No. 23 Boise State has edged out Oregon State in the early race for the Pac-12 crown, even if the gap is still narrow.
The Broncos sit atop the league in the betting market at -180 to win the conference, with the Beavers next at +210 in the latest DraftKings Sportsbook odds. Fresno State is a distant third at +1200, followed by Texas State (+1800), Utah State (+4000), San Diego State (+7400), Colorado State (+10000) and Washington State (+20000).
On the field, though, Oregon State can point to the stronger statistical profile. The Beavers are the Pac-12’s No. 1 team in scoring offense at 41.8 points per game and total defense at 326.3 yards allowed, and they rank second in total offense at 522.3 yards and scoring defense at 22.0 points allowed. Boise State checks in third in scoring offense at 35.0, scoring defense at 22.3 and total offense at 450.5, and fourth in total defense at 368.2.
Both teams have separated themselves from the rest of the league through six weeks. Boise State is 5-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while Oregon State is 4-2 and also 2-0.
Their schedules have been close enough to keep the comparison fair, with the Broncos at No. 51 in FPI strength of schedule and the Beavers at No. 57.
Boise State will get Oregon State at home on Nov. 14, a matchup that could decide the race. Before that, the Broncos are off this week and then head to Washington State on Oct. 24.
That trip comes after Washington State visits Corvallis on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
Mountain time at Reser Stadium, and Oregon State is favored by 18.5 points over the Cougars. Washington State will start Owen Eshelman at quarterback ahead of Caden Pinnick, and Eshelman, a redshirt freshman, has not attempted a college pass.
The Beavers have been a machine against the spread, one of just four FBS teams to post a perfect mark in that category this season. They’ve covered all four games by an average of 19.3 points, matching New Mexico for the best figure in the country.
Boise State, meanwhile, continues to carry the weight of its recent success. The Broncos finished a 15-year run in the Mountain West with three straight championships, reached the College Football Playoff in 2024, and are favored to be the Group of Six representative in this year’s CFP.
Saturday’s other notable conference game sends Fresno State to San Diego State. The Bulldogs are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in league play, while the Aztecs are 2-4 and also 1-1. Fresno State is a 7.5-point road favorite, and San Diego State is coming off a 52-point loss to Oregon State.
On Thursday night, Texas State hosts Colorado State as a 14-point favorite. Both teams enter at 2-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
In Other News...
Oregon State Faces A Real Threat To Its Four-Game Surge
Oregon State arrives with plenty of momentum, but Washington State has its own reason to believe this matchup can get interesting. Under first-year coach Kirby Moore, the Cougars are piecing together the kind of defensive and offensive answers that can make life uncomfortable for a Pac-12 co-leader, especially in a game where field position and sustained drives should matter from the start.
Much of the attention lands on how WSU handles Oregon States passing game and whether quarterback Owen Eshelman can keep the Cougars out of long-yardage situations. The challenge is familiar enough for a November-type game: move the chains, stay balanced, and make the Beavers work for every stop. If Washington State can pair efficiency through the air with the outside-zone run game, it has a path to putting a real dent in Oregon States four-game surge. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Turns To Owen Eshelman As Offensive Pressure Mounts
The quarterback picture at Washington State has changed, and Owen Eshelman is now the one tasked with trying to steady an offense that has struggled to find a rhythm. Head coach Kirby Moore pointed to Eshelmans preparation, leadership and readiness as the Cougars head into their next game, a sign the staff believes the offense needs a different spark after a stretch of uneven play.
The move follows a run of underwhelming performances with Caden Pinnick under center, leaving Washington State searching for more consistency at the most important position. Pinnick had six starts to get the unit going, but the offense never really took off, and the pressure now shifts to Eshelman to show the Cougars something different when the next chance arrives. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Heads Into Oregon State With Key Week 1 Decisions Looming
Washington States first injury report of the week offered an early look at how the Cougars are sorting through availability as they prepare for Oregon State. Linebacker Jack Ellison is no longer on the report, which is a welcome sign, while the Beavers have their own absences to manage with defensive backs Kai Wheaton and Ryan Whiten, along with inside linebacker Kord Shaw, all ruled out.
The bigger question for the Cougars is the cluster of key names still listed as questionable, especially up front and in the secondary, where depth can quickly shape a game plan. WSU also has a season-ending loss to absorb at linebacker, leaving the staff to balance what it can count on now with what it may have to patch together by the time kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]