BOISE — The South Dakota Coyotes nearly completed one of college football’s most notable upsets Saturday, forcing mistakes and trading blows with Boise State before the Broncos escaped with a 38-24 victory at Albertsons Stadium.
South Dakota (3-1) turned early Boise miscues into points and stayed in the game into the fourth quarter, twice halting Boise State drives on fourth down at the Bronco 24 and recovering momentum on a fumbled punt return late in the fourth. Despite those opportunities, the Coyotes were unable to overcome an explosive late play and a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers that flipped the scoreboard in Boise State’s favor.
The loss underscored both the resilience of the Coyotes and the fine margins of FCS-versus-FBS matchups. Boise State (2-1) committed costly errors early — including a fumble inside its own 20 that set up a South Dakota touchdown — and saw drives stall repeatedly in South Dakota territory. Still, the Broncos made the plays when they mattered most.
“I don’t think anybody is happy with our performance today, but at the end of the day, we won,” said Boise State defensive end Max Stege. “So now, it’s about getting back in tomorrow, watching the game and learning from the mistakes. It’s awesome that you can learn from those mistakes with a win.”
Key moments that decided the game
South Dakota’s opportunities came at a cost to Boise State’s momentum: two fourth-down stops at the 24 stalled Bronco drives and a punt-return muff by Boise State’s Cam Bates with under five minutes left gave the Coyotes renewed life while trailing 31-24. But Boise State’s defense held on the subsequent series, and an immediate response offensively swung the game.
On the next play after the defensive stand, Boise State’s Dylan Riley broke free for an 83-yard touchdown run, puncturing the Coyotes’ comeback hopes and stretching the Broncos’ lead. Later, Boise State defensive back Travis Anderson sealed the victory with his second interception of the day — and his third over the past two weeks.
Other Broncos stood out in crunch time as well. Kyle Hall knocked down a crucial fourth-down pass with roughly two minutes remaining, stopping South Dakota’s final advance and preserving the narrow lead. For the Coyotes, big plays and late chances were there, but not enough to ultimately close the gap.
What this means for South Dakota
The Coyotes leave Boise having demonstrated they can compete with a higher-division opponent across all three phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams — even as they come away without the upset. The offensive bursts that held the game close and the defensive stands that repeatedly halted Boise drives will be threads for the coaching staff to weave into the remainder of the season.
For South Dakota players and fans, the takeaway is twofold: the program showed it can challenge FBS competition, and it identified areas — particularly finishing drives and forcing turnovers — where improvement can turn narrow losses into landmark wins.
| Team | Final score | Record after game |
|---|---|---|
| Boise State | 38 | 2-1 |
| South Dakota | 24 | 3-1 |
Voices from the sideline
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson acknowledged the Broncos left plenty to correct despite the win. “At the end of the day, we have a lot of things we have to improve,” he said, noting a quick return to the drawing board to address errors regardless of the margin of victory.
On the South Dakota sideline, players and staff will likely point to the sequence late in the fourth quarter — the muffed punt, the defensive stand by Boise State, and the long Riley run — as the pivotal stretch. Still, the Coyotes’ ability to force turnovers and to make timely defensive stops on fourth down will be encouraging building blocks for the coming weeks.
As the season progresses, both teams will revisit tape from Albertsons Stadium. For South Dakota, lessons from a near-upset on a national stage can help sharpen the team’s approach during conference play and beyond. For Boise State, the win preserved momentum but also illuminated vulnerabilities that opponents can exploit.
- Top performers mentioned: Dylan Riley (83-yard TD run), Travis Anderson (two interceptions in the game; three in two weeks), Kyle Hall (fourth-down defensive play).
- Turning point: Riley’s 83-yard touchdown following Boise State’s critical fourth-down defensive stop late in the game.
- Takeaway: South Dakota showed it can pressure an FBS program but must convert late chances into points to secure landmark victories.
Despite the loss, the Coyotes walk away from Boise with a competitive resume boost, a 3-1 record and tangible areas to hone. The narrow margin and the late-game drama will linger for players and coaches, a reminder that close games are decided by execution in the final moments.
