BOISE STATE BRONCOS VS. NEVADA WOLF PACK
Location: Reno, Nevada (Mackay Stadium)
Date/Time: Friday, October 24th at 9:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Television: CBSSN
Streaming: CBS Sports App
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KBOI
93.1 FM (Bronco Radio Network)
Head-to-Head: Boise State is 32-14 all-time against Nevada, winning the last two meetings. In 2024, the Broncos held on for a tightly-contested win on The Blue, 28-21.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Boise State: 5-2 (3-0 in MW), NEV: 1-6 (0-3 in MW)
Mountain West vs. Mountain West
BSU: Head Coach Spencer Danielson (2nd Full Year, 20-5 Overall Record)
NEV: Head Coach Jeff Choate (2nd Full Year at Nevada, 32-38 Career Record)
Last Week
BSU: Beat UNLV 56-31 on The Blue behind QB Maddux Madsen’s 253 passing yards and four TD passes. RB Dylan Riley also ran rampant for 201 yards on 15 carries. Wide receiver Ben Ford did suffer a season-ending injury that was confirmed by Spencer Danielson early this week.
NEV: Lost to New Mexico 24-22 in Albuquerque. QB Carter Jones led the charge with a 79% completion rate on 29 attempts and 202 yards through the air. RB Caleb Ramseur punched in both of the Wolf Pack’s touchdowns, while the wide receiver duo of Marshaun Brown and Dakota Thomas combined for 15 receptions and 142 receiving yards.
What Allows Boise State to Win Saturday?
Capitalize on Nevada’s lackluster offensive firepower.
To put it bluntly, OC David Gilbertson’s offense has underwhelmed in his first season as play-caller. For context, last week’s 22-point effort against New Mexico now serves as the high-water mark for the 2025 season. Even against the likes of Sacramento State and Middle Tennessee State, the Wolf Pack managed just 20 and 13 points, respectively.
The quarterback position has been a game of Russian Roulette as three different players have taken substantial snaps in seven games. Chubba Purdy was supposed to be the night in shining armor that would help take the load off the Wolf Pack offensive line. However, a subpar performance against FCS Sacramento State – headlined by a 12/21 completion ratio, zero passing touchdowns, and two interceptions – forced Gilbertson and head coach Jeff Choate to look in a different direction. AJ Bianco took a stab against Middle Tennessee State, but fared no better than Purdy, finishing with a stat line of 9/17, 78 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception.
Third times a charm, right?
It appears that way with Carter Jones taking the reins and throwing for over 100 yards in each of the last three games. A low bar, yes, but when you are struggling to sustain drives, moving the chains becomes much more of an accomplishment. Better yet, Jones has averaged over seven yards per pass attempt, pushing the ball down the field.
Boise State’s defense and, in particular, its secondary, has been lights out in recent weeks against comparable competition.
If the Broncos can replicate their second-half defensive effort last Saturday against UNLV, they should be able to lock up Nevada and turn this one into a blowout.
What Allows Nevada to Win Saturday?
Pull out some Reno magic and limit Bronco possessions.
On paper, this has all the makings of a Friday night stomping that sends Nevada fans heading for the exits in the third quarter.
But that was supposed to happen last year on The Blue when the Wolf Pack traveled into town. And yet, a 3-8 Nevada squad walked in and nearly beat the CFP-bound Broncos, losing 28-21.
This game always means more, no matter the record of either side, thanks to the 2010 heroics of Colin Kaepernick in Nevada’s historic upset of then No. 4 Boise State, 34-31.
That game stands as the biggest win in Wolf Pack history and the most catastrophic loss in Bronco history.
In 2025, Nevada will have no Kaepernick on the sideline, but the memory of that late November night 15 years ago remains.
And Jeff Choate, being a former Bronco who has been passed up for the head coaching position on The Blue more than once, adds even more fuel to the fire.
For the Wolf Pack to have a chance, they need to cause some late-night chaos with turnovers and convert on said opportunities. Boise State’s offense has been on a tangent, scoring 56 and 41 points in its last two games.
In any game that a team plays the Broncos, the best answer will always be to limit the ground attack headlined by Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines, forcing Maddux Madsen to win the game.
If this game can be competitive at halftime and keep the crowd actively participating, things can get weird in “The Biggest Little City in the World.”
Who Pulls Out The Win?
All the stats say Boise State.
My eyes say Boise State.
Conventional wisdom says Boise State.
And there is zero reason to try and act like the smartest guy in the room on this one.
Give me Boise State to win in a landslide and cover the spread.
After a seismic 25-point win over conference contender UNLV, the Broncos should be able to ride the wave of momentum into a third consecutive win.
Petterson’s Prediction: Boise State to Win Outright, Boise State to Cover, and Take the Over.
FanDuel Odds: BSU -21.5, Total of 51.5
Boise State Broncos 42 – Nevada Wolf Pack 13
Let us at the Mountain West Connection know your prediction for yet another battle between Boise State and Nevada in the comments!
