No. 21 Boise State takes its 5-1 record and five-game winning streak into Pullman on Saturday to face a Washington State team still searching for answers under a new starting quarterback. The Broncos, 2-0 in Pac-12 play, arrive off a bye week after a 38-31 win at Fresno State. Washington State sits at 1-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play, coming off a 48-30 loss at Oregon State in which redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman made his first career start.
Boise State Vs Washington State Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
- Time: 6 p.m. ET (4 p.m. Mountain)
- Venue: Martin Stadium, Pullman, Washington
- TV/Streaming: USA Network
- Records: Boise State 5-1 (2-0 Pac-12), Washington State 1-6 (0-3 Pac-12)
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Boise State 35.0, Washington State 20.1
- Total yards per game: Boise State 450.5, Washington State 307.6
- Rushing yards per game: Boise State 234.5, Washington State 130.0
- Passing yards per game: Boise State 216.0, Washington State 177.6
- Yards per pass attempt: Boise State 7.8, Washington State 5.5
- Third-down conversion rate: Boise State 50.62%, Washington State 27.84%
- Turnover margin: Boise State 0, Washington State minus-3
- Sacks allowed per game: Boise State 0.8, Washington State 3.4
- Total sacks (defense): Boise State 14, Washington State 8
Boise State Outlook
Boise State has won five straight games and heads into this one off a bye week after a 38-31 victory at Fresno State. The Broncos ran for 274 yards in that game, with Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines each topping the 100-yard mark. Riley leads the team with 835 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 127 carries this season, and the Broncos average 234.5 rushing yards per game as a team.
Quarterback Maddux Madsen has completed 110 of 166 passes for 1,296 yards and 13 touchdowns without an interception, and Boise State’s 157.7 team passer rating reflects an offense that has avoided turnovers all season, with only three giveaways through six games. Rasean Jones leads the receiving corps with 23 catches for 359 yards. No injury designations have been issued for Boise State ahead of the trip to Pullman.
Washington State Outlook
Washington State head coach Kirby Moore made a quarterback change ahead of the Oregon State game, turning to redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman for his first career start. Eshelman completed 32 of 49 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and he added 136 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries on the ground. The performance produced three touchdown drives, the Cougars’ best offensive showing against an FBS opponent this season after managing just four total offensive touchdowns against five FBS opponents before that game.
Moore credited the shift in approach after the loss. “We just had much better rhythm,” Moore said. Washington State still ranks last among the two teams in most statistical categories, averaging 20.1 points and 307.6 total yards per game while converting just 27.84% of third downs and carrying a minus-3 turnover margin through seven games. No official injury designations have been announced for the Cougars.
Key Matchup
Boise State’s rushing attack, which has produced 1,407 yards and 11 touchdowns at 5.4 yards per carry, will test a Washington State defense that has allowed opponents to convert at a high rate and has forced only nine takeaways in seven games. The Broncos have protected the football all season with just three giveaways, while Washington State has given the ball away 12 times. If Eshelman is going to keep pace in his second career start, Washington State will need to sustain the rhythm Moore described without the turnovers that have plagued the offense through most of the season.
Players To Watch
Maddux Madsen, QB, Boise State
Madsen has thrown 13 touchdowns against zero interceptions this season and leads an offense averaging 35.0 points per game.
Owen Eshelman, QB, Washington State
Eshelman is projected to make his second career start after accounting for three touchdowns and 425 total yards in his debut against Oregon State.
Dylan Riley, RB, Boise State
Riley has rushed for 835 yards and six touchdowns on 127 carries and ran for more than 100 yards in the win at Fresno State.
What To Watch
Boise State enters the weekend ranked No. 21 and unbeaten in Pac-12 play at 2-0, putting the Broncos in position to keep pace in the conference race as the season moves toward its final stretch. Washington State, still searching for its first conference win at 0-3, will look to build on the offensive rhythm it found behind Eshelman against Oregon State. How the Cougars’ new starting quarterback performs in his second start, and whether Boise State’s rushing attack can control the clock on the road, will shape the outcome at Martin Stadium.
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