Western Michigan no match for Boise State in 32-7 CFP statement
Western Michigan was 63 seconds away from being shutout in a high-stakes home game.
No team from the Mid-American Conference has even flirted with a College Football Playoff appearance since the field expanded to 12 teams in 2024.
That seemed destined to change this season. Western Michigan was reveling in the national spotlight, with an undefeated record depending who you ask. With a statement made in the Big House, Western Michigan had the non-conference credentials to throw its name into the College Football Playoff race. All it needed to do was defend Waldo Stadium against another Bronco — fellow CFP contender Boise State.
Boise State, which qualified for the playoff two years ago under head coach Spencer Danielson, showed what a playoff team looked like Saturday. The Broncos in blue left zero doubt on the road, ransacking Kalamazoo in a 32-7 demolition.
If not for Cole Cabana's touchdown with 63 seconds remaining, Western Michigan may have been shut out, despite bringing in a raucous crowd of 29,700 — Waldo Stadium's largest audience since the 2015 opener against Michigan State.
Boise State dominated the trenches in Western Michigan's largest margin of defeat at home since 2021. Star running back Dylan Riley recorded his third-straight 130+ yard game for Boise State, recording 138 rushing yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, the offensive line kept Maddux Madsen upright on all 23 dropbacks, and the third-year starting quarterback completed 16 attempts for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Matt Wagner served as his No. 1 target, hauling in seven receptions for a career-high 94 yards and an early touchdown to initiate the scoring.
Boise State beat Western Michigan at its own game, controlling the ball for roughly 37 minutes of action. Western Michigan didn't have many possessions, which made playing from behind a struggle. The Broncos in brown only managed 223 yards of offense. The star quarterback-running back duo of Broc Lowry and Jalen Buckley was limited to 20 rushing yards on 11 attempts, and the passing game wasn't any more successful.
The third down disparity was significant in Kalamazoo, as Western Michigan finished 2-of-11 while Boise State converted 10-of-14 tries, regularly keeping the Western Michigan defense on the field.
Western Michigan squandered several opportunities to score before the final minute, missing a field goal when it was 8-0 and dropping a touchdown when trailing 15-0 in the early third quarter. Lance Taylor's team also turned it over on downs twice in the third quarter upon reaching Boise State territory.
Boise State (3-1, 0-0 Pac-12) concludes non-conference play with three-straight wins, rebounding well from its heartbreaking loss to Oregon in the opener. With statement wins over American contender Memphis and MAC frontrunner Western Michigan, Boise State has an inside track to the College Football Playoff should it win the reformed Pac-12.
Western Michigan (2-2*, 0-0 MAC) watches its CFP hopes dwindle after failing to seize a tremendous opportunity in Kalamazoo. However, non-conference struggles didn't faze the Broncos in 2025, as they posted a 7-1 record in MAC play and ultimately won the conference. The MAC slate commences next Saturday when Western Michigan looks for a rebound at Buffalo.
