3 biggest questions facing Boise State football this spring

Boise State has completed the first week of spring practice ahead of its highly anticipated move from the Mountain West to the Pac-12.

The Broncos, who are set to open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at Oregon, will hold their annual spring game on Saturday, April 25.

Here are three major questions facing the Broncos during spring practice.

1. How will the pieces fit in Boise State’s secondary?

Boise State is essentially starting from scratch in the secondary with four new starters and a first-year coach in Terrence Brown, who will tutor the cornerbacks and safeties along with his co-defensive coordinator role.

Brown spent the past four years coaching at Cal.

“Terrence Brown was a huge hire for us,” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said at the beginning of spring practice. “I think the world of Terrence. Play-caller at Cal last year, I’ve known him for a long time. Phenomenal defensive coach but an elite technician in regard to defensive backs.”

Senior Jaden Mickey, who started at nickelback last year, will be one of Brown’s five starters at nickel or cornerback. Fellow returnee Sherrod Smith is likely to earn a starting role at corner while Demetrius Freeney, Franklyn Johnson Jr. and transfer JeRico Washington Jr. are all in the mix to start.

The safety competition also remains wide-open with returnee Derek Ganter Jr. and transfers Kyle Hall and Roman Tillmon all showing plenty of promise.

Boise State should exit spring practice with a clearer picture of its secondary depth chart.

2. Who will emerge at wide receiver?

Boise State’s top four pass-catchers from last season and wide receivers coach Matt Miller have all moved on, leaving plenty of questions in the receiver room entering quarterback Maddux Madsen’s third year as the full-time starter.

Madsen said he is excited to build chemistry with the new group.

“That’s the best part about spring ball … to get on the same wavelength,” Madsen said. “It really just comes with reps.”

New receivers coach Alvis Whitted inherits a group featuring potential breakout candidates Cam Bates, Quinton Brown and Qumonte Williams Jr. The Broncos also landed a pair of transfer portal receivers in Darren Morris and Akeem Wright, and true freshman Rasean Jones has flashed plenty of playmaking ability early in spring practice.

With several exciting pieces, the Broncos hope to take a big step forward with their passing game in 2026.

3. How does Boise State improve its big-game performance?

The Broncos have done plenty of winning over the last three seasons, capturing three straight Mountain West titles as they prepare to enter the Pac-12 this summer.

Despite the success, Boise State has failed to come through in matchups with Power Four opponents.

The Broncos are 0-10 in games against Power Four competition dating back to 2019. Five of the defeats have come under Danielson, including a 38-10 loss to Washington in last year’s LA Bowl.

An opening-week matchup with Oregon provides plenty of motivation for the Broncos during spring practice.

“We can’t be losing those big-time games,” sophomore running back Sire Gaines said last week. “It’s easy to play against Eastern Washington, but how are you going to play against Oregon? It’s them big-time games that matter that we’ve got to come up (big) in, that we’ve got to finish. That’s what this program has been up to, winning the big-time games, being the underdog and coming out on top. That’s something we’ve got to bring back.”