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Boise State Athletics
Broncos Face Aztecs in Critical Mountain West Showdown
11/13/2025 3:00:00 PM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – After the team's second off week of the season, Boise State returns to action at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, to take on San Diego State. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 p.m. MT.
The game features the top two teams in the Mountain West. The Broncos (6-3, 4-1 MW) dropped their first conference contest, losing to Fresno State on Nov. 1. The Aztecs (7-2, 4-1 MW) also won their first four conference matchups before falling to Hawai'i last Saturday.
The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network, with Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Robert Turbin (color) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline) on the call. Bronco Nation can tune in to hear Bob Behler (play-by-play) and Pete Cavender (analyst) call the action on the Bronco Radio Network (Flagship: KBOI 93.1 FM/670 AM) and on SiriusXM Channel 385.
OPENING KICKOFF
1.) Saturday's matchup will feature the top two teams in the Mountain West standings. Both Boise State and San Diego State sit at 4-1 in league play, with both teams coming off their first conference loss of the season. The Broncos suffered a 30-7 loss to Fresno State on Nov. 1 while the Aztecs lost to Hawai'i 38-6 on Nov. 8.
2.) Boise State doesn't lose back-to-back games very often. Since joining the MW, the Broncos have lost consecutive conference games twice - once in 2021 and once in 2015. Boise State hasn't lost consecutive games since 2023, losing to No. 10 Washington in the season-opener before falling to UCF. The Broncos are also historically great coming off an off week, boasting a 17-1 mark (.944) off a bye week since joining the MW.
3.) Head coach Spencer Danielson has already made a name for himself as one of the best coaches in the country. His 21-6 head coaching record (77.8%) is the seventh-best winning percentage among active head coaches at the FBS level, and he is tied for the seventh-most wins in the country (21) since taking over the program on Nov. 18, 2023.
4.) The Bronco defense held Fresno State to 224 yards of total offense on Nov. 1, marking the fourth time they have their opponent under 250 yards this season, tied for the fifth most in the nation. Boise State has held their opponents under 300 yards five times so far on the season, after doing so a combined six times in 2023 and 2024.
5.) The Broncos held Fresno State to just 35 passing yards, marking the second time this season the squad has held its opponent under 100 passing yards. The accomplishment marks the first time Boise State has held an opponent under 100 yards twice in the same season since 2022, and have done so three times over the past six seasons. The Broncos have held their opponent to under 200 yards passing in five of the last six contests.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Series History
Boise State and San Diego State will face off for the 11th time on Saturday, with the Broncos holding the all-time advantage 6-4. Boise State enters on a three-game winning streak, having last lost to the Aztecs, 27-16, in the 2021 Mountain West Championship Game. The Broncos hold a 3-2 advantage over San Diego State as the road team.
Bye Bye Bye
Historically, Boise State knows how to take advantage of an idle week. Since moving up to the FBS ranks in 1996, the Broncos are 30-4 (.882) following a bye week. Since joining the Mountain West, Boise State is 17-1 (.944) and 29-1 (.967) since joining the Western Athletic Conference. The only losses following a bye week came in 1996 (at Fresno State), 1998 (in overtime against Idaho), 2000 (at Washington State) and 2015 (New Mexico).
Following A Loss
Boise State doesn't lose back-to-back games very often. The Broncos last suffered consecutive defeats in 2023, losing to No. 10 Washington in the season opener (Sept. 2) before losing to UCF the following weekend (Sept. 9.). Boise State hasn't lost back-to-back Mountain West regular season games since 2021, dropping contests to Nevada (Oct. 2) and Air Force (Oct. 16). Since joining the Mountain West, the Broncos have only lost consecutive MW games twice, the other time occurring in 2015 (Air Force and San Jose State).
Familiar Face
Boise State specialist Jarrett Reeser played for two seasons with the Aztecs, from 2022-23. The Canyon Country, Calif., native saw action in three games in 2022, kicking off five times for the Aztecs for a total of 302 yards. He also added a successful PAT at Fresno State on Oct. 29, 2022. Reeser redshirted in 2023 before transferring to Boise State.
Local Hero
Redshirt sophomore Max Cutforth is expected to make his first career start Saturday, making him the first Boise-area native to start at quarterback for the Broncos since Travis Stuart in 1992. Cutforth, a native of Nampa and graduate of Skyview HS, joins a short list of local products to play quarterback for Boise State. This includes Jim McMillian, a first team All-American in 1974, and Bryan Harsin, who went on to be a Boise State assistant coach from 2001-10 and head coach from 2014-20. The most recent Treasure Valley product to see action at quarterback was Andy Peters, a Timberline HS graduate who completed four passes against Air Force on Oct. 31, 2020.
Success In The Mountain West
Boise State is in its 15th season as a member of the Mountain West. The Broncos are 94-18 (.839) in MW league play and have won 31 of their past 36 games against MW teams. Of the 18 losses, only six have come by more than seven points. Boise State has posted a 46-10 (.821) record in road conference games in the MW. Boise State has won six titles in the conference, the most by a current member of the league, and surpassing the four claimed by BYU, TCU and Utah for the most in conference history.
Under 100
Boise State held Fresno State to 35 passing yards in the contest, marking the second game this season the Bronco defense has held an opponent to under 100 passing yards after holding App State to 65 passing yards on Sept. 27. The accomplishment marks the first time the Broncos have held an opponent under 100 yards multiple times in a season since 2022, when it occurred four times. Boise State has done so three times over the last six seasons.
No Passing Zone
The Broncos held Fresno State to 35 passing yards, the lowest the squad has allowed in a contest since Wyoming threw for 30 yards on Nov. 19, 2022. It was the lowest total the Bulldogs had recorded in a Mountain West game, and the lowest total they have recorded since at least 1995.
It Takes A Team
Boise State's three-headed rushing attack has been very productive this season, with Dylan Riley (745) Sire Gaines (473) and Malik Sherrod (317) making the Broncos one of seven teams in the country to have three running backs with at least 300 rushing yards. They are joined by Indiana, Navy, New Mexico, Oregon, South Alabama and Wyoming. Boise State and Indiana are the lone teams from the group with two players over 450 yards. The Broncos' trio averages 170.5 yards per game, highest among the seven teams.
Fast Start
Boise State has been dominant in the opening quarter, outscoring its opponents 79-26 in the frame. Since 1998, the Broncos are 109-4 (.965) when scoring 14+ points in the first quarter, having done so in four of their six victories this season. Boise State led Eastern Washington 20-0 after the first quarter on Sept. 5, led Air Force 14-7 on Sept. 20, earned a 14-0 lead over App State and led UNLV 14-3. Boise State has scored 14+ points in the first quarter in at least one game every season since 1997. The Broncos have outscored their opponents 150-103 in the first half of their games this season. Boise State has held their opponent scoreless in the first quarter in four of eight games in 2025, after achieving the feat five times in 2024.
The game features the top two teams in the Mountain West. The Broncos (6-3, 4-1 MW) dropped their first conference contest, losing to Fresno State on Nov. 1. The Aztecs (7-2, 4-1 MW) also won their first four conference matchups before falling to Hawai'i last Saturday.
The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network, with Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Robert Turbin (color) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline) on the call. Bronco Nation can tune in to hear Bob Behler (play-by-play) and Pete Cavender (analyst) call the action on the Bronco Radio Network (Flagship: KBOI 93.1 FM/670 AM) and on SiriusXM Channel 385.
OPENING KICKOFF
1.) Saturday's matchup will feature the top two teams in the Mountain West standings. Both Boise State and San Diego State sit at 4-1 in league play, with both teams coming off their first conference loss of the season. The Broncos suffered a 30-7 loss to Fresno State on Nov. 1 while the Aztecs lost to Hawai'i 38-6 on Nov. 8.
2.) Boise State doesn't lose back-to-back games very often. Since joining the MW, the Broncos have lost consecutive conference games twice - once in 2021 and once in 2015. Boise State hasn't lost consecutive games since 2023, losing to No. 10 Washington in the season-opener before falling to UCF. The Broncos are also historically great coming off an off week, boasting a 17-1 mark (.944) off a bye week since joining the MW.
3.) Head coach Spencer Danielson has already made a name for himself as one of the best coaches in the country. His 21-6 head coaching record (77.8%) is the seventh-best winning percentage among active head coaches at the FBS level, and he is tied for the seventh-most wins in the country (21) since taking over the program on Nov. 18, 2023.
4.) The Bronco defense held Fresno State to 224 yards of total offense on Nov. 1, marking the fourth time they have their opponent under 250 yards this season, tied for the fifth most in the nation. Boise State has held their opponents under 300 yards five times so far on the season, after doing so a combined six times in 2023 and 2024.
5.) The Broncos held Fresno State to just 35 passing yards, marking the second time this season the squad has held its opponent under 100 passing yards. The accomplishment marks the first time Boise State has held an opponent under 100 yards twice in the same season since 2022, and have done so three times over the past six seasons. The Broncos have held their opponent to under 200 yards passing in five of the last six contests.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Series History
Boise State and San Diego State will face off for the 11th time on Saturday, with the Broncos holding the all-time advantage 6-4. Boise State enters on a three-game winning streak, having last lost to the Aztecs, 27-16, in the 2021 Mountain West Championship Game. The Broncos hold a 3-2 advantage over San Diego State as the road team.
Bye Bye Bye
Historically, Boise State knows how to take advantage of an idle week. Since moving up to the FBS ranks in 1996, the Broncos are 30-4 (.882) following a bye week. Since joining the Mountain West, Boise State is 17-1 (.944) and 29-1 (.967) since joining the Western Athletic Conference. The only losses following a bye week came in 1996 (at Fresno State), 1998 (in overtime against Idaho), 2000 (at Washington State) and 2015 (New Mexico).
Following A Loss
Boise State doesn't lose back-to-back games very often. The Broncos last suffered consecutive defeats in 2023, losing to No. 10 Washington in the season opener (Sept. 2) before losing to UCF the following weekend (Sept. 9.). Boise State hasn't lost back-to-back Mountain West regular season games since 2021, dropping contests to Nevada (Oct. 2) and Air Force (Oct. 16). Since joining the Mountain West, the Broncos have only lost consecutive MW games twice, the other time occurring in 2015 (Air Force and San Jose State).
Familiar Face
Boise State specialist Jarrett Reeser played for two seasons with the Aztecs, from 2022-23. The Canyon Country, Calif., native saw action in three games in 2022, kicking off five times for the Aztecs for a total of 302 yards. He also added a successful PAT at Fresno State on Oct. 29, 2022. Reeser redshirted in 2023 before transferring to Boise State.
Local Hero
Redshirt sophomore Max Cutforth is expected to make his first career start Saturday, making him the first Boise-area native to start at quarterback for the Broncos since Travis Stuart in 1992. Cutforth, a native of Nampa and graduate of Skyview HS, joins a short list of local products to play quarterback for Boise State. This includes Jim McMillian, a first team All-American in 1974, and Bryan Harsin, who went on to be a Boise State assistant coach from 2001-10 and head coach from 2014-20. The most recent Treasure Valley product to see action at quarterback was Andy Peters, a Timberline HS graduate who completed four passes against Air Force on Oct. 31, 2020.
Success In The Mountain West
Boise State is in its 15th season as a member of the Mountain West. The Broncos are 94-18 (.839) in MW league play and have won 31 of their past 36 games against MW teams. Of the 18 losses, only six have come by more than seven points. Boise State has posted a 46-10 (.821) record in road conference games in the MW. Boise State has won six titles in the conference, the most by a current member of the league, and surpassing the four claimed by BYU, TCU and Utah for the most in conference history.
Under 100
Boise State held Fresno State to 35 passing yards in the contest, marking the second game this season the Bronco defense has held an opponent to under 100 passing yards after holding App State to 65 passing yards on Sept. 27. The accomplishment marks the first time the Broncos have held an opponent under 100 yards multiple times in a season since 2022, when it occurred four times. Boise State has done so three times over the last six seasons.
No Passing Zone
The Broncos held Fresno State to 35 passing yards, the lowest the squad has allowed in a contest since Wyoming threw for 30 yards on Nov. 19, 2022. It was the lowest total the Bulldogs had recorded in a Mountain West game, and the lowest total they have recorded since at least 1995.
It Takes A Team
Boise State's three-headed rushing attack has been very productive this season, with Dylan Riley (745) Sire Gaines (473) and Malik Sherrod (317) making the Broncos one of seven teams in the country to have three running backs with at least 300 rushing yards. They are joined by Indiana, Navy, New Mexico, Oregon, South Alabama and Wyoming. Boise State and Indiana are the lone teams from the group with two players over 450 yards. The Broncos' trio averages 170.5 yards per game, highest among the seven teams.
Fast Start
Boise State has been dominant in the opening quarter, outscoring its opponents 79-26 in the frame. Since 1998, the Broncos are 109-4 (.965) when scoring 14+ points in the first quarter, having done so in four of their six victories this season. Boise State led Eastern Washington 20-0 after the first quarter on Sept. 5, led Air Force 14-7 on Sept. 20, earned a 14-0 lead over App State and led UNLV 14-3. Boise State has scored 14+ points in the first quarter in at least one game every season since 1997. The Broncos have outscored their opponents 150-103 in the first half of their games this season. Boise State has held their opponent scoreless in the first quarter in four of eight games in 2025, after achieving the feat five times in 2024.
Players Mentioned
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