That QB uncertainty is really a symptom of a total teardown in Memphis. Huff replaces Ryan Silverfield after Silverfield left for Arkansas, and the Tigers lost 21 of 22 starters off last year's roster in the shuffle — nearly 100% of the rushing production and almost all the passing production walked out the door. Huff leaned on familiarity to rebuild fast, bringing 12 players over from his old Southern Miss roster, headlined by running back Dallan Hayden. Boise State, by contrast, returns 6 starters on offense and 5 on defense and opens as a significant favorite to win a 4th straight conference championship.
None of that turnover guarantees Memphis struggles — Huff won a Sun Belt title at Marshall and turned Southern Miss around from 1-11 to 7-5 in a single year, and new defensive coordinator Lance Guidry spent last season working with a strong LSU defense. But asking a defense and offense built almost entirely of new pieces to go win on Boise's blue turf in September is about as tough a proving ground as there is.
Boise State isn't without its own questions. Madsen was actually more productive as a sophomore than as a junior — his completion rate and touchdown total both dipped while his interceptions climbed to 9, and the Broncos are working with a thin receiving corps after some key pieces moved on. Still, a proven passer and a veteran offensive line against a defense that's basically starting over is the kind of matchup that tends to favor experience, especially at home.
Memphis has real building blocks — Hayden's a proven every-down back, and the portal haul gives Huff talent even if it lacks continuity. The bigger question is whether that talent gels fast enough to survive a real road test this early. Boise State's title aspirations and Memphis's total reset make this a useful early gauge for both programs before conference play heats up.