If you were watching the 2024 matchup between Boise State Broncos football vs San Jose State Spartans football, you probably thought the upset of the century was brewing. CEFCU Stadium was shaking. The Spartans were up 14-0. The Broncos looked human. Then, the inevitable happened.
Boise State doesn't just play football; they survive it until they thrive in it.
The history between these two programs is, honestly, a bit of a lopsided affair. Boise State holds a commanding 16-1 lead in the series. But that one loss? It was a massive one—the 2020 Mountain West Championship. That game changed the way these two fanbases look at each other. It turned a routine conference game into something that feels a lot more like a grudge match every time they step on the turf.
The Night the Blue Turf Mentality Met the Silicon Valley Surge
Let’s talk about that November 2024 game because it tells the whole story of this rivalry. San Jose State came out firing. Walker Eget was carving up the secondary. Nick Nash was doing Nick Nash things—catching everything in sight. When the Spartans went up by two scores early in the second quarter, Boise State fans were reaching for the panic button.
Then the "greedy" moment happened.
Spartans coach Ken Niumatalolo later admitted he got a bit too aggressive. Facing a 4th-and-1 at the Boise State 2-yard line, instead of taking a chip-shot field goal to go up 17-0, they went for it. They failed. An ineligible man downfield penalty added salt to the wound.
That was the turning point.
📖 Related: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Boise State marched 92 yards the other way. Maddux Madsen, who is basically the definition of "scrappy," kept the chains moving. Then Ashton Jeanty—who, let’s be real, was the best player in the country that year—started finding those tiny creases. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, a 14-0 Spartan lead had evaporated into a 42-21 Broncos blowout.
It’s the same old story. Boise State waits for you to blink. When you do, they score 28 unanswered points.
Breaking Down the Series Stats
- Overall Record: Boise State leads 16-1.
- The Lone Spartan Win: 34-20 in the 2020 MW Championship.
- Most Points Scored: 77 by Boise State in 2003 (a game Spartans fans would prefer to forget).
- Average Margin: Usually around two touchdowns, though the last few years have stayed much closer until the final ten minutes.
Why This Matchup is Changing in the Pac-12 Era
We have to address the elephant in the room: the 2025 season was the end of an era. With Boise State moving to the Pac-12 in 2026, the frequency of Boise State Broncos football vs San Jose State Spartans football matchups is up in the air.
Honestly, it’s a shame.
The Spartans have finally found a real identity under Niumatalolo and his "Spread and Shred" (or whatever variation of the Run and Shoot they're calling it this week). They aren't the walkovers they were in the early 2000s. In 2025, even with Ashton Jeanty off to the NFL (shoutout to the Las Vegas Raiders for snagging him at #6 overall), the Broncos had to fight tooth and nail to maintain their Mountain West dominance.
Spencer Danielson has kept the culture alive in Boise. He’s a "players' coach" in the truest sense, but he’s also shown he can navigate the transfer portal chaos. Losing guys like Andrew Simpson to North Carolina hurt, but bringing in Malik Sherrod from Fresno State was a savvy move to keep the backfield productive.
👉 See also: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
The Madsen vs. Eget Dynamic
In their recent encounters, the quarterback play has been wild. Maddux Madsen isn't the biggest guy on the field. He doesn't have the strongest arm. But the kid just wins. In the 2024 game, he went 22-of-30 for 286 yards. He doesn't make the "backbreaker" mistakes that have plagued San Jose State in this series.
On the flip side, Walker Eget has the talent to play on Sundays. But turnovers have been the Achilles' heel for SJSU. In that same 2024 game, three interceptions and a crucial fumble by Eget turned a potential upset into a "what if" story.
Football is a game of inches, sure. But against Boise State, it’s a game of mistakes. If you give them an extra possession, you’re dead.
What Most People Get Wrong About San Jose State
There’s this perception that San Jose State is just a "basketball school" or a "commuter school" that doesn't care about football. That’s garbage. CEFCU Stadium has become a genuinely tough place to play. They’ve invested in the Spartan Athletics Center. They’ve found a way to compete in the NIL era despite not having the "Boise money."
The 2025 Mountain West media poll had them finishing 3rd for a reason. They have athletes. Nick Nash proved that you can be an All-American in San Jose just as easily as you can in Boise or Tuscaloosa.
The problem has never been talent. It’s been depth.
✨ Don't miss: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
When you play Boise State, you’re playing a team that rotates three deep at defensive line. By the fourth quarter, the Spartans' offensive line is usually gassed. That’s when the sacks start happening. That’s when the fumbles occur.
Survival Guide for the Next Matchup
If these two meet again in a non-conference capacity or a future playoff/bowl scenario, here is what needs to happen for a Spartan victory:
- Stop the Counter Treys: Boise State lives on the counter run. If the SJSU linebackers (like Jordan Pollard) aren't disciplined, the Broncos will rip off 15-yard gains all day.
- Red Zone Efficiency: You cannot, under any circumstances, leave the red zone with zero points. Take the three. Move on.
- The "Blue Turf" Mental Block: SJSU plays better at home, but they have to find a way to win in the "Blue." They are 0-8 all-time in Boise. That's a psychological wall.
Looking Toward the Future
As Boise State prepares for the Pac-12, their roster is shifting. They're becoming more "Power Four" in their builds—bigger linemen, faster edge rushers like Malakai Williams. San Jose State is sticking to their guns, relying on the Run and Shoot to neutralize talent gaps with scheme.
It's a clash of philosophies.
Whether it's a cold night in Boise or a sunny afternoon in San Jose, this game has evolved from a blowout to a legitimate tactical battle. The "Bronco Busters" haven't quite succeeded yet, but the gap is closing.
If you're looking to follow these teams into the next season, keep an eye on the transfer portal. Boise State's move to a higher-tier conference means their recruiting is about to hit overdrive. For San Jose State, the goal is simple: stay consistent.
To keep track of the next time these two face off, you should check the official Mountain West (for SJSU) and Pac-12 (for BSU) schedules as they are released in early spring. You can also monitor the NCAA Transfer Portal to see how the rosters for both teams are being rebuilt for the 2026 campaign.