San Diego State beats Washington State 26-20
Team pages: Washington State · San Diego State
San Diego State beat Washington State 26-20. Share this game
We had San Diego State favored. It won.
Next: Washington State vs Colorado State, Sat Nov 14 · 10:30 PM ET
Next: San Diego State vs Utah State, Sat Nov 14 · 9:30 PM ET
The RPO to the TE has worked every time in short yardage so naturally we run bubble screen
A Washington State fanHow it swung
The turning point: Eshelman incomplete to Vorhees, turnover on downs (Q3, 12:30). San Diego State went from 58% to 75% to win.
Before kickoff, our ratings gave San Diego State a 54% chance, and the closing betting line (San Diego State was a 2.5-point favorite) put it at 58%.
Favored the whole way: San Diego State never fell below 51%.
Washington State never had better than a 48% chance.
San Diego State 26-20 Washington State
San Diego State wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.Washington State 20-26 San Diego StateWashington State lostMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.The two plays that swung it
- 1Q1 10:324th and 1Vorhees 0-yd run, turnover on downsSan Diego State 54% → 70% (+16)
- 2Q3 12:304th and 4Eshelman incomplete to Vorhees, turnover on downsSan Diego State 58% → 75% (+17)
The two plays that swung it
- 1Q1 10:324th and 1Vorhees 0-yd run, turnover on downsWashington State 46% → 30% (−16)
- 2Q3 12:304th and 4Eshelman incomplete to Vorhees, turnover on downsWashington State 42% → 25% (−17)
I feel like both myself and fellow Coug fans need to realize that the last three seasons with coaching/roster turnover could’ve looked like this, or even worse. You don’t lose…
What fans said, play by play
The line in bold above each quote is written by our model from the thread’s comments and the play-by-play.
- Q2 6:49Vorhees runs for a touchdown to tie the game at 14
Another running TD?!?!? Has hell frozen over?
r/CFB game thread - Q2 3:16Washington State fans discuss program reset and coaching stability after SDSU takes lead
- Q2 2:00Eshelman throws an interception to Wallin as Washington State fans lament the turnover
This entire thread is just WSU flairs lmao. We’re a bunch of masochists
r/CFB game thread - Q3 2:05Washington State fans rip Eshelman after sack and missed field goal
No way Eshelman can be the QB next year , nor pinnick. We need a clean-sheet offense top to bottom.
r/CFB game thread
How to read this chart
Starts from the pregame line (San Diego State -2.5), at 65% for San Diego State (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores. The gray band is r/CFB game-thread activity, its loudest stretches in gold. A gold diamond marks a play fans were reacting to.Watch the plays
The bar and the arrow show San Diego State’s chance to win after each play; the logo is the team the play helped.
- Q1, 7:27Kinnard 9-yd TD runSan Diego State goes ahead 7-0Q1, 7:27 · San Diego State 7, Washington State 0▲7%San Diego State’s chance to win, 74% to 81%▲7%San Diego State’s chance to win, 74% to 81%▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q1, 2:19Eshelman 4-yd TD runties it 7-7Q1, 2:19 · San Diego State 7, Washington State 7▼8%San Diego State’s chance to win, 73% to 65%▼8%San Diego State’s chance to win, 73% to 65%▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q2, 12:34Kinnard 10-yd TD runSan Diego State goes ahead 14-7Q2, 12:34 · San Diego State 14, Washington State 7▲6%San Diego State’s chance to win, 73% to 79%▲6%San Diego State’s chance to win, 73% to 79%▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q2, 6:19Vorhees 2-yd TD runties it 14-14Q2, 6:19 · San Diego State 14, Washington State 14▼9%San Diego State’s chance to win, 75% to 66%▼9%San Diego State’s chance to win, 75% to 66%▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q2, 1:49Eshelman intercepted by Wallin at the SDSU28returned 16 yardsQ2, 1:49 · San Diego State 17, Washington State 14▲6%San Diego State’s chance to win, 68% to 74%▲6%San Diego State’s chance to win, 68% to 74%▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q3, 14:01Saunders intercepted by Thomas at the SDSU38, returned 17 yardsunnecessary roughness on WsuQ3, 14:01 · San Diego State 17, Washington State 14▼9%San Diego State’s chance to win, 68% to 59%▼9%San Diego State’s chance to win, 68% to 59%▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q4, 9:47Emanuel 2-yd TD pass to FordQ4, 9:47 · San Diego State 26, Washington State 14▲2%San Diego State’s chance to win, 94% to 96%▲2%San Diego State’s chance to win, 94% to 96%▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q4, 6:55Eshelman 2-yd TD runcuts it to 26-20Q4, 6:55 · San Diego State 26, Washington State 2026-20score after the play26-20score after the play▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q4, 3:01Eshelman sacked for a 3-yd lossQ4, 3:01 · San Diego State 26, Washington State 2026-20score after the play26-20score after the play▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
- Q4, 1:22Eshelman sacked for a 1-yd lossQ4, 1:22 · San Diego State 26, Washington State 2026-20score after the play26-20score after the play▶Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
Every drive
San Diego State scored on 5 of its 9 drives; Washington State on 3 of its 9.
San Diego State’s drives are teal, Washington State’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.
When fans got loud
Busy
Fans peaked in the second quarter.
The jump was busy; the crowd was quiet.
What it cost
San Diego State’s chance to win the conference rose from 1% to 2%.
Win the conference
Before the game (October 30, 2026) → after this result alone, in our model. Other games that weekend move it too, so the team page may differ.
San Diego State plays vs Utah State on Sat Nov 14 with a 2% chance to win the conference.
Box score
San Diego State 26, Washington State 20
San Diego State covered −2.5 by 3.5. The total, 46, stayed under 47.5.
| Team totals | Washington State | San Diego State |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 367 | 306 |
| Passing | 30 of 42, 299 yds | 13 of 22, 104 yds |
| Rushing | 30 for 68 yds | 37 for 202 yds |
| First downs | 25 | 18 |
| Third down | 9 of 14 | 5 of 11 |
| Fourth down | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 3 for 35 yds | 2 for 24 yds |
| Time of possession | 33:05 | 26:55 |
Washington State leaders
- Passing Owen Eshelman 30 of 42, 299 yds, 1 INT
- Rushing Owen Eshelman 16 for 34 yds, 2 TD; Kirby Vorhees 7 for 17 yds, 1 TD
- Receiving Daniel Blood 8 for 105 yds; Trey Leckner 7 for 59 yds
San Diego State leaders
- Passing Stone Saunders 12 of 21, 102 yds, 1 INT
- Rushing Lucky Sutton 18 for 115 yds; Javion Kinnard 17 for 87 yds, 2 TD
- Receiving Bert Emanuel Jr. 3 for 47 yds; Jaylon Hawkins 3 for 35 yds
No rain and calm
69° at kickoff · 0.04 in of rain · wind 4 mph from the west-southwest, gusts to 10
October game-day temperatures at Snapdragon Stadium
Drag along the chart, or step through the game.
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Where this weather comes from
Measured at San Diego/montg airport, 2.4 miles away, and San Diego/lindberg airport, 5.0 miles away. Wind and rain are airport readings near the stadium, not on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Field direction from OpenStreetMap contributors.Before kickoff
Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.
Recent games
Last three games
Washington State · 1-7
Rated 43rd in our preseason ratings, 84th now.
Three straight losses.
Last three games
San Diego State · 3-5
Rated 36th in our preseason ratings, 97th now.
1-2 in its last three, including a 3-point win over Fresno State as a 6.5-point underdog.
Week by week
San Diego State
- Wk 4Lat Toledo16-41
- Wk 5Wvs Texas State31-29
- Wk 6Lat Oregon State14-66
- Wk 7Wvs Fresno State26-23
- Wk 8Lat Colorado State49-56
Washington State
- Wk 4Lvs Arizona24-34
- Wk 5Lvs Fresno State6-26
- Wk 6Lat Utah State16-17
- Wk 7Lat Oregon State30-48
- Wk 8Lvs Boise State10-31
Power rating by week
Washington State is rated 1.1 points ahead as of week 8. Our power rating by week; higher is better.
Matchups
Biggest mismatch: Washington State’s explosive plays against San Diego State, 68 points
Each row ranks the two sides among all teams. The longer the line, the bigger the mismatch.
Washington State’s explosive plays against San Diego State’s defense
Washington State offense, 27th percentile · San Diego State defense, 95th
San Diego State’s success rate against Washington State’s defense
San Diego State offense, 8th percentile · Washington State defense, 59th
San Diego State’s passing EPA against Washington State’s defense
San Diego State offense, 12th percentile · Washington State defense, 55th
Season profile, all the rows
Season profile
The series
Washington State leads the series 3-1
4 meetings since 2007 · Washington State has won the last 2
- 2025Washington State 36-13
- 2024Washington State 29-26
- 2011San Diego State 42-24
- 2007Washington State 45-17
Each line is San Diego State’s chance to win through that meeting. Older meetings have no play by play, so no line.
Line, fans and home field
The betting line, and the fans
San Diego State fans are feeling it less than most fanbases this week (30th percentile among FBS fanbases), and the other side is no happier.
San Diego State favored by 2.5 · Total 47.5
How games like this usually go
San Diego State by 2.5, and it went to form
Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game
The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 304 games since 2025 with a favorite of under 3.5 points.
The market
The total fell 1 point.
Total: 48.5 → 47.5
The books’ cut: 4.3%, the margin built into the odds
Home field
San Diego State is worth +3.6 points (±3.3) more at home than on the road since 2018 — middle of FBS, 37th percentile.
63% at home, 43% on the road against FBS opponents (31-18 home, 20-26 away).
Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads +0.0 at home vs. away over 101 games — inside the ±5.7 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.
The visitors travel about 964 miles to get here.
Where next
Conference standings
Going into this game: place in the conference, then conference record.
- San Diego State5th2-2
- Washington State8th0-4