Ahead of the LA Bowl on Saturday, I caught up with Aiden Petterson of Mountain West Connection, to get the skinny on the Broncos ahead of the showdown on Saturday night in SoFi Stadium!
MS: This is the second full season for Spencer Danielson at the head of the Bronco football program. He capped off this season with the Broncos’ 3rd straight MWC title, and a 9-4 record. What do you like about the job that Danielson has done?
AP: You have to give credit to him for retaining pivotal players that have gone on to make an impact the following season. The most obvious example being Ashton Jeanty refraining from entering the transfer portal prior to last year’s College Football Playoff appearance. Danielson has been a member of the Boise State staff in some capacity since 2017, working his way up from graduate assistant to defensive ends coach before finally earning the title of defensive coordinator in 2021. He has lived the mentality that he preaches week in and
week out, and despite some of his cliches becoming tiresome after underwhelming performances, he is as true as they come. I also think we have to remind ourselves that this is his first stint as a big-time college football coach and that there are going to be bumps and bruises along the way.
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MS: This is the Broncos’ first season without Ashton Jeanty or Dirk Koetter since 2022. Nate Potter has stepped into that OC role nicely, with the Broncos averaging 31.4 points per game on offense. What does he do differently than Koetter, and who are the major weapons on offense that Maddux Madsen has to throw to?
AP: Nate Potter is growing into his own skin as a play-caller, but there have been growing pains. During the beginning portion of the season, the offense was very dependent on runs designed to operate between the tackles. However, there was very little motion to keep defenses honest, allowing them to hone in Boise State’s stable of running backs – Dylan Riley, Sire Gaines, and Malik Sherrod. Dirk Koetter was very much of the mindset that prioritized creating an offensive gameplan that centered around his players’ strengths. Potter began to branch out during October and November, but a leg injury suffered by QB Maddux Madsen forced him to go back to vanilla concepts. More than anything, this offense is much more efficient when facing third-and-medium or better. Converting long -distance situations- not so much. As for who Madsen has at his disposal on the perimeter, there isn’t one certified top dog in the receiver room. Many hoped that former five-star recruit Chris Marshall would have a breakout year, but that did not materialize. Ben Ford was having a surprise campaign, yet a season-ending injury cut his year short. The three receivers that continue to be Madsen’s favorites are slot receiver Latrell Caples (46 receptions, 547 yds, 3 TDs), Chase Penry (27 receptions, 363 yds, 1 TD), and Cameron Bates (18 receptions, 307 yds, 1 TD). However, keep an eye out for Boise State’s tight end duo that features Matt Lauter (32 receptions, 293 yds, 1 TD) and Matt Wagner (22 receptions, 239 yds, 1 TD). And there is one true freshman named Quinton Brown who has seen more action as of late and was responsible for a vital 66-yard touchdown in the Broncos’ win over Utah State.
MS: Erik Chinander and Tyler Stockton coordinate the defense, which is anchored by DB Ty Benefield, who leads the team with 98 tackles. What does this defense do schematically, and who are the other playmakers that the Huskies need to watch out for?
AP: The Broncos are known for planting bodies inside the box and limiting opposing rushing attacks. More often than not, they implement a four-man front while making sure to set the edge against opposing tackles. Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander loves to show pressure prior to the snap, and when he is feeling it,
he’ll commit to the bit. But, they will simulate said pressure and then fall back into a zone concept when defending the chains. In recent years, Boise State has been burnt downfield by opposing speedy wideouts, but according to Pro Football Focus, they have graded higher than an 80 four times in 2025 when it comes to their pass coverage. Player-wise, the defensive line is led by EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan (52 tackles and four sacks) and DL Braxton Fely (22 tackles and 5.5 sacks). The latter is a monster within the interior of the Broncos’ front and is an absolute run-stuffer. Moving to the secondary, DB Ty Benefield (98 tackles and two interceptions) is a hard-hitting Swiss Army Knife while the combo effort of Jeremiah Earby and A’Marion McCoy resulted in eight interceptions. However, McCoy is out for the remainder of the year due to a knee injury, paving the way for youngster Sherrod Smith to step into the limelight. Notre Dame transfer Jaden Mickey has also been a nice addition to an improved backline.
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MS: With this season winding down, and it being the Broncos’ last in the Mountain West, are fans excited to go to the newly reloaded PAC 12? What are the prospects like for Boise State as a member of that conference, both next year and beyond?
AP: I certainly think you sense enthusiasm for the move, even if the sought-after Pac-12 invitation came via a different scenario than what it was a decade ago. Boise State has been a part of the Mountain West for nearly 15 years, and it does feel as though the relationship between them and the conference has run its course. Former commissioner Craig Thompson carved out a Boise State-specific media “sweetheart” deal that awarded the Broncos an additional $1.8 million per year, something that as time wore on, was looked at with more disdain from its fellow members. The flagship program is always going to be looked at in a unique way, but with conference realignment seemingly never ending, it felt as though this was a life raft worth taking, especially with the Gonzaga Bulldogs joining in every non-football sport. Frankly, this was a chance to join a conference full of like-minded schools that are willing to spend and be competitive year in and year out. On the football side of things, I am bullish on the Broncos’ chances to win its first Pac-12 championship in 2026. San Diego State is 9-3, Fresno State is 8-4, Utah State is 6-6, and Colorado State is 2-10. Combine that with Texas State finishing 6-6, Washington State being 6-6, and Oregon State limping to a 2-10 record, and the opportunity feels ripe for the taking. Beyond next year, the Broncos should be able to maintain their recent recruiting highs as they finished this cycle with their highest-rated class in school history, ranking 51st in the country and ahead of Arkansas, Kentucky, UCLA, Wisconsin, and California. Boise State, barring some unforeseen collapse, should consistently finish inside the top three of the conference standings, reach ten wins, and be in the conversation for a College
Football Playoff bid.
MS: It’s score prediction time! What will the score be in another installment of Huskies v.
Broncos, this time in the City of Angels?
AP: My heart wants to take the blue and orange, but my mind says otherwise. There isn’t one specific stat or player that makes me think that Washington has a massive edge, but it is actually the lack of a recent P4 win for Boise State that makes me hesitate to take the leap of faith. The Broncos’ last win against a “big-time” school came against Florida State back in 2019 when Hank Bachmeier was a true freshman starting his first game in Tallahassee. This is the same Bachmeier that eventually transferred to Louisiana Tech before finishing his college career at Wake Forest. Since that win at Doak Campbell Stadium, the Broncos have lost to Washington (2019 Las Vegas Bowl), Oklahoma State (2021), Oregon State (2022), Washington (2023), UCLA (2023 LA Bowl), Oregon (2024), Penn State (2024 CFP Quarterfinal), and Notre Dame (2025).
I need to see it to believe it.
Washington 28 – Boise State 17
Thank you Aiden, and good luck to the Broncos in this game, and in the brand new PAC 12!
