TL;DR
- San Diego State hosts Boise State Friday for first place in Mountain West, both 4-1 in conference.
- San Diego State boasts a top-ranked defense but struggles offensively, especially on third downs.
- Boise State faces key absences, including QB Maddux Madsen, and has a weak red zone defense.
- Weather is expected to be heavy rain, potentially impacting the game significantly.
The battle for first place in the Mountain West will occur Friday night as San Diego State welcomes Boise State for a crucial game between two teams tied at 4-1 in conference play.
Seeking to recover from an unusual 38-6 defeat against Hawaii, San Diego State (7-2) is back on their home turf. The Aztecs continue to rely heavily on their defense, which is among the nation's best, holding the sixth spot in total defense (262.9 yards per game) and fourth in scoring defense (13.1 points).
SDSU's ability to contain Boise State’s balanced attack will be central, especially with the Aztecs struggling offensively and converting just 31.9% of their third downs, which ranks 127th nationally.
Following a bye week, Boise State (6-3) is looking to rebound from an unexpected 30-7 home defeat against Fresno State. The Broncos will face challenges due to several key absences, including quarterback Maddux Madsen, top receiver Chris Marshall, and left guard Jason Steele. Redshirt sophomore Max Cutforth, who began his college career as a walk-on, is set to make his debut as a starter. Despite averaging 428.0 yards per contest, Boise State's red zone defense has been a weakness, placing them 119th in the country.
San Diego State’s efficiency inside the 20 could be decisive. The Aztecs score on 88.9% of their red zone trips, while Boise State allows scores on 90.6% of opponent opportunities.
Southern California might see more complications due to the weather, as an atmospheric river is expected to bring heavy rain. Boise State's coach, Spencer Danielson, stated that his priority is getting ready for “an absolute slugfest” when facing an SDSU squad that hasn't lost at home.
Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
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