Utah State vs. Boise State: 4 questions for the Pac-12 matchup
Utah State vs. Boise State opens Pac-12 play for both teams Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. No. 22 Boise State (3-1) is a 20.5-point favorite over Utah State (1-3), according to ESPN, and the biggest question is whether the Aggies can slow a Broncos offense that has yet to throw an interception.
Boise State has looked like the class of the non-Power Four ranks. USA Today called the Broncos “clearly a tier above the rest of the non-Power Four teams so far this season” after a 32-7 road win over Western Michigan. Utah State is coming off its first win, a 21-10 comeback over Troy, but ranks last in the Pac-12 and 136th nationally in scoring offense at 13 points per game, according to Sports Illustrated.
Utah State vs. Boise State game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
- TV: CBS Sports Network
- Line: Boise State by 20.5, per ESPN
1. Can Utah State’s defense contain Maddux Madsen?
Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen has completed 63% of his passes for 814 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception through four games, per SI. Madsen’s top scoring target is Matt Wagner, who has three touchdown catches among his 14 receptions, while Rasean Jones leads the Broncos with 271 receiving yards.
Utah State will lean on safety Brevin Hamblin, who has 32 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception, and James Jennette, who has two sacks among his 16 tackles.
2. Is the Utah State ground game enough?
Utah State scored its first rushing touchdown of the season against Troy, when Javen Jacobs ran in from 6 yards out. He finished with 84 yards on 14 carries, according to CBS Sports.
Quarterback Grady Brosterhous added 89 rushing yards in that game and leads the Aggies with 222 rushing yards on 63 carries this season. In Utah State vs. Boise State, that backfield faces a Broncos defense that kept Western Michigan out of the end zone until Cole Cabana’s 2-yard run with 1:03 left last week, according to The Associated Press.
3. Can Boise State’s run game wear down Utah State?
Dylan Riley has rushed for 592 yards and three touchdowns on 90 carries, and Sire Gaines has added 234 yards and two scores on 45 carries. That two-back attack powers an offense averaging 33.8 points per game.
Utah State’s defense has been uneven. The Aggies allowed 29 points to Idaho State and were shut out 33-0 at Utah, but they held Troy to 10 points last week. Boise State’s line has helped the Broncos control games in wins over Memphis, South Dakota and Western Michigan.
4. Can Brosterhous avoid turnovers?
Ball security could decide Utah State vs. Boise State. Brosterhous has six interceptions against four touchdown passes this season, according to ESPN. Against Troy, though, he completed 18 of 28 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.
Eli Wood, his top target with 23 catches for 286 yards and three touchdowns, and Javon Robinson, who has 198 receiving yards and two scores, give Brosterhous options. He’ll have to protect the ball against a Boise State defense led by safety Travis Anderson’s three interceptions.
What to watch in Utah State vs. Boise State
Boise State enters as the front-runner for a College Football Playoff bid among Group of Six teams, with a 34-27 road loss to Oregon as its only setback. The Broncos are No. 22 in the latest AP Top 25.
Utah State wants to build on its first win and open conference play competitively. For more on the playoff picture, read our story on 24-team playoff expansion, and see how Oregon is handling the Dante Moore concussion. More previews are on our college football page.
Reporting from ESPN, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Associated Press contributed to this story.