Week 7 has arrived, and the Pac-12 picture is starting to sort itself out at the top - even if there’s still plenty of movement everywhere else.
Boise State stays put at No. 1, Oregon State keeps the No. 2 spot after another blowout, and Fresno State hangs on in the top three despite a painful loss to the Broncos. Elsewhere, Utah State climbs after finally getting into the conference win column, while Washington State slips to the bottom after another tough finish.
Boise State has owned the top spot since the season opened, and that doesn’t change after its road rivalry win at Fresno State. The Broncos have only sharpened their case as one of the conference’s two best teams. They’ll get a bye this week before heading to Pullman in Week 8 for a matchup with Washington State.
Oregon State remains right behind Boise State after torching San Diego State 66-14. Jesse Legree is still making his case as one of the best wide receivers in the country, and the Beavers’ offense is giving their fans plenty of reason to think big.
This week brings another Pac-2 meeting, with Washington State coming to Corvallis. If Oregon State can put up 28 or more points against a solid WSU defense, it should like its chances.
Fresno State stays at No. 3 even after the loss to Boise State, though the Bulldogs couldn’t hold up against the Broncos’ ground game and gave up more than 270 rushing yards. They get a shot to reset this week against San Diego State. A win would help Fresno State answer the rivalry loss and reinforce its place near the top of the league.
Texas State moves up one spot from last week, jumping ahead of San Diego State after the Aztecs were hammered by Oregon State. The Bobcats were idle last week, and if there’s such a thing as winning the bye week, this was it. Texas State now hosts Colorado State, giving it a chance to grab its first Pac-12 conference win against a Rams defense that has struggled all season.
San Diego State falls to No. 5 after the 66-14 loss in Corvallis, a result that was ugly from start to finish. The only comfort is that Oregon State is a strong team and that it still goes in the standings as one loss. The Aztecs try to bounce back this week in a rivalry game with Fresno State, but both sides of the ball will need a major step forward to pull off the upset.
Colorado State sits sixth after a quiet week following its bye. The extra time off came with some benefits, though, giving quarterback Hauss Hejny more time to recover and new defensive coordinator Kenny McClendon another week to get his unit ready.
The Rams now head to Texas State, where they’ll be tested by one of the conference’s most explosive offenses. If the defense tightens up, Colorado State could have enough offense to make things interesting in San Marcos.
Utah State is up to No. 7 after grabbing its first Pac-12 win, a 17-16 decision over Washington State on Friday. The Aggies didn’t need much from the offense, because the defense carried the night and delivered a huge result for Bronco Mendenhall’s group. Utah State is off this week before heading to Texas State for another difficult conference test.
At the bottom, Washington State drops to No. 8 after that 17-16 loss at Utah State. That’s not where Kirby Moore expected to be in his first season in Pullman.
The Cougars now head to Corvallis, where Oregon State is chasing the Pac-12 title and starting to believe even more is possible. Washington State will turn to new starting quarterback Owen Eshelman as it tries to get itself back on track.
In Other News...
Boise State Has A Real Pac-12 Edge Fans Need To See
Boise State and Oregon State have spent much of this Pac-12 race looking like the programs setting the pace, and the numbers back that up. Boise State sits atop several statistical categories and rankings, and the Broncos are the current betting favorite to win the league title, while the Beavers remain in the mix as another team with a strong profile heading into a busy stretch around the conference.
For Washington State, the immediate challenge comes against an Oregon State team that is favored in its upcoming matchup, as the Cougars sort through the next step at quarterback and try to stay competitive in a league where every week seems to sharpen the hierarchy. Elsewhere, Fresno State visits San Diego State and Texas State hosts Colorado State, but the bigger Pac-12 picture still centers on whether anyone can close the gap on Boise State and Oregon State. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Faces A Real Threat To Its Four-Game Surge
Oregon State arrives with plenty of momentum, but Washington State has its own reason to believe this matchup can get interesting. Under first-year coach Kirby Moore, the Cougars are piecing together the kind of defensive and offensive answers that can make life uncomfortable for a Pac-12 co-leader, especially in a game where field position and sustained drives should matter from the start.
Much of the attention lands on how WSU handles Oregon States passing game and whether quarterback Owen Eshelman can keep the Cougars out of long-yardage situations. The challenge is familiar enough for a November-type game: move the chains, stay balanced, and make the Beavers work for every stop. If Washington State can pair efficiency through the air with the outside-zone run game, it has a path to putting a real dent in Oregon States four-game surge. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Turns To Owen Eshelman As Offensive Pressure Mounts
The quarterback picture at Washington State has changed, and Owen Eshelman is now the one tasked with trying to steady an offense that has struggled to find a rhythm. Head coach Kirby Moore pointed to Eshelmans preparation, leadership and readiness as the Cougars head into their next game, a sign the staff believes the offense needs a different spark after a stretch of uneven play.
The move follows a run of underwhelming performances with Caden Pinnick under center, leaving Washington State searching for more consistency at the most important position. Pinnick had six starts to get the unit going, but the offense never really took off, and the pressure now shifts to Eshelman to show the Cougars something different when the next chance arrives. [Read more 🡒]