- 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.
- 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.
- Five-game skid meets the road: Cougs chase first FBS win at SDSU
PULLMAN – Here is a first look at Washington State’s road game against San Diego State on Saturday afternoon.
What is it?
Looking to end a five-game slide and secure its first FBS win of the season, WSU heads to the Golden State to take on San Diego State, which has lost two of its last three games. The Cougars are coming off a 31-10 loss to Boise State, which marked quarterback Owen Eshelman’s second start.
It’s the first Pac-12 matchup between the Cougars and Aztecs, who have met each of the last two seasons, both wins for WSU. The Cougs, whose bye week comes next week, are also playing their third road game in the last four weeks.
Where is it?
Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.
When is it?
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
Where can I watch it?
CBS Sports Network will broadcast the game.
Who is favored?
WSU opened as a 2.5-point underdog.
How did the Cougars fare last week?
In a 31-10 loss to Boise State, WSU played the first-place Broncos to a 10-10 tie through three quarters, but that’s when things went south for the hosts. Boise State followed with a 21-0 fourth quarter, turning a costly Eshelman interception into a touchdown, then adding two more on each of its next two drives.
In Eshelman’s second start, it was another slow offensive outing for the Cougars, who tied the game shortly before halftime on a long touchdown drive and again on a field goal from kicker Jack Stevens, who has now connected on eight in a row. But that’s all the scoring WSU did, punting on four of its first five drives of the game.
The Cougars weren’t at full strength on offense. Wide receiver Darrius Clemons missed the game after going down the previous week with an ankle injury, a tough blow to a WSU receiver corps that has been thin since star wideout Tony Freeman tore his ACL in Week 1. But the Cougs didn’t exactly expand their rotation at that spot, instead opting to play receivers Branden Ganashamoorthy and Tank Hawkins heavy snaps and leaving Jordan Dees and Caleb Northcroft – both of whom WSU coach Kirby Moore said would get increased snaps – on the bench entirely.
Plus, the Cougars didn’t get much of anything from their rushing game, which produced only 53 yards on 33 carries. Running backs Kirby Vorhees and Leo Pulalasi accounted for only 20 yards on 10 carries, while fellow back Maxwell Woods played only 11 snaps and did not get any carries. In seven games against FBS competition, WSU running backs are averaging 15 carries for 48 yards.
That helped spotlight the problems facing WSU’s offensive line, which allowed 16 pressures and two sacks on Eshelman, who took four total. On several occasions, the Cougs were beaten on stunts. On others, they weren’t able to generate any push on running plays, a key reason why their running backs haven’t gotten anything consistent going. A group of five returners – left tackle Ashton Tripp, left guard Jonny Lester, center Noah Dunham, right guard Nick Bakken and right tackle Jaylin Caldwell – have shared a good dosage of the blame for a paltry offense.
“Offensively, we weren’t good enough, especially up front,” Moore said, “protecting the quarterback, running the football, and it led to 17 third downs. We want to limit the number of third downs. We gotta be more efficient on first and second down and create more explosive plays.”
On defense, the Cougs allowed several more big plays, including two long touchdown rushes from Boise State star running back Dylan Riley, who piled up 128 yards and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter. WSU, which whiffed on 16 tackles, has had some issues preventing explosive plays all season.
Perhaps just as important: Washington State couldn’t generate any real pass rush. The Cougars finished with only eight pressures on QB Maddux Madsen, according to Pro Football Focus, which gave him ample time in the pocket to complete passes. Madsen completed several key third-down conversions, including a 17-yard scramble in the third quarter, which later led to a touchdown.
Scouting San Diego State…
In head coach Sean Lewis’ third season, the Aztecs are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in Pac-12 play, coming off a 56-49 road loss to Colorado State. In that one, backup QB Stone Saunders made his starting debut and threw two touchdowns against two interceptions, totaling 369 yards through the air.
But the Aztecs’ defense couldn’t make it count, as has been the case all season. After eight games, SDSU ranks No. 135 of 138 FBS teams in total defense (462 yards per game), No. 133 in scoring defense (36 points per game), No. 109 in rush defense (178 ypg) and No. 134 in pass defense (284 ypg). That group is also allowing opponents to convert third downs at a 47% clip, which is No. 129 nationally.
It hasn’t been pretty for SDSU’s defense, which had to replace several key pieces on last year’s unit, including cornerback Chris Johnson, a first-round NFL draft pick in the spring, as well as edge rusher Trey White and three others who transferred to Power Four schools.
The Aztecs are dealing with an injury to quarterback Jayden Denegal, the team’s starter for the first seven games. The Aztecs opened the season with a home romp over FCS Portland State, only to drop three straight games, including road matchups with UCLA and Toledo and a home contest against James Madison. Since then, SDSU has dispatched Texas State at home, lost to Oregon State on the road, bounced back with a home win over Fresno State then fell in a road tilt with CSU.
In the Aztecs’ win over the Bulldogs, Saunders came on for the injured Denegal, leading fourth-quarter two scoring drives to secure the win. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds, Saunders profiles a pure pocket-passer, and he does it well. In his first start last weekend, Saunders completed 23 of 33 passes for 369 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. He isn’t much of a mobile threat, posting only four carries for negative-9 yards, an indication of the two total sacks he’s taken.
“They’re doing a nice job of playing complementary football,” Moore said. “They got in a shootout last week. They’re 3-1 at home. For us, it’s gonna be a challenge, third out of four games being on the road.”
What happened last time?
WSU and San Diego State’s last meeting came last fall in Pullman, where former Cougar quarterback Jaxon Potter led his team to a 36-13 win, scoring 22 unanswered points to pull away. Potter would go on to make one more start, in a loss to North Texas, before being benched for veteran Zevi Eckhaus for the rest of the season.
