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...
Owen Eshelman Gave Washington State One Reason To Keep Watching
Washington States season took another hit with a loss to Oregon State, dropping the Cougars to 1-6, but there was at least one compelling development buried in the defeat. Redshirt freshman quarterback Owen Eshelman made his debut and immediately brought a different energy to the offense, giving the Cougars a more workable rhythm and tempo in a game where they badly needed something to latch onto.
Kirby Moore came away encouraged by the way the unit moved under Eshelman, and it was hard not to see why. The young quarterback not only showed he could handle the stage, but he also gave Washington State a glimpse of a different ceiling, which matters even in a season that has been difficult to salvage. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Boise State Test That Could Get Ugly
Washington State heads into its matchup with Boise State facing a familiar kind of challenge: a Broncos team that has leaned on a rugged ground game and built a 5-1 start behind it. The opponents identity is clear enough, with the offense set around the run and the Cougars having to sort through a game that looks physical, methodical and potentially messy if they dont control the line of scrimmage.
Theres also a layered backdrop inside the matchup, since several members of the WSU staff know Boise State well from past stops there, giving this one a little extra familiarity on the sideline. Kirby Moore, Brad Larrondo, Matt Miller, Andrew Browning and Brandyn Thompson all carry those ties, which makes the preparation feel even more pointed as Washington State tries to match up with a program that has already shown it can punish defenses in multiple ways. [Read more 🡒]
Boise States Grip On The Pac-12 Suddenly Looks Far Less Safe
Boise State and Oregon State are headed toward a November 14 showdown that now carries real weight in the Pac-12 race, with Oregon State sitting atop the standings as the conference heads into its stretch run. For Washington State, the recent trip through that mix of games offered a reminder of how quickly the table can change, especially after Oregon State handled the Cougars 48-30.
Around the league, there are still plenty of moving parts as other teams work through upcoming matchups and try to keep pace. Texas States offense made noise against Colorado State, and the broader picture in the Pac-12 is still unsettled enough that Oregon States cushion suddenly looks a little less comfortable than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]