BOISE STATE BRONCOS VS. WASHINGTON HUSKIES Location: Inglewood, California (SoFi Stadium) Date/Time: Saturday, December 13th at 6:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Television: ABC Streaming: ESPN App Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KBOI 93.1 FM (Bronco Radio Network) Head-to-Head: Washington holds a 4-2 advantage all-time, winning the last two meetings. In the Broncos’ two wins, those victories have come […]
BOISE STATE BRONCOS VS. WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Location: Inglewood, California (SoFi Stadium)
Date/Time: Saturday, December 13th at 6:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Television: ABC
Streaming: ESPN App
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KBOI 93.1 FM (Bronco Radio Network)
Head-to-Head: Washington holds a 4-2 advantage all-time, winning the last two meetings. In the Broncos’ two wins, those victories have come by the slimmest of margins, two and three points, respectively. However, when the Huskies finish with the last laugh, it tends to come by way of a blowout. The last contest came in 2023 when Washington lapped Boise State 56-19 on their way to a CFP National Championship appearance.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Boise State: 9-4 (Mountain West Champion), Washington: 8-4 (Finished 7th in the Big Ten)
Mountain West vs. Big Ten
BSU: Head Coach Spencer Danielson (2nd Full Year, 24-7 Overall Record)
UW: Head Coach Jedd Fisch (2nd Year at Washington, 31-33 Overall Record)
Last Outing
BSU: Won the Mountain West Championship on The Blue against UNLV, 38-21. In his first start back since injuring his leg against Fresno State on November 1st, quarterback Maddux Madsen had an exceptional day, throwing for 289 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Considering the circumstances, it was one of his best games as a Bronco. Running backs Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines shared the load in the backfield, combining for 30 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown courtesy of the latter. Also, wide receiver Chase Penry had his best game of 2025, tallying a season-high 96 receiving yards. In all, it was a dominating effort from start to finish that resulted in the Broncos’ third-straight Mountain West title.
UW: The Huskies last took the field on rivalry weekend against the Oregon Ducks in Seattle, losing 26-14. Despite falling by two scores, they found a way to stay within striking distance each time it felt as though Oregon was about to break the game open, including being down just five with less than nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. had one of his worst games of the year, throwing for 129 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and being sacked four times. Since then, Washington has had two weeks to recoup and prepare for one final game.
What Allows Boise State to Win Saturday?
Find a way to infiltrate the pocket and bring Demond Williams Jr. down.
There aren’t many stats that serve as an Achilles’ heal for Washington on either side of the ball.
However, there was one that caught my eye.
In the Huskies’ eight wins, the offensive line allowed a mere seven sacks.
In their four losses?
Williams Jr. was sacked 17 times times.
With that type of pressure bleeding into the pocket, it is no shock that he also threw six of his eight interceptions in those contests.
It is imperative for defensive coordinator Erik Chinander to send whatever design he can at this Husky front if Boise State has any prayer of winning this game. If so, that should allow the secondary to play more instinctively, which is when a vast majority of the Broncos’ secondary plays their best, including A’Marion McCoy and Ty Benefield.
Despite Williams Jr. being known as a dual-threat quarterback, I wouldn’t be overtly worried about that potential as he has averaged more than 6.5 yards per carry three times this whole season. Every other game, he ran for less than four yards each time.
What Allows Washington to Win Saturday?
Force Boise State’s hand by stifling the run game.
The most talented players that reside on the Broncos’ roster can be found in the backfield as a part of “The Stable.”
From Dylan Riley to Sire Gaines and Malik Sherrod, when that trio is cooking and creating space in the open field, it has been a nightmare for opposing defenses. But outside of playing Notre Dame in South Bend, the Broncos haven’t faced a front seven that matches the physicality of Washington’s group.
The Huskies rank inside the top-20 in the nation in rushing yards allowed, giving up just 103 yards a game.
When Boise State is clicking at its best, it starts with the ground game.
But when option one is removed, the Jenga tower begins to sway more with Maddux Madsen and his receivers becoming much more pivotal.
Madsen has, for the most part, done his job. But a concerning trend over the last few games is the case of the drops that has plagued the Broncos’ wide receivers. From Latrell Caples to Chris Marshall, it has been a team-wide epidemic that, fortunately, hasn’t cost them dearly.
Most of Washington’s tackle production has stemmed from its linebackers and secondary, but they have a trio of defensive linemen that have a knack for plugging holes early – DL Bryce Butler, DL Elinneus Davis and Anterio Thompson. According to Pro Football Focus, all three Huskies have graded out at 74 or better when it comes to run defense.
A Q&A With SBNation Washington Writer Mark Schafer of UW Dawg Pound
Aiden Petterson (AP): Finishing the regular season at 8-4 while navigating a Big Ten slate that featured Ohio
State, Oregon, Michigan, and Illinois is no easy feat. With the conference sending three
teams to the College Football Playoff, has this season met expectations for Washington
fans?
Mark Schafer (MS): Before the season, I made a mental estimation that our record was either going to be 8-4 or 9-3, with Illinois being the swing point. I was more or less right (though I did not count on losing an
absolute clunker of a game to Wisconsin). This is a team that’s a year away, maybe 2, but from
what I saw in the back half of the season, I’m encouraged, both on the field (defense and young
receivers making big strides) and off (UW currently has the 13 th ranked recruiting class in the
country). The needs up front on both lines have been addressed, Fisch has added some elite
receiver talent on the recruiting trail and the returning talent will have a year under their belts to
develop. Now, there are nagging issues (Fisch’s play calls, game management issues, team
penalty issues, the inability to play in the eastern time zone) but they have been able to overcome
them most of the time! If Fisch sticks around, this could be a playoff team but those issues must
be ironed out fast, and the recruiting results must translate into wins on the field.
AP: As a sophomore, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. had a more than respectable year,
now sitting at 2,850 passing yards – good enough for 30th in the country. He also was
able to utilize his athleticism by running for 595 yards and six touchdowns. Is Williams
Jr. a true dual-threat quarterback, or will Boise State be able to limit his legs?
MS: I think Demond Williams is a true dual threat, as the attention that the defense gives the Husky
receivers and Jonah Coleman allows the read option game to really flourish under the command
of both Demond and Jedd Fisch. Williams also has the arm to really fire the ball in to where he
wants it to go, and frequently makes good decisions, resulting in a great completion percentage
(70%, good for 11 th in the country). There are times where he tries to play hero ball, resulting in
head scratching incompletions and interceptions, but he remains an exciting, electric young
quarterback, with plenty of weapons around him!
AP: It is apparent that when the Huskies are clicking on all cylinders offensively, they are
darn-near impossible to stop, averaging 46 points per game in their eight wins. However,
when they sputter, everything grinds to a halt as they tallied nine points per game in their
losses. It would disingenuous to not acknowledge that those losses came to No. 2 Ohio
State, No. 5 Oregon, No. 18 Michigan and a resurgent Wisconsin team in Madison. Was
the stark contrast in offensive production due simply to a talent disparity or schematics
that magnified potential weaknesses?
MS: I think it’s a little bit of both, depending on the loss. With the losses to Ohio State, Michigan, and
Oregon, the talent disparity was a big factor, as the Huskies were either too shorthanded because
of injury or Coach Fisch got outcoached. But with the Wisconsin loss, that came down to poor
road preparation, something that has defined the Fisch era, much to the chagrin of the fanbase.
But the scheme is decidedly pro style, with a focus on balance between run and pass, and a bunch of different looks. Good defenses, like ones at Ohio State, stopped them because of the talent that they had on that side of the ball.
AP: While no one defensive player jumps off the stat sheet, their performance as a collective
unit, particularly against opposing rushing attacks, is stout. On the year, the Huskies have
held opponents to just 103 rushing yards per game, good for 17th in the land. Boise State
has been held to under 103 yards on the ground twice this season, those being against No.
11 Notre Dame (100 yds) and Fresno State (91 yds). What makes Washington’s front
seven so difficult to break through when attempting to establish the run?
MS: I think they have shown considerable improvement in grasping the defensive scheme. At the
beginning of the year, sure they were flying to the ball, but a lot of the tackles that were missed
are made now. I believe that started with the Wisconsin game (where the Badgers’ leading passer
was their punter), because the UCLA game showed what this defense can become, and a big part
of the defense is the young linebackers (Zaydrius Rainey-Sale is a particular standout and with
development could be a cornerstone of this defense). The secondary (Rahshawn Clark and Alex
McLaughlin in particular) has also improved, deflecting and picking off passes with more
regularity. The one thing that needs to be improved is the play of the d-line (which doesn’t get a
whole lot of sacks), but with new acquisitions on the recruiting trail, that could be massively
improved next year.
AP: Having to bring this up every bowl season is never fun, but what is the expectation
regarding potential opt-outs for Jedd Fisch and Washington?
MS: Coach Fisch said at his press conference earlier this week that there will be no opt outs. That
comes amid all the team and player opt outs of recent years (Notre Dame being the most
egregious example in my opinion). He made clear that this is a game that you’d want to win, and
why not field your best 22 players? As for Coach Fisch himself, he will coach the bowl game,
but on the heels of Michigan firing Sherrone Moore and given Fisch’s ties to Michigan (he was
the WR/QB coach there from 2015-2017), they might take a look at him, throwing his future at
Washington in doubt. Whatever happens, I am prepared for him leaving, as this is the business
we’ve chosen, after all!
AP: Alright, the time has come. What is your prediction for the seventh all-time meeting
between future Pac-12 member Boise State and current Big Ten member Washington, as
if that sentence would have made any sense a decade ago?
MS: The second Chris Petersen Classic (A name that I have bestowed upon this game, as the two
teams have met only once after Coach Petersen’s retirement) will be a game that will be decided
by the teams’ chief playmakers, and that means that Demond Williams, Jonah Coleman and
Denzel Boston will carry the day for the Huskies, even though Boise State keeps it close in the
first half. The Huskies may also have to rely on their unsung players, like receiver Dezmen
Roebuck and tight end Decker Degraaf to keep the offensive momentum going. Defensively, I’m
hoping for another solid performance from what has become a very good unit, and shuts down a
potent Bronco attack. I’m predicting that the Huskies show up and show out at the LA Bowl and
walk out of SoFi Stadium winners!
Washington 35 – Boise State 17
Who Pulls Out The Win?
Considering all the ups and downs that Boise State endured in 2025, being in this position is just about as good as you could ask for.
It’s nice to play a different opponent during bowl season, but at the same rate, rekindling a familiar mini-rivalry with a neighboring school isn’t the end of the world by any stretch.
While this isn’t the 2023 Washington team that drubbed Boise State in the season opener before finding its way to the CFP National Championship thanks to the heroics of QB Michael Penix Jr., the Huskies weren’t doormats for the top of the Big Ten this year, a rather remarkable feat in just year two of the Jedd Fisch era.
And, amazingly, Boise State hasn’t defeated a P4 opponent since taking down Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium in 2019.
In the end, I am going to have to agree with Mark Schafer and take Washington to win the first FBS bowl game of the holiday season.
Prove me wrong, Boise State.
Petterson’s Prediction: Washington to Win Outright, Washington to Cover, and Take the Under.
FanDuel Odds: Washington -9.5, Total of 52.5
Washington Huskies 28 – Boise State Broncos 17
Let us at the Mountain West Connection know your prediction for the final game in Boise State’s tenure as a Mountain West football member in the comments!
Category: General Sports
