Boise State takes over No. 1 after Western Michigan demolition

The biggest takeaway

Boise State finally gave the Elevation Index a result it couldn't ignore.

The Broncos walked into Kalamazoo and beat previously undefeated Western Michigan 32–7. The score was convincing, but the individual performances are what made this feel different.

Maddux Madsen completed 16 of 23 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. Dylan Riley added 138 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. Boise also controlled the line of scrimmage, converting 10 of 14 third downs while holding Western Michigan to just two conversions in 11 attempts.

That's a complete road performance.

And because North Dakota State was on a bye, it was enough to move Boise State into the top spot.

The Bison aren't suddenly out of the conversation. They're still 4–0 with one of the best wins in the Index at Air Force. But Boise gave us something NDSU couldn't this week: another résumé-defining win.

The more controversial move might actually be No. 3.

Oregon State is 2–2, but the Beavers continue to climb because their two losses came against teams the Index respects. This week, Braden Atkinson threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns in a 33–7 win at UTEP, while the defense recorded seven sacks.

Meanwhile, Fresno State keeps winning.

The Bulldogs are 3–1 after beating Rice 38–24, and Rayshon Luke was the star of the night. He ripped off 167 rushing yards and a touchdown on only 11 carries, including a 52-yard touchdown that stopped Rice's comeback attempt.

So yes, we're comfortable with the rankings.

We're also comfortable saying the top five could look very different in a couple of weeks.

The live version of the Index — the chart, every team’s full game log, and the reason behind every rank — is on the Elevation Index page.

1. Boise State 3-1

Previous: No. 2 | ↑ 1

This week: W 32-7 at Western Michigan

The player: Maddux Madsen

Madsen didn't have to throw the ball 40 times.

He didn't need to.

The Boise State quarterback went 16-of-23 for 204 yards and three touchdowns, repeatedly finding ways to keep the offense ahead of the chains while Dylan Riley carried the ground game.

Riley was just as important. His 138 yards on 28 carries gave Boise the physical presence it needed to control the game, and his 26-yard touchdown run helped put Western Michigan in an early hole.

The Broncos also converted 10 of 14 third downs.

That's the number that jumps out.

Boise wasn't simply hitting a few explosive plays and surviving. It consistently stayed on the field, controlled possession and made Western Michigan's offense watch from the sideline.

What it means for the Index

This is why Boise is No. 1.

The Broncos now have the résumé and the performance to match it.

The Western Michigan win doesn't erase the loss to Oregon, but it gives Boise another high-quality road result and one of the most complete performances we've seen from any team in the Index.

What Boise needs to do: Keep winning. The No. 1 spot is now theirs to lose.

Next week: Utah State

2. North Dakota State 4-0

Previous: No. 1 | ↓ 1

This week: Bye

The player: The entire defense gets the week off

There isn't really a player to highlight because there wasn't a game.

And that's the point.

NDSU didn't fall because the Bison got worse. They fell because Boise State went out and added another quality win while NDSU sat at home.

That distinction matters.

The Bison are still 4–0, and their win at Air Force remains one of the most valuable results on the board.

The Index simply rewards Boise for doing something this week that NDSU couldn't do.

What it means for the Index

This is probably the closest No. 1 race we've had all season.

If NDSU wins its next game convincingly, the Bison could immediately have an argument to reclaim the top spot.

What NDSU needs to do: Make the bye-week drop temporary.

Next week: Wyoming

3. Oregon State 2-2

Previous: No. 4 | ↑ 1

This week: W 33-7 at UTEP

The player: Braden Atkinson

Atkinson was excellent in El Paso.

The Oregon State quarterback threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns as the Beavers beat UTEP 33–7. More importantly, Oregon State's offense never allowed the game to become competitive.

But the bigger story may have been the defense.

Seven sacks is not a typo.

Oregon State consistently put UTEP behind schedule, and the result was another comfortable road win.

The debate

Here's where the Index gets interesting.

Oregon State is 2–2.

Fresno State is 3–1.

Yet we're putting Oregon State ahead.

Why?

Because the Beavers' losses to Houston and Texas Tech are doing a lot of work in the résumé calculation.

We're not saying a 2–2 record is better than 3–1.

We're saying Oregon State has accumulated a résumé that currently compares favorably.

That's a distinction worth watching.

What Oregon State needs to do: Turn the quality losses into quality wins.

Next week: at Colorado State

4. Fresno State 3-1

Previous: No. 3 | ↓ 1

This week: W 38-24 vs. Rice

The player: Rayshon Luke

Luke was ridiculous.

Eleven carries.

167 yards.

One touchdown.

That's 15.2 yards per carry.

His 52-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter was especially important because Rice had just pulled within seven. Luke took the next big opportunity and effectively slammed the door.

Jayden Mandal also deserves plenty of credit. He threw three touchdown passes and added 57 rushing yards, while Fresno finished with 459 total yards and no turnovers for the third straight game.

This is what makes Fresno so interesting.

The Bulldogs are winning in multiple ways.

The debate

Fresno keeps winning and keeps falling in the Index.

That's not a typo either.

The reason is the USC loss.

A 39–0 loss carries a lot of weight, especially when compared with Oregon State's two competitive losses to quality opponents.

But if Fresno keeps producing performances like this, that one game is going to become harder and harder to hold over them.

What Fresno State needs to do: Keep winning and make USC look like the outlier.

Next week: at Washington State

5. New Mexico 3-1

Previous: No. 5 | ↔

This week: W 42-18 at New Mexico State

The player: The New Mexico defense

The Lobos' offense gets the headlines after a 42-point performance, but the defense created the game's biggest swing.

New Mexico forced turnovers on back-to-back defensive snaps in the third quarter and turned both into touchdowns.

That transformed a 14–3 halftime lead into a 35–3 advantage and effectively ended the rivalry game.

New Mexico didn't just beat New Mexico State.

It created the separation itself.

What it means for the Index

This is exactly the kind of performance that keeps the Lobos in the top five.

They aren't relying on one player to carry them every week. They're finding ways to create explosive plays, capitalize on mistakes and control games once they get a lead.

What New Mexico needs to do: Keep stacking wins.

Next week: UTEP

6. Colorado State 2-2

Previous: No. 6 | ↔

This week: L 45-59 at UTSA

The player: K'Saan Farrar

Farrar threw for 344 yards and a touchdown and Terrence Smith caught seven passes for 102 yards.

The problem?

UTSA's offense was even better.

Colorado State scored 45 points and still lost by 14.

That's the weird part of this game. The Rams actually produced enough offense to win most games. They just couldn't get enough stops to slow down Owen McCown and the Roadrunners.

This is why we're not moving Colorado State down despite the loss.

But we're also not ignoring it.

What it means for the Index

The Rams have enough offensive firepower to stay dangerous.

The defense has to become less optional.

What Colorado State needs to do: Find a way to get stops.

Next week: Oregon State

7. Air Force 2-1

Previous: No. 7 | ↔

This week: W 36-33 (2OT) at Nevada

The player: Rocco Conti

Air Force needed double overtime, and Conti was the guy who finished it.

The senior running back scored the seven-yard touchdown that finally ended Nevada's comeback attempt and gave the Falcons a 36–33 win.

Liam Szarka also made a major play in the fourth quarter, connecting with Matt Long on a seven-yard touchdown pass to give Air Force a 20–17 lead.

This was not pretty.

It was, however, resilient.

What it means for the Index

The NDSU loss remains the biggest piece of Air Force's résumé.

The Nevada win doesn't erase that loss, but it keeps the Falcons from sliding backward.

What Air Force needs to do: Start turning close games into comfortable wins.

Next week: Navy

8. Texas State 2-2

Previous: No. 8 | ↔

This week: W 63-10 vs. Incarnate Word (FCS)

The player: Brady Jackson

Five touchdowns.

In the first half.

Jackson finished 17-of-20 for 244 yards and five touchdowns before giving way to freshman Gavin Parkhurst.

Torrance Burgess Jr. added 140 rushing yards and a touchdown on only nine carries.

This wasn't just a 63–10 win.

Texas State was ridiculously efficient.

The problem is that Incarnate Word is an FCS opponent, so there's only so much the Index can give the Bobcats for this.

Still, this is exactly what you want to see before conference play.

What Texas State needs to do: Translate this offensive efficiency into an FBS win.

Next week: at San Diego State

9. Washington State 1-3

Previous: No. 9 | ↔

This week: L 24-34 vs. Arizona

The player: Caden Pinnick

Pinnick threw for 241 yards, and Washington State came out firing against Arizona.

The Cougars led 14–0.

Then the offense disappeared for a long stretch.

Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita eventually took over, throwing for 297 yards and four touchdowns as the Wildcats rallied for the 34–24 win.

That's the frustrating part for Washington State.

The Cougars showed enough early to prove they can compete.

They just couldn't sustain it.

What Washington State needs to do: Finish games.

Next week: Fresno State

10. UNLV 2-2

Previous: No. 16 | ↑ 6

This week: W 38-10 at Akron

The player: Jet Thomas

Thomas accounted for three touchdowns as UNLV turned a close game into a blowout.

The Rebels led Akron only 14–10 at halftime.

Then the defense shut the Zips out.

UNLV scored 17 points in the third quarter and never looked back, winning 38–10.

That's a pretty dramatic turnaround from a 1–2 start.

The debate

This is probably the ranking we're watching most closely.

A six-spot jump is enormous.

But UNLV didn't just win. It dominated the second half on both sides of the ball.

If the Rebels do it again next week, No. 10 is going to start looking less surprising.

What UNLV needs to do: Prove the Akron performance wasn't a one-week spike.

Next week: California

11. Wyoming 2-2

Previous: No. 17 | ↑ 6

This week: W 27-10 vs. Hawai‘i

The players: Samuel Harris and Markell Holman

Wyoming found its identity on the ground.

Harris and Holman combined for 181 rushing yards and all three Cowboys touchdowns in the 27–10 win over Hawai‘i.

That's exactly what Wyoming wants its offense to look like.

Physical.

Efficient.

Difficult to stop late in games.

The six-spot jump looks aggressive, but the Cowboys finally produced the type of complete performance that can justify moving quickly in a tightly packed part of the Index.

What Wyoming needs to do: Keep the rushing attack rolling.

Next week: at North Dakota State

12. San José State 2-2

Previous: No. 12 | ↔

This week: Bye

No new player data this week.

San José State gets to watch the rest of the conference shuffle around it.

The Spartans' next game should tell us more than anything they could have done this weekend.

What San José State needs to do: Come out of the bye ready to build on the Fresno State win.

Next week: at Hawai‘i

13. Nevada 1-3

Previous: No. 13 | ↔

This week: L 33-36 (2OT) vs. Air Force

The player: The Nevada defense

Nevada didn't get enough offensively to finish the game, but this wasn't a bad performance against Air Force.

The Wolf Pack pushed the Falcons into double overtime and had multiple opportunities to win.

The problem is that the résumé doesn't award points for almost.

At 1–3, Nevada needs wins.

What Nevada needs to do: Finish one of these close games.

Next week: Bye

14. Utah State 1-3

Previous: No. 18 | ↑ 4

This week: W 21-10 vs. Troy

The player: The defense

Utah State finally got its first win, and the defense deserves most of the credit.

The Aggies intercepted Troy three times and held the Trojans to 10 points in a 21–10 win.

After giving up 33 points to Utah and 44 to Washington, Utah State finally looked like the defense it needs to be.

This is also the first ranking where we're starting to wonder if the model is being too conservative.

Utah State is still 1–3.

But Washington State is 1–3.

Nevada is 1–3.

San José State is 2–2 and was idle.

A 21–10 win over Troy isn't enough to launch the Aggies into the top ten, but No. 14 may be underselling the change in trajectory.

And now Boise State is waiting.

What Utah State needs to do: Show that Saturday wasn't a fluke.

Next week: at Boise State

15. Hawai‘i 1-3

Previous: No. 12 | ↓ 3

This week: L 10-27 at Wyoming

The player: Micah Alejado

Hawai‘i couldn't get enough from its offense in Laramie.

The Rainbow Warriors managed only 10 points while Wyoming's rushing attack controlled the game.

This is where the résumé starts to hurt.

Hawai‘i had a chance to establish itself against a team sitting below it in the Index.

Instead, Wyoming jumped it.

What Hawai‘i needs to do: Find some offensive consistency.

Next week: San José State

16. New Mexico State 1-3

Previous: No. 14 | ↓ 2

This week: L 18-42 vs. New Mexico

The problem: Turnovers

New Mexico State couldn't withstand New Mexico's third-quarter surge.

The Aggies allowed back-to-back defensive turnovers to become back-to-back New Mexico touchdowns, and the game got away from them quickly.

At 1–3, there isn't much room left for résumé mistakes.

What New Mexico State needs to do: Protect the football and find another win.

Next week: Western Kentucky (Thu)

17. UTEP 1-3

Previous: No. 15 | ↓ 2

This week: L 7-33 vs. Oregon State

The problem: Oregon State's pass rush

UTEP couldn't protect its quarterback against Oregon State.

Seven sacks turned what could have been a competitive game into a 33–7 loss.

There's not much more to say about this one.

The Miners need a response.

What UTEP needs to do: Keep the offense out of obvious passing situations.

Next week: at New Mexico

18. San Diego State 1-3

Previous: No. 11 | ↓ 7

This week: L 16-41 at Toledo

The problem: Everything after halftime

The Aztecs were competitive early.

Then Toledo took over.

San Diego State ultimately lost 41–16, and the result was bad enough to produce the biggest drop in the Index this week.

This wasn't simply a close game that got away.

It was a résumé-changing loss.

The Aztecs now need to show that this was an isolated disaster rather than the beginning of a larger collapse.

What San Diego State needs to do: Respond immediately.

Next week: Texas State

19. Northern Illinois 0-4

Previous: No. 19 | ↔

This week: L 14-35 at Georgia State

The player: Telly Johnson

Northern Illinois actually moved the ball, finishing with 432 total yards.

Johnson scored on a 14-yard run, but Georgia State's defense eventually took control, producing six sacks.

The Huskies are now 0–4, and that's becoming impossible to overlook.

What Northern Illinois needs to do: Turn yards into points and, more importantly, wins.

Next week: Bye

20. Sacramento State 1-4

Previous: No. 20 | ↔

This week: L 6-35 vs. UMass

The problem: UMass' defense

Sacramento State scored only six points against an undefeated UMass team.

The Hornets never found enough offensive consistency to make this competitive.

At 1–4, the margin for error is gone.

What Sacramento State needs to do: Find a way to generate offense.

Next week: Bye

The rankings we're watching

The most interesting part of this week's Index isn't necessarily the top of the rankings.

It's the arguments.

Boise State vs. North Dakota State: Boise has the new No. 1 spot, but NDSU's résumé is still extremely strong.

Oregon State vs. Fresno State: This is the biggest résumé debate in the top five. Oregon State has better losses. Fresno has more wins.

UNLV and Wyoming: Both jumped six spots. Now we need to see whether those jumps represent real improvement or one excellent Saturday.

Utah State: The Aggies finally have a win, and the defense looked dramatically different. Now they get Boise.

That's what makes the Elevation Index fun.

The rankings tell us where the teams sit.

The players tell us why.