Max Cutforth’s time at Boise State didn’t start at Albertsons Stadium or even on campus. It started in a high school classroom.
Cutforth was just a high school sophomore when he was introduced to the Boise State Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) in the fall of 2020. The class, Introduction to Athletic Injuries (KINES 220), was his chance to earn both high school and Boise State credit simultaneously.
It proved to be a launching pad towards more concurrent enrollment courses at nearby Skyview High School. After all, the CEP gave Cutforth the chance to excel in Boise State courses years before arriving at the university. At just 15 years old, Cutforth was already getting a head start on a college degree.
“Whatever was offered (in high school), I tried to jump on those,” Cutforth said. “Because that was my thinking: I have to take them, they could help me. They’re not going to hurt me, I’m a hard worker, and I’ll get good grades in it.”
Where the Journey Began
It wasn’t the first time Cutforth had ties to Boise State in his youth. The Nampa, Idaho native routinely drove across the Treasure Valley to Albertsons Stadium, playing optimist football and cheering on the Broncos from the stands.
Like many local kids, Cutforth dreamed of playing for the Broncos. But to make his dream a reality, he had to first make a name for himself at Skyview.
Cutforth, a two-sport athlete in football and basketball, became the star-studded quarterback for the Hawks football team his senior year. In that 2022 season, he completed 70% of his passes for 1,640 yards and 16 touchdowns in six games. At the time, he had already earned 10 Boise State credits and was in the process of taking Statistical Methods (MATH 254) and American National Government (POLS 101).
“(Concurrent enrollment courses) were great because it pushed me a little bit,” Cutforth said. “Being in high school and taking college classes, the material is a little more heavy, a little more complex. They pushed me and a lot of my buddies were in those classes too. I really did enjoy those classes.”
Despite his impressive senior football season, no FBS program offered Cutforth a scholarship. His lone offer was a preferred walk-on spot to the Boise State football team, and the opportunity was a dream come true for the lifelong Broncos fan.
When Cutforth graduated from Skyview in 2023, he had earned 19 credits through the Boise State CEP. He also earned college credits through the College of Western Idaho and Northwest Nazarene University.
“Max isn’t one to shy away from a tough situation,” said Skyview economics and Boise State CEP instructor Kevin Murphy, who taught Cutforth in his Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 201) CEP class. “He took on a demanding course load (at Skyview) and leaned into the challenge rather than avoiding it.”
Where the Journey Continued
Cutforth redshirted Boise State’s 2023 season before seeing limited end-of-game minutes in 2024. Following the 2024 Fiesta Bowl, Cutforth moved up to the backup quarterback position and earned a scholarship. It meant a chance to see legitimate playing time in the 2025 season.
That chance came on Saturday, Nov. 1 when starting quarterback Maddux Madsen suffered an injury against Fresno State. Cutforth finished the game with 106 passing yards and his first career touchdown pass.
Two weeks later, Cutforth made his first career start at San Diego State. According to Boise State Athletics’ B1 Feature, Cutforth became the fourth quarterback from the Treasure Valley to start for the Broncos since 1970 and the first since 1992.
Despite the loss, Cutforth got another opportunity with a pivotal conference game against Colorado State. This time at Albertsons Stadium, a place he’s more than familiar with.
“From what I’ve seen, Max is a steadying presence in the quarterback room,” Murphy said. “I think the focus he puts on his schoolwork carries over to football; it’s likely why he’s able to pick up a playbook so quickly and make sense of complicated defenses. He’s got the mental discipline to do the ‘homework’ part of the game, and his toughness handles the rest.”
In his first home start, Cutforth threw for 239 yards and led the Broncos to a 49-21 win over the Rams. Cutforth, who visited Albertsons Stadium often growing up, got his first career win as a starter on The Blue.
“I had to do like three different interviews after that game and it was awesome,” Cutforth said. “Asking me a lot of questions about that, being my first home start. I think that’s when it hit, after the game and after we won. It was a great feeling and it was pretty amazing.”
His best game, however, came on Friday, Nov. 28 at Utah State. Trailing at halftime, the Broncos used a 12-3 second-half run to complete the 25-24 comeback win. Cutforth threw a career-high 341 passing yards and two touchdowns.
The performance earned Cutforth the Old Trapper Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week award. And thanks to Cutforth’s late-season heroics, the Broncos secured a spot in the Mountain West championship game at Albertsons Stadium. Cutforth returned to the backup quarterback role for the championship game, with the Broncos winning the conference title in a 38-21 win over UNLV.
His recent success on the field mirrors his success in the classroom. A 2-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete and a 4-time Dean’s List honoree, Cutforth has maintained his high academic standards at Boise State. He credits the CEP for not only helping him feel prepared for college-level courses, but for also switching his major without falling behind.
“I took all these different (college classes) in high school, so I was able to knock them out early and it was nice making a transition to be a business administration major and not fall behind in school,” Cutforth said. “You have to take them eventually, so it was nice to knock them out early and get ahead in school.”
Where the Journey is Headed
Cutforth plans to complete his undergraduate degree in December and later pursue his master of business administration degree from Boise State. For football, Cutforth’s 2023 redshirt season gives him the chance to play for Boise State football through the 2027 season.
From academics to athletics, Max Cutforth’s journey through Boise State is far from over.
Visit the Concurrent Enrollment News web page for more stories on the Boise State CEP.