Northwest Notes: July 17, 2025

Madsen Voted Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, 10 Broncos 

named Preseason 

All-Mountain West

LAS VEGAS — Boise State placed a league-high 10 players on the Preseason All-Mountain West team, the conference announced at the start of Mountain West Football Media Days. Quarterback Maddux Madsen headlined the list for the Broncos, garnering Preseason Offensive Player of the Year selection.

Boise State’s 10 Preseason All-Mountain West selections mark the program’s most during its time in the conference, which began in 2011. Madsen is the eighth Bronco to be named Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, a group that now includes four offensive selections. He joins a list of quarterbacks that includes Kellen Moore (2011) and Brett Rypien (2018). The Broncos’ other offensive selection was Ashton Jeanty, who was tabbed in 2024.

Madsen was joined by wide receiver Latrell Caples, tight end Matt Lauter and offensive linemen Kage Casey and Mason Randolph on the conference’s offensive team. Defensively, Boise State was represented by defensive lineman Braxton Fely, EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan, linebacker Marco Notarainni and defensive backs Ty Benefield and A’Marion McCoy.

Last season, Madsen led the conference in passing yards (3,018) and touchdowns (23) while ranking second in passing efficiency (142.5) and adding 221 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He was the only player in the country with at least 12 passing touchdowns and one interception. He was named to the Davey O’Brien Award Quarterback Class of 2024 while earning All-Mountain West Honorable Mention. This preseason, the redshirt junior already secured Preseason All-Mountain West First Team selection from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.

Boise State selected as 

2025 Mountain West 

preseason favorite

LAS VEGAS — Boise State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Mountain West, the league announced at its annual media days on Wednesday.

The preseason poll marks the 18th consecutive season that the Broncos have been selected to win either the conference or division crown, including every year since joining the Mountain West in 2011. 

The No. 3 seed in last year’s College Football Playoff and the defending back-to-back Mountain West champion earned 35 of the 39 first-place votes and 464 total points. UNLV came in second place with 415 total points and the remaining four first-place selections.

San Jose State was selected to finish in third place with 359 total points, while Colorado State finished in the fourth spot with 326 points. Fresno State was slated fifth with 301 total points while Air Force gathered 280 total points for a sixth-place projection.

Hawai’i notched 213 total points and San Diego State received 202 total points to finish seventh and eighth, respectively. Utah State (165 points), Wyoming (150 points), New Mexico (84 points) and Nevada (83 points) round out the poll.

The two Mountain West programs with the best conference records will compete in the 2025 Mountain West Football Championship, which will take place on Friday, Dec. 5. The game will occur at the site of the team with the best conference winning percentage and will be televised on FOX for the sixth consecutive season.