It was a day of big plays, but the Broncos’ special teams ‘changed the game’

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — Boise State’s special teams units have been a point of pain for players, coaches and fans alike the past several years. Whether it’s the 2024 season opener that saw the Broncos lose to No. 6 Oregon because they allowed two kick-return touchdowns, the missed pair of field goals in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl, or just the overall horrid 2025 special teams numbers, the units have often taken a high level of criticism.

However, in Saturday night’s 38-20 victory over Memphis, Boise State’s special teams can sit back and smile. Granted, there was much for head coach Spencer Danielson to praise after the game.

A crushing rushing attack that gained 357 yards. A defense that pitched a second-half shutout. A critical fourth-down conversion that turned into a touchdown when BSU trailed 17-3.

But Danielson spent a lot of time talking about special teams. The Broncos blocked a chip-shot field goal in the first quarter to stymie a drive, and the punt return unit dealt a huge blow to the Tigers when Cam Bates went 72 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter that left the visiting team deflated.

“Proud of coach (Stacy) Collins, our special teams have consistently gotten better,” Danielson said, speaking about an assistant who has led those units since 2024.

Special teams play was once again an emphasis in the offseason, primarily because of previous big-time losses on that part of the team.

A component of the new effort has been getting regular starters to pick up roles across all units, and that made a difference Saturday afternoon. It was senior linebacker Boen Phelps who vaulted over Memphis’ protection unit to block a 20-yard attempt in the first quarter.

“It’s just reminding us about our details and our coaching,” senior linebacker Logan Brantley said. “We just executed those, and we came out with that block, which was big in that first half.”

Oddly, a special teams play that was nearly a disaster led to another giant moment in the game. Early in the second half, junior punt returner Jeremyah Lane muffed a punt and almost gave the ball right back to Memphis in Boise State territory. That caused Danielson to look toward more experienced hands on the next return, and those were the hands of wide receiver Cam Bates.

The next punt went to Bates, who used a couple of blocks to race 72 yards for a touchdown that gave the Broncos a 31-20 lead and all of the second-half momentum.

“Jeremyah’s going to get a shot again; he’s done a really good job,” Danielson said. “But in those moments, that’s really hard to come back from, some of those plays. And Cam’s done a really good job through fall camp.”

It was the first punt return for a touchdown Boise State has had since Sept. 9, 2022, when Deven Wright did it against New Mexico. But that came after a blocked kick. In terms of a traditional punt return, the last time it happened was when receiver Stefan Cobbs went 81 yards against UTEP on Sept. 10, 2021.

“It changed the game. We need special teams plays like that,” said junior running back Dylan Riley, who rushed for a career-high 206 yards. “Getting special teams returns, any muffed punts or anything like that from another team, all of that means something, because you could win or lose the game off special teams.”