The Bye Week Midterm Report Card: No. 23 Boise State Taking Care of Business

Somehow…someway.

It is already the middle of October, and the Broncos have already completed half of its 2026 campaign.

At 5-1 and nationally ranked, there are no other Group of Six programs that, according to the national voters of the AP Poll, come close to Boise State in terms of prestige, respect, and resume.

Out of the Sun Belt (and future AAC member), James Madison remains undefeated at 6-0 and received 29 votes in last Sunday’s poll – slotting them at No. 31.

From the Mountain West, the New Mexico Lobos serve as the conference’s lone member to receive any support with a pedestrian three votes.

And then there is Oregon State.

The Beavers, despite holding a record of 4-2, have been playing the best football out of anyone in the Group of Six behind a lethal quarterback-wide receiver tandem in QB Braden Atkinson and WR Jesse Legree. Add in the fact that Oregon State’s pair of losses came against two legitimate Big 12 contenders – No. 10 Texas Tech and No. 20 Houston by 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Yet, they were bestowed just one vote.

29 votes.

3 votes.

1 vote.

Boise State?

268 votes.

For all of the discourse on social media between fans of Boise, James Madison, New Mexico and Oregon State, the college football media has certainly implemented their chosen narrative.

Boise State – and then everyone else.

And that train of thought has survived Oregon now falling to 3-2 and dropping out the rankings after losing to UCLA.

From a 30,000-foot view, Spencer Danielson has this program inching closer and closer to its second College Football Playoff appearance in three years.

But what could derail that dream?

How about a porous secondary that ranks as one of the worst groups in defending long-yardage conversions?

129th in plays allowed of 20+ yards.

30+ yards? 134th.

40+ yards? Bringing up the rear at 138th.

50+ yards? Once again – 138th.

What about 60+ yards? Better…at 137th.

I can’t tell you how many times a Bronco has been burned on a route down the sideline that forced them to commit a pass interference penalty.

Or, if they were fortunate, the opposing quarterback would overthrow his target.

Against the Utah States and the Washington States, the latter will allow Boise to scoot on by without little improvement.

But there is a team far off on the horizon that comes to Albertsons Stadium November 14th.

The Oregon State Beavers.

Assuming both teams hold serve until that point, the broken plays discussed at length will bite the Broncos in a big way.

And it may just cost them a playoff spot.

If this year’s team had a defense that was simply average at preventing long conversions, there’s no telling how good this team would be.

From someone who doesn’t clock into the Bleymaier Center day in and day out, it feels as though the secondary’s problems stem from a personnel issue and a level of schematic stubbornness.

Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander prides himself on blitzing often and going for drive-halting plays. When you have a defensive line that can break through the offensive line, it allows your blitzing corners and safeties to funnel from a multitude of gaps and converge in the backfield.

That’s the perfect-world scenario that allowed Boise State to lead the nation in 2024 in sacks with 55 – thanks in large part to Ahmed Hassenein and Jayden Virgin-Morgan.

In 2025, that number fell to 27.

This year?

14 through six games.

For the Broncos to find consistency on the defensive side of the ball, the pass rush has to either get home more efficiently, or Chinander needs to pull on the reins and call a more conservative style of defense.

The offense has been surprisingly efficient with quarterback Maddux Madsen yet to throw an interception and running back Dylan Riley leading the nation in rushing yards. True freshman wide receiver Rasean Jones has stepped up in a big way and already solidified himself as Boise State’s best target.

Center Stewart Taufa was just named to the Rimington Midseason Watch List, leading the Broncos’ offensive line in dominating the trenches for Riley and Sire Gaines to run through.

And, even if rarely called upon, kicker Canaan Moore has come up with successful field goals time and time again to maintain breathing room in any somewhat close contests.

But despite all the rosy depictions, every team is as good as their worst unit, and the severity of the flaw goes a long way in determining how far they can go.

This season can still turn on its head for the worse as well.

Beyond Oregon State on November 14th, a home date with Texas State on Halloween night feels eerily ominous – and not just because the holiday it falls on.

The Bobcats throttled Colorado State on Thursday night, beating the Rams by 39 points and scoring 66 points in all.

Quarterback Brad Jackson threw for 213 yards and one touchdown, along with rushing for 181 yards on 13 carries that included three rushing touchdowns.

Not to mention, Bobcat running back Torrance Burgess Jr. torched Colorado State’s defensive coordinator-less group with 224 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries.

Oregon State is getting all the publicity with Atkinson and Legree, but Texas State can expose the same type of weaknesses that could trip the Broncos up.

Perhaps the bye week will give Spencer Danielson and the rest of the coaching staff a chance to make some substantial changes that make or break the hope of a College Football Playoff appearance…