Week 10 arrives with Boise State still sitting on top of the Pac-12 power rankings, but the Broncos are no longer cruising. Their 46-45 escape against Texas State was a reminder that even the top team in the league has some cracks, especially in the secondary. The scare got worse when star quarterback Maddux Madsen went down with an injury in the second half.
Still, Boise State gets to stay in the No. 1 spot for now, and the next stop is Fort Collins against a struggling Colorado State team. That sets up a tricky spot for the Broncos, who have to avoid a letdown before a bigger matchup with Oregon State the following week.
Fresno State made the biggest move of the week after taking down Oregon State 38-22, a result that pushed the Bulldogs into the No. 2 slot. Fresno State looked in control against the Beavers and now sits at 2-2 in conference play, with a clear path to the Pac-12 championship game if it can win out. The next challenge is a road trip to Utah State, where the Bulldogs will need to run the ball well against a tough Aggies defense to keep that run alive.
Oregon State falls to No. 3 after seeing its slim College Football Playoff hopes essentially disappear in that loss to Fresno State. The Beavers had trouble finishing drives in the red zone, and the defensive issues that showed up against Washington State followed them again.
Even with that setback, Oregon State still has a shot at a Pac-12 title and a 10-win season, but it has to tighten things up quickly before facing a high-powered Texas State offense. A win this week would also make the Beavers bowl eligible for the first time since 2023.
Texas State remains one of the most dangerous teams in the league despite the heartbreak in Boise. The Bobcats rallied all the way back from a 28-3 halftime hole, only to lose 46-45 when they couldn’t get the stops they needed in the fourth quarter.
That kind of performance on the road should have the rest of the Pac-12 paying attention. Texas State now heads to Corvallis for another tough road test, and at 2-2 in conference play, a win would put the Bobcats in prime position for a Pac-12 championship game berth.
San Diego State checks in at No. 5 after a home win over Washington State moved the Aztecs to 4-5 overall. They’re now two wins shy of bowl eligibility, and the formula was simple in that victory: effective running game, enough defensive stops, and just enough to get past a struggling Cougars team. The Aztecs get a bye week before a key stretch against Utah State and Boise State.
Utah State continues to climb after a convincing 31-14 win over Colorado State in Logan. The Aggies controlled the game from the start and now sit at 3-5 overall and 2-2 in Pac-12 play.
They still have plenty to play for, including a bowl berth and a legitimate shot at the conference championship game. Fresno State comes to town in Week 10, giving Utah State a real chance to announce itself as a serious threat if it can keep the offensive progress going.
Colorado State drops to No. 7 after its worst offensive showing of the year in that loss to Utah State. The Rams have had a rough start to the Jim Mora era, and the schedule doesn’t offer much relief. Boise State visits Fort Collins this week, and Colorado State will need a dramatic defensive turnaround to have any chance at an upset.
Washington State stays at the bottom of the rankings after another frustrating outing, this time against San Diego State. The Cougars were competitive enough to have a chance on the road, but the offense never produced enough to finish the job. A bye week now gives Washington State a chance to regroup before a final stretch that includes the explosive offenses of Colorado State and Texas State.
In Other News...
Washington State Needs Ashton Tripp More Than Ever Right Now
As Washington State tries to steady an offense that has been forced into a series of changes, Ashton Tripp has become one of the most important constants on the roster. The redshirt junior has emerged as the leader of the offensive line and has been the Cougars most effective pass blocker at left tackle, a valuable trait for a unit that has still allowed 31 quarterback sacks and has struggled to create much push in the run game, especially in conference play.
Tripps value goes beyond what shows up on game day, because he has been around long enough to understand how much the program has changed around him. He is a co-captain, a model player in the eyes of the current offensive line coach, and one of the few pieces the Cougars can lean on while they sort through new play-calling and quarterback adjustments. For a line that needs stability, Tripp has become the player Washington State can least afford to lose right now. [Read more 🡒]