Washington State doesn’t get many chances to test itself against a team rolling the way Boise State is right now, but Saturday’s homecoming matchup in Pullman brings exactly that kind of challenge.
The Cougars host No. 21 Boise State at 3 p.m.
Saturday on USA Network in a game that carries a little extra meaning for WSU coach Kirby Moore. Moore spent his playing days at Boise State, and the Broncos also helped shape parts of the staff he later assembled in Pullman.
It’s a familiar opponent, then, and a familiar place, even if the stakes now look very different.
WSU is 1-6 overall and 0-3 in Pac-12 play, riding a four-game losing streak into this one. Boise State comes in at 5-1 and 2-0 after sitting idle last weekend, with its only loss coming in the opener against Oregon before it ripped off five straight wins.
This is also the first time the Cougars have hosted Boise State since 2017, when the late Tyler Hilinski sparked a dramatic triple-overtime comeback after coming off the bench. And it’s the first Pac-12 meeting between the teams, even as they sit on opposite ends of the league standings.
For WSU, the path to a bowl is still technically alive. The Cougars have reached bowl games in 10 of the past 11 full seasons, but to get there this year they would need to finish with five straight wins.
That would mean bucking just about everything they’ve shown through seven games. Most sportsbooks list WSU as about a 13-point underdog.
“At the end of the day, ultimately, it’s about winning, though,” Moore said, “and we gotta do a better job on what it takes to win. This week, we’ll challenge our guys with (their) attitude when they hit the building.
What’s their attitude? That’s their choice on a daily basis, and to make sure we’re being as prepared and detailed as we can for the Boise State game.”
The biggest reason for optimism on the WSU side is the quarterback switch. Last week, the Cougars moved from Caden Pinnick to Owen Eshelman, and the results were far better in a loss to Oregon State than anything they had gotten with Pinnick under center.
Eshelman threw for nearly 300 yards, finished with two passing touchdowns and added another score on the ground while rushing for 136 yards. It was enough to make people wonder where that version of the quarterback had been all season.
If he can produce something close to that again, WSU can at least hang around. But Boise State’s defense will not make it easy, even if one of its glaring numbers points to an opening. The Broncos rank No. 130 of 138 FBS teams in Pro Football Focus’ tackling grades, though they have only missed a combined 17 tackles over their last two games.
The Cougars also have to solve a major problem at receiver. Tony Freeman has been out for all but 10 snaps this season because of a torn ACL, and now Darrius Clemons is doubtful after suffering an ankle injury last week at Oregon State. That leaves a thin group even thinner.
Branden Ganashamoorthy, Daniel Blood and Tank Hawkins are the main names left standing. Ganashamoorthy set career highs last weekend with 11 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Blood caught his first career touchdown pass and finished with six receptions for 59 yards. Hawkins has had an up-and-down role this fall, but he played 50 offensive snaps against Oregon State and should be in line for more work Saturday.
Moore also mentioned two deeper options who could see expanded roles: West Georgia transfer Jordan Dees and walk-on Caleb Northcroft. The pair have combined for just 17 offensive snaps this season, but depth is depth at this point, and both could at least help keep the top three receivers fresh.
“They’ll get a bunch of reps this week, and then we’ll evaluate where they’re at,” Moore said, “whether that’s 11 personnel, 12 personnel. What gives us the best opportunity to win? And then we’ll play that way.”
Even with Eshelman’s spark, the bigger burden may fall on WSU’s defense, which will spend much of the afternoon trying to slow one of the country’s most efficient rushing attacks. Boise State is averaging 235 rushing yards per game, good for No. 8 nationally, and the Broncos lean heavily on Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines. Riley is averaging 139 yards per game, second in the nation, while Gaines is averaging about 89 yards per game across four outings.
That ground game has made life easy for quarterback Maddux Madsen, who has 13 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Boise State has protected the ball and kept defenses on their heels, while WSU’s defense, which ranks fifth in the Pac-12, will need to win the tackling battle to give the Cougars any shot at an upset.
Moore may know the city’s name well enough to pronounce it the right way. On Saturday, he’ll be hoping his team gives him a different reason to say it out loud.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Washington State May Have Found A Breakout Weapon Fans Missed
Branden Ganashamoorthy has become one of the more intriguing developments in Washington States passing game this season, turning into a reliable target after arriving in Pullman with a very different athletic path than most receivers. The route to this point was gradual, but his rise through the depth chart has given the Cougars another playmaker to lean on when the offense needs someone to separate and finish plays.
His breakout moment came against Oregon State, when he was heavily involved from start to finish and delivered the kind of production that can change how defenses prepare for Washington State. For a player who once looked like a long shot to become a major part of the passing attack, Ganashamoorthys ascent has added an unexpected wrinkle to the Cougars offense, and it is fair to wonder how much more room there is for it to grow. [Read more 🡒]