Every year.
Every month.
Every weekend.
A new, innocent program marches into the national conversation of the G6 powers hoping to plant a new flag upon the throne.
North Texas, UNLV, Liberty, and Troy – just to name a few.
They have a great season that goes down as a program-definer. Then, like the hole in a movie plot, the inability to maintain that success rears its ugly head.
Tulane and James Madison are the lone two institutions that have preserved year-in and year-out sustainability.
And even the Green
Wave look to be in the beginning of a rough patch after the departure of Jon Sumrall to Gainesville, Florida.
It isn’t designed as a dig towards these schools in pointing this out.
But at a certain point, it does give you a kick when the “flavor of the month” takes over the college football world before eventually stumbling and fading out of the limelight.
This year, it was Western Michigan.
The Broncos had Michigan dead in the water for 59 minutes and 59 seconds before the Wolverines rose from the grave and stole the win in Ann Arbor.
Everyone turned Western Michigan into a martyr that deserved better.
And rightfully so.
They took care of business for two-straight weeks before getting its shot in Kalamazoo.
Boise State arrived at Waldo Stadium.
The Cinderella of all Cinderellas.
Now, after 20 years on the block intersecting access avenue and consistency lane, the blue and orange had to defend its corner once again as a new hot shot walked down the pavement.
Like the grizzled veteran they are, Boise State left zero room for the home faithful to breathe and stomped out any hope of a “passing of the torch” moment.
A converted two-point conversion on the first scoring drive of the game.
Western Michigan losing four yards on its first drive of the afternoon.
A missed WMU field goal to break the ice.
An eight-minute Boise State drive to go up 15.
The blue and orange continued to suffocate the MAC conference title contender.
22-0.
25-0.
32…to zero.
And the gut-wrenching part is that WMU had chances to relieve the anxious tension within the stadium, but inopportune drops in the endzone forced them to go for it on multiple fourth downs.
They went zero of three on those attempts.
From start to finish, it was a butt-whoopin’.
The size difference in the trenches was readily apparent.
The explosivity at the skill positions only widened the gap.
And despite the varying opinions around Maddux Madsen, the senior showed why he is “the guy” in Boise.
16 of 23 for 204 yards, three passing touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
For those Boise State fans that continue to try and find holes in his game – knock it off.
He isn’t 6-5.
He doesn’t run a 4.2 40-yard dash.
He won’t wow you with his arm talent.
But isn’t that what the culture of Boise State is built on?
The undersized.
The ones who develop.
The player who grinds and finds a way.
No one will be Kellen Moore.
But Maddux Madsen, in his final year, is playing at his career-best.
814 yards, nine passing touchdowns (10 total), and zero interceptions through four games.
That’s a winner right there.
And he is keeping Boise State on the straight-and-narrow.
The Broncos are ranked 22nd in the newest AP Poll.
More importantly, there are only two other Groups of Six teams that are receiving any votes at all.
James Madison with 10 votes at 36th.
North Dakota State with six votes at 39th.
For reference, Boise State garnered 221 votes.
With Pac-12 play beginning this week for Spencer Danielson and company, this season is playing out eerily similar to the 2024 campaign led by RB Ashton Jeanty.
- Lose close to Oregon in Eugene.
- Beat a decent G6 program on the road (Georgia Southern vs. Western Michigan).
- Beat an FCS team at home.
Start out the season 3-1 and feeling great if you’re a fan about how the first third of the year went.
Now the grind truly begins.
There is no singular Pac-12 team that looks remarkable right now.
Fresno State beat Rice by 14.
Washington State has had moments of solid play, but can’t seem to string anything together for 60 minutes.
Texas State is lurking in the fringe.
Colorado State had a great start, but is on a two-game losing streak.
San Diego State was just thumped by Toledo and still can’t score to save its life.
The one program that looks like a true threat to Boise State’s return to the College Football Playoff is the Oregon State Beavers.
The 2-2 record doesn’t do the Beavs justice, as those losses were against two Big 12 title contenders and had them fighting into the late stages of the second half.
Quarterback Braden Atkinson has been a surgeon through the air, passing for 1,423 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just two interceptions.
It doesn’t hurt to have a true freshman wide receiver – Jesse Legree – averaging 146.3 yards a game and six total touchdowns.
Oregon State and Boise State don’t meet until November 14th at Albertsons Stadium.
By that time, it would not surprise me if OSU were 7-2 and BSU 8-1.
Until then, Boise State will march along, taking each team’s best shot and, if things go as planned, brushing them aside in a workmanlike manner.
They will rise in the rankings, and operate from a position of power and self-control.
Beating Memphis and Western Michigan provided that luxury.
If Boise State doesn’t make the College Football Playoff, they will have no one to blame but themselves.
