BOISE (Interstat) — Boise State used a dominant second half and a punishing rushing attack to defeat Memphis 38-20 on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Maddux Madsen threw for one touchdown and ran for another, while Dylan Riley rushed for 206 yards to help the Broncos secure an early-season Group of Six victory. The game was an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision contest. Memphis fell to 2-1 on the season, while Boise State improved to 1-1.

Memphis opened with 13 points in the first quarter, but Boise State answered with 14 in the opening period. The Broncos then added 14 more in the second quarter to take a 28-13 lead into halftime. Boise State continued to control the game after the break, scoring seven points in the third quarter. Memphis found the end zone for seven points in the fourth quarter, and Boise State added a fourth-quarter field goal to close the scoring.

The first quarter included a 39-yard field goal by Boise State’s Canaan Moore. Memphis later had a 20-yard field goal attempt blocked by Boise State safety Boen Phelps. Those special-teams plays helped set the tone before the Broncos’ offense took over. Moore, a kicker from Vancouver, Washington, was among the Broncos’ key contributors. Phelps, a safety from Rockford, Washington, made the block that kept Memphis from adding points early.

Madsen, a quarterback from American Fork, Utah, delivered through the air and on the ground. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound passer threw for one touchdown and ran for another, guiding an offense that pulled away after halftime. Riley, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back from Moreno Valley, California, carried the load with 206 rushing yards. His production helped Boise State wear down Memphis and control the clock in the second half.

Boise State also received contributions from a deep group of skill players and defenders. Running backs Sire Gaines, Juelz Goff, Rasean Jones and Harry Stewart III were part of the Broncos’ backfield rotation. Wide receiver Cam Bates, tight ends Matt Wagner and Austin Terry, and athletes Akeem Wright and Qumonte Williams Jr. were listed among the team’s key performers. Jeremyah Lane and the Boise State team unit were included among the Broncos’ key performers. Defensive end Jayden Virgin-Morgan, linebacker Logan Brantley, safety Travis Anderson, punter Oscar Doyle and kicker Canaan Moore also played important roles. Defensive end Jayden Virgin-Morgan, a 6-foot-3, 246-pound lineman from San Diego, California, was among the defenders who helped limit Memphis after the first quarter. Logan Brantley, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker from Denver, Colorado, and Travis Anderson, a 5-foot-11, 181-pound safety from Mission Viejo, California, were also part of the defensive effort. Oscar Doyle, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound punter from Brisbane, Queensland, handled punting duties.

Memphis had its moments behind a group of key performers on both sides of the ball. Defensive end J’Mond Tapp, a 6-foot-3, 247-pound lineman from Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was listed among the top performers. Cornerback Chauncey Logan Jr., a 6-foot-1, 200-pound defender from Salem, Virginia, and linebackers Mike Montgomery, Zach Ruffin and Trey McDonald were also among the defensive leaders. Montgomery is a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker from Seattle, Washington. Ruffin is a 6-foot-3, 198-pound linebacker from Philadelphia, Mississippi. McDonald is a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Linebacker Tylon Nash was also listed among Memphis’s key performers. Defensive linemen Elijah Kinsler, Jabari Ishmael, Jaden McKinney, Devan Lowe and Justin Wallace, along with safeties Ian Foster and Ellis Ellis Jr. and cornerbacks Dylan Smith and Anthony Richard Jr., were part of Memphis’s defensive rotation. Kinsler is a 6-foot-3, 260-pound defender from Oradell, New Jersey. Ishmael is a 6-foot-5, 245-pound defensive end from Miami, Florida. McKinney is a 6-foot-3, 273-pound defender from Collierville, Tennessee. Lowe is a 6-foot-2, 360-pound defender from Kansas City, Missouri. Wallace is a 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive end from West Palm Beach, Florida. Foster is a 6-foot, 179-pound safety from Brundidge, Alabama. Ellis is a 6-foot, 198-pound defensive back from Hendersonville, Tennessee. Smith is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound cornerback from Little Elm, Texas. Richard is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback from Lafayette, Louisiana.

Offensively for Memphis, receivers Jermane Hayes, Brady Kluse, Tychaun Chapman, Terrell Timmons Jr. and Jaylin Carter were among the key performers. Hayes is a 6-foot, 165-pound receiver from Orange City, Florida. Kluse is a 6-foot-2, 188-pound receiver from Acworth, Georgia. Chapman is a 5-foot-9, 175-pound receiver from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Timmons is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound receiver from Greensboro, North Carolina. Carter is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound receiver from Valdosta, Georgia. Tight end Hunter Tipton, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound target from Timpson, Texas, and running back Manny Covey, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound back from Starke, Florida, were also listed among the top performers. Marcus Stokes and the Memphis team unit were included among the game’s key performances. Kicker Philippe Laforge, a 6-foot-1, 204-pound specialist from Chattanooga, Tennessee, handled kicking duties. Offensive linemen KJ Miles and Taylor Burton, along with Jacari Gatling, Kadan Spratling, JJ Clayton and Harrison Tuck, were also part of Memphis’s listed contributors. Miles is a 6-foot-4, 285-pound tackle from Orange, New Jersey. Burton is a 6-foot-2, 285-pound tackle from Memphis, Tennessee.

Memphis entered the game after a 42-24 home win over Arkansas State on September 5 and a 27-21 road win at UNLV on August 29. The Tigers will next host Tennessee-Martin on September 19 before beginning a stretch that includes games at Charlotte on October 3, against UAB on October 10, at Tulane on October 16, against East Carolina on October 22, against Army on October 31, at South Florida on November 12, at Navy on November 21 and against Temple on November 27.

Boise State had opened its season with a 34-27 loss at Oregon on September 5. The Broncos will return home to face South Dakota on September 19. Their upcoming schedule includes a trip to Western Michigan on September 26, a home game against Utah State on October 3, a road game at Fresno State on October 10, a road game at Washington State on October 24, a home game against Texas State on October 31, a road game at Colorado State on November 7, a home game against Oregon State on November 14 and a home game against San Diego State on November 21.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Memphis 41, Boise State 36. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Boise State with a 76.8 percent probability to win.