Texas State Scores 36 Straight Points, Then Falls 46-45 as Boise State's Backup Quarterback Rallies the Broncos

BOISE, Idaho - Texas State had the biggest win in program history in its hands for about nine minutes on Saturday night. The Bobcats scored the first 36 points of the second half to erase a 28-3 halftime deficit at No. 20 Boise State, led 39-28 on Jayden Bradley's return of an interception for a touchdown with 8:58 to play - and still lost, 46-45, when the Broncos' backup quarterback threw three touchdown passes in the final seven minutes.

Brad Jackson gave Texas State every chance: 23 of 38 passing for 327 yards and four touchdowns, plus 54 rushing yards and a rushing score. His 72-yard touchdown strike to Zechariah Sample with 3:46 remaining put the Bobcats back in front 45-40 in a fourth quarter that produced 38 combined points, and the upset - the program's first over a ranked team in 13 tries since moving up to the FBS in 2012 - was one defensive stop away.

The stop never came, because Boise State's quarterback situation flipped the game. Starter Maddux Madsen, who had thrown for 236 yards and a touchdown and run for two more, left with 8:19 remaining after taking a hit to his left knee and was later seen on crutches. Max Cutforth replaced him and finished 8 of 13 for 131 yards and three touchdowns, the last an 18-yard pass to Akeem Wright with 2:40 left that put Boise State ahead for good. Rasean Jones caught three touchdown passes and nine balls for 117 yards for the Broncos; Wright added eight catches for 116.

Texas State falls to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play, still without a ranked win, and travels to Oregon State next Saturday night. Boise State improved to 7-1 and 4-0 in the Pac-12 with its seventh straight win, before a crowd of 34,429.