback Maddux Madsen got hurt for a key late stretch of the season and 2) he didn't have that Ashton Jeanty guy in his backfield.

Even without a Heisman-caliber running back around, the offense still controlled the clock and still averaged 424 yards and 30 points per game.

What’s Working

Quarterback Maddux Madsen is back. Yeah, it was a big deal when he got hurt in the Fresno State loss, and his absence was a huge deal in the loss to San Diego State, but he managed to get back in time to throw for 289 yards and three touchdowns in the Mountain West Championship.

He's the veteran leader who has been around the block several times, and his experience should ease the concerns about an all-new receiving corps.

The offensive line will be a plus. You don't get better after losing special blockers like left tackle Kage Casey and center Mason Randolph, but three starters are back if guard Roger Carreon can get healthy.

Run well, and win. Boise State went 6-0 when running for more than 170 yards, was 9-1 when running for more than 125 yards, and getting going on the ground shouldn't be a problem.

The top two backs – Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines – are back after combining for close to 2,000 yards with 18 scores.

What Needs Work

There's a lot riding on that left tackle spot. Boise State always finds blockers who fit the system and produce, but it's asking a lot of either Tyler Ethridge from Colorado State-Pueblo or veteran backup Kyle Cox to replace new Denver Bronco Kage Casey.

All of the top receivers are gone. It didn't help that Chris Marshall left for Arkansas when top two wide receivers Latrell Caples and Chase Penry ran out of eligibility. 

Darren Morris from Southern University is expected to take over for Caples, and it'll be a mix of last year's key backups to fill out the roles.

The accuracy wasn't there even with all the veteran receivers. And now the passing attack has to be better with all those new targets.

Madsen is good, but he wasn't nearly as sharp last year, completing just 58% of his passes after hitting 62% over his previous two seasons.

Last year, Boise State failed to hit the 60% mark nine times.

Player to Watch

Tyler Ethridge, OT Sr.
Kage Casey was a longtime part of the blocking puzzle with 6-5, 311-pound NFL size.

Ethridge is a 6-3, 308-pounder who's built for guard, but was a wonderful blocker for Colorado State-Pueblo over the last few years and can fit in at tackle.

If he's great, the rest of the starting front five will be solid.

Defense

The defense has found a groove under defensive coordinator Erik Chinander. The Broncos were 60th in the nation in the great 2024 season, and last year it was 39th.

The pass rush has been okay, but his defenses take the ball away, are great on third downs so far, and he gets back more than enough talent to keep improving the production.

What’s Working

The Broncos should keep taking the ball away. Everyone does better when the defense forces takeaways, but most can't force them like Boise State can.

The team was 5-0 when coming up with two or more – 18 in those five games – and 9-1 when forcing at least one takeaway.

It was 0-4 when it didn't generate a turnover.

The edge rushers are back. Jayden Virgin-Morgan is back after cranking out 16 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss over the last two years.

Max Stege is a bigger end who came up with 3.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss over two seasons, and Sterling Lane stepped up at times with three sacks in a limited role last year.

Expect the pass rush to be more dangerous.

The cornerbacks are going to be good. Kennesaw State's JeRico Washington was a great get, TCU's Cam Jamerson will get a long look, and Sherrod Smith and Demetrius Freeney are good veterans.

What Needs Work

More defensive tackle help, the better. The Broncos have a big anchor in David Latu on the nose, but losing tackles Braxton Fely and Dion Washington matters.

Michael Madrie made 12 tackles last season, Lopez Sanusi made 13 stops, and Central Washington's Mikaio Edwards has to be a factor.

The defense has to hold up against the better teams.

After starting the 2023 season with a 56-19 loss at Washington, Boise State struggled to hold up in losses away from home to Memphis, Oregon, Penn State, UCLA, USF, and Notre Dame.

The 30-7 loss last year at Fresno State gets a bit of a break – Maddux Madsen got hurt early on.

The lost talent at safety hurts. Ty Benefield was the team's best defensive player at times throughout last year. Now he's at LSU.

He's gone, third-leading tackler Zion Washington is done after making 66 stops, and now it'll take a slew of transfers and veteran Derek Ganter Jr. to make an immediate impact.

Player to Watch

Boen Phelps, LB Jr.
Is he ready to do even more as the team's best linebacker? 

The defense needs Jake Ripp to be a star in the middle role, and Phelps has to build on his 66-tackle, one-sack, four tackle-for-loss season.

Keys to the Season

• Keep Maddux Madsen healthy.
• The new receivers have to be fantastic right away.
• Cut way down on the penalties after averaging close to seven per game for almost 60 yards.

Player Who Needs To Shine

David Latu, DT Sr.
He began in the JUCO ranks, spent a few years at BYU, and last year started six games for Boise State.

He only made nine tackles with a sack on the season, but the team needs him to literally play a bigger role.

The 6-4, 325-pounder is the size on the nose, and everything needs to work around him.

Biggest Concern

The offense can't crash as much
How many times was Boise State held to ten points or fewer in 2024? Zero.

After losing to Washington 38-6 to open the 2013 season, how many times was Boise State held to ten points or fewer? Once, again to Washington, 28-7 in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl.

Boise State lost to Washington 38-10 last year, and scored just seven points four other times. 

Biggest Game

at Fresno State, October 10
After starting the Pac-12 season off against Utah State, the Broncos have to avenge last year's 30-7 blowout loss to Fresno State.

The next conference game is at Washington State, and a trip to Colorado State is coming up, making it three road games in four Pac-12 dates.

Transfer Portal

The Broncos didn't do anything too splashy in the portal. It didn't need to.

They picked up several good players, and they filled in gaps at receiver and in the secondary, but there aren't any sure-thing superstars who'll do much more than provide depth.

That's not a knock. Boise State is great at building from within.

Best Signing

Roman Tillmon, S (South Dakota)
This is one area the Broncos could use some real help, and Tillmon is a star who'll be a top tackler from jump.

He's not huge, but the 6-0, 190-pounder can pop, making 94 tackles with seven broken up passes last year for the Coyotes. All he has to do is replace …

Biggest Loss

Ty Benefield, S (LSU)
A special player over his three seasons with the Broncos, he made 235 tackles with three sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and 12 broken up passes. 

There are few better open-field tackling defensive backs in college football. He'll be a star for LSU.

Other Names to Know

• JeRico Washington Jr., CB  (Kennesaw State)
• Darren Morris, WR (Southern)
• Taebron Bennie-Powell, S (Notre Dame)

CFN Season Prediction

Last year's Boise State team had flaws, and it wasn't nearly the machine it was in previous seasons.

It still won the Mountain West championship.

It still has a great quarterback, a terrific offensive line, and at least among the current Pac-12 schools, an unparalleled culture for winning.

Even with a thin receiving corps, and concerns on the defensive side needing more big performances, there's no keeping the Broncos out of the Pac-12 title chase.

CFN Prediction: 9-3

They won't beat Oregon in Eugene to start the season, and be worried about Memphis at home and a trip to Kalamazoo to deal with defending MAC Champion Western Michigan.

Getting San Diego State at home is a big deal, but Pac-12 road dates against Fresno State, Washington State, Colorado State, and in the conference flex game against Utah State are all going to be tough.

But it's Boise State. It wins conference championships.

Related: Boise State Football 2026 Schedule Analysis and Key Games

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos