Boise State Broncos
· 2026-07-03
Boise State Broncos are looking to bounce back from a season plagued by injuries, with 11 of their 22 primary starters missing at least one game due to injury.
The Broncos' injury luck was among the worst in the nation, with ESPN's Bill Connelly ranking them 121st in lineup consistency.
Boise State's starting quarterback Maddux Madsen missed nearly all of four games due to injury, and the team went 2-2 in that stretch.
The injuries impacted the team's performance, and with average health luck, they could have had an 11-3 season instead of 9-5.
Ben Ford, the team's highest graded receiver, missed 7 games with a season-ending injury.
To improve health, the Broncos need a deeper rotation, particularly on defense, where they had only 17 players play at least 200 snaps.
Notre Dame, in contrast, had 22 players play at least 200 snaps on defense, despite playing two fewer games.
The lack of rotation was particularly evident in the secondary, where Zion Washington, Jaden Mickey, and Ty Benefield regularly played 90%+ of the team's snaps.
The Broncos' next game is vs Oregon Ducks on 2026-09-05, and they will need to stay healthy to compete.
Boise State's star tight end Matt Lauter missed the Notre Dame game with an injury and didn't look as explosive after returning.
The team's starting nickel Jaden Mickey also missed the game against his former team.
A deeper rotation should lead to better health, but it's a trade-off, as taking the best players off the field to rest means they're not playing.
The fact is, no one likes to discuss injuries, but they can make or break a season.
Often, it's not the best team that wins championships, but the healthiest teams.
Boise State managed to win a third consecutive conference championship despite the injuries, but to get back to the CFP, they need a better run with health in 2026.
Nathan Carroll, a part-time contributor for Bronco Nation News, notes that the Broncos will need to stay healthy to compete.
The team's depth will be tested, and they will need to rely on their backups to step up.
The Broncos' health issues were a major concern last season, and they will need to address them to succeed.
The team's coaching staff will need to find a way to keep their players healthy, or they will struggle to compete.
The Broncos' fans are hoping for a healthier season, and the team is working to make that happen.