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Game recap, analysis: Boise State suffers 28-7 loss to No. 21 Notre Dame

Maddux Madsen throws four interceptions in defeat 
Bob Lundeberg|
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love. | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

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Boise State hung tough with No. 21 Notre Dame before ultimately succumbing, 28-7, on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.

The Irish (3-2) picked off Boise State (3-2) quarterback Maddux Madsen four times in the win and limited the Broncos to 100 yards rushing on 34 carries. 

Boise State resumes Mountain West Conference play next week with a home matchup against New Mexico. 

Read our game recap, with in-game analysis and big play highlights from start to finish.

FINAL STATS

After throwing for a career-high 321 yards last week, Madsen finished 22 of 37 passing for 215 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions. Madsen did score Boise State’s lone TD on the ground.

Notre Dame freshman quarterback CJ Carr completed 15 of 23 passes for 189 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Jeremiyah Love had 16 carries for 103 yards and a TD. 

Fourth quarter recap 

FINAL: Notre Dame 28, Boise State 7.

Madsen throws fourth pick: It’s a day to forget for Madsen, who tosses another one. Notre Dame can run out the clock in this one. 

Notre Dame punt: Broncos, trailing by three touchdowns, force a punt and have the ball at their own 33 with 3:56 to go. 

BSU turnover on downs: Madsen has nowhere to go with the ball on fourth-and-10 and is nearly picked on a desperation throw. Tremendous performance today by the Notre Dame defense. Irish take over with 4:26 remaining, leading 28-7. 

Madsen struggles: Former Boise State great and NFLer Quintin Mikell weighs in on Madsen. For as good as he was last week, Madsen has struggled mightily in this one. 

Touchdown Irish: Jadarian Price breaks four tackles en route to the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown. That was the dagger. Notre Dame 28, Boise State 7, 7:54 left in this one. 

BSU turnover on downs: On fourth-and-two from the Notre Dame 48, Madsen’s pass is batted away. After throwing for a career-high 321 yards last week, Madsen has really struggled against the Irish. Notre Dame, leading 21-7, takes over near midfield with 8:37 remaining. 

BSU bailed out: Madsen tosses his third pick of the day, but Notre Dame is called for a questionable roughing the passer call. Irish head coach Marcus Freeman cannot believe it. Boise State has a first down at its own 44. 

Big penalty: Marshall hauls in a nice gain to the Notre Dame 31, but he is called for a questionable offensive pass interference penalty. Huge, huge call goes against Boise State. 

Notre Dame punt: The BSU defense holds on third-and-long and forces a punt. Broncos, trailing by two touchdowns, take over at the 20 following a touchback. 

Third quarter recap

End of quarter: Notre Dame 21, Boise State 7. Irish have committed two penalties on this drive and will have a third-and-25 when play resumes. 

Madsen picked again: Madsen throws it right to Leonard Moore for his second pick of the day. Caples is called for unnecessary roughness for flinging Moore to the ground. Notre Dame is just a much, much better team in all phases. Irish take over at the Notre Dame 48, leading 21-7. 

BSU driving: Luke Voorhees hauls in a really poor pass from Madsen for a seven-yard gain and a first down near midfield. The play is under review, but it looks like a clear catch. 

Touchdown Irish: Malachi Fields hauls in a six-yard touchdown catch on a fade route to cap an impressive 10-play, 79-yard drive. Notre Dame is in complete control, up 21-7 with 5:49 remaining. The Boise State offense needs to answer on this drive.  

Call overturned: The touchdown is overturned. Notre Dame accepts the pass interference call. 

Touchdown Irish: Malachi Fields has a 21-yard touchdown catch for now. It’s almost certainly going to be overturned, but Notre Dame will have a first-and-goal from the 6 due to a pass interference call on the play. 

BSU punt: The drive stalls when Madsen is sacked on second down. A rare poor Doyle punt leaves Notre Dame with the ball at its own 21. 

Broncos marching: Ben Ford catches a third-down pass out to the Notre Dame 47. Good start to the half for BSU. 

Underway: Boise State, trailing 14-7, begins the second half at its own 25. 

Halftime recap

Notre Dame stats: Carr is 10 of 16 passing for 134 yards with a touchdown. Love has 13 carries for 89 yards and one TD. 

BSU stats: Broncos have been doubled up in total yardage, 251-125. Madsen is 6 of 13 passing for 70 yards with a rushing touchdown and the interception. Broncos have just 17 carries for 55 yards as a team. 

Second quarter recap

Halftime: Notre Dame 14, Boise State 7. Broncos will get the ball to open the second half. 

BSU interception: On the next play, Madsen throws it right to Tae Johnson for an easy interception. Horrible high miss by Madsen. 

BSU driving: Madsen is roughed after a scramble, setting Boise State up with a first down at the Notre Dame 31. Broncos could really use a field goal to end the half. 

Score update: Notre Dame converts the two-point conversion to take a 14-7 lead with 48 seconds remaining in the half. 

Touchdown Irish: A Banks hold penalty sets Notre Dame up with a first-and-goal from the 4, and the Irish regain the lead on a Love TD run. Max Stege was injured on the play and is being attended to PAT coming up after the break. 

Another miss: Carr misses a second open receiver for a touchdown. This one was a tougher throw, but it’s a completion he expects to make. We’re at the two-minute timeout, and Notre Dame will have a third-and-five from the BSU 23 when play resumes. 

Touchdown Broncos: Madsen runs it in on a bootleg from one yard out to complete a 10-play, 72-yard drive. PAT is good. Boise State 7, Notre Dame 6, 4:03 remaining in the half. 

Broncos driving: Madsen finds Marshall for a 28-yard gain to the Notre Dame 20, and the Irish are also called for a late hit. Broncos have a first-and-goal from the 10. 

Broncos RB update: Sire Gaines has received the most work with six carries for 20 yards. Dylan Riley and Malik Sherrod with one carry apiece. Broncos have just 24 rushing yards on 12 carries with a third-and-long upcoming. 

Fourth-down stop: Notre Dame goes for it on fourth-and-eight from the 28 and Carr misses a wide-open receiver at the goal line. It feels like BSU is being dominated, but the score remains 6-0. 

CJ Carr magic: The freshman quarterback fakes out the cameraman and the BSU defense, ripping off a 28-yard run. Broncos are really, really struggling to hang in this one. 

BSU punt: Broncos quickly go three-and-out as Caples can’t haul in a third-down pass from Madsen. It was a poor throw and probably wouldn’t have gone for a first down. Notre Dame, leading 6-0, gets the ball back at its own 42. 

Irish three-and-out: The BSU defense forces its first punt of the day — and Notre Dame’s first punt game number two — to get the ball back. Broncos take over at their own 15. 

First quarter recap

End of quarter: Notre Dame 6, Boise State 0. 

BSU punt: Another holding call kills a promising drive for the Broncos. Jordan Faison returns the punt 23 yards to the Notre Dame 42. Irish are in total control here, up 6-0 with 3 seconds remaining in the quarter. 

Broncos driving: BSU picks up two first downs and is near midfield. Madsen almost threw a pick-six, but Chris Marshall saved it and got a new set of downs. 

Touchdown Irish: Will Pauling hauls in a 19-yard touchdown reception over Banks. Notre Dame 6, Boise State 0, 4:47 left in the opening quarter after Broncos block the PAT. 

Love down: Notre Dame star back Jeremiyah Love is down after a seven-yard gain. Love ripped off a 36-yard run earlier in the drive. Love is able to walk off under his own power. 

BSU punt: A sloppy, disjointed opening possession ends on another booming Oscar Doyle. Notre Dame will begin at its own 31, still no score in South Bend. 

BSU penalties: Zach Holmes, who is starting at center on BSU’s retooled offensive line, has committed two penalties so far. 

BSU injury update: Starting right guard Roger Carreon is not out there. He suffered an injury late in last week’s game. 

Backed up: After a false start penalty, BSU is backed up to its own 1. This is going to be tough against a strong defensive front. 

Fourth-down stand: On fourth-and-goal from the 2, Notre Dame opts to go for it and the Broncos stuff Jeremiyah Love short of the goal line. Zion Washington had first contact in the backfield. Huge, huge stand for the BSU defense. 

Tackle for loss: Davon Banks, starting at nickel in place of the injured Jaden Mickey, blows up a first-down play. Really good sign for the Broncos. Banks had a tough start to the season at South Florida.

Underway: Notre Dame will begin at its own 25. 

BSU support: NBC play-by-play announcer Dan Hicks commented on the number of Boise State fans in the crowd. They are loud before kickoff. 

Coin toss: For the first time all season, Boise State wins the coin toss. Broncos defer and will kick off to open the game. 

Pregame recap

Irish Wear Green: Notre Dame is wearing its famed green uniforms today. The Irish are 7-1 in the green jerseys since 2010. 

Weather: It’s a warm day in South Bend. Sunny and 86 degrees as kickoff looms. 

More injuries: Mickey’s scratch isn’t surprising, but the Broncos will also be without starting tight end Matt Lauter and defensive tackle David Latu. The Lauter loss is huge for the Broncos.

Injury update: According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Boise State nickelback Jaden Mickey will not play today. Mickey, who transferred to Boise State from Notre Dame during the offseason, suffered a concussion in last week’s win over Appalachian State. 

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Bob Lundeberg
BOB LUNDEBERG

Bob Lundeberg is a reporter for Boise State Broncos On SI. An Oregon State graduate, Bob has lived in Idaho since 2019 and is an avid hiker and golfer.

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