- Utah State on a short week? Cougs need an offensive pulse
PULLMAN – Here is a first look at Washington State’s road game against Utah State on Friday evening.
What is it?
It’s the first road Pac-12 contest of the season for WSU, which is trying to put a blowout home loss to Fresno State over the weekend in the rearview mirror. In that one, the Cougars failed to score an offensive touchdown for the second time this season, the first time this program has met that fate in one season since 2008.
That helped prompt WSU coach Kirby Moore to take over playcalling duties from offensive coordinator Matt Miller, an announcement Moore made in his weekly news conference on Monday. It’s also possible the Cougars move away from quarterback Caden Pinnick, with Moore saying “everyone will get reps” at QB in practice this week.
In a rematch of last winter’s Idaho Potato Bowl, Moore’s WSU squad will try to take down a Utah State team that has just one win, also checking in with one of the country’s worst offenses.
Where is it?
Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah.
When is it?
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (7 p.m. local)
Where can I watch it?
The CW will broadcast the game.
Who is favored?
WSU opened as a 4.5-point underdog.
How did the Cougars fare last week?
In a 26-6 loss to Fresno State to open conference play, WSU’s offense struggled as badly as it has in decades. Pinnick threw one interception, and an earlier snap mishap resulted in another turnover, the team’s ninth of the season. The Cougars slogged through six three-and-outs, one drive that only reached a first down via penalty and one turnover on downs, which was a four-play series in the game’s final moments.
WSU scored only two field goals, both from kicker Jack Stevens, who has now connected on three straight field goals. His second make on Saturday, a 50-yarder right before halftime, was a careerlong kick. It’s clear his confidence is returning, and thanks to coaches’ decision to shift some personnel on the field goal team, that part of the Cougars’ special teams unit looks much sharper.
WSU’s defense also turned in a remarkable outing, getting a sterling game from defensive end Matyus McLain, including a half-sack and two tackles for loss. The Cougars recovered a fumble, and they kept their team within one score for three quarters, an extraordinary development considering how badly their offense was struggling. WSU defenders were caught off guard by several Fresno State trick plays, including a reverse that the Bulldogs used to go up by a touchdown midway through the third frame, but those were about the only faults to find with defensive coordinator Trent Bray’s group.
But the reasons WSU lost the game, its second straight setback, had much more to do with its offense’s shortcomings. Early in the game, receiver Branden Ganashamoorthy caught what would have been a third-down conversion, but he ran his route short of the line to gain. Fellow receiver Daniel Blood dropped a late pass for a conversion. And Pinnick turned in his worst game of the year, missing targets downfield and showing some wobbly decision-making throughout the entire game.
On top of that, the Cougs’ rushing attack was almost nonexistent, at least from their tailbacks. Maxwell Woods, Kirby Vorhees and Leo Pulalasi combined for just 45 yards on 12 carries. In the second half, those numbers dropped significantly: Those three combined for just 13 yards on five carries. As a team, the Cougars rushed for negative-4 yards in the second half.
“We gotta incorporate those guys more. We got to stay on the field,” Moore said. “That’s the most important thing. You gotta get first downs to get more carries for the running backs. And when 11 of your 14 third downs are third-and-long plus, the percentages on conversion there are pretty low.”
All in all, it was another listless showing for a WSU team that has languished through several like it already this year. The Cougars converted on just 3 of 14 third-down chances, dropping their season rate to 16-for-59 – 27%, five spots up from dead last in the country.
Scouting Utah State …
The Aggies, who are led by second-year coach Bronco Mendenhall and quarterback Grady Brosterhous, have started the season to the tune of 1-4. They opened with a loss to FCS Idaho State, then followed with two more setbacks, on the road to Washington and Utah. Mendenhall’s team bounced back with a home win over Troy before falling to Boise State last weekend.
The Aggies, who rank last in the Pac-12 in scoring offense and fourth in scoring defense, have struggled to generate any consistent offense. Utah State’s 14 points per game ranks three spots up from last nationally, and on top of being one of the country’s most penalized teams, the Aggies’ turnover margin of minus-seven is four spots up from last nationally.
Utah State has rolled with Brosterhous at quarterback, but in the team’s loss to Boise State over the weekend, coaches gave several midgame snaps to junior McCae Hillstead. It’s likely that WSU will see Brosterhous – he’s completed 58% of his passes for 764 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions – but Hillstead might not be out of the picture entirely, either.
Between Brosterhous and Hillstead, the Aggies have thrown 10 interceptions, which ranks dead last in the country. That’s a key reason why Utah State’s offense is among the worst nationally.
“He can really run the football. He can throw the football. It starts with him,” Moore said of Brosterhous. “There’s some RPO elements to what they do. There’s a lot of creativity offensively. They’ve got some good skill guys that we gotta make sure we tackle in space.”
But Utah State’s defense hasn’t been half bad. The Aggies are allowing 25 points per game, good for the fourth-best mark in the Pac-12, thanks in large part to a few playmakers: Safety Brevin Hamblin is the team’s leading tackler with 43 takedowns, and he’s snagged one interception. Edge rusher Jordan Pendleton has two sacks on seven quarterback pressures, and safety David Kabongo also has one pick.
What happened last time?
WSU and Utah State’s last meeting came in the 2025 Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, where the Cougars’ offense roared to life in a 34-21 victory. With former coach Jimmy Rogers already off to Iowa State, former offensive coordinator Danny Freund flexed his muscles and unleashed his team’s offense.
- Boise State comes to Pullman for the first time since 2017
Greg Woods
gregw@spokesman.com
PULLMAN — Here is a first look at Washington State’s home game against No. 21 Boise State on Saturday afternoon.
What is it?
Still looking for its first FBS win of the season, WSU (1-6, 0-3) returns home for the first time in three weeks to host No. 21 Boise State (5-1, 2-0), which was idle last week. It’s the Cougars’ and Broncos’ first time meeting in Pullman since 2017, when the late Tyler Hilinski came off the bench to lead WSU to a triple-overtime win.
It’s a full-circle moment for WSU coach Kirby Moore, who played for the Broncos from 2009-2013, which is also when he met quarterbacks coach Matt Miller and formed many of the connections that he uses today.
Where is it?
Gesa Field in Pullman.
When is it?
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
Where can I watch it?
USA Network will broadcast the game.
Who is favored?
WSU opened as a 14-point underdog.
How did the Cougars fare last week?
In a 48-30 loss to Oregon State, WSU redshirt freshman quarterback Owen Eshelman got his first start, completing 32 of 49 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns and one late interception in garbage time. He also racked up 136 rushing yards on 15 carries, sparking the Cougs’ offense to its most points against an FBS opponent all season, making coaches look wise for starting him and benching previous QB Caden Pinnick.
The Cougars’ offense looked much improved, at least in the passing game, but it wasn’t enough to upset the Beavers and their prolific offense. OSU QB Braden Atkinson piled up 347 passing yards and three touchdowns, including a 90-yard strike to freshman Jesse Legree and an 88-yard completion to receiver AJ Newberry, both of which came after the Cougars elected to punt on fourth-and-short near midfield — making Moore pay for his conservative approach.
After those plays, WSU couldn’t climb out of an early hole, trailing 17-0 before the visitors got on the scoreboard with a short field goal from kicker Jack Stevens. The Cougars pulled to within three scores on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Eshelman to receiver Branden Ganashamoorthy, who finished with career-highs in both receptions and receiving yards, but it was too little too late for Washington State.
“I would just say we lost there,” WSU cornerback Khamari Terrell said. “It wasn’t really we got beaten there. Just a little technical, little details. The look that we got and that they scored on, we’ve got multiple times in practice, just doing the little details. And the technique part, just staying on top and just executing there.”
Eshelman may have looked sharp on the ground, but it was another slow day for the WSU running back trio of Maxwell Woods, Kirby Vorhees and Leo Pulalasi, who combined for just 26 rushing yards on 13 carries. Against FBS opponents this year, they are averaging only 52 yards per game, a far cry from the elite trio they were projected to be headed into the season.
“The tailbacks need to be able to run the ball better, but that starts up front,” Moore said on Monday. “We gotta block better, and we gotta have our hands inside. We gotta win our one-on-one matchups. We gotta put the ball in the corner in the safeties, and then from a running back standpoint, we gotta make people miss as well. So it’s a combination of things there, but we gotta do a much better job.”
Scouting Boise State…
Under head coach Spencer Danielson and veteran quarterback Maddux Madsen, the Broncos have followed a season-opening loss to Oregon with five straight wins, most recently a 38-31 win over Fresno State on Oct. 10. That has landed Boise State squarely in the discussion for the College Football Playoff.
The strength of the Broncos’ team is their rushing attack, which is averaging 235 yards per game, ninth nationally and second in the Pac-12. Running back Dylan Riley ranks second in the country with 139 yards per game, totaling six touchdowns on the ground, and fellow tailback Sire Gaines has provided an additional three scores and 354 yards. Those two have spearheaded the Broncos’ offense all season.
In his third season as BSU’s full-time starting QB, Madsen has taken phenomenal care of the ball, throwing zero interceptions and 13 touchdowns. He’s completed 110 of 166 passes (66%) for 1,296 yards. He’s also only taken five sacks, an impressive feat from the Broncos’ offensive line, which has only been responsible for three sacks according to Pro Football Focus.
The Broncos’ ground game has become so dangerous in part because their running backs are hard to bring down. Riley has forced 28 missed tackles, according to PFF, which is second in the Pac-12. Gaines isn’t far behind, with 18. Combined with Madsen’s ability to avoid turnovers — BSU has lost only three turnovers, tied for second-fewest nationally — and you get a machine of an offense.
“They’ve got a really good front,” Moore said. “They have a good scheme. They’ve got good backs. They put the ball in the corner, and a lot of times the back makes the corner miss, whether it’s a move or he breaks a tackle, and both those guys, Sire Gaines as well. They both do a really good job with the ball in their hand.”
What happened last time?
In a 2024 matchup in Boise, former Bronco running back Ashton Jeanty ran ragged over the Cougars, piling up 259 yards and four touchdowns, boosting his Heisman Trophy case. The Cougars were within one score early in the fourth quarter, but the Broncos ran away with three straight touchdowns.
- Oregon State looms as Cougs head south still searching for first win
PULLMAN – Here is a first look at Washington State’s road game against Oregon State on Saturday afternoon.
What is it? Still looking for its first FBS win of the season, WSU (1-5, 0-2 Pac-12) heads to Corvallis to take on Oregon State (4-2, 2-0) in a matchup of the two legacy Pac-12 schools. The teams find themselves on opposite ends of the conference standings – the Cougars at the bottom, the Beavers at the top, using one of the country’s most potent offenses to enter this matchup on a four-game winning streak.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Cougar defensive coordinator Trent Bray, who spent a large chunk of his coaching career with the Beavers, including as their head coach for the 2024 season and part of the 2025 campaign before being fired.
It will also be the first start for WSU QB Owen Eshelman, who is taking over the starting duties and replacing Caden Pinnick, Cougar coach Kirby Moore announced on Monday.
Where is it? Reser Stadium in Corvallis.
When is it? Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
Where can I watch it? USA Network will broadcast the game.
Who is favored? WSU opened as a 171/2-point underdog.
How did the Cougars fare last week? A lot had to happen for WSU to lose its road game against Utah State last weekend, but the Cougars pulled it off, blowing a two-score halftime deficit in a 17-16 defeat. The Cougs lost two fumbles, one from quarterback Caden Pinnick and one from tight end Jack Pedersen, both of which turned into Aggie touchdowns in the second half.
WSU, which scored only its fourth touchdown in five FBS games in this game, could not generate any consistent offense in the second half. After getting two field goals from kicker Jack Stevens and a long touchdown rush from Leo Pulalasi in the first half, that production vanished in the second, and the Cougars totaled just 64 total yards of offense in the final two quarters.
All told, it was more of the same from WSU and Pinnick, who is now one of only three quarterbacks in the country to attempt at least 150 passes and total less than 1,000 yards. That highlights one of the biggest flaws in his game, which has hampered his offense: He can’t or won’t stretch the field vertically, forcing the Cougars to try and grind out long drives, which has not been a recipe for success in the long run.
Pinnick was sacked three times in that game, which makes 21 times on the season, one of the highest marks in the country. Only two other teams have given up more. Complicating things on that front for WSU was an ankle injury to left tackle Ashton Tripp, who exited the game in the first quarter. He was replaced by Washington transfer Maximus McCree, who was dinged for two false start penalties.
On the other side of the ball, WSU’s defense turned in another strong showing, getting one sack apiece from defensive tackle Jirah Leaupepetele and defensive end Linus Zunk, whose team held the Aggies to just two field goals in the first half. WSU held USU quarterback Grady Brosterhous to just 150 yards passing, including just one touchdown pass, but that score helped the hosts draw within one score. Late in the fourth quarter, after Pedersen coughed up a fumble, the Cougars were dealt a short field and couldn’t keep the Aggies from taking the lead on a short touchdown rush.
In head coach Kirby Moore’s first game calling plays, WSU did generate some offense in the first half, including grinding out a 15-play, 84-yard series. On those drives, Pinnick stayed within himself and trusted his playmakers. But the Cougars couldn’t translate that to the second half.
Scouting Oregon State … In head coach JaMarcus Shephard’s first season, the Beavers have been one of the top surprises in all of college football, bursting onto the scene with one of the best offenses nationwide. Quarterback Braden Atkinson leads the country in both passing yards per game (376) and passing touchdowns (21), finding a reliable target in true freshman Jesse Legree, who is emerging as one of the best receivers in the country.
Legree, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week all six weeks of the season, will pose serious problems for the Cougar secondary. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Legree has hauled in 38 catches for 932 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the country in the latter two categories.
Fresh off a 66-14 dismantling of San Diego State, OSU can seemingly do no wrong. Running back AJ Newberry, a transfer from Vanderbilt, has tallied 326 rushing yards and three scores, while fellow tailback Cornell Hatcher Jr. has added 149 yards and three of his own touchdowns. Make no mistake: This is one of the country’s best offenses.
“He’s a really good player,” Moore said of Legree. “You see him with the ball in space, obviously taking the top off a number of times as well. I think it’s about playing team defense. Obviously, communication is gonna be really important: Where he’s at, whether he’s in the slot, whether he’s outside, left, right. The pass rush has to help out the coverage. The coverage has gotta help out the pass rush. I think Coach Bray is doing a good job right now with our guys, making sure they’re all on the same page.”
The Beavers have also done well to involve their tight ends: Utah Tech tight end Eric Olsen has racked up 27 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns, while Central Michigan transfer DeCorion Temple has 20 receptions for 169 yards and two scores. Sprinkle in some production from receivers Aeyron Hampton and Aaron Butler, the latter a transfer from Texas, and you get the Beavers’ high-powered offense.
What happened last time? In a rare scheduling quirk, WSU and Oregon State played twice last season, once in Corvallis and once in Pullman. The Beavers won their home matchup, 10-7, while the Cougars returned the favor in Pullman, winning that one 32-8.
This will be WSU’s third time in the last three years playing in Corvallis.
