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Top 25 Moments of 2025

Top 25 Moments of 2025

Moments 1-5

As the calendar year wraps up, Boise State Athletics wanted to celebrate some of the amazing accomplishments achieved by our student-athletes in 2025.  After thorough conversation and discussion, the sports communications staff compiled a list of 25 of the top moments from 2025. Here are those Top 25 Moments. 

For Moments 25-21, click here.

For Moments 20-16, click here.

For Moments 15-11, click here.

For Moments 10-6, click here. 

MOMENT NO. 5:

Women’s Soccer Claims Mountain West Regular Season Championship

On a crucial trip to play Grand Canyon on the road, Boise State Soccer knew what was at stake.

The tension was high but the Broncos were stoked with confidence as they would face an unfamiliar opponent in Grand Canyon, who entered with a record of 8-7-1.

The Broncos were in sole possession of first place with San Diego State, the closest team to Boise State when looking at the top of the table in the Mountain West.

Boise State last made the trip to Arizona in 2023 when the Blue and Orange played to a 0-0 draw against the Sun Devils inside Sun Devil Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium.

Coming into the contest, Kenzie MacMillan arrived in Phoenix as the team’s point leader, collecting five goals and eight assists.

The Broncos were also without top point-getter Jillian Anderson, who would miss the contest due to hitting the card limit in the previous matches at New Mexico and San Diego State.

In big games, stars shine bright. MacMillan was the star of the show as she ripped a shot from just outside the box in the fifth minute to put the Broncos on the board. 

In the next 10 minutes, both Teryn Newkirk and Sophie Schmautz caught the crossbar and nearly made the contest 3-0.

The Lopes roared back and forced freshman goalkeeper Ava de Leest to make a diving save in the 33rd minute. de Leest made two saves as Grand Canyon challenged the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year with eight total shots.

As the clock hit zero, the team swarmed Boise State Associate Head Coach Max Weber with a Powerade bath as the team celebrated its regular season championship.

Just before the trophy celebration, Weber turned to the crowd that was filled with a slew of Blue and Orange and began the BOISE STATE chant. 

Following the handshake line, the Broncos were awarded the Mountain West regular season championship trophy.

After the pure elation of being crowned champs. MacMillan and Newkirk brought out a collapsible chair. 

Why would a team celebrating place a chair in the middle of the field, you may ask?

This was for Weber, who had promised the team that he would cut his luscious locks that are covered with a hat the majority of the time if the Broncos took care of business.

Weber kept that promise as MacMillan and Sophie Avalos cut Weber’s bangs as the team walked to midfield as the celebration commenced.

MOMENT NO. 4:

Women’s Tennis Defeats No. 22 Baylor in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament 

On April 28, 2025, the Boise State women’s tennis team gathered with dozens of its closest supporters inside the Allen Noble Hall of Fame to watch the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament selection show. 

Sitting beside its 2025 Mountain West Tournament championship trophy, the Broncos anxiously awaited news of their first-round opponent. It would mark the program’s first NCAA appearance since 2010. 

After several minutes, “Boise State” finally flashed across the screen. The Broncos were headed to Austin, Texas, for a matchup with the No. 22 Baylor Bears. 

Baylor entered the tournament with 20 wins and an at-large bid after reaching the Big 12 tournament semifinals. A storied program with 60 all-time NCAA Tournament dual matches, the Bears presented a steep challenge. 

A Boise State team built on grit, all 10 players and three coaches leaned on the program’s mantra—GAP: grit, accountability and presence. Three simple words that guided them all season, and that wouldn’t change now. 

The Broncos arrived in Austin three days before match day to adjust to the time change and get reps on the court. After consecutive strong practices and final preparations, they were ready for the program’s highest-stakes match in 14 years. 

Boise State took the court for doubles, a crucial point in any match. On court one, the Broncos faced Baylor’s No. 37-ranked duo, Liuboc Kostenko and Cristina Tiglea, who entered with 18 wins. Boise State set the tone immediately. Led by Mountain West Tournament MVP Zdena Safarova, the No. 1 pair raced to a 5-0 lead and clinched the court with a 6-4 win. 

If anyone questioned whether this team belonged on the NCAA stage, those doubts faded quickly. Moments later, a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles by Paula Schaefer and Bhakti Shah secured the doubles point and sent the Broncos into singles with a 1-0 lead. 

The team dispersed to its six courts for singles, three match wins away from clinching the program’s biggest upset since 2010, when Boise State defeated No. 21 Iowa.

A straight-set victory at No. 2 singles pushed the Broncos ahead 2-0 before Baylor responded with wins on courts three, four and five. The lead they had held for more than an hour disappeared in an instant. 

Trailing at the No. 1 spot with the dual on the line, Safarova rallied from a 6-4 first-set loss to take the next two sets 6-4, 6-0, tying the match at 3-3. 

All eyes turned to court six, where freshman Masa Viriant found herself in the clinching match for the third straight time. She split the first two sets against Baylor’s Nanka Sato, leaving one frame to decide the Broncos’ fate. 

The crowd shifted to the far side of the court, both teams huddled behind their players. With nerves in every swing, Viriant inched ahead and built a 5-3 lead. On the final rally, she sent a backhand slice that Sato returned—just beyond the baseline. 

All nine of her teammates stormed the court, tackling her to the ground in celebration. Tears flowed from players, and smiles stretched ear to ear across the coaching staff. Boise State had earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 2010, its highest-ranked win since that same year, its first victory over a Power Four opponent in six seasons, and its seventh 20-win season in program history. 

The Broncos are for real, and they proved it on May 2, 2025. 

“This match was a statement win for our program,” said head coach Beck Roghaar. “I couldn’t be more proud of how our players showed up ready to compete.”

MOMENT NO. 3:

Tyson Degenhart Eclipses Men’s Basketball Scoring Record

Four years of excellence, consistency and being the standard bearer for Boise State men’s basketball culminated in Tyson Degenhart eclipsing the program’s all-time scoring record in his final collegiate season. Coming to the Treasure Valley in 2021 after an outstanding prep career, Degenhart etched his name atop the Broncos’ record book on March 14.

A decorated and natural scorer, Degenhart scored 1,361 points in his first three seasons at Boise State. Increasing his point total each and every season, Degenhart tallied 346 as a freshman, 481 during his sophomore season and 534 in his junior campaign.

Entering his final year, Degenhart needed 584 points to surpass Tanoka Beard’s scoring record. Beard tallied 1,944 career points, a mark that was intact for three-plus decades.

Last season, Degenhart registered 15 20-point games and notched the first 30-point performance of his career. By the conclusion of the regular season, Degenhart was at 552 points and needed 32 more to stand alone and claim sole possession of first place.

14 MAR 2025: The 2025 Mountain West Men’s Basketball Championship is held at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV. (Tyler McFarland/NCAA Photos)
14 MAR 2025: The 2025 Mountain West Men’s Basketball Championship is held at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV. (Tyler McFarland/NCAA Photos)

To his benefit, the Broncos played three games in the 2025 Mountain West Basketball Championship and two in the inaugural College Basketball Crown. Against San Diego State in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament, Degenhart scored 14 points, leaving him 18 away from the record after a 72-69 victory over the Aztecs.

Despite downplaying the possibility of breaking the record, fans, media and observers, near and far, knew he was destined to make it happen. On the following day against New Mexico in a Mountain West semifinal matchup, Degenhart made it happen.

With 13:02 remaining in the game, history was made and Degenhart set the record. Scoring a two-point field goal in the paint on an assist by Alvaro Cardenas, Degenhart notched his 13th and 14th point of the game and the 1,944th and 1,945th point of his career.

In total, Degenhart recorded 676 points as a senior, the most any Bronco has scored in a single season. He became just the sixth Boise State men’s basketball player to score 600 points in a year.

Degenhart is known for many things, but among them is being the all-time leading scorer for one of the NCAA’s more successful basketball programs.

MOMENT NO. 2:

Ashton Jeanty Selected Sixth Overall in NFL Draft

Generational. Must-see TV. An unreal talent. War daddy. No matter how you describe him, Ashton Jeanty was undoubtedly one of the most impactful football players the Treasure Valley has ever seen. Time and time again, he broke records and tackles, cementing his name in Boise State and college football lore. So it was only fitting he made Bronco history once again when he was officially drafted to the NFL.

Jeanty’s 2024 statistics are eye-popping, if not unbelievable. He finished with 2,601 rushing yards, 27 shy of the FBS single-season record. Only 20 teams had more yards on the ground than the Maxwell Award winner, who forced an astonishing 164 missed tackles and gained 1,970 yards after contact in his unforgettable season. He was the driving force behind a historic Boise State season, which saw the Broncos earn a bye in the College Football Playoff and finish the year ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll.

Jeanty’s draft stock didn’t require an otherworldly performance at his workouts. After all, the film speaks for itself. As soon as he broke out of the Michael Myers stance, Jeanty was “a bowling ball full of butcher knives,” according to longtime NFL coach Chuck Pagano. The Doak Walker Award winner did not participate in the combine, opting to showcase his skills in front of all 32 teams at Boise State Pro Day. Skipping the typical workouts like the 40-yard dash and bench press, Jeanty went straight for the football drills - rushing, receiving and pass blocking. By the end of the day, it was clear who had not only interest, but a high enough pick to draft the best football player in the country. Jeanty had lunch with John Syptek, general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders.

On April 24, Jeanty arrived at historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Surrounded by family and friends, he entered the green room, awaiting the call that would change his life. The beginning of the draft went mainly as predicted, with a trade between Jacksonville and Cleveland providing the only drama. The Browns traded back to fifth and there was some speculation they would fill a position of need with Jeanty, but Cleveland selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. The Raiders were officially on the clock.

Within minutes, Jeanty’s phone lit up, receiving a call from Las Vegas. The Raiders were selecting him sixth overall, making him the highest draft pick in Boise State history. The party started immediately, pausing only for commissioner Roger Goodell, who made the official announcement. After a few more hugs, Jeanty headed to the stage, bringing the same energy he brought to The Blue every Saturday. He danced, posed for photos and told NFL Network reporter Jamie Erdahl, “I’m ready to entertain.” He was no stranger to putting on a show at Allegiant Stadium, totaling over 300 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in a pair of wins over UNLV.

Upon leaving the stage, he still had two important FaceTime calls to make, both to people in the Bleymaier Football Center. He first spoke to James Montgomery, his position coach who mentored him during his time as a Bronco. He then headed to what he thought was a studio, prepared to record a video for the Raiders. Before he knew it, the screen lit up with a surprise call from Jambres Dubar, Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley, his backfield mates in Boise. The quartet celebrated, much like they had during any of Jeanty’s 30 touchdowns that season. “This is going to be y’all soon,” Jeanty told the returning members of The Stable.

Gaines, Riley and Boise State running backs of present and future know what the standard is, thanks to a long line of NFL products, none of which were drafted higher than Jeanty. From starting a scholarship to breaking countless records, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft has surely left a legacy.

MOMENT NO. 1:

Boise State Beats UNLV To Claim Third Consecutive Mountain West Crown 

As Boise State trudged off the rain-soaked grass at Snapdragon Stadium, the Broncos heard an array of insults from San Diego State fans, who were celebrating a 17-7 win that put the Aztecs in the driver’s seat of the Mountain West race. Boise State had dropped back-to-back conference games for the first time in nearly 10 years and an injury report that featured five starters, including quarterback Maddux Madsen and All-MW cornerback A’Marion McCoy, provided little hope the Broncos would return to the conference title game for the fourth straight year. In short, Boise State was in danger. Head coach Spencer Danielson made it his mission over the next two weeks to make the Broncos dangerous.

A strong ground game and defense gave Boise State a blowout win over Colorado State, which was thought to be the final game on The Blue for the senior class. Backup quarterback Max Cutforth, a Nampa native, engineered a game-winning drive in the regular season finale at Utah State, capped by a Dylan Riley touchdown that put him at exactly 1,000 rushing yards. Still, the future was unknown thanks to a logjam at the top of the MW standings. As results from the rest of the league came in, it became clear the 2025 season had shades of 2023, when computer rankings were used to determine the conference championship participants. Even with one of the four metrics kept private, the Broncos felt they had a strong chance to earn one of the two spots. On Sunday morning, it was made official: Boise State vs. UNLV, part three. Boise State’s seniors would have one last ride on The Blue.

In many ways, this matchup felt right. The Broncos had bested the Rebels in the previous two title bouts, as well as their two regular season meetings. With Boise State bound for the Pac-12 in 2026, this last hurrah offered a chance to do something no team had ever done - win three straight MW championship games. Friday night arrived and so did the conditions. Rain poured for so long that puddles began forming on the blue turf. Temperatures dropped to the low 40s. It was football weather. When the pregame availability report was released, Madsen’s name was nowhere to be found. The Broncos had their quarterback back. They were dangerous.

Madsen quelled any doubts about his mobility with a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. From there, his arm took over, throwing touchdowns to Riley, Cameron Bates and Malik Sherrod. The defense was stout, keeping the Rebels off the board until their sixth drive of the night. A UNLV touchdown in the third quarter trimmed the Bronco lead to seven, but a 46-yard catch and run by Chase Penry set up a Sire Gaines rushing touchdown to make it 35-21. Colton Boomer put on the finishing touches with a 50-yard field goal and after one last fourth down stop, the celebration was on.

After getting in victory formation and taking a knee, Madsen sprinted for the south end zone to celebrate as the final seconds ticked off. Spencer Danielson received the celebratory Gatorade bath, courtesy of Ahmed Hassanein, who flew in from Detroit just in time to catch the second half. Players, coaches, families and fans poured onto the field, painting a picture reminiscent of the unforgettable 2024 celebration. This year, the goalposts were safe.

Madsen and Ty Benefield were crowned, literally, Offensive and Defensive MVP. With his team in front of him, Spencer Danielson received the MW trophy from commissioner Gloria Nevarez one last time, hoisting it into the sky as streamers filled the air. The team pushed through the elated crowd to start the party in a locker room filled with cigars, lights, cameras and music. The 2025 team had etched its name in the record books. A team that was down and nearly out just 20 days prior was back in its rightful place - on top of the Mountain West.

Bronco Nation, thank you for joining us alongside our journey to showcase our Top 25 Moments of 2025. We can't wait to create a whole batch of moments - with you by our side - in 2026. Happy New Year!