The case for Maddux Madsen: Boise State QB rewards Broncos’ confidence with stellar play

BOISE — About two and a half months ago, Boise State football coach Spencer Danielson sat on a video call with reporters and announced redshirt sophomore Maddux Madsen would be the Broncos’ starter heading into the season.

Madsen was chosen over former five-star recruit Malachi Nelson, who transferred to Boise State from USC last spring after a difficult freshman season with the Trojans.

Many fans thought redshirt freshman Nelson would be the no-brainer decision to lead the Broncos into the 2024 season. But not Danielson or the rest of the Boise State coaching staff.

“Maddux gives us the best opportunity to win game one, and so that’s what we have to do,” Danielson told reporters at the time.

Madsen certainly did provide Boise State with a win in game one — 56-45 over Georgia Southern — but he’s provided a bunch more wins since then, too.

The former three-star recruit from American Fork, Utah, who had just one other college offer — from New Mexico State — has won two quarterback battles in the past year: against Nelson this season and in 2023 against former Broncos quarterback Taylen Green, who’s starting for Arkansas in the SEC.

Now, Madsen has guided Boise State to a 7-1 start and has the Broncos in the hunt for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Through eight games, Madsen has gone 144-for-225 (64%) for 1,789 yards and 17 passing touchdowns. His passing efficiency ranks 21st in the nation (153.9) and is second in the Mountain West behind UNLV’s Hajj-Malik Williams — a quarterback he went toe-to-toe with in the Broncos’ 29-24 win in October in Las Vegas. Madsen has thrown just two interceptions all season, with the last one against Washington State in late September.

And most recently, in the 56-24 victory over San Diego State, he posted career highs in completions (22), yards (307) and touchdowns (four). He also has rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns, with 83 of those yards coming in the past two games.

“I didn’t know we had a dual-threat quarterback until last weekend,” Danielson said Monday with a laugh. “I found that out. That’s something I learned about our team.”

It’s been quite a start for a player friends and teammates call “Mad Dog.” But what’s making Madsen so effective in this offense?

Of course, all the attention afforded to junior running back Ashton Jeanty is helping open receivers for Madsen to find.

UNLV and San Diego State stacked defenders near the line of scrimmage in an attempt to stop Jeanty — in return, Madsen posted 209-yard and 307-yard games, respectively.

“You’ve really got to show your hand early on in how you’re going to stop our run game attack,” Danielson said. “And when defenses do that, we’re going to be on the attack, too. There’s answers that we have.”

But it’s not just the fact that Jeanty is garnering so much attention from opposing teams that is making Madsen look good — he’s playing at a high level, too.

Madsen ranks 17th in ESPN’s Total QBR stat. Danielson says what makes Madsen succeed isn’t just his technical skills — his ability to avoid a sack or make the right pass — but his mentality.

“He’s a winner,” offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said when asked about Madsen’s mentality. “He’s a very sharp kid. He can retain information, and he can take it to the field. And he’s also just a natural leader. He’s not the most outspoken guy, but he leads by example, and he leads by his work ethic.”

Madsen is, naturally, enjoying being the Broncos’ starter, too. Following the victory over UNLV, Madsen said the motivation of not being allowed to lose a game the rest of the season because of Boise State’s College Football Playoff hopes is pushing him and the rest of the team.

“We’re doing stuff that Boise State hasn’t done in the last few years,” Madsen said. “And then, obviously, with the potential to do something we’ve never done.”