Boise State Broncos

Maddux Madsen enters his third season as the starter, and the preseason outlook highlighted his 0-4 record against Power 4 opponents. The Broncos lost their top four pass-catchers from 2025, but junior wide receiver Cameron Bates and tight end Matt Wagner are expected to step up. The passing game's development will be critical, especially after a tough Week 1 test at Oregon, where the Broncos were 24.5-point underdogs. How Madsen and his new targets perform against elite competition will define the ceiling of this offense.

Boise State returns its two leading rushers from 2025, Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines, who combined for 1,977 yards last season. The preseason analysis emphasized that consistent run game success is key to opening up the pass for Madsen. The Broncos' ability to control the line of scrimmage and lean on their experienced backfield will be vital, especially in conference play where they are the Pac-12 favorite. The run game's effectiveness against Oregon's front seven will be an early indicator of its reliability.

Sack production dropped from 55 in 2024 to 27 in 2025, but the Broncos return edge rushers Max Stege and Jayden Virgin-Morgan, who led the team in tackles for loss (13) and sacks (6) last season. The preseason outlook expects that number to jump back up. The defensive line's ability to generate pressure without relying on blitzes will be crucial, especially with a rebuilt secondary. The Week 1 matchup against Oregon's offensive line will be an early test of this unit's resurgence.

Boise State lost nearly its entire secondary from 2025, but former Notre Dame transfer Jaden Mickey is expected to lead the defense at cornerback and nickel. The linebacker group is also new, with Boen Phelps providing speed and coverage but potential tackling issues. Missed tackles at the first and second levels were costly in 2025, and the Broncos will need quick improvement from these units to avoid big plays. The Oregon game will expose any early-season vulnerabilities in the back seven.

Placekicker Colton Boomer and punter Oscar Doyle return, providing stability after special teams were a sore point in 2025. Boomer hit all three of his attempts from 50-plus yards and has emphasized accuracy improvements. The main issue last year was a lack of explosiveness in the return game, but speedy receivers Cameron Bates, Quinton Brown, and Terrious Favors are candidates to handle returns. Improved field position and reliable kicking could be a subtle but important edge in close conference games.