Boise State nearly shocked No. 2 Oregon. Now the Broncos get Memphis on the blue turf with a loss to avenge.
Memphis is 2-0. Boise State is 0-1. Do not let those records fool you. The Tigers are heading into Albertsons Stadium to face a Boise State team that took No. 2 Oregon to the final minutes in Eugene. The Broncos lost 34-27, but they led 17-14 late in the first half and stayed within one score deep into the fourth quarter. That loss does not make Boise State weak. It makes the Broncos angry.
Memphis has momentum after beating Arkansas State 42-24. Jaylin Carter ran for 183 yards and four touchdowns. Marcus Stokes completed 12 of 15 passes for 188 yards and two scores. The Tigers piled up 523 yards and rushed for 335. That is the kind of performance that creates confidence. Boise State is the kind of opponent that tests whether confidence is real.
Maddux Madsen Is the Test
Maddux Madsen gives Boise State something Arkansas State did not have: a veteran quarterback who has played in major environments. Madsen completed 15 of 29 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns against Oregon. He did not throw an interception. Boise State’s rushing attack struggled, yet Madsen kept the Broncos alive against one of the nation’s best teams.
That matters for Memphis. The Tigers allowed Arkansas State quarterback Trey Owens to throw for 325 yards. Memphis forced four turnovers, which won the game, but the secondary also allowed too many explosive completions. Madsen will not be easy to bait into mistakes. He knows how to stay calm. He knows how to keep a drive alive. He has enough experience to avoid letting the blue-turf atmosphere overwhelm his own team.
Memphis must disrupt him early. The Tigers cannot simply blitz and hope Madsen panics. They need disguised coverages, disciplined pass rush lanes and better tackling underneath. If Madsen gets comfortable, Boise State will find ways to spread Memphis out and make the secondary defend too much grass.
Boise State Will Run at Memphis
Boise State does not want a repeat of Oregon. The Broncos rushed for only 93 yards against the Ducks. That is not who Boise State wants to be. Dylan Riley remains the lead back after rushing for 1,125 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Sire Gaines gives Boise State another dangerous option, especially as a pass catcher. Gaines scored on a 37-yard touchdown reception against Oregon.
Expect the Broncos to establish both early. Memphis must stop the run before it can worry about everything else. If Riley gains steady yards on first down, Boise State can use play action, screens and quick throws to keep Madsen in manageable situations. That is how a veteran quarterback becomes difficult to beat.
The Tigers cannot allow Boise State to own first down. They cannot let the Broncos turn the game into a slow, physical battle where the crowd gets louder with every third-and-short. Memphis’ defensive line must create havoc early. The Tigers forced four Arkansas State turnovers, but they also gave up 434 total yards. Boise State will be more disciplined than the Red Wolves. Memphis needs stops, not just takeaways.
Carter Gives Memphis a Chance
Jaylin Carter is why Memphis has a real chance on the blue turf. Carter ran for 183 yards and four touchdowns against Arkansas State. Noah Covey added 103 rushing yards. Memphis ran for 335 yards and averaged 7.0 yards per carry.
Kevin Decker’s offense works best when the run game forces defenses into bad choices.Boise State will study the Carter film all week. The Broncos will understand that stopping him is the fastest route to making Stokes carry the offense through the air. Memphis cannot let that happen. The Tigers need Carter involved early. They need Stokes using his legs and RPO reads. They need the offensive line to create enough push that Boise State cannot sit back in coverage and wait for mistakes.
Stokes played efficiently against Arkansas State. He also threw two interceptions in Red Wolves territory. That is the concern. Memphis cannot waste scoring chances in Boise. The Tigers may not get enough possessions to survive two giveaways, especially if Boise State establishes Riley and turns the game into a field-position fight.
This Is Bigger Than Week Two
Boise State remains one of the biggest names in Group of Six football. Memphis is trying to become one. A win would give the Tigers a road victory at UNLV, a dominant win over Arkansas State and a major road statement against a Boise State team that nearly upset Oregon. That would put Memphis in the national Group of Six conversation before American play even begins. A loss would not end the season.
It would remind everyone how difficult it is to win at Boise State. The blue turf will be loud. The Broncos will be desperate. Madsen will be steady. Boise State will want to run the ball and control the game. Memphis has the players to answer.
Carter can punish lighter boxes. Stokes can create with his arm and legs. Decker can stress Boise State horizontally. The defense can make game-changing plays. Now the Tigers have to prove they can do all of it without giving away possessions. Saturday is not just another road game. It is Memphis’ chance to show it belongs in Boise State’s class.
