Know the Foe: Wyoming at Boise State
Oct. 27—Ron Counts has covered Boise State University football for the Idaho Statesman since 2019. He weighs in on what University of Wyoming fans can expect during Saturday's matchup between the Cowboys and Broncos.
What's been your evaluation of the two-quarterback system for Boise State's offense?
I'm not a fan of two-quarterback systems, in general. They're predictable, and make it nearly impossible for an offense to get into a rhythm. That being said, Boise State is averaging more than 460 yards and 32 points per game since it started splitting quarterback reps against Memphis.
It works, in some ways, because both Taylen Green and Maddux Madsen are athletic enough to hurt defenses with their legs. The problem is the way the coaches are using them is entirely predictable. Green is officially the starter, but Madsen has played more snaps the past two games. He comes in on most third downs and every obvious passing down, and he's attempted 32 passes the past two games, compared to 16 by Green.
How do you expect the workload to be divided between running backs Ashton Jeanty and George Holani with Holani returning from injury?
Holani returning to the lineup is huge. It's going to allow the Broncos to use some of the two-back sets they worked all offseason to install. Holani is explosive, elusive and strong. He has two 1,000-yard seasons to his credit, and putting him on the field with Jeanty and Green is going to be a nightmare for defenses, especially with how the offensive line is playing. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jeanty get more touches Saturday because he's on such a heater, but Holani should still see 10-15.
What makes Jeanty such a special runner?
First of all, he's incredibly strong for his size. He weighs 210 pounds, and he can squat more than 600. That's a big part of why he leads the country with 604 yards after contact. He has the strength to run through tacklers, the vision to make them miss and, as we saw twice against Colorado State, the athleticism to hurdle them. He also has good hands out of the backfield, which is why he leads the country with 15 total touchdowns.
Wyoming has only beaten Boise State once, and it was in Laramie. What makes Albertsons Stadium so difficult to play in for the rest of the Mountain West?
The Broncos have a loyal fan base. Even in what most see as a subpar season, Boise State is on pace to break its record for average attendance at home games this year. Athletics director Jeramiah Dickey and his staff have done a great job of finding creative ways to entice fans to come to games. Fans attending Saturday's game will receive a free single-day lift ticket to Tamarack Resort, a popular skiing destination near Boise.
Dickey and his staff have also added to the game-day experience with the largest video board in the Mountain West and a blue LED light show in the fourth quarter. Albertsons Stadium is also designed to be loud. The metal bleachers and the angle of the upper deck make the crowd noise pretty deafening on the field.
The Broncos are 113th in the country in defense at 428.3 yards allowed per game. Where has Boise State struggled the most defensively?
It hasn't been pretty on the defensive side of the ball at Boise State this year. The Broncos have struggled to rush the passer. Their 16 sacks are tied for No. 67 in the country, but where they've struggled the most is defending deep passes. Boise State gave up 39 passes of at least 15 yards in 12 regular season games last year. This year, it has surrendered 53 in seven games. That's in part because of a lack of a consistent pass rush. It's also thanks to the team breaking in several new starters due to graduation and injuries.
Running back Harrison Waylee is expected to return for Wyoming this weekend. What will Wyoming's offense need to do to get him going?
Wyoming is known for its physical running game. Boise State knows that. Everyone knows that. If the Cowboys want to open some rushing lanes on Saturday, they're going to have to hit some deep passes to soften the defense up and mix in some designed quarterback runs to keep the Broncos guessing.
Boise State's run defense should benefit from the return of linebacker D.J. Schramm, who has been out with injury since the Broncos' win at San Diego State on Sept. 22. He led the team with 107 tackles last season. I would imagine the coaching staff will try to get Schramm and his replacement, Marco Notarainni, on the field together. They're both old-school linebackers with great noses for the ball. Notarainni leads the team with 52 tackles.
How important is this matchup in terms of the Mountain West title game for each of these teams?
It's crucial for both teams, especially as long as Air Force is undefeated. Losing to Colorado State puts Boise State way behind the eight ball in the Mountain West race, especially with Fresno State, Utah State and Air Force still on the schedule. The Broncos have to win out the rest of the season to be a real contender for the title. Wyoming can't afford a setback, either, especially since the Cowboys already have a loss to Air Force.
Boise State opened as 5-point home favorites over the Cowboys. What do you expect to see this weekend?
This game has been decided by 10 points or less in seven of the past eight years. I don't expect anything different. It's going to be a physical game, with both teams trying to dominate the line of scrimmage and ride their backfield to a victory. Ultimately, it'll come down to which team can run the ball and avoid turnovers. Remember, Boise State might be 15-2 in the all-time series if it weren't for safety J.L. Skinner's two interceptions in the fourth quarter last season.
Alex Taylor is the assistant editor for WyoSports and covers University of Wyoming athletics. He can be reached at ataylor@wyosports.net. Follow him on X at @alex_m_taylor22.
