{
  "id": 15095141,
  "title": "To spring an upset on Oregon State, WSU and QB Owen Eshelman might have to keep pace on offense",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/to-spring-an-upset-on-oregon-state-wsu-and-qb-owen-eshelman-might",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-17T02:04:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/spring-upset-oregon-state-wsu-020400468.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Washington State University prepares to face Oregon State University in a crucial football matchup, the team’s new starting quarterback, redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman, could be the key to turning the tide. Eshelman, a former three-star high school player, is taking over for starter Caden Pinnick, who has struggled with the passing game. WSU Coach Kirby Moore made the switch in order to give the offense a much-needed boost, as WSU’s otherwise strong defense has been struggling all season. The Cougars have been averaging just 12.6 points per game and have a turnover margin of minus-6, ranking near the bottom of the nation. Eshelman, who has yet to play a full college game, is expected to bring a new level of accuracy and long-ball capability to the Cougars’ offense, potentially unlocking the potential that WSU has been lacking. The matchup against Oregon State, a team that has been among the hottest in the country, will be a tough test for the Cougars, but with the right performance from Eshelman and a strong defensive effort, WSU may have a chance to turn the game around and secure its first FBS win of the season.",
  "summary": "Oct. 16—PORTLAND — When he thinks back, Keith Brown can still remember the first time he started a game at the college level. This was five years ago, Washington State's veteran linebacker recalls, back when he was playing for Oregon and the Ducks walked into Columbus to take on a top-five Ohio State club. A true freshman, Brown made two tackles in that game, helping his Ducks upset the ...",
  "key_points": [
    "WSU's new QB Owen Eshelman could be game-changer.",
    "Cougars averaging 12.6 points per game this season.",
    "Oregon State a top-ranked team in the country."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Relying on an inexperienced freshman to fix a stagnant offense signals a desperate attempt to find scoring enough to complement a defense that has failed to secure wins.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "WSU's keys to victory against Oregon State | Two-minute drill",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/wsus-keys-to-victory-against-oregon-state-two-minute-drill",
        "published": "2026-10-17T02:04:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}