The 7-2 Aztecs ate humble pie last week in Hawai’i during a stunning 38-6 loss. This week SDSU hosts Boise State in the season’s most anticipated match to decide who is Top of the Mountain.
- WEEK 12: Boise State Broncos vs. San Diego State Aztecs
- WHEN: Saturday, November 15th, 2025, 7:30 PM PST | 10:30 PM EST
- WHERE: Snapdragon Stadium; San Diego, CA (35,000)
- TV: CBS Sports Network (CBSSN)
- STREAM: Mountain West Network (www.themw.com)
- SERIES RECORD: Boise State leads the series 6-4.
- LAST MATCH: Boise State won 56-24 on Nov. 1, 2024 at home.
- ODDS: San Diego State -3
San Diego, CA– The SDSU Aztecs (7-2, 4-1 MW) return to Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley to host the Boise State Broncos (6-3, 4-1 MW) in a smash-mouth battle for dominance of the Mountain West conference during their final season. Next season the Aztecs and Broncos both enter the PAC-12, while leaving other long-time conference mates behind.
The Aztecs and Broncos have both achieved bowl eligibility. Both are tied for first place in the Mountain West. Both also reel from stunning losses. The Aztecs enter the matchup after getting crushed 38-6 in Hawaii by the Rainbow Warriors on Nov. 8. The Broncos had their own biting 30-7 loss to the Fresno State Bulldogs Nov. 1 where fans booed them off their own blue turf. Both teams will be seeking redemption in what will surely be a rumble at Snapdragon.
Now, let’s take a closer look at Boise State.
GET TO KNOW THE 2025 BRONCOS
37-year-old Spencer Danielson became Boise State’s 12th head football coach on December 3rd, 2023. Danielson was a linebacker at University of San Diego in 2008 and then at Azusa Pacific from 2009-2011 where he later began his coaching career. He leaped to Boise State in 2017, working his way upward. Danielson became interim coach after Andy Avalos was fired in 2023. Loyal, and respected at Boise State, he was then promoted to head coach. Danielson has an impressive 21-6 overall record, and has gone 14-1 in the Mountain West, including two conference titles. Danielson is a devout Christian.
Last week, the Broncos had a bye, enabling them to rest up for their Aztec showdown.
In their last game, the Broncos lost to Fresno State 30-7. They trailed 10-7 at halftime and were subsequently shut out in the second half, as QB1 Maddux Madsen was injured and taken out of the game. The Broncos were outgained 224-193 and went 4-15 on third downs, losing the turnover battle by a margin of 3-0 in the game. QB2 Max Cutforth threw 14-29 for 106 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
Malik Sherrod rushed 10 times for 67 yards (6.7 ypc). Chase Penry led receivers with five receptions for 44 (8.8 ypr) yards and one touchdown. Boise State defense recorded zero sacks and five tackles for loss in total. It was Spencer Danielson’s first conference game loss.
Prior to that game, Boise State beat Nevada 24-3 and UNLV 56-31. The Broncos have won three of their last four games.
On Saturday, Madsen will be sidelined with his lower leg injury, and coach Danielson will be looking for Cutforth to start as quarterback and lead the Broncos’ offense at Snapdragon Stadium. Max Cutforth is no slouch, but this circumstance will benefit the Aztecs during a highly critical, strategically significant conference game.
Offensively, Boise State scores 32.1 points per game with 243.1 passing yards and 184.9 rushing yards per game. Cutforth has thrown 20 of 39 for 173 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Lead rusher Dylan Riley has managed 104 carries for 745 yards (7.16 ypc) and 7 touchdowns. Latrell Caples has completed 26 receptions for 351 yards and 3 touchdowns
Defensively, the Broncos allow 24.0 points per game this season. Ty Benefield leads defense with 68 total tackles (47 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss (21 yards), 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble.
Against the Aztecs, the Broncos are considered underdogs by less than a touchdown (+3). It is worth noting that the Broncos have lost nine of their last ten games as underdogs.
THE FIRST PLACE AZTECS
/**/The Aztecs were dealt a humiliating 38-6 loss in Honolulu by Hawai’i (7-3, 4-2), where they were outplayed in all three phases. Prior to it, SDSU had won six straight games.
Against the Rainbow Warriors, QB1 Jayden Denegal led the Aztecs with 132 yards on 10-of-27 passing (37.0%) for no touchdowns and two interceptions. Lucky Sutton rushed for 78 yards on 18 carries (4.3 yards per carry). Donovan Brown led receiving against the Rainbow Warriors, with three completions for 60 yards.
In the immediate weeks before, the Aztecs defeated Wyoming 24-7 and Fresno State 23-0.
“We still have a great team that didn’t perform great tonight,” Aztecs head coach Sean Lewis said after the blowout loss. “Did a poor job leading them. It’s all on me.”
Lewis didn’t deal any excuses: he took ownership for the result.
Offensively, the Aztecs average 26.6 points per game with 176.0 passing yards and 180.0 rushing yards per game. Denegal leads with 1,547 passing yards, eight TDs, and 7 INTs, while Sutton has rushed for 898 yards on 172 carries (5.2 ypc) and 8 rushing TDs. Jordan Napier leads receivers with 47 catches for 631 yards (13.4 ypr) and 2 TDs.
Defensively, the Aztecs continue to lead the MW in scoring defense and total defense. Furthermore, despite last week’s performance, the Aztecs still rank fourth nationally in scoring defense at 13.1 points allowed per game. San Diego State surrenders just 261.8 yards per game, making them sixth in the country.
The Aztecs’ leading defender is Owen Chambliss, who has 49 total tackles (24 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss (3 yards), 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 forced fumbles.
KEYS TO A SAN DIEGO STATE VICTORY
1. Blue Donkey Blitz
Max Cutforth has big shoes to fill with Maddux Madsen sidelined. It will be the Aztecs’ job to stop him from gathering his footing at Snapdragon Stadium. If Aztecs defense brings their brand of elite play, Cutforth could find himself making errors from hurried plays. Aztecs defense will benefit by collapsing the pocket to rattle Cutforth for momentum-shifting picks, fumbles and strips. Last week Cutforth had two interceptions and a fumble, so turnover potential is real.
2. Rhythmic Run and Reception
Jayden Denegal must establish an offensive rhythm with Lucky Sutton, Jordan Napier and the Aztec offense. When an offensive rhythm is set at Snapdragon, the Aztecs play a more fluid game and do great things. With controlled tempo (call it AztecFast if you like) offense plays at optimal performance making it harder for the Broncos to defend. The Aztecs have optimized their rhythm in other games this season, leading to disproportionate gains, alongside defensive dominance.
/**/3. Tailback Torment
QB2 Max Cutforth might lean on the Broncos’ ground game during Saturday’s match to improve ball security against SDSU’s stout defense. It’s no small thing that running back Dylan Riley averages an explosive 7.16 yards per carry. It will be critical for Riley and Malik Sherrod to be contained for limited production by Aztec defense. If they struggle to run, Cutforth will be forced to throw more, which may lead to costly turnovers as we saw in the Fresno State loss.
4. Welcome to Hell
A man of deep faith, Spencer Danielson might feel a tad uncomfortable in a city hotter than Boise. Taking on a devilish team in red and black uniforms, led by a towering, black-bearded coach with pointy eyebrows who some say resembles Lucifer himself, SDSU could psyop Danielson into believing he is in a “hellscape.” Playing songs like Van Halen’s “Running With The Devil,” the Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” and INXS’s “Devil Inside,” while integrating flames into the scoreboards and ribbons could turn up the heat. SDSU’s glyphs even resemble blasphemous idolatry. All of this, topped off by emcee Guy Fieri leading chants in a flame shirt might cause Danielson to ask, “Lord: why have you forsaken me?”
PREDICTION
/**/The Aztecs and Broncos will be looking for redemption in this match. The Broncos had more time to study their foes, however the Aztecs have home field advantage. The Aztecs are undefeated at Snapdragon Stadium this season with several shutouts to boot. If fans show up for the game, it could be a great environment to charge up the Aztecs who have already far surpassed this season’s expectations.
Boise State has won 16 out of its last 17 conference matches, however this week the Broncos have a major vulnerability: a sidelined star quarterback. SDSU will have to exploit this setback as they work to secure a place in the Mountain West Championship game.
The Aztecs will fiercely battle and defeat the visiting Broncos, in a close, low-scoring contest.
FINAL SCORE
San Diego State 20, Boise State 17
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2 Responses
I’m curious if you think the rain will be a factor. If the weather reports are accurate, the field should be pretty sloppy by gametime, and I wonder if it’s going to affect the way the teams attack each other? My memory isn’t great, but I think this is our first rain game at Snapdragon. I wonder how bad the Orange “dirt” lot is going to get for tailgating.
It’s a concern. Looking at how the Aztecs played in Hawai’i during the heavy downpour, one can only hope they will perform far better at Snapdragon. With Madsen being sidelined for Boise State, we have an edge, but if rain causes a loss in our focus and resilience- then anything could happen. I still expect to see the Aztecs victorious, because we’ve been so dominant this season at home.