No. 21 Boise State used the bye week to step back, reset and take a hard look at where it still needs to improve.
The Broncos are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-12, and they’ve won five straight entering Saturday’s road game at Washington State. But head coach Spencer Danielson made it clear Monday that the record hasn’t masked every issue.
“Transitioning from the bye week, obviously had a lot of stuff as a team that we needed to look at, improve in, self-scout, grow in,” Danielson said during Monday’s press conference. “Had a lot of things that we’ve done well, but a lot that needs to get fixed. It was a good opportunity for us to grow, good opportunity for us to look at those things and have real conversations with players, real conversations as a staff, to where we grow.”
The most obvious problems are on defense, where Boise State has had trouble with missed tackles and big plays. Entering last week, the Broncos were last in the nation in explosive gains allowed of 40-plus yards (15) and 50-plus yards (nine).
That unit could be tested again Saturday, when Boise State kicks off against Washington State at 4 p.m. Mountain time at Martin Stadium.
The Cougars are coming off a quarterback change that immediately changed the look of their offense. Redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman made his first career start last week against Oregon State and delivered a huge debut, throwing for 289 yards, rushing for 136 and accounting for three total touchdowns in a 48-30 loss.
He hit a 40-yard touchdown pass just before halftime and later ripped off a 41-yard run, showing why Danielson sees a dangerous new wrinkle.
“They made the quarterback change last week, and that quarterback is really, really talented,” Danielson said. “Made some big-time throws, made some big-time plays with his legs. You can tell they’re getting in a really good rhythm.”
This matchup also has a familiar face on the Washington State sideline. The Cougars’ coaching staff includes several Boise State alumni, among them first-year head coach Kirby Moore, offensive coordinator Matt Miller, defensive line coach Andrew Browning, cornerbacks coach Brandyn Thompson and general manager Brad Larrondo.
Miller coached Boise State’s wide receivers from 2020-25, and after Washington State stumbled to a 1-4 start, Moore took over play-calling responsibilities from him.
“Matt Miller is one of the best coaches I’ve been around, a phenomenal person,” Danielson said. “Matt being here, he knows a lot about our defense. From playing them over the years, they’ve got a really good idea of who we are defensively, and they’re going to have some really good ways to attack our defense.”
Boise State has had plenty of history with the Cougars, too, and not much of it has gone the Broncos’ way. They are 2-5 all-time against Washington State and winless in three trips to Pullman. The last meeting at Martin Stadium was a wild one, a 47-44 triple-overtime shootout that Washington State won in 2017.
Danielson expects another loud scene this weekend.
“It’s a phenomenal home-game atmosphere,” Danielson said. “I know the student section has been moved to be right behind our bench, so I know they’ll be rolling. We’ve got a lot of respect for their fan base, obviously a ton of respect for their coaches, their players, and we know they’re going to be ready to rock.”
In Other News...
Boise States Grip On The Pac-12 Suddenly Looks Far Less Safe
Boise State spent last week on the sideline while the rest of the Pac-12 landscape kept shifting around it, and the league picture looks a lot less settled now than it did a week ago. Oregon State is the team making the loudest move, fresh off a 48-30 win over Washington State and sitting atop the conference at 5-2, which gives the Beavers real momentum heading into the stretch run.
The Broncos will get their next chance to answer on Nov. 14, when they meet Oregon State in a game that suddenly carries more weight in the Pac-12 race. Boise State also benefitted in the rankings during its bye, but the more immediate concern is how quickly the conference has tightened up, with several other teams still sorting out their own paths through the final weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Fans Have A Real Reason To Worry About Braden Atkinson
With the college football transfer portal set to reopen for a single January window after the 2026 season, the next wave of roster movement could be shaped by which breakout players become available. For Boise State fans, that makes the broader market worth watching, especially with Power Four programs expected to circle the same kind of proven talent that can change a depth chart overnight.
One of the names drawing attention is Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson, who has now thrown for more than 300 yards in seven straight games, matching a program record. He is part of a larger group of Beavers who could entice major-conference programs, alongside a top receiver, a key runner and a defensive standout, which is the kind of spread of talent that can make any roster rebuild uneasy. [Read more 🡒]