The Pac-12 picture is getting sharper by the week, and the latest rankings show a clear divide at the top. Boise State still sits alone at No. 1, Oregon State isn’t moving, and San Diego State has forced its way into the conversation after knocking off Fresno State.
Boise State keeps the top spot after its bye week, and the Broncos are still the team everyone else is chasing. Their next test comes against Washington State, a group that finally looks more dangerous on offense with a new quarterback in place. For Boise State, the path in Pullman is straightforward: run the ball, stay clean defensively, and keep the College Football Playoff push moving.
Oregon State remains right behind the Broncos after another strong showing on offense. The Beavers put more than 40 points on Washington State, continuing a season-long trend that has made them one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
The concern is on the other side of the ball. Giving up 31 to a WSU offense that has had trouble scoring all season leaves plenty for Oregon State to sort out during its bye before the Halloween date with Fresno State.
San Diego State made the biggest move of the week, jumping from No. 5 to No. 3 after edging Fresno State 26-23. That result changed the way the top tier looks.
The Aztecs are now 2-1 in Pac-12 play and have a real opportunity to keep climbing. Colorado State is next, and it’s a matchup that should let San Diego State keep building before a Week 9 trip to face WSU.
Fresno State, meanwhile, took the biggest hit among the contenders. The Bulldogs had been viewed as the clear No. 3 team in the conference, but the loss to San Diego State knocked them off that track.
They’re 1-2 in Pac-12 play now and head into a bye before a critical meeting with Oregon State next week. If Fresno State drops to 1-3, the road to the Pac-12 title gets a lot steeper.
Texas State keeps climbing after its offense exploded in a 66-27 win over Colorado State. That was the Bobcats’ first-ever Pac-12 conference win, and it looked exactly like what they’ve become: a team that can light up the scoreboard and threaten in just about any game. A home date with Utah State is up next, and if Texas State reaches 30 points again, it should like its chances of moving to 2-1 in conference play.
Utah State rises one spot during its bye, helped along by Colorado State’s continued struggles. Now the Aggies head to Texas State with a defense that will need to do the heavy lifting. Their offense has had trouble scoring all season, so keeping the Bobcats in check is the only real route to staying competitive.
Washington State finally showed something on offense in Week 7, and that was enough to move the Cougars up from No. 8 to No. 7.
Owen Eshelman started at quarterback and looked more in control of the offense, which gave WSU a much-needed spark against Oregon State. The challenge now is proving that performance wasn’t a one-week burst.
Boise State comes to Pullman next, and the Cougars will need that offense to carry over if they want a shot at the upset.
Colorado State falls all the way to last after another rough defensive outing. The Rams have now allowed more than 50 points in three straight weeks, and Jim Mora still has major issues to clean up on that side of the ball.
San Diego State is the opponent this week, and it gives Colorado State a chance to settle things down. If the Rams can generate some stops, their offense is capable of making the game interesting.
In Other News...
Washington State Faces A Brutal Test In Boise State Upset Bid
Homecoming brings a familiar but still notable opponent back to Pullman, with Boise State visiting for the first meeting between the programs since 2017 and their first as Pac-12 foes. Washington State badly needs a lift after four straight losses, and the stakes are simple enough: keep bowl hopes within reach while trying to handle a Boise State team that has looked sharp and brings one of the nations most productive rushing attacks into a tough road setting.
The Cougars also arrive with plenty of uncertainty on offense after making a quarterback change, and the timing is rough with injuries thinning out the wide receiver group. Even with the reset under center, the challenge against Boise State is more than just finding rhythm through the air. Washington State will have to find answers against a physical opponent that has been winning in the trenches and forcing others to play on its terms. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]