BOISE, Idaho — Ashton Jeanty ran for 259 yards and four touchdowns, Matt Lauter had four catches for 96 yards and two scores and No. 25 Boise State surged past Washington State 45-24 on Saturday night.
Playing its first game as a ranked team since 2020, Boise State (3-1) pulled away in the fourth quarter against its future Pac-12 Conference rival. Washington State (4-1) had no answer for Jeanty — and no ground game of its own.
Jeanty, who entered the game leading the nation in rushing yards per game with 195.3, wasted little time piling up the yards. On Boise State’s fifth play from scrimmage, he broke four tackles around the line of scrimmage before outracing the rest of the defense on a 64-yard scoring run. He finished with 26 carries and had a 7-yard reception.
The Cougars responded with a quick strike when quarterback John Mateer needed only three plays to go 65 yards, firing a 14-yard TD pass to Cooper Mathers.
Jeanty added a 14-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter to give the Broncos a 17-10 halftime lead.
Despite stifling Boise State’s offense early in the second half, Washington State coach Jake Dickert gambled on a fourth-and-inches from his own 27 late in the third quarter. But Boise State’s defense stiffened, denying Mateer the half-yard he needed.
Three plays later, Maddux Madsen hit Lauter on a 22-yard scoring strike to push Boise State’s lead to 24-10 with 1:22 left in the third quarter.
Then, after Washington State touchdown halved the deficit, Jeanty ripped off another electrifying run, this time racing 59 yards by breaking three tackles and eluding another on the goal line to dive in for the score.
Mateer threw for 327 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wayshawn Parker led Washington State in rushing with 35 yards.
Madsen threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns for Boise State.