46-45: Boise State's 25-Point Meltdown Ends in a One-Point Victory
Max Cutforth threw three late touchdowns after starter Maddux Madsen was injured, securing a win for the ranked Broncos in a chaotic fourth quarter.
By Alexei Brooks ·
Boise State’s 25-point halftime cushion evaporated completely in the second half, forcing the No. 20 Broncos to win by a single point against Texas State on Saturday night. The final score was 46-45, a result that capped a wild finish where the Bobcats scored the first 36 points of the second period.
The deficit peaked at 39-28 with 8:58 remaining in the game. Jayden Bradley returned an interception from starter Maddux Madsen for a touchdown, giving Texas State its best chance of the evening. Boise State coach Spencer Danielson described the third quarter as one of the worst performances he has witnessed, noting that his team was down by 11 points and a starting quarterback by the fourth quarter.
Madsen left the field after sustaining a hard hit near his left knee. He watched the remainder of the contest on crutches from the sideline. Danielson indicated that Madsen’s status remains unknown, as training staff continued to evaluate him. The backup, Max Cutforth, stepped in during a critical stretch of the game.
Momentum shifted when Boise State’s Mana Tuioti intercepted a trick play pass and returned it to the Texas State 11-yard line. This pick-six narrowed the gap and set up the closing drive. Cutforth threw for 131 yards on 8-of-13 passing in the final minutes. He found Akeem Wright for an 18-yard touchdown with 2:40 left, putting Boise State ahead for the final time.
Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, driving the Bobcats close to an upset. Despite the strong performance, the team failed to close out the game. The Bobcats, who are 4-4 overall, have never defeated a ranked opponent in 13 attempts since joining the FBS in 2012.
The result keeps Boise State in contention for the playoff spot reserved for the highest-ranked Group of Six teams. The Broncos will face Colorado State on Saturday, while Texas State travels to Oregon State. Both teams aim to stabilize their play following a game that featured three lead changes in the final five minutes.
