Colorado State's quarterback picture is better than the injury report makes it look. Hauss Hejny is still listed questionable with a hamstring injury, but that note dates back to mid-October. He played the whole Utah State game, throwing for 186 yards and a late touchdown to Cedric Ross. The problem in Logan was everything before that. Utah State led 17-0 at halftime and the Rams didn't score until the game was already gone, losing 31-14.
The Rams' bigger problem is a defense that has been giving up points at a ridiculous rate. Before Utah State they allowed 59 to UTSA, 56 to Oregon State and 66 to Texas State. Their only win in the last 5 was a 56-49 shootout with San Diego State at home. That's the same Texas State team that just put 36 straight second-half points on Boise State, so Colorado State has seen exactly how this kind of game can come apart.
Boise State has won 5 straight, and the first 4 of them were mostly comfortable: 32-7 at Western Michigan, 37-18 over Utah State, 38-31 at Fresno State and 31-10 at Washington State. The Texas State game is the outlier, and it's an ugly one. Spencer Danielson called the 3rd quarter 'one of the worst quarters of football that I've ever been a part of.' A defense that let a 28-3 lead turn into a 39-28 deficit now goes on the road against a Rams offense that has topped 40 twice in the last 5 weeks.
The stakes are lopsided. Boise State is alone in first in the Pac-12 with a playoff spot to protect, and any slip costs it more than a conference loss. Colorado State is 3-5 and 1-3 in league play, at home in Canvas Stadium, where it's cloudy and 62 with almost no wind. With Madsen out, the Broncos are handing the game to a backup whose best work came in 7 minutes of desperation football. That's still Boise's game to lose. It's also the best shot at a spoiler Colorado State is going to get.
