Boise State Opens Mountain West Play Against Air Force
The Boise State Broncos are kicking off their Mountain West schedule this weekend with a tough matchup against Air Force in Colorado Springs. Kickoff is set for Saturday evening at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, and this one has all the makings of a chess match on the field.
For Boise State, the timing feels good. The Broncos are coming off a bye week, which means rest, recovery, and a chance to sharpen up before diving into conference play. Historically, that has worked in their favor — the Broncos hold a remarkable 16-1 record after bye weeks since joining the Mountain West. On the flip side, Air Force has struggled against teams coming off a bye, going just 3-6 in those situations since 2020.
But records aside, the Falcons present a unique challenge, and it comes in the form of their famous triple-option offense. Head coach Spencer Danielson broke it down earlier this week, pointing out how the system forces defenses to stay disciplined. Every play has layers: the dive, the quarterback run, and the pitch. If even one assignment is missed, Air Force can flip a simple option into a big gain. That’s exactly why this scheme has given opponents headaches for decades.
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And it’s not just about trickery — the Falcons also wear teams down physically. In their recent loss to Utah State, they strung together a nearly seven-minute touchdown drive in the third quarter. It’s that kind of relentless, grind-you-down style that keeps defenses on the field and opens up explosive opportunities later.
Air Force comes in with plenty of weapons to make the option work. Cade Harris has been the do-it-all star so far, leading the team in both rushing and receiving. Running back Dylan Carson has been solid on the ground, averaging nearly six yards a carry, while quarterback Josh Johnson has made the most of his limited passing attempts, already racking up over 200 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Boise State, though, has answers of their own. The Broncos’ run game has been spreading the wealth, with five different players finding the end zone on the ground against Eastern Washington in their last outing. Dylan Riley has shown explosiveness with an 11-yard rushing average, while through the air, Maddux Madsen has connected with Chris Marshall and Matt Lauter to give the Broncos balance on offense.
This game also carries a bit of history. Boise State and Air Force first met after the Broncos joined the Mountain West in 2011. Since then, Boise State has the edge in the series at 8-4. With Air Force not heading to the Pac-12 like some other conference teams, this may be the last meeting between the two for some time.
Oddsmakers favor the Broncos heading in, giving them a strong chance to take the win on the road. Still, Danielson has emphasized that handling adversity will be key. Against an opponent like Air Force, there will be moments of frustration, but how the team responds will decide whether Boise State starts conference play 1-0 or leaves Colorado Springs disappointed.
One thing is certain: Saturday night promises a clash of styles, strategy, and stamina — the kind of game that defines conference football in the Mountain West.
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