SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington State is turning to a new quarterback as the Cougars look to turn their season around.
Head coach Kirby Moore announced Monday that Owen Eshelman will start Saturday against Oregon State, replacing Caden Pinnick after WSU dropped to 1-5 with a loss to Utah State.
“First, we understand the frustration with being one and five, no place more than in our building,” Moore said. “We’ve made the decision to make a change at quarterback, and Owen Eshelman will move into the starting role heading into this week’s game.”
Moore said the decision came after reviewing Saturday’s game film, particularly the Cougars’ missed opportunities in the red zone and after halftime.
“Saturday going back through the entire game. We just had too many missed opportunities, especially in the red zone and in the second half,” Moore said. “And we had opportunities to score more points. And there’s more than the quarterback with that.”
The first-year head coach stressed that the change is about what he believes is best for the team as it moves forward.
“Caden understands that this is a team first decision, and it’s about what’s doing best for the team moving into the second half of the season,” Moore said.
Eshelman has been in the mix for the starting job throughout the offseason. Moore said the quarterback has consistently prepared for the opportunity and has earned the staff’s confidence through his work.
“Owen has been right there pushing the quarterback room for the past 10 months and has prepared like the starter and done everything we’ve asked of him,” Moore said.
When asked what Eshelman has shown to give the coaching staff confidence, Moore pointed to his accuracy, mobility and connection with his teammates.
“He’s an accurate passer. He’s shown the ability to extend plays. And I think he’s got great relationships with his teammates,” Moore said. “So we’re excited to go to work with him.”
Moore also believes Eshelman’s preparation in the meeting room will translate to the field as he takes on a larger role in the offense.
“Owen does a great job in the meeting room,” Moore said. “He’s a student of the game. He’s worked like heck throughout this offseason.”
The coach added that Eshelman has demonstrated the ability to make plays with his legs while keeping his eyes downfield.
“Owen’s done that throughout the offseason. He’s shown the ability to extend plays and whether that’s scramble and run or scramble and find guys downfield,” Moore said. “So he’ll have the opportunity to do that.”
The quarterback change comes with a challenging first test. Oregon State enters Saturday’s matchup riding a four-game winning streak, and Moore praised the Beavers’ offensive production and ability to play complementary football.
“They’re playing really well, winners of four in a row,” Moore said. “Everyone is talking about their offense, but also their defense is doing a really good job.”
Moore specifically highlighted the connection between Oregon State’s quarterback and its receiving corps, describing the group as an explosive challenge for the Cougars.
“They’ve been explosive, and then they’ve taken care of the ball,” Moore said.
Eshelman will receive additional first-team repetitions throughout the week as he prepares for his first career start. Moore said the focus will be on building chemistry with the offensive line and receivers while ensuring the quarterback is comfortable with the game plan.
“Obviously, he’s going to get more reps in practice this week,” Moore said. “And so I think that’ll really help him have a great understanding of the plan.”
Moore also made it clear that the Cougars need to be more efficient regardless of who is under center.
“The key is that win and lose games. And so when you look at that, that’s efficiency and explosiveness on first and second down, ball security and protecting the quarterback and protecting the ball,” Moore said.
WSU’s struggles in the second half have been a particular concern. Moore said the issues have varied from game to game but acknowledged the need for better execution after halftime.
“It’s varied game to game, and that’s frustrating as heck,” Moore said.
He pointed to communication and execution errors on the opening possessions of the second half against Utah State, saying the coaching staff will make adjustments during Tuesday and Wednesday practices to better simulate halftime.
The Cougars have also been hurt by penalties that have erased potentially explosive plays. Moore said the team will emphasize discipline and execution during practice, including working with officials on Wednesday.
“You get what you emphasize,” Moore said. “We’re either coaching or we’re allowing it to happen. And we’ve got to do a much better job of when those explosive plays happen, we can’t have that.”
Senior linebacker Keith Brown expressed support for Eshelman following the announcement, citing the quarterback’s work ethic and leadership.
“I’m happy for Owen. He’s a great kid, great leader, has worked hard since I’ve met him,” Brown said. “Last year, even though I was out, but I was watching him dotted up on the scout team. I’m excited for him and excited for what he can do.”
Brown also emphasized that the team remains together despite its 1-5 record.
“Honestly, like we’re just as close as we were going into week one,” Brown said. “So I’m still excited for the rest of the season.”
Offensive lineman Noah Dunham shared a similar message, saying Eshelman has shown leadership since the spring and that the offensive line is ready to support him.
“Since just thinking back from the spring even, he’s always had that leadership bone in him,” Dunham said. “And I know he’s a ball player. We’ve all seen it. So I’m just really excited to block for him.”
Dunham said the offense must carry its first-half performance through the entire game rather than allowing execution to slip after halftime.
“We were just playing our game, and I think there was a lot less worry behind us,” Dunham said of the first-half performance against Utah State. “And so I feel like we did a good job at that, just coming out and attacking, and we’ve just got to carry that throughout all four quarters.”
With the quarterback change, Washington State hopes to find greater consistency on offense while keeping the locker room united through a difficult stretch.
Moore acknowledged the frustration surrounding the team’s record but said the coaching staff remains focused on finding solutions.
“Coaching is about problem solving,” Moore said. “That’s the beauty of this game is working together to problem solve. And we’re going to continue to do that and correct and improve.”
The Cougars will travel to Corvallis on Saturday to face Oregon State, with Eshelman set to make his first start as WSU looks for a much-needed win.
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