GLENDALE, ARIZ. – Maddux Madsen of the Boise State Broncos throws a pass during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl … More
Boise State traveled to Eugene on the second Saturday of the 2024 college football season and led No. 7 Oregon early in the fourth quarter. The unranked Broncos went down in defeat on a field goal as time expired, though Spencer Danielson’ team served notice that it would be one to be reckoned with.
While the Ducks ascended to No. 1 by the end of October and eventually lost the national championship to Ohio State, the Broncos galloped through the Mountain West, climbed to No. 8 and their way to State College where they lost (31-14) to the Nittany Lions in a College Football Playoff game that was a one-score affair with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The defeat halted an 11-game win streak and concluded a 12-2 season.
No longer with the services of Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 selection of the Las Vegas Raiders after leading the nation with 186 yards rushing per game, the easy question is whether Boise State has enough offensive production to reign supreme and represent the Group of Five in the 12-team CFP once again.
If you believe the three major print preview publications (Athlon, Lindy’s and Phil Steele) that began to appear on magazine shelves around Memorial Day then, yes, the Broncos will be at the top of the G5 chart once again. There is no reason to think otherwise as they head into their final season as a member of the Mountain West before moving to what will be a nine-team Pac-12.
Even with Jeanty, defensive end Ahmed Hassanein and safety Seyi Oladipo in the NFL, Danielson is not lacking when it comes to returning playmakers. Indeed, quarterback Maddux Madsen will operate behind an experienced line and again have Matt Lauter, one of the nation’s top tight ends, among his targets. The running game should more than hold its own thanks in part to portal acquisition Malik Sherrod (Fresno State) and the continued development of Sire Gaines, who got his feet wet last season.
Meanwhile, a defense that averaged 3.9 sacks per game to rank second nationally, should again be stout despite key losses. That is thanks to thee return of, among others, end Jayden Virgin-Morgan (team-high 10 sacks), safety Ty Bennefield (leading tackler) and corner A’Marion McCoy (14 PBUs).
For the third time in five full seasons the Broncos open in the Sunshine State when they meet USF for a Thursday evening affair August 28 in Tampa. A tricky spot in the schedule is a trip to Notre Dame on Oct 4, which comes one week after hosting Appalachian State, whose 2024 slip below .500 is likely temporary.
Tulane among others to watch
While Phil Steele has Toledo (No. 25) and Memphis (No. 27) at least knocking on the door of G5 supremacy, only three other teams — James Madison, Navy and Tulane — are in the top 60 of each publication, which serves to underscore the thought of how wide open it is among the non-power conference.
There is agreement when it comes to the Green Wave, who are ranked tightly from No. 43 to No. 48 while the Midshipmen range from No. 40 to No. 54. Phil Steele has JMU at No. 32, far ahead of Lindy’s and Athlon, which have the Dukes at No. 58 and No. 59, respectively.
Tulane is 32-10 with three American championship game appearances (one win) in as many years, including Jon Sumrall’s first as coach in New Orleans last season. While the defense has four of its top five tacklers returning, the offense endured major blows with the departures of quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke – Guess who’s coming to Yulman Stadium on September 13? — after placing sixth nationally in pass efficiency, and running back Makhi Hughes, who left for Oregon after rushing for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns in two seasons. In addition, the top three wideouts expired their eligibility and the No. 1 tight end transferred to Miami.
TAMPA – Head coach Jon Sumrall of the Tulane Green Wave looks on in the second half of the Union … More
Kaden Semonza (Ball State) and Brendan Sullivan (Iowa/Northwestern), who arrived in June, will battle it out at QB and behind a line in need of three new starters. In addition to Duke and reunion with Mensah, the schedule the first four weeks also includes the opener versus Northwestern and a trip to Ole Miss.
Navy won 10 games last season, including over service academy rival Army and against Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl. While the offensive line had three starters graduate, much of the offense returns, including quarterback Blake Horvath, who was the American’s third-leading rusher and totaled 30 touchdowns. Though the top three tacklers, led by linebacker and the American’s leading tackler, Colin Ramos, graduated, there is plenty of talent and depth returning on a defense that was third in the conference in allowing 22.2 points a year ago.
The back end of Navy’s schedule is demanding with a trip to South Bend, a visit from USF, Thanksgiving turkey in Memphis, and the traditional clash with Army, which will be in Baltimore for the first time since 2016.
James Madison is 28-9 in its three seasons of FBS affiliation, each as a member of the Sun Belt in which they are 17-7. Bob Chesney took over for Curt Cignetti, who did wonders at Indiana, and went 9-4 as a first-year FBS coach in 2024. The big question heading into preseason camp is the health of quarterback Alonza Barnett. The junior threw 26 TDs and only four INTs before tearing an ACL in the regular-season finale. Hence, it should not surprise if Matthew Sluka, who played under Chesney at Holy Cross for two seasons before transferring to UNLV last year, takes over the offense at least initially.
The Sun Belt’s top scoring defense (20.5) a year ago had four of its top six tacklers depart and new DC Colin Hitschler’s unit will be challenged in the season’s opening month with trips to Louisville and Liberty as well as a conference opener versus Georgia Southern.
