Ben Gulbranson will start at quarterback for Oregon State against Boise State on Friday at 9 a.m.
The fifth-year junior won’t always play the full game.
Gulbranson may, but Beaver coaches aren’t revealing for reasonable reasons. They defeated Washington State 41-38 by using a modified version of the successful two-headed quarterback system.
According to Pro Football Focus, Gulbranson started and took the snap on 71 of OSU’s 83 offensive plays. The last 12 plays were quarterbacked by Gabarri Johnson, a redshirt freshman. The Cougars’ weakness to a running quarterback against New Mexico the week before made it unique to the WSU game plan.
Johnson scored his first career touchdown, a 15-yard run in the first quarter, after running six times for 47 yards.
Was it unique to the Washington State scheme, or could the Beavers do something similar against Boise State?
Yes, both. Ryan Gunderson, the offensive coordinator, stated, “I don’t want to tell other teams what we’re going to do, but I think we have the ability to do either.”
Boise State (10-1) at No. 12 Oregon State (5-6)
-
When:
Friday, Nov. 29
-
Time:
9 a.m. PT
-
Where:
Albertsons Stadium, Boise
-
TV channel:
Fox
-
Stream:
You canwatch this game live for FREE with Fubo
(free trial) or
with DirecTV Stream
(free trial). If you already have a provider, you can also watch this game live on
Fox Sports Live
with your cable or satellite provider login information.
-
Oregon State football 2024 season schedule, scores
-
Sign up forThe Beavers Beat newslette
r
Boise State is likely to see a lot of Gulbranson, most likely for the duration of the game. The Broncos are not as well-built as Washington State, who have shown themselves susceptible to the run throughout the season, especially from a mobile quarterback. Boise State’s defense is in the top 20 against the run and in the bottom 20 against the pass in the nation.
With 294 yards against the Cougars and 292 yards against San Jose State, Gulbranson has had two of his greatest passing games to date.
Gunderson warns against undervaluing his athleticism, even though he isn’t as mobile as a Johnson or even former starter Gevani McCoy.
Ben is quite skilled at playing action games and has a great ability to move about in the pocket. He’s quite good at anticipating throws, Gunderson added. He can shift around, escape a rush, and get the ball out of his hands thanks to his unique kind of athleticism in the pocket.
Gulbranson was only sacked three times while throwing 71 passes in total versus Washington State and San Jose State. Gulbranson has a talent for using his pocket mobility to buy an extra second or two on longer-developing pass plays, according to Gunderson.
Prior to his first major game, which took place against California on October 26, Gulbranson only participated in a mop-up series against San Diego State and failed to secure the starting position during preseason camp. The coaches are aware of Gulbranson’s tenacity. Despite starting eight games in 2022, he did not play much in 2023.
Gunderson remarked, “The lovely thing about Ben is that he was just always ready.” We always trusted and believed that he would be prepared to depart when it was his turn. I’m not sure if “proud” is the appropriate word. I was simply pleased that he had done some excellent things when given the chance.
Johnson’s question remains. He will play in particular scenarios that Oregon State has rehearsed throughout the week if he plays Boise State. Johnson entered the game at different times and took at least one snap in five series against Washington State. Johnson’s main responsibility was to run—or run fake—even if he threw twice.
Spencer Danielson, the coach of Boise State, stated in his press conference early this week that the Beavers use a few different quarterbacks. If the Broncos see Johnson, they won’t be shocked.
The contact information for Nick Daschel is 360-607-4824, [email protected], or @nickdaschel.
Your support is essential to our journalism. Sign up for OregonLive.com now.
Latest Beavers news
-
Oregon State Beavers football vs. No. 11 Boise State Broncos: Live updates
-
Watch: Former Oregon State Beavers star catches TD pass in return for the Dallas Cowboys
-
What time, TV channel is Oregon State football at No. 11 Boise State today? Odds, how to watch streaming
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
