The new-look Pac-12 opened league play with a little bit of everything Saturday: three blowouts, one chaotic finish, and a late-night escape that fit the conference’s after-dark reputation perfectly.
Boise State, Fresno State and Oregon State all rolled to comfortable wins, while San Diego State had to claw back from a halftime hole and survive a frantic finish to edge Texas State 31-29 at Snapdragon Stadium.
San Diego State’s rally was especially dramatic given the circumstances. The Aztecs were missing several key players because of injuries and a mumps outbreak, yet they still managed to erase a 17-3 deficit and come away with the win.
The closing stretch got wild fast: Texas State’s defense forced a safety, then Cameron Cooper returned a Brad Jackson interception 32 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 31-22 with 2:47 left. The Bobcats answered quickly with a touchdown and then got a stop, but San Diego State’s defense held in the final minute.
“Heck of a job by everyone involved in the program,” Aztecs head coach Sean Lewis said after the game. “Tremendous result, tremendous heart, tremendous mental and physical toughness shown.”
Even with the comeback, the numbers told a rough story for San Diego State. Texas State outgained the Aztecs 565-239, and now San Diego State heads on the road to face Oregon State next week.
Oregon State kept its own momentum rolling with the most lopsided result of the day, a 56-26 win over Colorado State in front of a sellout crowd at Canvas Stadium. The Beavers, now 3-2 and 1-0 in league play, have won three straight.
Braden Atkinson was nearly flawless, completing 30 of 33 passes for 404 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. His top target was true freshman Jesse Legree, who turned five catches into 156 yards and three scores.
The Beavers are piling up points and yards at a serious clip, averaging 497 yards per game. That ranks No. 9 nationally and first in the Pac-12.
The bigger storyline in Fort Collins came on the Colorado State sideline. Head coach Jim Mora stripped defensive coordinator Tyson Summers of play-calling duties in the first quarter, and Summers later left the field and was fired.
NEW: Colorado State HC Jim Mora explains why he dismissed DC Tyson Summers:“Tyson was relieved of his play calling duties, he made the decision on his own to leave the field, and he is no longer with this football program.” 😳Says this wasn’t something he anticipated. pic.twitter.com/uw9FqdO7fJ
Colorado State gave up 653 yards to Oregon State and now sits No. 137 of 138 FBS teams in total defense, allowing 494 yards per game.
Fresno State continued to look like the Pac-12’s most dependable defensive team. The Bulldogs improved to 4-1 and 1-0 with a 26-6 win over Washington State, holding the Cougars to 182 yards and forcing two turnovers against quarterback Caden Pinnick. Fresno State has now held opponents to 10 points or fewer three times in five games, and despite opening the year with a 39-0 loss at USC, it ranks 27th nationally in scoring defense at 16.4 points allowed per game.
Boise State, meanwhile, remains the conference’s most complete team. The Broncos beat Utah State 37-18 at home to move to 4-1 and 1-0, and their balance shows up on both sides of the ball. Boise State ranks second among Pac-12 teams in scoring defense at 20.6 points per game, good for No. 50 nationally, and third in scoring offense at 34.4 points per game, also No. 50 nationally.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Maddux Madsen has been the engine. Through five games, he has completed 87 of 132 passes for 1,058 yards with 12 total touchdowns and no turnovers.
In Other News...
Oregon State Fueled A Sideline Meltdown Colorado State Couldn't Hide
Oregon States trip through Fort Collins turned into more than just a lopsided result for Colorado State. In the middle of the game, coach Jim Mora Jr. made a major defensive change, handing over playcalling duties and trying to steady a unit that was already being overwhelmed. The move came with the Rams under heavy pressure and with Oregon State still piling on points.
The adjustment did little to change the evenings direction, as Colorado State still gave up 56 points. Tyson Summers left the sideline after being relieved of his duties and is no longer with the football program, a sign of just how badly things had broken down for the Rams. For Oregon State, it was the kind of game that exposed a defense in free fall and left the Beavers with plenty to build on, even if the bigger story in the box score was what happened on the other side. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon States Passing Attack Just Sent A Loud Early Message
The first Pac-12 game of the season at Canvas Stadium turned into a showcase for Oregon States passing game, and Braden Atkinson was at the center of it. In a 56-26 win over Colorado State, the quarterback kept the Beavers in rhythm from the start, piling up 413 yards and five touchdowns while helping set the tone for a night when the offense looked in command of the matchup.
Jesse Legree was just as important, stretching the field and finishing with three touchdown catches as Oregon State kept finding ways to attack through the air. His latest big night also continued a remarkable run of production, giving the Beavers another proof point that this passing game is more than just hot for one week and may be building into something much bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon States Fast Start Helped Spark A Stunning Colorado State Meltdown
Oregon States fast start against Colorado State did more than put points on the board. It helped turn an already rough afternoon into a jarring sideline situation for the Rams, whose defensive coordinator Tyson Summers was gone by the break in a loss that quickly tilted out of control. For the Beavers, the early pressure and tempo were part of a result that rippled well beyond the final score.
Colorado State is now 2-3, and the fallout has already reached the coaching staff. Jim Mora Jr. has since confirmed that Summers is no longer with the program and that Kenny McClendon has taken over the defensive coordinator role, with San Diego State up next. For Oregon State, it was the kind of game that can expose more than one opponent problem at once. [Read more 🡒]