BOISE, Idaho – – Ashton Jeanty rushed for 226 yards and a touchdown, Maddux Madsen threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one, and No. 11 Boise State defeated Oregon State 34-18 on Friday.

Jeanty’s performance moved him to fifth among FBS all-time single-season leaders, leaving him 54 yards behind Marcus Allen in fourth place. Jeanty follows record holder Barry Sanders, who rushed for 2,628 yards in 1988, with 340 yards with at least two more games guaranteed.

Boise State (11-1, No. 11 CFP) remains the top-ranked conference leader among the Group of Five teams vying for the automatic bid in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. The Broncos suffered their only loss in September at No. 1 Oregon 37-34.

“We are proud of what we accomplished this season, but we are not done yet,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “We have never won back-to-back Mountain West championships, and that and the rest of our goals are still ahead of us.”

The Broncos will host either Colorado State or UNLV in the Mountain West championship game on Friday, with a bid to the playoffs on the line.

“We took a step this week as a program, but next week we have to take a big step,” Danielson said.

Oregon State (5-7) ends its first season after the mass exodus from the Pac-12 ineligible for a bowl game.

“Obviously this season isn’t how we wanted it to go, but it’s a springboard for the future,” said Oregon State cornerback Skyler Thomas, the team’s leading tackler this season. “I definitely plan to come back.”

Boise State built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on an 11-yard pass to Austin Bolt from Madsen and a 7-yard TD run by Jeanty.

The Broncos were about to extend their lead late in the second quarter when Jeanty broke through the Oregon State line and headed for the end zone when Skyler Thomas knocked the ball loose and the Beavers recovered at the 8. It was only the second lost fumble. of Jeanty’s career.

Two plays later, Anthony Hankerson ripped off an 83-yard TD run to cut the deficit in half with 1:48 remaining in the half.

But Boise State responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive, scoring on a 6-yard pass from Madsen to Latrell Caples with 20 seconds left to take a 21-7 lead into halftime.

Oregon State squandered Boise State’s lead to pull within 27-18 early in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t stop a determined Broncos attack late when the Beavers needed a stop.

Madsen was 17 of 33 passing for 195 yards for Boise State, while Ben Gulbranson threw for 226 yards and a touchdown for Oregon State. Hankerson led the Beavers’ rushing attack with 110 yards.

Takeaways

Oregon State: The Beavers, who lost 25 players to the transfer portal a year ago, will enter 2025 in the limbo of the conference as they await the Pac-12’s reorganization in the 2026 season. And that means first-year coach priority Trent Bray’s offseason will be keeping his key players and strengthening his squad.

Boise State: It may seem like nitpicking after an 11-1 season, but the Broncos remain vulnerable in one respect when it comes to explosive defensive play. With the defense carrying the team as the offense sputtered, Boise State entered the game in the bottom third of FBS teams, giving up another six plays for 20 yards to Oregon State. It will have to do better against much better competition ahead.

Next

Oregon State’s 2024 regular season is complete and will host California on August 30 to open the 2025 season.

Boise State will play either Colorado State or UNLV at home on Friday in the Mountain West Conference championship game.

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