BOISE, Idaho — Presented by THE JAMES.
Wednesday Weekly…October 2, 2024.
After the 45-24 win over Washington State, Boise State is averaging 47.8 points per game. That’s 191 points. The last time Boise State scored that many points through the first four games of the season was 2004. Under coach Dan Hawkins, those Broncos piled up 196 points in wins over Idaho, Oregon State, UTEP and BYU. The Ashton Jeanty effect is undeniable, but other things have to fall into place, first and foremost the offensive line.
Kage Casey and Hall Schmidt at the tackles have been especially good for a unit that has allowed only two sacks. And that’s where Maddux Madsen comes in. He wasn’t at his best against the Cougars, but he took exactly zero sacks. Madsen has thrown two interceptions this seasons, but with no lost fumbles, two turnovers in four games is fine. And he’s been sacked only once. That is game management.
CFP TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT
If it weren’t for the new 12-team College Football Playoff, Boise State wouldn’t be getting headlines like this, Ashton Jeanty or no Ashton Jeanty. (Not saying that Jeanty doesn’t help.) From Christopher Kamrani of The Athletic: “Boise State’s win over Wazzu sets it up for Playoff—but league play still awaits.” Who would care nationally about the Mountain West schedule under normal circumstances? “The margin for error afforded to the Broncos is not the same as most other Top 25 teams,” writes Kamrani. But, “Boise State’s first third of its season looks pretty darn good on paper.” He included this fiery Ashton Jeanty quote: “We’re going to run the ball—even when you know we’re going to run the ball—and we’re going to keep getting yards, and then we’re going to make you quit.” And Jeanty is a humble guy.
DON’T GET RANKLED OVER RANKINGS
Boise State’s spot at No. 21 in the AP Poll is interesting this week, in that the Broncos aren’t even ranked in the Coaches Poll. But the AP is the one with credibility. It’s the poll the major news organizations use—for now. The one that really counts, the College Football Playoff Poll, begins on November 5. From then on, the AP rankings will be in the shadows. That will be three days after the Broncos’ home game against San Diego State and 10 days after the monster showdown versus UNLV at Allegiant Stadium. No sense fretting about those numbers until then.
FEW VS. RICE, FINALLY
Gonzaga and Boise State are going to play again in men’s hoops—Mark Few against Leon Rice—because they have to. The Zags are moving to the PAC-12 on July 1, 2026. There are those who poo-poo the significance. But I respect Jon Wilner's perspective. He knows the landscape. To paraphrase: "The Zags represent a massive victory and major strategic shift for the PAC-12. Gonzaga is an NCAA tournament stalwart. It generates high-level TV viewership, plays marquee nonconference games and carries significant media rights value." That last one is huge in the near-term. In the last NCAA men’s basketball NET rankings from March 17, six of the eight PAC-12 teams-to-be were ranked in the top 50. The only ones that weren’t were Oregon State and Fresno State. Some fun winters in the future.
BRONCO ROUNDUP, NFL VERSION
The Boise State-related highlight in the NFL last weekend: Scott Matlock of the L.A. Chargers with his first career…reception? Yes, Matlock snuck out of the backfield and hauled in a seven-yard catch from Justin Herbert. At Boise State, of course, the Homedale High grad had two career catches for two yards and two touchdowns. Only that could top this: Khalil Shakir with an NFL record. Shakir’s first catch for Buffalo in the first minute of the game on Sunday Night Football marked the 28th straight regular season target he had pulled in without a miss or a drop. Shakir’s streak dates back to Week 15 of last season. On the bummer side, the Dallas Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence has been placed on injured reserve due to a foot injury suffered last Thursday. That will force Lawrence to miss at least four games.
VANDALS ON THE REBOUND
Idaho returns to the Kibbie Dome Saturday at 3-2 after taking a 28-26 loss at UC Davis. The Vandals host Northern Arizona, a team on the rise after a dominating 34-16 upset of Sacramento State, the No. 10 team in the FCS. The Lumberjacks got into the rankings at No. 24, while Idaho fell from No. 4 to No. 10. Vandals coach Jason Eck did say Monday that he hopes quarterback Jack Wagner is ready for NAU after suffering his second injury of the season at Davis.
MOMENTUM FOR THE YOTES?
College of Idaho tries to build on last week’s thrilling 45-37 overtime win over Montana Tech when it heads for Rocky Mountain in Billings on Saturday. The Bears are 1-3, but their last two losses have been by a combined six points. Yotes quarterback Andy Peters is NAIA Offensive Player of the Week after setting school records with 519 yards of total offense, 419 passing yards and 32 completions against the Orediggers. Peters also threw his 50th career touchdown pass, another C of I record.
MERRITT NEEDS GOOD RESULTS
Troy Merritt is staying busy this fall as he tries to build up his FedExCup points total to retain full status on the tour next year. The former Boise State star is in the field this week at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, MS. Merritt is currently No. 146 on the list and needs to reach the top 125. He missed the cut at the Procore Championship three weeks ago.
TRACK & FIELD: NOW WE’RE TALKIN’
I’ve long harped on this: why are there zero home track and field meets at Boise State? Enter new coach Pat McCurry. He’s not only arranged for the Broncos’ first home event since 2019, he’s named it the “Ed Jacoby Twilight” after the legendary Boise State coach. It’ll be held at Dona Larsen Park on April 25 next spring, with the field to be announced. Jacoby coached the Broncos for 23 years from 1973-96 winning nine Big Sky Conference championships and 10 conference Coach of the Year honors. He also coached two NCAA individual national champions. Jacoby served as an assistant for the U.S. track and field team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was inducted into the Boise State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
THIS DAY IN SPORTS…October 2, 2016:
Vin Scully’s unparalleled broadcasting career comes to an end after 67 years behind the microphone for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, as the Dodgers fall to the Giants 7-1 in San Francisco. The 88-year-old legend called his final game 80 years to the day after he fell in love with baseball while walking home from school. Scully, who called over 9,000 games, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982. He announced 20 no-hitters, including Don Larsen’s perfect game for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series. The written word cannot describe what Scully’s voice meant to millions of Americans.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra and anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK. He also served as color commentator on KTVB’s telecasts of Boise State football for 14 seasons.)
