The Pac-12 race is starting to harden around the two teams at the top, and Oregon State keeps applying pressure on No. 21 Boise State from just behind. The Beavers are 5-2 overall and 3-0 in league play after a 48-30 home win over Washington State on Saturday, while Boise State sat idle last week and stays ahead for now.
That gap gets tested on Nov. 14, when Oregon State travels to Boise State. Until then, both teams have business in front of them: the Beavers are on bye this week, and the Broncos head to Washington State.
Boise State entered the week climbing two spots in the AP Poll during its bye, and the schedule sets up well before the Oregon State meeting. Dylan Riley continues to put up huge numbers, ranking No. 4 nationally in rushing with 835 yards and six touchdowns.
Oregon State’s latest performance was all about control. The Beavers jumped on Washington State early, building a 27-3 first-half lead and then easing home from there. Braden Atkinson now leads FBS in passing by nearly 600 yards, and Jesse Legree remains the nation’s top receiver with 46 catches for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Behind the top two, Texas State sits third in these rankings, and the numbers explain why. The offense is producing at a national level across several categories, and running back Torrance Burgess Jr. delivered another brutal outing against Colorado State with 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Texas State rolled 66-27 in that one.
San Diego State follows after a strange start to Pac-12 play. The Aztecs have beaten Texas State and Fresno State, but they also absorbed a 52-point loss to Oregon State, leaving their résumé full of extremes. They return this week to face Colorado State on Saturday.
Colorado State, meanwhile, is trying to steady itself after back-to-back losses to teams in this group. The Rams fell 38-31 at home to Boise State before dropping a 26-23 game at San Diego State.
Utah State picked up a win over Washington State before its bye and now gets a tougher assignment, a home date with Texas State on Saturday.
New Mexico State rounds out the group after its 48-30 loss at Oregon State. Even in defeat, quarterback Owen Eshelman gave the offense a boost, giving the Cougars something to build on as they host Boise State this weekend.
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 🡒]
Boise State Heads Into Washington State With A Defensive Concern
Boise State spent its bye week looking inward, and head coach Spencer Danielson said the Broncos still have work to do on the basics. Tackling and limiting explosive plays were front and center in his assessment, a sign that the defense will need to be sharper when the Broncos head to Pullman to face Washington State.
The Cougars, meanwhile, are working through a quarterback change after turning to redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman, who looked comfortable in his first start. The matchup carries some extra familiarity beyond the game plan, with a competitive history between the programs and several Washington State coaches having ties to Boise State, which only adds another layer to a meeting that already feels a little personal. [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 🡒]