Around the Pac-12 Week 7: Texas State runs wild, Oregon State keeps rolling
Texas State runs for 503 yards, Oregon State wins its fifth straight and San Diego State survives a quarterback injury. Plus, the personnel updates shaping the week 8 slate.
By Ryan West · Published
Around the Conferences continues with the Pac-12, part of CFBDepth’s new weekly series covering every FBS conference. Each installment looks beyond the results to examine the performances, personnel developments and turning points shaping the weeks ahead.
With Boise State and Utah State on byes, the conference’s six active teams produced three distinct stories. Texas State overwhelmed Colorado State on the ground, Oregon State extended its winning streak behind another explosive offensive performance, and San Diego State survived a quarterback injury to beat Fresno State in the final minute.
The personnel questions carry into the next slate. Colorado State expects a change back to its opening-day quarterback, Washington State has a productive first start to build around, and the Aztecs must assess Jayden Denegal’s availability after Stone Saunders helped finish their victory.
Texas State runs through Colorado State
Texas State 66, Colorado State 27
Texas State’s first Pac-12 victory arrived with a rewrite of several school records. The Bobcats finished with a program-record 716 total yards, including an FBS-era school record of 503 rushing yards, and tied their FBS-era mark with eight rushing touchdowns.
Torrance Burgess Jr. supplied 224 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries, adding another 52 yards on three receptions. Brad Jackson contributed 181 rushing yards and three scores on 13 carries, setting the school’s single-game rushing record for a quarterback. Together, they accounted for 405 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Jackson also completed 14 of 19 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown. That efficiency mattered because Colorado State could never narrow its defensive responsibilities to the run. Tight end Ty Stamey caught a 22-yard scoring pass, while Jaylen Jenkins added 78 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Burgess had the largest workload, but Texas State kept finding production across its backfield.
The sequence was just as striking as the totals. After punting on their opening possession, the Bobcats scored on 10 consecutive offensive drives, nine of them touchdowns. They built a 28–0 lead and reached halftime ahead 45–21. Colorado State held the ball slightly longer over the full game, but Texas State averaged 9.7 yards per play and repeatedly covered substantial ground before the Rams could force another down.
For Colorado State, this was a difficult first full game under new defensive coordinator Kenny McClendon. The staff change during the bye had introduced a different defensive approach, yet the Rams still allowed 12 explosive runs, including three gains of at least 40 yards. The 503 rushing yards were the most a Colorado State defense has surrendered. Fixing that begins with containing the initial run and limiting the damage when a runner reaches the second level.
K’saan Farrar gave the Rams useful offensive production in his third consecutive start, completing 26 of 41 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Jackson Harper caught five passes for 91 yards, Tommy Maher added 66 yards on four receptions, and Durell Robinson scored twice on the ground. Colorado State’s four touchdowns kept the offense contributing while the defense struggled to interrupt Texas State’s scoring streak.
The quarterback picture changed again Monday. Jim Mora named Hauss Hejny the expected starter against San Diego State as he returns from a hamstring injury, with that plan contingent on his physical readiness. Farrar’s work leaves Colorado State with an experienced alternative if Hejny cannot go. The Rams enter that game at 2–4 overall and 0–2 in conference play; Texas State improved to 3–3 and 1–1.
Oregon State keeps rolling as Newberry adds another threat
Oregon State 48, Washington State 30
Oregon State’s fifth consecutive victory featured the familiar connection between Braden Atkinson and Jesse Legree, plus a major contribution from AJ Newberry. The Beavers reached 5–2 overall and 3–0 in the Pac-12, their first unbeaten start through three conference games since 2013.
Atkinson completed 23 of 38 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. His seventh consecutive 300-yard passing game tied Sean Mannion’s school record. Legree caught eight passes for 108 yards and two scores, moving his season totals to 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
Newberry gave Washington State another problem to solve. He rushed for 105 yards on 11 carries and caught five passes for 120 yards, becoming Oregon State’s first player with 100 rushing and 100 receiving yards in the same game since Steven Jackson in 2003. His 225 yards from scrimmage came on just 16 touches.
Two throws supplied 178 of Atkinson’s passing yards: a 90-yard touchdown to Legree in the first quarter and an 88-yard touchdown to Newberry in the second. With a back capable of producing that kind of gain as a receiver, Oregon State can threaten defenses beyond its established outside targets. Newberry also averaged more than nine yards per carry, making his contribution significant in both parts of the offense.
The Beavers led 17–0 after one quarter and 27–10 at halftime. They also sustained longer possessions, including a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:35 and ended with Jake Reichle’s second one-yard score. Washington State eventually cut the deficit to 41–30 with 1:37 remaining before Cornell Hatcher Jr.’s touchdown restored the final margin.
The Cougars’ strongest development came at quarterback. In his first career start, Owen Eshelman threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 136 yards and another score. His 425 total yards provided substantial offense, although Washington State’s four opening possessions ended in punts while Oregon State established its lead.
Branden Ganashamoorthy became Eshelman’s busiest target, catching 11 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Blood added six receptions for 59 yards and a score. That gave the Cougars two productive receiving options in a game that also brought an early ankle injury to Darrius Clemons.
Availability remains an issue around that passing game. Clemons was still being evaluated Monday, and left tackle Ashton Tripp remained day-to-day with an ankle injury. Maximus McCree made his first Washington State start in Tripp’s place. Those situations matter as the Cougars prepare to protect Eshelman and sustain drives against Boise State.
Washington State fell to 1–6 overall and 0–3 in conference play. The offense showed enough to give the staff something concrete to build around, but a defense that allowed 555 yards and 7.8 yards per play left too much ground to recover. Oregon State heads into its bye with a passing attack that keeps producing and a backfield that supplied another major performance.
San Diego State wins through a quarterback change
San Diego State 26, Fresno State 23
San Diego State needed its returning lead back, a reserve quarterback and a career-long field goal to finish this one. Cooper DiLeva’s 53-yard kick with 57 seconds remaining delivered the victory, lifting the Aztecs to 3–4 overall and 2–1 in the Pac-12.
The game began with Jayden Denegal moving the offense effectively. He completed seven of 10 passes for 112 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown to Jaylon Hawkins, before leaving in the second quarter with an ankle injury. He did not return, and freshman Stone Saunders took over.
Saunders finished six of 11 for 61 yards, with his most consequential completion coming on the winning possession. Facing third-and-10, he found Jordan Napier for 26 yards to keep the drive alive. Four plays later, DiLeva made his fourth field goal of the night and gave San Diego State the lead for good.
Lucky Sutton’s return after a two-game absence helped support the offense through that change. Sutton rushed for 110 yards on 18 carries, and Javion Kinnard added 77 yards on 14 attempts. Their combined production accounted for most of San Diego State’s 204 rushing yards and gave Saunders an established ground game behind him.
Sutton’s 67-yard run opened the fourth-quarter possession that put the Aztecs ahead 23–17. San Diego State finished that drive with a different passer: wide receiver Bert Emanuel Jr. threw a seven-yard touchdown to Napier. It was an important piece of the offensive adjustment after Denegal’s departure.
Fresno State answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by Julius Gillick’s second rushing touchdown. Manaki Watanabe’s extra point hit the upright, leaving the score tied at 23 with 5:02 remaining. The Bulldogs still had an opportunity to stop San Diego State’s next possession, but Saunders’ third-down completion and DiLeva’s range settled the exchange.
The Aztecs’ defense supplied six sacks, including three from Kai Wallin. Tano Letuli finished with 11 tackles and a sack as Fresno State managed 276 total yards. That pressure gave San Diego State a substantial defensive response after the previous week’s 66–14 loss at Oregon State.
For Fresno State, the 13–0 deficit continued a troubling opening-quarter pattern. The Bulldogs have been held scoreless in the first quarter five times this season. Bryson Donelson’s 62 rushing yards and touchdown, along with Gillick’s two scores, helped them recover, but Jayden Mandal finished with 141 passing yards on 13-of-25 passing while taking all six sacks. Fresno converted four of 13 third downs.
There were concrete personnel developments to carry into the bye. Jonah Leaupepetele returned from his season-opening injury and started at right guard, while receiver Keynan Cotton and defensive back Jaden Carrillo made their first career starts. Carrillo finished with eight tackles and a pass breakup. Fresno fell to 4–3 overall and 1–2 in conference play, with pass protection and faster starts demanding attention before Oregon State visits.
The next set of tests
Boise State and Utah State return from their byes on October 24. The Broncos visit Washington State, where the Cougars will look to build on Eshelman’s debut while monitoring Clemons and Tripp. Utah State travels to Texas State to face a backfield coming off 503 rushing yards.
San Diego State’s trip to Colorado State brings the most immediate quarterback questions. The Rams expect Hejny to return if healthy, while the Aztecs must determine Denegal’s status after Saunders helped deliver the Fresno State win. Sutton’s successful return also gives San Diego State a productive rushing option against a defense working to correct major run-game problems.
Oregon State and Fresno State both have October 24 off before meeting in Fresno on October 31. That leaves the Bulldogs a week to address their protection and opening-quarter issues before facing an opponent averaging more than 50 points across its five-game winning streak.
