CFB Bowl Preview 2025: Bucked Up LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk
Boise State Broncos vs Washington Huskies
By Rory Daniels
Bowl season is in full swing, and we will be previewing every bowl game this year. This year’s Bucked Up LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk will be contested between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies. Let’s take a look at the key matchups.
Where and When
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California.
Date: Saturday 13th December 2025.
Time: 8pm ET, 1am GMT.
Story So Far...
Boise State ended the season as Mountain West Champions once again, making it three titles on the bounce. It wasn’t a smooth sailing season for the Broncos, who ended with a 9-4 record in comparison to last year, when 12 wins saw them clinch a CFB Playoff spot. The Broncos stumbled early with a surprise loss to USF, then dropped games to Notre Dame and two conference opponents (San Diego State and Fresno State). The highlight of the year was undoubtedly their double over UNLV, which included a strong finish in the Mountain West Championship game.
Jedd Fisch began to make progress this year with the Washington Huskies. After they made the College Football Championship game in 2023 under Kalen DeBoer, it was always going to be tough for Fisch to challenge once more, given the departure of talent and the transition to the Big Ten. However, 2025 represented a step forward. Even though they struggled to compete against the conference’s big boys, they found an elite talent at QB and finished with an 8-4 record. The future certainly appears bright once more for the Huskies.
The Quarterbacks
Fourth-year quarterback Maddux Madsen remained a pivotal piece of Boise State’s offense in 2025, and it was his injury that derailed the season. Madsen suffered a lower-leg injury early vs Fresno State and then missed the subsequent San Diego State loss. He returned for the Mountain West Championship game, throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns, earning MVP honours. The Broncos will lean heavily on his experience.
Sophomore QB Demond Williams Jr was a huge bright spot for the Huskies in 2025, and fans will be excited to see him progress in 2026. He is an electric talent who just needs to tidy up some of his play. He threw for 2,850 yards as well as rushing for 737 yards. The significant concerns for him are his performance against top-tier teams (he struggled against Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon) and ball security. Williams had nine fumbles, a figure he needs to reduce going forward. This bowl appearance gives him the chance to show what he can do going into a big year next season.
Who to Watch
Boise State
Kage Casey, Left Tackle – Casey has declared for the draft, but as I write, he is expected to start at left tackle in the bowl game. He earned a 77.9 PFF grade in pass blocking, but was a little more vulnerable than the year prior, when he didn’t allow a sack. He conceded 5 in 2025, and his battle against Zach Durfee could be critical in this one.
Washington
Denzel Boston, Wide Receiver – Boston is another player who may decide against turning out in the Bowl game, as he could head to the NFL this offseason. He has been dealing with a nagging ankle injury, but he is a tough cover when fully fit. He only went over 100 receiving yards twice this season, a good showing here could fire him back into the round 1 conversation.
Prediction
Washington are 9.5pt favourites in this one, and as a big fan of Demond Williams, I’m nervous to go against him. However, Washington has two offensive stars in Boston and running back Jonah Coleman, who may have one eye on the draft. Madsen’s return to health makes Boise a much tougher side to face, and I think they could cause the upset.
Boise State 30 – 26 Washington
Rory-Joe Daniels
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.