For years, the Boise State offense has had a clear identity: hand the ball to Heisman finalist running back Ashton Jeanty, and let the magic happen. But with Jeanty now wearing silver and black after being selected sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s officially the “Maddux Madsen Show” on “The Blue Turf.”
While Broncos fans might be nervous for their first season without Jeanty, our analysts at CSN believe it might be exactly what Boise needs.
QB Maddux Madsen Could Be Boise State’s Ticket to the 2025 College Football Playoff
2024-25 Heisman finalist and former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty’s loss to the NFL creates an enormous void in the Broncos’ offense, where he ran for more than 2,600 yards and 29 total scores in 2024. Despite this, Boise State is not bereft of weaponry.
They have a young star in QB Maddux Madsen, an offensive orchestrator eager to flourish in the system around him. And with that, a returning nucleus that’s hungry to make another push at the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. If fans are searching for a Group of Five quarterback to believe in, it’s Madsen.
Let’s go back in time for a moment. Going into the 2024 season, Madsen wasn’t even sure if he would be the starter. He had flashes in limited work as a true freshman in 2023, but it didn’t happen until the team’s Fall 2024 camp that he really became the top dog. And after he received the starting job? He never relinquished it.
100 days ⏳#BleedBlue | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/2efCf5L0Db
— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) May 20, 2025
During his redshirt freshman season, Madsen played in all 14 games, contributing to Boise State’s back-to-back Mountain West championships. He also made an appearance in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl. In doing so, he passed for 3,018 yards, 23 touchdowns, and a mere six total turnovers over nearly 450 dropbacks.
That is not merely good; it’s almost elite, particularly for a first-year starter. His efforts also helped him earn Honorable Mention All-Mountain West. It’s clear that he has a lot to achieve even after a successful 2024 campaign.
What Makes Madsen Effective as Boise State’s QB?
Some quarterbacks put up stats because the system simplifies things for them. And then there are QBs like Madsen, guys who elevate the entire offense through their decision-making, mobility, and football IQ.
He’s intelligent when under pressure and makes as few mistakes as possible. When blitzed, he threw 13 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Madsen enjoys play-action, which he does his best on fake handoffs and darts. On play-action passes, he completed 90 of his 141 attempts for 1,299 yards and 11 TDs, only throwing two picks in these situations.
Madsen may not be a traditional dual-threat, but his athleticism can be sneaky at times. He can scramble, make plays out of structure, and gain first downs when things don’t go as planned.
One of the most anticipated developments for Boise State supporters in 2025 is the addition of new offensive coordinator Zak Hill. Hill, who replaced departed OC Bush Hamdan (now at Kentucky), specializes in innovative, QB-based offenses that focus on tempo, misdirection, and deep shots.
With Jeanty now in the NFL, Boise State no longer possesses one player who requires 25 touches per game. That allows Boise to open up its attack to a more quarterback-spread, more spread-out attack, and Madsen is in the right position to execute it.
This doesn’t translate to the Broncos avoiding the run game at all. They have a full rotation of backs in Sire Gaines, Jambres Dubar, and Malik Sherrod, each of whom can absorb 10 to 15 touches per game. But don’t be confused: this offense is now carried on Madsen’s back, which is what he’ll look to succeed with going into next season.
Madsen isn’t walking into 2025 empty-handed. The Broncos return four of five starting offensive linemen, a luxury in today’s transfer-happy world. That continuity up front will give Madsen the time he needs to scan the field and make reads.
MORE: 2025 Mountain West Power Rankings: Does Boise State Stand Alone Atop the Conference?
The receiving corps also returns the key contributors, such as breakout hopeful Latrell Caples and two tight ends who can stretch the seam and block like bulldozers.
And the defense looks to be more retooled than ever. With seven starters returning, Boise State doesn’t require Madsen to have the offense score 50 points every week. He simply must remain consistent, make defenses respect him, and come through when it matters.
In the revised 12-team CFP system, the top-ranked Group of Five champion is automatically in. Boise State already demonstrated in 2024 that they can win the Mountain West and play nationally.
Now, they’ve got a second-year quarterback who’s battle-tested, an offense constructed around him, and a coaching staff that believes he’s got it.
If Madsen goes to the next level in 2025, there’s no reason this team can’t dominate against their opponents, win the Mountain West again, and crash the CFP party.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
