Washington State vs Utah State: Kirby Moore takes over play-calling for Cougars

Why this is trending

People are searching Washington State vs Utah State because the two Pac-12 teams play a nationally televised game Friday night, and both are desperate for a fix. Washington State (1-4, 0-1 Pac-12) is on the road at Utah State (1-4, 0-1 Pac-12) at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah. Kickoff is 6 p.m. on the CW, streaming on Fubo. The game has not been played yet.

What is known is that both teams have been dreadful on offense all season. What is not yet known is who starts at quarterback for Washington State, since head coach Kirby Moore has hinted he could make a change. The game will decide which team snaps a two-game losing streak.

Washington State's quarterback question

Washington State's offense has been so bad through five games that head coach Kirby Moore took play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Matt Miller and will call plays himself Friday, playsheet in hand. The move puts fresh scrutiny on who lines up at quarterback. Starter Caden Pinnick has thrown for 797 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions, and he has lost six turnovers total this season. Pro Football Focus ranks him first nationally in QB-fault sacks, with 10. Moore has not ruled out turning to Owen Eshelman or Julian Dugger instead.

Moore pointed to the fundamentals this week, saying it starts with "the operational piece from an offensive standpoint," according to the Spokesman-Review. The Cougars' turnover margin sits at minus-5, 122nd in the country, and the offense is averaging 11.8 points a game, nine spots from the bottom of the FBS. Washington State's last outing was a 26-6 home loss to Fresno State in which the offense managed just 182 total yards, only 30 of them on the ground.

Utah State isn't much better off

Utah State is in the same spot. The Aggies are 1-4 and 0-1 in Pac-12 play under second-year coach Bronco Mendenhall, and their offense has been even rougher than Washington State's in some ways. Quarterbacks Grady Brosterhous and McCae Hillstead have combined to throw a nation-worst 10 interceptions, and the team is scoring just 13.3 points a game.

Utah State's last game was a 37-18 loss at then-No. 22 Boise State, where the Aggies fell into a 21-0 hole early and never climbed out. Running back Javen Jacobs ran for 139 yards on just 10 carries in that game and leads the Aggies on the ground this season with 331 yards and a score. Receiver Eli Wood has 30 catches for 388 yards and four touchdowns on the year.

History and what's at stake

Washington State holds a 4-2 edge in the all-time series and has won the last two meetings, including a 34-21 win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise on Dec. 22. On the ground, Kirby Vorhees has 235 rushing yards and two scores for the Cougars this season, while Daniel Blood and Darrius Clemons share the team lead in receiving yards with 190 apiece, with Blood catching 18 passes.

Washington State is 0-4 against FBS competition this season, and the Spokesman-Review called this matchup the most winnable game left on the Cougars' schedule for Moore's first year in charge. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Friday from Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah, airing on the CW and streaming on Fubo.

Facts per The Spokesman-Review, Yahoo Sports. Opinion is the taproom's.