Boise State left speechless in 34-7 blowout to USF in season opener

Boise State WR Chris Marshal Photo by Boise State Photo

No. 25 Boise State stumbled out of the gate in its 2025 season opener, falling 34-7 in a stunning road loss to USF last Thursday.

The Broncos struck first when quarterback Maddux Madsen found wide receiver Chris Marshal for the six-yard touchdown reception late in the first quarter. But after that promising start, the momentum swung hard the other way. The Bulls responded with 34 unanswered points, including a shocking 45-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt that left the Boise State defense reeling.

For head coach Spencer Danielson, the defeat was a rare and bitter one. Since taking over in 2023, he had lost just three games – the 2024 LA Bowl, a last-second heartbreaker at Oregon, and last year’s College Football Playoff matchup with Penn State. Thursday’s blowout marked his fourth.

Danielson was furious – and rightfully so. A clip of redshirt senior Davon Banks has gone viral, expressing the frustration of several Boise State fans. The video shows Banks jogging during the play that led to South Florida’s third touchdown.

In yesterday’s press conference, Danielson addressed the viral moment and the larger issue in his press conference, making his stance clear.

“Going forward, if someone doesn’t play the way we need them to, from an effort and mentality standpoint, they can’t play,” he stated. “There are a lot of plays on film that were not the standard in regard to our effort. I know the play that everybody sees. There’s a lot more on that tape than just that one play.”

Tackling woes, a point of emphasis all summer, resurfaced. While the Broncos held their ground at the line of scrimmage, USF repeatedly broke through in the open field, exposing poor fundamentals and missed wrap-ups.

The game was a mess, but one Bronco stood out among the rest – Maddux Madsen. Madsen threw for 225 yards and recorded one touchdown. He found 10 different receivers during the game, but unfortunately couldn’t find the back of the endzone. 

But what’s next? The loss cost Boise State its Top 25 ranking, as the Broncos dropped completely out of the AP Poll without receiving a single vote. Still, Danielson’s team has 11 games left to prove that last Thursday’s performance was an outlier and not the new standard.

The Broncos return home this Friday for their Albertsons Stadium opener against Eastern Washington. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT on FS1.

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