Notre Dame vs Boise State: Players to Watch
- Noah Wehby
- Oct 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Following another dominant win, Notre Dame now looks toward Boise State. In their first-ever matchup against Boise State, these are the players Marcus Freeman and company need to watch out for in Saturday's showdown.
Photo by Boise State Athletics
Maddux Madsen - Quarterback
Coming off a successful year reaching the CFP, Madsen is once again in command of an explosive offense. Madsen controls an offense that ranks among the top in most offensive metrics, most notably 15th in yards per game at 480. Without superstar running back Ashton Jeanty, Madsen has had to carry more of the offensive burden this season, which is something he has done pretty well so far. Madsen has already thrown for 1,129 yards, nine touchdowns, and only one interception. So far this year, he has shown an impressive ability to produce points while not putting the ball in harm's way. Madsen has struggled somewhat with efficiency, having completed just under 60% of his passes. Madsen is really most dangerous when he can escape the pocket and find players downfield. Although he may not gash teams for huge plays with his legs, he does possess the dangerous ability to extend plays and improvise with his legs to create big plays. Notre Dame has already seen multiple QBs who also have that same skillset, so it will be interesting to see if the Irish continue to improve in defending the dual threat. Either way, Madsen is a tough, competitive, and talented player who can give Notre Dame all they can handle if not prepared correctly.
Jayden Virgin-Morgan - Edge Rusher
Although he may not be having the start he had hoped for, Jayden Virgin-Morgan is still a player Notre Dame has to account for in their matchup in South Bend. Coming into the 2025 season, Virgin-Morgan was ranked 48th on ESPN's pre-season top 100 players list. This was mainly due to the incredible production he delivered for the Broncos during the 2024 season. In that season, Virgin-Morgan recorded 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. That level of production clearly made him one of Boise State's best defensive players on last year's team and one of the best returning defensive players in the country. Unfortunately for Virgin-Morgan, he has not been able to produce that same level of impact so far this season. For Notre Dame, that does not mean they can forget about him. Even without the stats, he is still a disruptive and impactful player who can put QBs under a lot of pressure, which can lead to critical mistakes. It almost seems like he is due for a big game, so Notre Dame will have to do their best to protect Carr and keep him at bay. If not, it is going to be a long game for the Notre Dame offense.
Kage Casey - Left Tackle
On the other side of the Boise State line is Kage Casey, the second Bronco featured on the pre-season ESPN top 100 list. Casey earned the right to be on that list based on his tremendous play in the 2024 season. During the 2024 season, Casey played a team-high 947 snaps, and he never allowed a single sack in Boise State's 440 drop-backs. Casey was the staple to one of the best offensive lines in the country last year, and this year, he is just as effective. For a Notre Dame pass rush that has struggled to provide consistent pressure, he is going to be a huge obstacle to get around. Casey rarely gives up sacks or even pressures, for that matter. The Irish will have to get creative in the ways they bring pressure if they want to beat Casey. The problem for Notre Dame is that Casey may have the entire left side of the line shut down for the large majority of the game. There may not be a more consistent offensive lineman in the entire country.
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