Boise State is still sitting on top of the Pac-12 football power rankings after Week 2, and the Broncos earned that perch with the most eye-catching non-conference win the league has managed so far.
Boise State handled Memphis 38-20 at home last weekend, turning the game into a runaway after halftime. The Broncos finished on a 35-3 scoring burst and hammered away on the ground for 357 rushing yards.
Even with that strong finish, there’s a glaring issue hanging over the team: pass coverage. Boise State’s defense is allowing 381 passing yards per game, which ranks last nationally.
The Broncos opened the year with a road loss to then-No. 2 Oregon, so the early résumé already has both ends of the spectrum. Their next chance comes Saturday against South Dakota at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
The rest of the league’s early picture is pretty rough. Through two weeks, Pac-12 teams are 0-7 against ranked opponents, and six of those games came on the road.
Oregon State is right behind Boise State in these rankings after a 35-24 home loss to No. 13 Texas Tech.
That result might look strange at first glance, but the Beavers have taken on a brutal schedule, and Texas Tech - the Big 12 favorite - needed late heroics to leave Corvallis with the win. Oregon State gets Montana next Saturday at 9 p.m. on USA Network.
San Diego State comes in next after a 28-10 road loss to UCLA. Despite preseason claims from head coach Sean Lewis, the Aztecs still look like the same defense-first, offense-limited team in 2026. Their next game is Saturday against James Madison at 8 p.m. on The CW.
Utah State lands in the middle of the pack after a 49-3 home win over Sacramento State. Quarterback Jayden Mandal bounced back nicely from a brutal Week 1, throwing for 316 yards and accounting for three total touchdowns.
Colorado State follows after a 58-24 home win over Southern Utah. The Rams have looked sharp through two weeks, though the schedule has been soft enough that the first true test is still ahead.
Texas State dropped a 31-26 home game to UTSA, a costly result in a non-conference matchup against a rival. The Bobcats had a fourth-quarter lead and let it slip away. They’ll be back in action Saturday against North Texas at 10 a.m. on USA Network.
New Mexico State also showed some fight, even in a 16-14 road loss to No. 19 Washington. That came after a home loss to FCS Idaho State, which makes the showing in Seattle stand out even more.
Washington State rounds out the rankings after a 34-7 road loss at Kansas State. The offense has not found its footing under first-year head coach Kirby Moore, and the unit looks broken right now. The Cougars return Saturday against Duquesne at 1:30 p.m. on USA Network.
In Other News...
Cougs Home Opener Brings Back A Familiar Look Fans Always Notice
The first home game of Washington States 2026 season will bring more than just Duquesne to Pullman. It will also bring back one of the Cougars most recognizable looks, as the team is set to wear the white, crimson, crimson uniform combination that fans have long dubbed the Ketchup Bottle setup. The white shell with the crimson facemask has become one of those visual quirks that instantly stands out when the Cougs run out at home.
It also marks another entry in Washington States ever-changing uniform history, becoming the 53rd different combination since 2017. And while that alternate look will draw the early attention, the traditional home crimson jerseys are still on deck for the first time this season, keeping alive the balance between the programs newer style of presentation and the familiar color scheme fans expect when football returns to Martin Stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Women Showed Serious Grit In Nonconference Finale
Washington State wrapped up its nonconference schedule with a 2-1 win over Seattle U, and the Cougars had to grind for every bit of it. True freshman Isabella Amado gave WSU an early lift with her first collegiate goal, setting the tone for a match that asked plenty of the Cougars on both sides of the ball.
Ashlyn Dvorak helped keep the lead within reach with a career-high 13 saves, a workload that spoke to how much pressure WSU absorbed before finally getting the decisive break in the 66th minute on a Seattle U own goal. For a team heading into the next stretch of the season, it was the kind of result that can matter as much for its toughness as for the final score. [Read more 🡒]
WSU's Top Recruit Is Still Drawing Pressure Fans Can't Ignore
Rashaun Lavatais pledge to Washington State has held through a summer of outside attention, and the four-star offensive tackle from Curtis High School has only added to the appeal by continuing to develop physically since his recruitment first took off. He committed to the Cougars in June even as multiple FBS programs kept coming around, and his profile now gives Washington State one of the more important early wins in its class.
Lavatai has continued to stress that his verbal commitment to WSU is where he stands for now, even with the pressure that comes with being a highly sought-after in-state lineman. He is set to be around for the Cougars homecoming game, while also trying to finish his senior season at Curtis alongside his younger brother, a setting that keeps him close to home and close to the decision he has already made. [Read more 🡒]