Boise State is back from its bye and back on the road Saturday, with the Broncos heading to Martin Stadium to face Washington State at 4 p.m. Mountain time.
No. 21 Boise State enters at 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-12 after a five-game winning streak, while Washington State sits at 1-6 and 0-3. The Broncos are listed as 13.5-point favorites in the latest DraftKings Sportsbook odds.
For Boise State, the biggest challenge may be handling a Washington State offense that looked more dangerous once Kirby Moore made a change at quarterback. After six games of frustration, Moore benched Caden Pinnick for Owen Eshelman last week, and the redshirt freshman responded with a much livelier performance despite the Cougars falling behind 27-3.
Eshelman completed 32 of 49 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also carried 15 times for 136 yards and another score, showing he could keep plays alive with his legs when needed. His highlight reel included a 41-yard scramble, a 20-yard touchdown run and a 40-yard scoring strike to Branden Ganashamoorthy.
That’s the version of Washington State Boise State has to smother. The Broncos need Eshelman contained inside the pocket and the Cougars’ running backs forced to do the heavy lifting. That’s a better matchup for Boise State, especially after Oregon State held Washington State’s four other rushers to just 32 yards on 15 carries.
The other major stress test comes through the air, where Boise State’s secondary has been vulnerable all season. The Broncos have already been flagged for 10 pass interference calls, and the numbers behind their pass defense are rough: 261.3 passing yards allowed per game, which ranks No. 126 nationally, and 14.8 yards allowed per completion, which sits at No. 136.
Washington State has the kind of receivers that can punish that. Ganashamoorthy erupted for 147 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches against Oregon State, while Daniel Blood added six receptions for 59 yards, including a 23-yard grab. Saturday shapes up as a serious test for a Boise State back end that has spent much of the season giving up explosive plays.
Boise State’s own passing game should get a boost, too. Maddux Madsen played last week without three of his top targets - Rasean Jones, Cam Bates and Darren Morris - and still threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-31 win over Fresno State. All three are set to return against Washington State.
Jones has been the top producer among that group, leading the Broncos as a true freshman with 23 catches for 359 yards and two total touchdowns. Bates has scored twice through the air and also brought back a punt return for a touchdown against Memphis. Expect Madsen to get both of them involved early.
Washington State should be better defensively against Boise State’s run-heavy attack, but the Broncos still have enough punch on the ground to finish the job. Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines are projected to do the heavy lifting in a 34-20 Boise State win.
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Washington State Faces A Brutal Test In Boise State Upset Bid
Homecoming brings a familiar but still notable opponent back to Pullman, with Boise State visiting for the first meeting between the programs since 2017 and their first as Pac-12 foes. Washington State badly needs a lift after four straight losses, and the stakes are simple enough: keep bowl hopes within reach while trying to handle a Boise State team that has looked sharp and brings one of the nations most productive rushing attacks into a tough road setting.
The Cougars also arrive with plenty of uncertainty on offense after making a quarterback change, and the timing is rough with injuries thinning out the wide receiver group. Even with the reset under center, the challenge against Boise State is more than just finding rhythm through the air. Washington State will have to find answers against a physical opponent that has been winning in the trenches and forcing others to play on its terms. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Faces A Dangerous Test In Its Biggest Defensive Weakness
Washington State got a promising first look at Owen Eshelman in his first career start against Oregon State, even if the result was a 48-30 loss. The redshirt freshman completed 32 of 49 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and added 136 rushing yards and a score, giving the Cougars a dual-threat option who instantly changed the shape of their offense.
Now Boise State has to prepare for a second-start version of a quarterback who already showed he can stress a defense in multiple ways. Spencer Danielson has already pointed to the issues his team has to clean up, emphasizing tackling and basic fundamentals over any major schematic overhaul, which makes this matchup a particularly tricky one for a Broncos defense trying to steady itself. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Brutal Measuring Stick In Pullman
Boise State comes to Pullman as the latest measuring stick for Washington State, and it is not a subtle one. The No. 21 Broncos have won five straight since a narrow opening loss, and they arrive favored in a Pac-12 matchup that will say plenty about where the Cougars stand against a team that has steadily built momentum.
For Washington State, the challenge is as much about keeping pace as it is about turning the game into something uncomfortable for a ranked opponent. Boise State has looked efficient and composed during its run, while the Cougars are trying to reset after their last result and find a way to make this one look less like a gap and more like a fight. [Read more 🡒]