Boise State turns to two-QB system for Mountain West contest against San Jose State

Redshirt sophomore Taylen Green and redshirt freshman Maddux Madsen will both get reps with Boise State’s first-team offense this week at practice.
Expect to see both quarterbacks on the field Saturday when the Broncos host Mountain West foe San Jose State at 6 p.m. at Albertsons Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
“I love the fact that these two guys are guys that support each other, guys that are going to help each other, and we will find the right mix,” Boise State coach Andy Avalos said during Monday’s news conference. “If we use two quarterbacks, which we plan to in this next game, it wouldn’t be the first time that it’s been done. And to be honest with you, I don’t see a problem with that. It’s what’s best for the team.”
Green — the 2022 Mountain West Freshman of the Year — has started 15 straight games for the Broncos since taking over at QB five games into the 2022 season. But with the Broncos trailing Memphis 28-17 in the fourth quarter Saturday, coaches switched to Madsen at quarterback.
The 5-foot-10, 201-pounder from American Fork, Utah, led the Broncos on a pair of touchdown drives, tossing a 15-yard TD pass to Ashton Jeanty with 8:54 remaining in the game and later finding Jeanty again on a 7-yard touchdown throw with 39 seconds left. Madsen finished the game 11-for-14 passing for 175 yards and two touchdowns, but the Broncos couldn’t come up with a defensive stop in crunch time and lost 35-32.
In four appearances this season, Madsen is 22-for-32 passing for 319 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. His completion percentage stands at 68.75% with a QB rating of 193.74.
Green is 70-for-133 (52.63%) for 938 yards and four touchdowns with four interceptions. He’s also rushed 35 times for 213 yards and two more scores.
“I really don’t think this is a thing about Taylen and his development. I really don’t,” Boise State offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said. “The reality is, Maddux has played well enough to deserve an opportunity.”
Avalos said QB practice reps are usually 80-20 in favor of the starter, but will likely be closer to 50-50 this week at practice as the coaches work to develop a game plan that involves both quarterbacks.
“We’ve known all along we’ve got two capable quarterbacks,” Avalos said. “They both have their positives, they both do things well. And because of that, this week in practice, we will allow both of them to get reps with the first team.”
Against Memphis, Boise State had a planned series for Madsen on the third drive of the first quarter, but the Broncos won’t necessarily make the same sort of plan against San Jose State.
“I certainly think they could play on the same drive,” Hamdan said. “What it exactly looks like, we’re taking these practice days to see exactly, but I probably don’t necessarily see it as a, ‘Hey, this guy’s going this drive, that guy’s going that drive.’ They’ll both have to be ready at all times.”
SAN JOSE STATE AT BOISE STATE
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Albertsons Stadium (36,387, FieldTurf), Boise
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State 2-3, 1-0 MW; San Jose State 1-4, 0-1 MW
Series: Boise State leads the series 14-1, but their last meeting was a 34-20 SJSU win in the 2020 Mountain West championship game.
Vegas line: Boise State by 9.5
Weather: High of 77 degrees, 2% chance of rain, 6 mph wind