Presented by PINNACLE WINDOWS & DOORS and BOISE PREMIER BLINDS.
Thursday Special: July 23, 2026.
For decades, it has felt like football season starts when conference Media Days are held. Since the Pac-12 skipped the event, a number of schools have held their own. Wednesday was Boise State’s turn, and it’s game-on for 2026. The Broncos’ five losses last year were equal parts offense, defense and special teams. Defensive coordinator Eric Chinander laid it all out on his side of the ball. “We were good on first down and second down, and bad on explosive plays,” said Chinander. “We were also not a good tackling team.” That latter issue was a priority in the spring and will continue to be through fall camp.
For his part, star edge Jayden Virgin-Morgan acknowledged that he had an eye on his numbers early last season after a 2024 campaign that saw him log 10 sacks. As the year went on, Virgin-Morgan dealt with double-teams and ignored the noise, ending with a respectable six sacks and earning another Mountain West championship ring. Now, he says, he’s all about “staying consistent no matter what the statistics are.”
THE MOST ANTICIPATED POSITION GROUP
On offense, it’s about Maddux Madsen taking the next step, with the help of the guys he’s throwing the ball to. Madsen is most excited about the new-look wide receivers room going into the season. And offensive coordinator Nate Potter echoed that. Potter called the wideouts position the one with the most depth on offense—and the “hungriest group.” He’s seen it for months, especially among two true freshmen. “That has been a bright spot since January,” he said. Potter on Rasean Jones” “He proved in the spring the moment wasn’t too big for him. Potter on Terrious Favors: “He’s shown that he can take a three-yard play and make it a 60-yard touchdown. Favors is considered the fastest player on the team—even by veteran Cam Bates.
MADSEN’S LAST GO-ROUND
Madsen was kicked-back and relaxed during his sessions on Wednesday. He knows exactly what he needs to do to put the downside of 2025 behind him—a higher completion percentage and better use of his running ability. But two things he told Prater & The Ballgame on those subjects were interesting. Madsen doesn’t want to improve his accuracy number by dumping off easy throws in the backfield, and his legs ceased to be a major weapon last season because he was injured in the second game against Eastern Washington in September. He’s fully healthy now. Madsen’s bottom line this year: “I don’t want to have any regrets.”
FORD IS FINDING HIS WAY BACK
One of the prime subjects at Media Day was the timeline for wide receiver Ben Ford’s return. Ford tore his ACL in the win over UNLV last October, but he didn’t specify a target date to be back. While he says he’s working to return as soon as he can, he’s “takin’ it day-by-day.” Coach Spencer Danielson talked about what he hopes will happen with Ford. “The hope is to have Ben back in time for the opening of fall camp,” Danielson said. “I know it’s going to be close.” Ford said he had a good idea his season was over when it happened last fall. “I never considered not making it back,” he added. The Broncos wide receivers room, with little margin for error, was not the same without Ford, who left with 21 catches for 325 yards and five touchdowns.
THE TALK OF THE TOWN
The most talked about Boise State player Wednesday was left tackle Tyler Ethridge, the transfer from Division II CSU Pueblo. We heard about him constantly. Coach Spencer Danielson called Ethridge “one of the best players on the entire team.” Offensive coordinator Nate Potter said he “has a chance to be a huge impact on this team and be one of the best left tackles we’ve ever had here.” Edge Max Stege, who plays opposite Ethridge in practice, said it’s all about his athleticism for his size. “His 10-yard splits are insane,” said Stege. (Those are the first 10 yards of a 40-yard dash.) To recap, Ethridge is a 6-3, 308-pounder who became a second-team Preseason All Pac-12 pick by Phil Steele. And he’s now obviously one of Boise State’s great gets this year out of the transfer portal.
GRAND FINALE ON FRIDAY
Friday marks the traditional end of Boise State summer conditioning with “Big Decks” at Albertsons Stadium, the final running of the upper deck (up and down, over and over). Danielson said Wednesday the Broncos are slated to do 20 reps—and it could be more, weather and smoke permitting. Every healthy player has to do it, from 140-pound wide receiver Jeremyah Lane to 327-pound offensive lineman Ashton Kershner. It’s the stuff of summer legend, dating back to beloved strength and conditioning coach Jeff Pitman in the 1990s.
This Day In Sports…brought to you by POOL SCOUTS…perfect pools, scout’s honor!
July 23, 2012: After almost 12 seasons as the face of the Seattle Mariners franchise, Ichiro Suzuki is traded to the New York Yankees at the age of 38. It happened as the Yankees were coming into Seattle to start a three-game series, and Ichiro suited up in pinstripes that night, one day after unknowingly wearing a Mariners uniform at Safeco Field for the final time. Ichiro, who joined the M’s in 2001 after nine years as a superstar in Japan, holds the major league record for hits in a season with 262 in 2004. He’s also the only big leaguer to record 200 hits in 10 consecutive seasons. Ichiro would finish his career back with Seattle in 2019.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra and anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK. He also served as color commentator on KTVB’s telecasts of Boise State football for 14 seasons.)
