Boise State nearly let one of its best seasons slip away on its own blue turf. The No. 20 Broncos blew a 25-point halftime lead then rallied to beat Texas State 46-45 on Saturday night.

Backup quarterback Max Cutforth threw three touchdown passes in the final seven minutes. His 18-yard strike to Akeem Wright with 2:40 left was the winner.

Boise State improved to 7-1 and 4-0 in the Pac-12. Texas State fell to 4-4. The Bobcats have still never beaten a ranked team since moving to FBS in 2012.

A 36-point swing

The Broncos led 28-3 at halftime. Then Texas State scored the first 36 points of the second half.

Brad Jackson threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another. Jayden Bradley put the Bobcats up 39-28 with 8:58 left when he returned Maddux Madsen's first interception of the season for a touchdown.

Madsen left soon after with a hit near his left knee. He watched the finish on crutches. Coach Spencer Danielson said his status is unknown.

"The third quarter was one of the worst quarters of football that I've ever been a part of," Danielson said.

Three lead changes in five minutes

Cutforth hit Rasean Jones for a 9-yard score to cut it to 39-34. Mana Tuioti then picked off a trick-play pass and returned it to the Texas State 11. Jones scored again for a 40-39 lead.

Texas State answered right away. Jackson found Zechariah Sample for a 72-yard touchdown and a 45-40 lead.

Cutforth then led the winning drive. He finished 8 of 13 for 131 yards. Jones caught nine passes for 117 yards and three touchdowns while Wright had eight catches for 116 yards.

"I just tell myself every week that I'm going in," Cutforth said.

Boise State is the favorite for the playoff spot reserved for the highest-ranked Group of Six team ahead of Tuesday's first rankings. The Broncos visit Colorado State next Saturday while Texas State plays at Oregon State.