No. 21 Boise State heads to Pullman this week with the numbers pointing one way and the recent quarterback switch pointing another.
Washington State’s offense hasn’t stacked up well in the Pac-12 standings, where the Cougars sit seventh in most major categories. But head coach Kirby Moore changed the look of the unit before last week’s game against Oregon State, benching Caden Pinnick and turning to redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman. The move paid off in Eshelman’s first start, even though Washington State still dropped a 48-30 decision on the road.
That sets up a Saturday matchup at 4 p.m. Mountain time between Boise State’s 5-1, 2-0 start and Washington State’s 1-6, 0-3 mark.
Boise State continues to lean on Maddux Madsen, who has completed 110 of 166 passes for 1,296 yards with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions. Washington State’s quarterback situation has been much more unsettled. Pinnick is 110 of 178 for 952 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions, while Eshelman has gone 32 of 49 for 289 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
The Broncos also bring a ground game that has been hard to ignore. Dylan Riley has carried 127 times for 835 yards and six touchdowns, and Sire Gaines has added 65 rushes for 354 yards and three scores. Washington State’s top rushing threat is Kirby Vorhees, who has 54 carries for 267 yards and two touchdowns.
In the passing game, Boise State has spread the ball around. Rasean Jones leads the way with 23 catches for 359 yards and one touchdown, while Matt Wagner has 22 receptions for 242 yards and four scores. Akeem Wright has chipped in 11 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Washington State’s top receiving names include Branden Ganashamoorthy, who has 26 receptions for 343 yards and three touchdowns, and Daniel Blood, who has 26 catches for 266 yards and one touchdown.
On defense, Boise State’s Travis Anderson has 26 total tackles, three interceptions and one pass breakup. Boen Phelps has 35 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup, and Jayden Virgin-Morgan has 13 tackles, two sacks and one pass breakup.
Washington State is led by Keith Brown, who has 51 total tackles, one sack and one pass breakup. Jaylen Thomas has 30 tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
In Other News...
WSU Offense Suddenly Has A Boise State Problem Fans Will Watch
Washington States offense is heading into the Boise State game with a couple of important injury questions hanging over it. Coach Kirby Moore said left tackle Ashton Tripp is day-to-day with an ankle injury, while wide receiver Darrius Clemons is also managing an ankle issue. Moore added that defensive ends Malachi Wrice and Michael Hughes are expected to be full-go this weekend, and he also addressed a separate talking point by saying NIL earnings do not factor into playing-time decisions.
The timing matters because both Tripp and Clemons fill spots that can shape how comfortable the Cougars feel on offense, especially against a Boise State opponent that will pressure any weakness it sees. Washington State has not had much room for error as it tries to settle things up front and keep its passing game on schedule, so the status of those two players is one to watch as kickoff gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Moore Faces A Personal Test As Cougars Meet Boise State
Kirby Moore has already spent enough time around Boise State to understand why this matchup feels different. The first-year Washington State head coach is preparing to face the school where he once played receiver, and it comes with the extra layer that he knows the program from both sides of the line. He has coached against the Broncos before, but this one lands closer to home, with a familiar opponent and a familiar coach in Spencer Danielson on the other sideline.
Moore has pointed to Boise States balance as the challenge, praising an offense that can control games and a defense that has been just as sturdy. For Washington State, the meeting is as much about handling a well-rounded opponent as it is about the personal backdrop for its new coach. It also leaves a meaningful thread hanging: how Moores ties to Boise State will shape the tone of the game once the ball is actually kicked off. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Moores Washington State Rebuild Is Taking Shape Around One Influence
Kirby Moores rebuild at Washington State is taking shape with a familiar coaching imprint behind it. Moore has leaned on several influences over the course of his career, including his father, Tom Moore, and Chris Petersen, and the connection to Petersen runs especially deep. Moore played for Petersen at Boise State before later joining him as a graduate assistant at Washington, giving him a firsthand look at how one of the sports more exacting coaches organized a program.
That background matters now as Moore puts his own stamp on the Cougars. The principles he absorbed along the way have helped shape how he approaches the job in Pullman, where attention to detail and structure are becoming part of the identity. In a rebuild, those habits can matter as much as any scheme, and Moores appreciation for what he learned from Petersen is showing up in the way Washington State is being put back together. [Read more 🡒]