Presented by BACON BOISE.
Wednesday Weekly…November 19, 2025.
One thing I haven’t been able to process yet: how did this season unravel so quickly for Boise State? One month ago, the Broncos waxed UNLV 56-31, rolling up 558 yards of total offense. Since then, they scratched out 309 yards at Nevada, had the historic 193 versus Fresno State and managed only 268 at San Diego State. And there’s this, Boise State has had two straight games scoring in single digits for the first time in 55 years. What is going on? Maybe the fact that they still have a shot at the Mountain West championship game will turn their heads around. And that starts with the coaches. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men have to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. And Humpty should play with a chip on his shoulder.
PREDICTABILITY & UNPREDICTABILITY
San Diego State did as predicted to the Boise State offense in its 17-7 win last Saturday night. The Aztecs stacked the box to stop the run and dared the Broncos to throw. And unpredictably, they just wouldn’t. Through three quarters, Max Cutforth was 5-of-7 for 19 yards, and he threw only one pass in each of the second and third periods. Then when there wasn’t any more corner for Boise State to be backed into, Cutforth was given some pass plays, and he went 7-of-11 for 85 yards in the fourth quarter, with 72 of the yards on the Broncos’ final drive. Just a sliver of that production earlier in the night would have helped.
THE LEAKY BOAT
One of my favorite lines out of the San Diego State game from a Scott Slant reader, talking about the decision to keep a lid on Cutforth’s passing: “If your boat is taking on water, shouldn’t you bail furiously and paddle like crazy? Timidity is not a Boise State trademark.” With that said, Cutforth remains the starting quarterback this week for the Colorado State game. The big news comes at cornerback, where A’Marion McCoy will be missing after it was announced he’ll undergo season-ending surgery for a knee problem that had gotten progressively worse this fall. McCoy, the Broncos’ leader with four interceptions, is a big loss. And as a sixth-year player, that puts an end to his college career. Sophomore Franklyn Johnson Jr. is listed behind McCoy.
THE QUEST FOR MORE THAN SEVEN POINTS
The point spread for Boise State-Colorado State opened at 16.5 points in favor of the Broncos. That means they’d have to score at least 17 points to cover. Cynicism abounds out there, but it’s understandable. Last week’s Boise State offense is not going to score 17 points on anybody. Maybe it can if Cutforth is allowed to throw, maybe it can’t. It’s imperative that the Broncos loosen the reins on Cutforth so they can at least find out. Colorado State has had a season to forget, including the firing of coach Jay Norvell. But the Rams hung 49 points on Fresno State. Chew on that for a moment. What’s at stake to me is a winning season. Boise State is trying to extend the nation’s longest streak of winning seasons to 28 years. That’s a big deal. Suddenly and shockingly, that’s no longer a layup.
PLEASE THINK TWICE…
One thing that worries me going into the Boise State-Colorado State game Saturday is booing. If things don’t go well, it would be profoundly disappointing if the Broncos get booed on Senior Night. Whether or not it’s directed at the coaches, the players will be acutely aware of it—the guys aged 18-23 who spend most of their waking hours either going to class or practicing and watching film. And their families and friends are in the stands hearing it, too. Among the senior leaders being honored before the game is Marco Notarainni. One thing we won’t forget: Notarainni’s tearful press conference after the Broncos’ stunning Hail Mary loss at Colorado State in 2023. That said it all about commitment. You have Matt Lauter and Latrell Caples and Mason Randolph et al—hopefully people don’t forget what Boise has meant to them.
LET’S GIVE THIS DEAL A CHANCE
We know the third prong now to the new Pac-12 media rights package next year. It is not Fox Sports, but USA Network that will join CBS and The CW in broadcasting the conference’s games. USA doesn’t have the sports status of Fox, but it has similar reach. The Pac-12 will spin this as “instead of being fourth-string on ESPN or Fox, we’ll be first-string on USA Network.” Some experts think that’s good positioning—we’ll see how well it works in the long run. No dollar figures have been released yet, but we do know about a fan-friendly part of the deal that you can’t put a price tag on. When the Pac-12 schedule is released in the next couple of months, kickoff times will be established from the get-go. No more waiting until 11 days (or even six days) in advance.
EXPECTING OFFENSE & GETTING DEFENSE
That Boise State was even in the game midway through the first half Tuesday night was remarkable. Wichita State scored the first seven points, and the Broncos started 0-for-7 from three-point range and 2-for-14 overall. The Broncos had all of 10 points at the 10-minute mark of the half. But Boise State took its first lead shortly thereafter and went ahead for good with nine minutes left before the break on a three by Julian Bowie. The advantage grew to 15 points with 12 minutes remaining in the game, but the Broncos would make only two more baskets while the Shockers went on a run down the stretch. Boise State’s defense stood up, holding on for a 62-59 victory. It’s a good win over a team that drained 16 three-pointers its last time out. Wichita State had four threes on Tuesday.
The Broncos got away with a similarly tight 62-58 win on Sunday over Montana State. How often does that happen when you shoot 33 percent from the field? Starting guards Dylan Andrews and R.J. Keene combined to go 1-for-13. Javan Buchanan didn’t have that issue, as he went 5-for-11, including a couple of three-pointers in the victory. Buchanan also pulled down nine rebounds and was 7-for-7 at the free throw line. At least the Broncos had ice in their veins there, as that’s essentially what won the game. Next up is USC next Monday at the Maui Invitational.
PHASE II OF THE MAYORS CUP
The 2025 United Heritage Mayors Cup is a split again this year, as Northwest Nazarene avenged last week’s loss to College of Idaho with a 91-74 victory Tuesday night in Nampa. Easton Reagan had a monster game for NNU, putting up 30 points and pulling down 10 rebounds as the Nighthawks broke open a close game by shooting 60 percent in the second half. On the ol’ gridiron, C of I rallied from a 21-10 deficit last Saturday to beat Southern Oregon 24-21. The Coyotes thus won the Frontier Conference West Division title in the league’s first year of divisional play and earned a bye in the NAIA Playoffs. The Yotes will play in Simplot Stadium on November 29.
POTATO STATE TROPHY
Plenty of storylines as Idaho and Idaho State play for the Potato State Trophy Saturday afternoon in the Kibbie Dome. The Vandals’ hopes of a non-losing season evaporated with a controversial loss in the final seconds at Sacramento State last week. With 12 seconds remaining, a Hornets receiver was clearly out of bounds but was called in-bounds on a catch that set up their winning touchdown. So now Idaho tries to keep ISU from reaching .500 to end the season, which would be a heck of an accomplishment for the Bengals. They’ve won three straight games and are flush with momentum. But Idaho State hasn’t won in Moscow since 1981.
COMEBACK KIDS
The Idaho Steelheads, coming off a three-games-in-three-days stretch against Utah that included a travel day, are on home ice for a three-game set beginning tonight against the Allen Americans. There were encouraging signs last weekend in terms of grit. Last Friday, at Utah the Steelheads trailed the Grizzlies 3-2 in the final minute. Then Mitch Wahl potted the equalizer with 55 seconds remaining. And 54 seconds into overtime Jade Miller scored a shorthanded goal to win it 3-2. On Sunday in Boise, the Steelies were down 3-1 going into the second period before exploding for five unanswered goals and winning 6-3.
This Day In Sports…brought to you by VETERANS PLUMBING…we care about your water!
November 19, 2015, 10 years ago today: Toronto’s Josh Donaldson becomes the first former Boise Hawk to win an MLB Most Valuable Player award. Donaldson, in his first season with the Blue Jays after establishing himself as a force in Oakland, earned the American League honor with 41 home runs and a league-leading 123 runs batted in. He led the Jays to their first postseason appearance since winning the World Series in 1993. Donaldson would go on to play for five other teams in a 13-year career that ended in 2023. He was a Boise Hawk in 2007, batting .346 with nine homers and 35 RBI.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra. He also anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK and one on News/Talk KBOI. His Scott Slant column runs every Wednesday.)
