ESPN College Football

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Jeff Tuel will become the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Washington State since Drew Bledsoe in 1990.

Coach Paul Wulff has decided Tuel will start Saturday's game at No. 16 Oregon, after playing well in last weekend's loss at USC.

Tuel, from Fresno, Calif., entered the game in the second quarter in relief of Marshall Lobbestael and completed 14 of 22 passes for 130 yards and one interception. He also ran nine times for 34 yards. He was sacked four times.

Tuel was expected to redshirt this season, but woeful quarterback play for the second season in a row prompted Wulff to make the change.

Previous starters Kevin Lopina and Lobbestael left the Cougars (1-3, 0-2 Pac-10) last or near the bottom in most offensive categories this season and last. The team is averaging just 17 points per game, ranked 109th among FBS teams. The passing game has resulted in just three touchdowns with six interceptions in four games.

Tuel, 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, started only his senior year in high school, throwing for 1,714 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Bledsoe, one of the greatest players in team history and a longtime NFL star, started the seventh game of his freshman year. He ranks near the top of most WSU career passing records

Tuel will not be available to the media before the game, team spokesman Bill Stevens said.

"We're going to let a freshman kid get ready for his first start" without a lot of media scrutiny, Stevens said.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press