Previewing Utah State football’s 2026 schedule: Boise State Broncos

LOGAN, Utah – The calendar officially flips to October, signaling the beginning of Pac-12 Conference play for the Utah State Aggies.

Week 5 takes USU north to Boise, Idaho, for a matchup with a talented Boise State Broncos program. Despite a new conference home, the Broncos will likely enter as heavy favorites against Mendenhall’s ascending group.

Previewing Utah State football’s 2026 schedule: Troy Trojans

Single-game tickets are almost here! Tickets start as low as $20! 🎟️

Join the Big Blue Club to gain early access ⤵️ https://t.co/E5d0INggjK pic.twitter.com/OEnONNGF6x

— USU Football (@USUFootball) July 27, 2026

Boise State went 9-5 last season, finishing in a four-way tie atop the Mountain West with a 6-2 conference record despite losing a wave of talent the previous offseason. The Broncos were 6-1 on their famed blue turf in 2025 and look primed for another run at an 18th conference title in 31 seasons, with redshirt senior quarterback Maddux Madsen returning to pilot the offense.

Albertsons Stadium has become a house of horrors for a Utah State program that carries a 3-17 record in Boise, including a 1-5 mark in bowl games played there. The Aggies are 5-25 all-time against their neighbors to the north and have not beaten the Broncos since a 52-26 home win in 2015.

For Mendenhall and the Aggies, the Week 5 trip is more than another line on the schedule — it is a litmus test.

Utah State has shown early signs of progress under its new coaching staff, but erasing a decade-long losing streak against a perennial conference power on the Smurf Turf would signal that the rebuild has real teeth.

Previewing the Boise State Broncos

Head coach Spencer Danielson returns for his third full season leading the program. Danielson is 24-8 and joined Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma, 2017-19) as the only FBS coaches to win conference championships in each of their first three seasons.

The Broncos averaged just under 30 points per game last year and enjoyed tremendous first-quarter success, outscoring opponents 113-50 in the opening period.

Madsen, the former American Fork quarterback, threw for 2,334 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions despite an injury that cost him two games. He enters 2026 as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

Welcome to Merlin Olsen Field @pac12! 🤝

🎟️➡️ https://t.co/ogxb0J9CUS pic.twitter.com/Ja0TnJ6HsF

— USU Football (@USUFootball) July 21, 2026

Defensively, Boise State thrives on turnovers. The Broncos were 5-0 when forcing two or more takeaways and 0-4 when they did not force any.

Pair that with an ability to get stops on third down, and Boise State ranked as the nation’s 39th-best defensive unit a year ago.

Boise State Broncos Offense

Madsen returns for his second year in offensive coordinator Nate Potter’s system and should get every opportunity to lead a high-scoring attack despite significant turnover at the skill positions.

His experience stands out: 35 games, 834 career pass attempts, 6,586 career passing yards and 50 touchdowns against 18 interceptions. He has completed 60.8% of his attempts while adding 423 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

One of the toughest guys he knows, Sire Gaines gives loads of praise for his QB Maddux Madsen. You can watch the full interview with Sire and other important players and coaches here: https://t.co/G8HBlKBaaK pic.twitter.com/IO7G4iHT3m

— Bronco Nation News (@BNNBroncoNation) July 28, 2026

He will be throwing to a largely brand-new group of pass-catchers that includes Southern University transfer Darren Morris, true freshman Rasean Jones and a collection of 2025 backups.

Morris led Southern with 430 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 26 catches. He brings 35 games of collegiate experience to the wide receiver room.

Jones was rated the No. 3 prospect out of Idaho by 247Sports, contributing 774 rushing and receiving yards combined with 12 TDs at Rocky Mountain High School as a senior.

Wide receiver Ben Ford returns for his sixth year after catching 21 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns last season. Junior Cam Bates joins him after hauling in 17 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown.

Matt Wagner is the leading returning pass-catching tight end. The 6-foot-5 redshirt junior had 251 yards and a touchdown on 24 catches last year.

The running back room may be the most stable position group on this side of the ball.

Dylan Riley and Sire Gains return to a backfield where they combined for 2,198 yards of total offense, including 1,977 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.

Going, going, GONE! Dylan Riley this time for the @BroncoSportsFB touchdown pic.twitter.com/hMzWqPTe4B

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2025

First-team All-Mountain West center Mason Randolph graduated, and three-year starting left tackle Kage Casey was a fourth-round pick (111th overall) of the Denver Broncos, leaving questions on the offensive line.

Three returning starters will help, but the Broncos need to sort out Madsen’s blind-side protection, with Colorado State Pueblo transfer Tyler Ethridge and veteran lineman Kyle Cox competing for the job.

Boise State Broncos Defense

The Boise State defense begins — and often ends the day for an opposing offense — with defensive end Jayden Virgin-Morgan.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound pass-rush specialist has recorded 28.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks over the past two seasons. Virgin-Morgan earned second-team All-Mountain West honors in 2025 after finishing with 56 tackles and leading the team with six sacks and 13 tackles for loss.

Boise State EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan (@jayden_virgin) earned First-Team All-Mountain West honors after a breakout 2024 season, leading the Broncos with 10.0 sacks and tying for the team lead with 15.5 tackles for loss.

The 6’3”, 253-pound San Diego native proved to be one of… pic.twitter.com/gDp2SaQVuK

— Bryan (@BGauvin23) July 11, 2025

The defensive tackle spot took a hit after losing Braxton Fely and Dion Washington, but former BYU defensive tackle David Latu — at 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds — should be a solid starter.

At linebacker, Boen Phelps is the leading returner after recording 66 tackles, four tackles for loss, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Redshirt senior Jake Ripp steps into the middle linebacker role after posting 43 tackles and three tackles for loss in 2025.

Kennesaw State transfer JeRico Washington Jr. will get a chance at the top cornerback spot after both starters from 2025 departed. He earned a spot on the Conference USA all-freshman team and was a second-team All-Conference USA selection in 2024.

TCU transfer Cam Jamerson will line up opposite Washington Jr. He will be joined by returners Sherrod Smith and Demetrius Freeney Jr. as early-season options in the secondary.

South Dakota transfer Roman Tillmon will have big shoes to fill if he is tasked with replacing 2025 leading tackler and all-around disruptor Ty Benefield at the safety position.

The Bottom Line

The Broncos have reloaded rather than rebuilt, plugging departures with transfers and promoting experienced backups across the roster.

Even with questions at wide receiver, on the offensive line and in the secondary, Boise State’s infrastructure — Danielson’s culture, Madsen’s command of the offense, and a defense that thrives on takeaways — remains intact.

Utah State will need to protect the football, win the turnover battle, and find a way to make Madsen uncomfortable early if it hopes to snap its losing streak on the blue turf.

History, home-field advantage, and talent all favor the Broncos, but conference openers have a way of producing surprises — and Mendenhall’s Aggies would love nothing more than to deliver one.

Week 5 | Utah State Aggies @ Boise State Broncos

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026

Venue: Albertsons Stadium

Location: Boise, Idaho

Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. MT

What channel is Utah State football on?

The USU football game against Boise State is available on CBS Sports Network.

Listen to the Utah State Aggies on KSL Sports Zone

Following Utah State football with KSL Sports Zone

The Aggies open the 2026 season against Idaho State on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on September 5. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. MT.

Find Utah State football’s entire 2026 schedule here.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.

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