Boise State Broncos at Washington State Cougars

Injuries noted

Boise State Broncos: Ben Ford (out) — Rotation wide receiver; undisclosed injury. October 23 reporting attributed to the Pac-12 availability report rules him out, superseding Wednesday's questionable designation.; Carson Rasmussen (out) — Starting left guard; undisclosed injury. Official game-specific report lists him out; October 22 reporting says this will be his third consecutive missed game.

Washington State Cougars: Nylan Brown (out for season) — Linebacker; Havoc's Friday report, attributed to Pac-12 availability reporting, lists him out for the season. Condition unspecified.; Tony Freeman (out) — Wide receiver; October 23 reporting establishes his continuing absence with a torn ACL.; Darrius Clemons (doubtful) — Starting wide receiver; ankle injury sustained against Oregon State. Listed doubtful for October 24.; Ashton Tripp (questionable) — Starting left tackle; listed questionable on this game's availability report. The opened current-week report does not specify his condition.; Carsten Reynolds (questionable) — Linebacker; Havoc's Friday report, attributed to Pac-12 availability reporting, lists him questionable. Condition unspecified.; Jeremiah Bernard (questionable) — Safety; listed questionable for this matchup. Condition unspecified.

QUARTERBACK

• Maddux Madsen is BOIS's projected starter

  7.81 Y/A

  Maddux Madsen is BOIS's projected starting quarterback. The October 23 depth-chart report explicitly projects Madsen to start at Washington State; that week's game preview discusses him as Boise State's quarterback. An opened team declaration confirming this game's starter was not retrieved. 2026 line: 1296 passing yards, 66.3% completions, 7.81 yards per attempt, 13-0 TD-INT over 6 games.

• Owen Eshelman is WSU's confirmed starter

  5.90 Y/A

  Owen Eshelman is WSU's confirmed starting quarterback. Washington State's current-week game notes list Eshelman first at quarterback on the Boise State depth chart. The October 23 preview discusses him continuing after replacing Caden Pinnick. 2026 line: 289 passing yards, 65.3% completions, 5.90 yards per attempt, 2-1 TD-INT over 1 games.

TRENCHES

• BOIS: 106.8 rushing yards allowed per game to WSU's 158.6

  51.7 YPG

  BOIS is at 106.8 rushing yards allowed per game over 6 games; WSU is at 158.6 over 7 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 23.

PACE & SCRIPT

• BOIS: 35 points per game to WSU's 20.1

  14.9 PPG

  BOIS is at 35 points per game over 6 games; WSU is at 20.1 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 23. Last season BOIS was at 29.9 over 14 games and WSU at 22.5 over 13 games.

• BOIS: 36:22 time of possession per game to WSU's 28:43

  7:39 TOP

  BOIS is at 36:22 time of possession per game over 6 games; WSU is at 28:43 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 23. Last season BOIS was at 32:59 over 14 games and WSU at 32:24 over 13 games.

TURNOVERS

• BOIS: 0.5 turnovers committed per game to WSU's 1.71

  1.21 TO

  Boise State has cut turnovers from 1.5 a game last season to 0.5, a big change over six games that will probably creep back up some. Washington State is close to last year's 1.62. Boise State's ball security on the road keeps Washington State from getting easy points it badly needs.

MISMATCH

• BOIS: 234.5 rush yards a game to WSU's 130

  234.5 VS 130

  Boise State runs for 234.5 yards a game over 6 games, up from 179.1 last season, while Washington State sits at 130, near its 128.2 from last year. Boise was already a strong rushing team, so some of this gain should hold even if it cools. Washington State has to stack the box and get Boise into obvious passing downs, or the Broncos will control the clock on the road.

REPLACEMENT

• Nylan Brown (LB) is out for the season for WSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  Linebacker; Havoc's Friday report, attributed to Pac-12 availability reporting, lists him out for the season. Condition unspecified. Havoc: Boise State vs Washington State — Pac-12 availability report marked Friday 10:08 PM for Saturday, October 24 (2026-10-23)

• Ben Ford (WR) is out for BOIS

  OUT

  Rotation wide receiver; undisclosed injury. October 23 reporting attributed to the Pac-12 availability report rules him out, superseding Wednesday's questionable designation. RotoWire: Ben Ford — Not playing versus Washington State (2026-10-23)

• Carson Rasmussen (OL) is out for BOIS

  OUT

  Starting left guard; undisclosed injury. Official game-specific report lists him out; October 22 reporting says this will be his third consecutive missed game. Boise State Athletics: Week Eight Availability Report (2026-10-21) Boise State Broncos On SI: No. 21 Boise State gets major injury boost ahead of Washington State matchup (2026-10-22)

• Tony Freeman (WR) is out for WSU

  OUT

  Wide receiver; October 23 reporting establishes his continuing absence with a torn ACL. The Spokesman-Review: To pull upset on No. 21 Boise State, WSU will have to play its best all-around game of the season (2026-10-23)

SITUATIONAL

• BOIS: 50% third-down conversion rate to WSU's 29.5%

  20.5 PP

  BOIS is at 50% third-down conversion rate over 6 games; WSU is at 29.5% over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 23. Last season BOIS was at 45.6% over 14 games and WSU at 38.1% over 13 games.

• BOIS has 7 more days of rest

  14d vs 7d

  Boise State comes in on 14 days after its bye while Washington State plays on a regular week at home. The extra prep time and recovery help a road team most, since it cuts into the home side's usual comfort. Washington State's seven days is a standard turnaround, nothing that suggests fatigue. Count the rest gap as a small push in Boise State's favor on the road.

• BOIS: 24.2 first downs per game to WSU's 18

  6.2 FD

  BOIS is at 24.2 first downs per game over 6 games; WSU is at 18 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 23. Last season BOIS was at 22.1 over 14 games and WSU at 19.5 over 13 games.

TEAM RECORD

• Pac-12 game: BOIS 2-0, WSU 0-3 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Pac-12. BOIS is 2-0 against it, WSU is 0-3. 2026 standings through 2026-10-24.

• BOIS is 2-1 on the road; WSU is 1-2 at home

  2-1

  The site split favours BOIS: WSU has played 3 games at home this season and BOIS 3 games away from it. 2026 standings through 2026-10-24.

MARKET RANGE

• BOIS @ WSU books span 1.5 points

  +14–+15.5

  The current home spread ranges from +14 to +15.5 across 6 sportsbooks. That is book disagreement, not a public-bet or sharp-money signal.