Washington State can point to Trent Bray’s defense and feel decent about what it’s bringing into Corvallis. In his first year as the Cougars’ defensive coordinator, Bray has squeezed plenty out of the unit, which sits among the conference’s best and has already produced three interceptions, two of them pick-sixes.
That familiarity cuts both ways, too. Bray knows Oregon State well. The OSU alum and longtime coach, who also spent about a season and a half as the Beavers’ head coach, returns for a road game against a program he knows inside and out.
Still, the matchup turns on the other side of the ball, and that’s where Oregon State holds the edge. The Beavers’ offense has been too much to handle, and Washington State hasn’t seen anything like it.
Braden Atkinson and freshman receiver Jesse Legree have stayed hot all season, even through Oregon State’s two Power 4 losses to start the year. That kind of firepower is why the Beavers are being backed to stay on track and send the Cougars to a fourth straight defeat.
Washington State does have a swing-at-the-fences sort of move available. Head coach Kirby Moore is turning to redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman over Caden Pinnick, hoping the young quarterback’s accuracy and arm strength can spark something. The Cougars are 18.5-point underdogs, but a more aggressive passing game could give them at least a puncher’s chance.
The catch is obvious: Eshelman is 20, making his first career college start and seeing his first meaningful action at this level. That’s a lot to ask against a Beaver offense that has made life miserable for opposing defenses. Atkinson’s production tells the story - he leads the country with 376 passing yards per game.
So while Washington State may have enough to make Moore’s quarterback call worth watching, it still looks like a steep climb. Eshelman might benefit from being thrown right into the deep end, but Oregon State’s offense is built to keep pressure on, and that should be enough to carry the Beavers. Final score: Oregon State 35, WSU 20.
In Other News...
Washington State's Season Pressure Builds In A Brutal Trip To Oregon State
Washington State heads into Reser Stadium still trying to find its footing, and the matchup with Oregon State arrives with the Cougars staring at a 1-5 record and plenty of pressure to show something different on offense. The Beavers, meanwhile, come in at 4-2 and dealing with their own injury concerns, a setup that makes this a useful measuring stick for both sides as the Cougars look for any sign of progress.
The intrigue for Washington State is the reset under center, a move designed to give the offense a jolt in a season that has sputtered too often. Oregon States availability report also matters here, especially with key injuries thinning the Beavers, and the Cougars will be hoping those gaps can help them stay competitive on the road while fans follow along with the broadcast details and the latest pregame updates. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Turns To Owen Eshelman As Offensive Pressure Mounts
The quarterback shuffle in Pullman has finally arrived after Washington State spent the early part of the season searching for more consistency on offense. Owen Eshelman is now the starter, giving the Cougars a new direction after a stretch of uneven production with Caden Pinnick under center, and head coach Kirby Moore pointed to Eshelmans preparation, leadership and readiness as reasons for the move.
For a team that has been waiting for the offense to find its footing, the timing matters as much as the decision itself. Washington State does not have much margin for error now, and the change adds a fresh layer of urgency heading into the next game as the Cougars try to solve a problem that has lingered for weeks. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Heads Into Oregon State With Key Week 1 Decisions Looming
Washington States first injury report of the week offered an early look at how much shuffling might be needed before the Cougars head to Oregon State. Linebacker Jack Ellison is no longer on the report, a positive sign as the team starts sorting through availability for a game that could hinge on depth and flexibility across both lines and the secondary.
The bigger concern is the cluster of players still listed as questionable, a group that includes key pieces on the edge, in the defensive backfield, and up front at left tackle. Linebacker Nylan Brown is already ruled out for the season, leaving Washington State with at least one long-term hole to manage while it waits to see how the rest of the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]