Utah State managed to secure its first win of the season last week during homecoming. Now comes a real challenge: playing the Pac-12 opener against the 22nd-ranked Boise State Broncos. It’ll be the third ranked opponent the Aggies have faced in four weeks (and all away from home). Previous outings against ranked teams were mixed, one being a two-point loss at Washington and then a 33-point defeat at Utah. We’ll see how Utah State handles this third round of ranked foes.
Here is all the necessary info to prepare you for the Aggies’ Pac-12 debut and their latest attempt to end a now decade-long losing streak against the Broncos.
Game Info
- Game Day: Oct. 3
- Location: Albertsons Stadium (Boise, ID)
- Kickoff Time: 5:30 p.m. MT
- TV Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
- Radio Broadcast: KVNU 102.1 FM / 610 AM
KVNU Aggie Gameday pregame show with Stockton Jewkes and J.D. Walker: Begins at 3:30 p.m. on 102.1 FM, 610 AM, or stream online at kvnutalk.com
KVNU Aggie Call Postgame: Will begin immediately following Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s postgame comments, also on 102.1 FM, 610 AM, or streamed online at kvnutalk.com
- Text (435) 554-1175 or call (435) 753-5868 during the pregame or postgame show to share your thoughts and reactions.
Availability Report
Both teams submitted official availability reports to the Pac-12. These reports were originally submitted Wednesday evening and will be updated periodically up until kickoff. Here is the latest as of publishing.
Utah State
- Dakota Howell (ILB) – PROBABLE
- John McClellan (ILB) – PROBABLE
- Asher Cunningham (ILB) – PROBABLE
- Brycen Edwards (ILB) – PROBABLE
- John Randle Jr. (OL) – OUT
- Tavo Motu’apuaka (OL) – OUT
- Tevita Tuha (DL) – OUT
- Diego Grateron (ILB) – OUT
- Harrison Taggart (ILB) – OUT
- Jackson Nelson (OL) – OUT
- Joshua Papu (DL) – OUT
- Nikko Boncore (WR) – OUT
- Chris Joe (ILB) – OUT FOR SEASON
- Jude Nelson (TE) – OUT FOR SEASON
Most of these injuries for the Aggies have already been known about or involve players who weren’t getting snaps even when healthy. But there are a few notable additions or revelations about injuries. Chris Joe missed the game against Troy and is now listed as out for the season. Nikko Boncore had a bit of a breakout game against Troy, catching four passes for 66 yards, but is now listed as out for this game. Jackson Nelson has been in a walking boot since a Week 1 injury and Harrison Taggart’s situation is obviously going to leave him out of commission (why he isn’t listed as out for the season is odd).
In the initial injury report, Asher Cunningham was listed as questionable with John Randle Jr. and Tavo Motu’apuaka being listed as doubtful. Those designations have since changed as Cunningham is now probable and both Randle and Motu’apuaka are now listed as out.
Boise State
- Cam Bates (WR) – QUESTIONABLE
- Darren Morris (WR) – QUESTIONABLE
- Logan Brantley (ILB) – QUESTIONABLE
- Sire Gaines (RB) – QUESTIONABLE
- Carson Rasmussen (OL) – OUT
- Sam Brooks (ILB) – OUT
Carson Rasmussen is the starting left guard for the Broncos who left the Western Michigan game partway through and is listed as out for this week. Two names to keep an eye on who are questionable are running back Sire Gaines and wide receiver Cam Bates. Neither are the top producer at their position, but they are contributors to the offense and the Broncos would be somewhat worse off without either.
Statistical Leaders
Passing
- Utah State: Grady Brosterhous — 55/98 (56.1%), 635 yards (158.8/game), 4 TD, 6 INT
- Boise State: Maddux Madsen — 70/111 (63.1%), 814 yards (203.5/game), 9 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
- Utah State: Grady Brosterhous — 63 rush att, 222 yards (3.5), 0 TD
- Boise State: Dylan Riley — 90 rush att, 592 yards (6.6/att), 3 TD
Receiving
- Utah State: Eli Wood — 23 receptions, 286 yards, 3 TD
- Boise State: Raesean Jones — 18 receptions, 271 yards, 3 TD
Defense
- Utah State: Brevin Hamblin (S) — 31 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes defended
- Boise State: Boen Phelps (LB) — 24 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack
3 Keys for Utah State
Contain Boise State’s run game (without getting burned by play-action)
With or without Sire Gaines in the lineup, Boise State is capable of producing one of the most effective rushing attacks in the nation. Gaines has run for 234 yards in three appearances, but it’s Dylan Riley who drives most of the gains on the ground. The junior running back has run for nearly 600 yards in four games (a nearly 1,800-yard 12-game pace) and is averaging a career-best 6.6 yards per carry despite nearly doubling his workload from last year (13 carries per game in 2025 up to 23 this year).
A lot of the emphasis from Utah State’s defensive gameplan is going to involve stopping Riley and Gaines. But in trying to stop those runs, Utah State needs to avoid making itself too open to the play action pass. Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen has typically done his best work as a passer from these plays, though this year he’s actually not performing as well. According to tracking from Pro Football Focus, Madsen ranks 104th in passer rating on play-action throws (minimum 50 dropbacks) and is completing only 53% of his passes on those plays. It’s a sign of hope for the Aggies, but given Madsen’s overall sample size, you can’t rely on this four-game trend becoming a rule you can bank on in game-planning.
Maintain improvements on the offensive line
Easily one of (if not the) most important areas of growth Utah State showed against Troy came on the offensive line. The unit went from OK in pass blocking and awful in run blocking to very solid in the former and decent in the latter. There are ways in which last week’s performance by the offensive line could be improved, but it was a massive step up. Grady Brosterhous had a clean pocket to pass from on 75% of his dropbacks and he never looked better as a passer. Similarly, the O-line created rushing lanes for Javen Jacobs and Brosterhous, resulting in what was by far the Aggies’ best rushing game, gaining a season-best 171 yards and averaging 5.5 yards per carry (the season avearage to that point was (next-closes this year is 3.7).
If the Aggie O-line just plays as well as it did last week, it might be enough. Health does continue to be a factor with this unit, and it will likely be without three starters — Randle, Motu’apuaka and Nelson — though that was also true against Troy and the line managed just fine in that contest.
Exploit Boise State’s tendency to allow big plays on defense
Boise State’s defense overall has a very solid foundation. The unit ranks 38th in defense according to FEI, and boasts an elite rate of preventing opposing teams of getting first downs, ranking 16th in opponent first downs per game and sixth in opponent third down conversion rate.
There is an Achilees Heel for the Broncos, however.
In the first four games of the season, Boise State has given up seven plays of 50+ yards and 14 plays of 30+ yards. Both of those marks rank dead last in FBS. Most of these plays (six of the seven 50+ and 12 of the 14 for 30+) have come through the air. Utah State hasn’t been particularly explosive this season, but have shown brief flashes. Javon Robinson has two touchdown receptions, one for 57 yards and the other 78.
For most of this game, Utah State will likely find it difficult to move the ball. But in a handful of cases, Boise State will very likely open the door and give the Aggies a golden chance at great scoring position. Utah State will need to fully capitalize on those few chances.
History of Utah State vs Boise State
- All-Time Series: Boise State leads 25-5
- First-Ever Meeting: Nov. 15, 1975 (Utah State won 42-19)
- Most Recent Meeting: Nov. 28, 2025 (Boise State won 25-24)
Year after year, the reality of this series from Utah State’s perspective eats away at the program and its fanbase. The Aggies have won a single game against Boise State in the 21st century, an unexpected and wild 52-26 rout in 2015. And USU fans should thank the stars for that game because without it, the Broncos would own one of the longest winning streaks against a single opponent in NCAA history. Boise State has won 22 out of the last 23 matchups, dating back to 1998.
Game Prediction
Here are the score predictions from Cache Valley Media Group staff.
Eric Frandsen — Boise State wins 30-18
Jason Walker — Boise State wins 37-7
J.D. Walker — Utah State wins 27-24
Stockton Jewkes — Boise State wins 38-14
