The 2026 season will waste no time testing Boise State, as the Broncos hit the road to face the No. 2 Oregon Ducks at the ever-so-imposing Autzen Stadium for their season-opener on Sept. 5.
The two programs meet for the first time since Oregon’s 37-34 win in week two of the 2024 season. A game in which the unranked Broncos nearly took down the heavily-favored No. 7 Ducks.
Oregon, headed by an elite defensive line and star-studded offense, looks to defend its home turf and take care of its unranked opponent.
Boise State on the other hand, looks to make an early statement on the national stage to prove itself as a playoff contender and force to be reckoned with against Power Four schools.
Here’s how the two teams match up:
Oregon:
The Ducks enter the season ranked No. 2 in the country, and head coach Dan Lanning’s roster speaks for itself.
Dante Moore returns for his second season as the starting quarterback and is widely regarded as a Heisman frontrunner.
Moore’s football IQ, combined with his pocket presence and accuracy, make him one of the elite passers in the nation.
Their dazzling receiving corps, headed by top NFL Draft prospect Evan Stweart and play-making sophomores Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan, gives the redshirt junior gun-slinger plenty of reliable targets.
On the other side of the ball, the Ducks defense returns eight starters, including its entire line.
Edge rusher Matayo Uiagallei and defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington return to anchor Oregon’s front, while both cornerbacks, including Brandon Finney Jr., return to man the team’s secondary.
With seniors Teitum Tuioti and Bear Alexander in the trenches as well, the Ducks pass rush and interior run defense will be some of the team’s biggest strengths.
Keys to the game:
- Clean and efficient execution by Dante Moore and the offense
- Win the line of scrimmage on defense and put pressure on Boise State’s backfield
- Jump ahead early and avoid mental mistakes
Boise State:
The Broncos open the year with plenty to prove.
Despite three straight conference titles, head coach Spencer Danielson emphasized, “we haven’t done anything yet,” in a fall camp press conference.
As Boise State looks to return to the College Football Playoff as they did in 2024, they will once again have to go through Oregon, who they lost to in a week two nail-biter that same year.
This time, the Broncos will face the Ducks without Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
However, the backfield continues to mirror the first-round pick’s talent.
Boise State’s junior running back duo, consisting of Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines, will be an explosive part of the Bronco offense.
The two Southern California natives provide a thunder-and-lightning combination out of the backfield, creating a dynamic one-two punch that can overwhelm defenses.
Leading the backfield is redshirt senior quarterback Maddux Madsen, who returns for his fifth and final year at Boise State having been the starter since 2024.
Madsen’s experience, combined with the Broncos’ talented receiving corps, gives the offense a new identity.
True freshman Rasean Jones and redshirt senior Darren Morris, a transfer from Southern, were standouts in fall camp, and are expected to make big impacts with the ball in their hands.
Junior Cam Bates, who made multiple highlight-reel catches in camp, will step into a much bigger role than previous seasons, with redshirt senior Ben Ford and redshirt junior tight end Matt Wagner anchoring the group as reliable threats.
On defense, the Broncos return two key starters, edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan and defensive end Max Stege, with defensive backs Jaden Mickey, Derek Ganter Jr., JeRico Washington Jr., and Travis Anderson leading the Boise State secondary.
Keys to the game:
- Establish the run and get Gaines and Riley going
- Protect Madsen and the pocket
- Avoid giving up explosive plays to Oregon’s receivers
Boise State will face Oregon at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
