Cougars
Cougars at Wazzu is a file of 91 stories. The newest of them: “Cougs truck east for a shot at the Pac-12 crown in Boise”, “Cougs trade the Palouse for the coast for a Halloween showdown with SDSU”, and “August Apple Cup: Pullman Gets the Rivalry in Prime Palouse Heat”. The Cougar football team is loading up the trucks and pointing east. Halloween weekend. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every Cougars story on Wazzu, newest first.
Cougs truck east for a shot at the Pac-12 crown in Boise
The Cougar football team is loading up the trucks and pointing east. They are headed to Boise with a shot at the Pac-12 crown on the line. That is a sentence that still feels good to type, even if it means a long drive across the state line. Boise is not Pullman. The blue field will not be the Palouse. But for a program that has spent years scratching and clawing for relevance, this is the kind of trip you take. You load the coolers, you find a ride, and you go watch your guys play for something real. It is a conference championship game. That matters. This season has already given us a few moments worth remembering. The defense had a rough afternoon when Boise hung a 72-yard run on them, a play that left the crowd in that kind of stunned silence you can hear over the broadcast. That story, "The long run that broke the dam," is worth a read if you want to remember how far this team has come since that gut punch. But the season is not over. The Cougs are still standing. They are heading east, and they have a chance to take the whole thing. That is a good reason to pack a bag. Go Cougs.
Cougs trade the Palouse for the coast for a Halloween showdown with SDSU
Halloween weekend. The Palouse trades wheat for salt air as Cougar volleyball heads to the coast for a showdown with San Diego State. This isn't a vacation. It's a statement game on neutral ground. Coach Schroeder has this team playing with a different kind of confidence. You can see it in the way they move. The roster has depth now, and they aren't afraid to test it against a tough SDSU squad that knows how to defend home court, even when "home" means a tournament in San Diego. This trip feels different than the early season tune-ups. There's a weight to it. A chance to prove the road wins weren't a fluke and that this group can handle the bright lights and the beach crowd. Pullman is a long way from the Pacific, but these Cougs carry the town with them. For more on how they got here, check out "Coach Schroeder breaks down the road ahead for Cougar volleyball" on the site. It's a good look at the mindset coming into this stretch. For now, we just want to see them compete. Play loose. Play mean. Make the Palouse proud from 1,400 miles away. Go Cougs.
August Apple Cup: Pullman Gets the Rivalry in Prime Palouse Heat
August Apple Cup. Say it a few times. It'll grow on you, or it won't, but it's happening. The 2027 Apple Cup is moving to Aug. 28 in Pullman. That's the first time in 118 years this rivalry gets played in August. Prime Palouse heat. The move pushes the game up from its traditional mid-September slot. WSU and UW agreed to it, and the press release landed Monday. The Cougs get a bye week out of it in Week 4 of the season, which is a nice little scheduling cushion. The 2027 game is the fourth of a five-year extension the sides hammered out in 2023, back when the Pac-12 was still smoldering. The 2028 game in Seattle is the last one under contract. After that? Who knows. The Huskies have the all-time edge, 78-34-6, and they took this year's game 24-10 in Seattle. That stings. But an August kickoff in Pullman changes the whole feel. It's hot, it's harvest season, and the Palouse is doing what it does best. If you're making the trip, pack sunscreen and a cooler. For more on where this team is headed, check out our look at the Cougs chasing their first FBS win at SDSU. The road doesn't get easier, but it gets earlier. Go Cougs.
Coug serving crew delivers nine aces, suffocates Texas State
Nine aces. That's not a typo. The Coug serving crew delivered nine aces and suffocated Texas State in a performance that sounds made up but was very, very real. You don't see that every day, even in Pullman. This wasn't just a win, it was a statement served cold and fast. The Cougs didn't just beat Texas State; they buried them in a way that makes you wonder what's in the water over there. If you missed the full stat-sheet stuffing from the sweep, go back and read "Cougars stuff stat sheets in a sweep over Texas State." That one lays out the numbers that made this possible. This crew is playing with a confidence that's fun to watch. They aren't just grinding out wins; they're making art out of service. Texas State came in thinking they could hang, and the Cougs said, "Nope, not today." It's the kind of performance that makes you text your old roommate: "Did you see what our team just did?" Because you know they didn't. But they should. Go Cougs.
The long run that broke the dam: WSU defense gasps after Boise's 72-yard dagger
That sound from the crowd, part scream, part gasp, part something else, was the sound of a dam breaking. Dylan Riley's 72-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter wasn't just a score. It was the final, brutal exclamation point on a 31-10 loss that dropped the Cougs to 1-7. And if you've watched this season, you saw it coming. This defense has played solid football. No, really. They've kept games close, even with the offense dragging anchor. But they keep getting torched by the big play. Riley's long run was the headliner, but Boise State also hit a 33-yard scoring run from Riley and a 33-yard strike from quarterback Maddux Madsen to Raesean Jones on a key third down. The killer came late in the third quarter, game tied 10-10. On third-and-6, Madsen scrambled 17 yards, linebacker Isaiah Hung missed, and the Broncos drove for the go-ahead score. That opened the floodgates for a 21-0 fourth quarter. The pattern is maddening. Bad pursuit angles. A cornerback taking the wrong path. Another coming in too hot. It's the same story from last week in Corvallis, where WSU gave up scoring plays of 90 and 88 yards. The defense can hold a great back like Riley to 23 yards on his other carries, but then one missed tackle turns the game. Hung said it best: he's gotta make that play. Next time.
No drama, no letup: Cougs handle business in exhibition win
The Cougs walked into Beasley Coliseum on Saturday, handled the exhibition opponent, and walked out with a win. No drama, no letup. That's the kind of night you want to see from this squad. It wasn't a game that will end up on a highlight reel, but it didn't need to be. The effort was there. The focus was there. Against a team that came to play, Washington State did exactly what it was supposed to do: take care of business and keep building. We've been watching this team figure itself out all season. The defense has had its moments. The offense has had its questions. Nights like this one don't answer everything, but they do show a team that's putting in the work. That matters. If you missed the trip to Fort Collins, go back and read "Wazzu's effort was there in Fort Collins, even if the win wasn't." It puts this performance in the right context. The Cougs didn't get the result they wanted that night, but they didn't fold. They came home, got back in the gym, and showed up ready. That's the stuff you want to see. That's how you build a team that can handle a Pac-12 road trip north or a showdown with a tough opponent. One game at a time. No shortcuts. Go Cougs.
Moore's sideline bench talks get real after WSU's bowl hopes vanish
Kirby Moore sat Owen Eshelman down on a sideline bench seconds after the interception. Not later. Not in the film room. Right there, while the game was still happening. That's the kind of moment that tells you where a season has gone. Washington State just lost 31-10 to Boise State. Bowl hopes are dead. First time since 2010 the Cougs have been eliminated before November. Moore's offense gave up four sacks. The running backs combined for 20 yards on 10 carries. That's not a bad night. That's a pattern. The offensive line was recruited for an Air Raid system. They're being asked to win third-and-1. It isn't working. Moore knows it. He said the miscommunication on that pick starts with him. Fair enough. But he's also the guy who waited too long to make the switch at quarterback, and those missed wins are gone. What's left is four games and 14 seniors. No bowl to sell. No national relevance. Just pride and a coaching staff that has to find a way to get something out of nothing. Eshelman talked after the game about standards and what gets revealed when things go wrong. That's the right thing to say. The question is whether Moore can coach him into a couple wins before it's over. For a deeper look at how Boise broke the dam, read "The long run that broke the dam: WSU defense gasps after Boise's 72-yard dagger." Go Cougs.
Lehner sets the pace for WSU at Tyson Invitational
Lehner didn't just show up at the Tyson Invitational. He set the pace for WSU, and that's the kind of start that makes you sit up a little straighter. You don't need a win to show you belong, sometimes you just need to be the one everyone else is chasing down the stretch. That's what this felt like. We've seen this team handle business before. If you missed the Coug serving crew suffocating Texas State, go read "Coug serving crew delivers nine aces, suffocates Texas State." It's the same kind of focus, just on a different court. The Cougs are stringing together real efforts. Even when the win doesn't land, like in Fort Collins, the effort doesn't disappear. That's what matters. You can't fake that in February. Lehner is doing the work. The team is doing the work. Pullman isn't a place where you coast. You show up, you set the pace, and you let the results speak for themselves. So far, they're saying plenty. Go Cougs.
Wazzu's effort was there in Fort Collins, even if the win wasn't
FORT COLLINS wasn't kind to Wazzu's women's basketball team, but the effort was there. That counts for something, even when the win isn't on the board. The Cougs went on the road, played hard, and came up short against a Colorado State squad that had answers for everything WSU threw at them. It's the kind of loss that stings because it wasn't for a lack of trying. The box score won't show the hustle, but anyone who watched knows this team didn't quit. That's been the story for parts of this season. The defense has had its moments, though consistency has been a puzzle. If you want to dig into that, our piece on how Boise State's offense exposed some of those cracks is worth a read. Different sport, same thread of a team searching for its footing. For now, the Cougs load the bus again. There's no time to sit in it. The road doesn't get easier, but this group has the kind of grit that plays well away from home. They just need a few shots to fall their way. Go Cougs.
Boise State's offense is the test WSU's D hasn't passed yet
All season, Washington State's defense has been a little tricky to parse. On one hand, the Cougars have excelled in tough spots, jumping into action after short fields thanks to offensive turnovers. The pass rush has been above average. So has the tackling. But when you're playing No. 21 Boise State, above average won't fly. That's why we're picking WSU to fall Saturday afternoon in Pullman. The Cougars are tasked with doing something only Oregon has done this season: slow down tailbacks Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines. Riley ranks second in the country with 139 rushing yards per game. Gaines has cleared the century mark in each of his last two. Complicating matters is Boise State's average time of possession: 36 minutes, which leads the entire country. That puts serious strain on the defense, especially if the offense commits a turnover. New quarterback Owen Eshelman did well to avoid that in meaningful settings last weekend in his first start. It's a lot to ask out of this WSU team, and there's no shame in losing to this Boise State squad. But the Cougars will have to look elsewhere for their first FBS win of the season. Final score: Boise State 30, WSU 20. If you need a break from the defensive math, go check out how Kamie Ethridge and the Cougs broke down 2026 WBB at Media Day. That squad is still the top of the West, and it's a better kind of stress. Go Cougs.
Wazzu's hoop squad loads the bus for a Pac-12 road trip north
The Coug women's basketball team is loading the bus for a Pac-12 trip north. That means a cold bus, a colder gym in somebody else's town, and the kind of road test that tells you what a squad is really made of. This group has been steady all season. The rankings have noticed. If you missed it, we just checked in on where they sit nationally in "Coug Women Hold Steady at No. 13, Still Top of the West", worth a read if you like seeing Pullman on a map that people actually look at. That kind of respect doesn't come from beating up on the easy teams. It comes from showing up on the road, in the cold, and winning the kind of game that doesn't make SportsCenter but does make the other side of the Palouse feel a little smaller. Headed north is its own kind of test. The altitude changes. The crowd is hostile. The bus coffee is terrible. But this team has been locked in since fall, and they have the mid-pack finishes and the Hawai'i trip behind them as proof they can handle the miles. Go Cougs. Bring back a win from the north country.
Boenning Cards a Steady Round, Cougs Land Mid-Pack in California
Boenning carded a steady round, and the Cougs landed mid-pack in California. That's the kind of honest result you can respect. No heroics. No collapse. Just solid golf from a team that knows what it's doing. Mid-pack against a field in California is nothing to apologize for, and it beats the alternative by a long shot. The Cougs have been getting work in. If you've been following along, you saw them head to Everett for a neutral-court game, and you watched them grind through the Hawaii tournament. The golf team is doing the same thing: putting in the reps, staying steady. That's how you build something that lasts. We like seeing the Cougs out there, competing, representing. It's not always about the trophy. Sometimes it's about the round. And this was a good round. Go Cougs.
Cougs wrap fall with ninth in Hawai'i, eyes on spring
The Cougs wrapped fall in Hawai'i with a ninth-place finish, and honestly? That's about right for where this team is. Not a disaster. Not a breakthrough. Just a solid, mid-pack showing that leaves you wanting to see what they do with a little more time. Hawai'i tournaments have a way of sorting things out. The travel, the time change, the fact that everyone's still figuring out their rotations. Ninth place in that field means you hung in there, you had some moments, and you learned exactly where the work needs to go. For a program that's been steady without being flashy, that's not a bad place to be. If you missed it, "Boenning Cards a Steady Round, Cougs Land Mid-Pack in California" covered a similar theme earlier this fall, consistent play that doesn't steal headlines but keeps the team in the mix. That's the story of this fall. No big surprises. No blown chances. Just enough to make you curious about spring. Spring is where the real questions get answered. Fall gave them a baseline. Now they know what they've got. The next few months are about building on it, not reinventing it. That's a fine spot to be in. Go Cougs.
Wazzu golf wraps Day 2 in Hawaii with steady second-round play
The Cougs are keeping it steady in Hawaii. Through two rounds of the Wazzu golf trip, the team has put together a solid, no-drama day of play on the islands. No wild swings, no collapses, just clean second-round work that keeps the momentum going. That's the kind of golf that wins trips home with something to show for it. We know the scoreboard matters, but this is also about the grind. Getting through a second round without losing your head in paradise is its own kind of win. The conditions are gorgeous, sure, but the palm trees don't make the putts for you. So far, so good. If you want more on how our guys handle the pressure, check out our earlier piece on "Boenning Holds Steady in Top 10 Through Second Round at Saint Mary's." Same steady hands, different fairway. The travel is the fun part. The scorecard is the work. Right now, the Cougs are handling both. Go Cougs.
WSU hoops heads to Everett for a November neutral-court game
Everett is getting a real November treat. WSU hoops is bringing a neutral-court game to the city, and it's exactly the kind of matchup that makes you want to clear a Tuesday night. No home-court advantage, no familiar rafters, just basketball, plain and simple. Cougs in the stands will have to bring their own noise. This is a smart move. Pullman is home, but the program has alumni scattered everywhere. Everett is a good halfway point, a place where the Palouse feels close enough and the city feels far enough. Neutral-court games have a different energy. It's not hostile, but it's not cozy either. You have to earn every call. If you've been following the team through the early season, you already know the kind of intensity that's showing up. The roster is taking shape, and if you want to see how that work translates away from Beasley, this is the game to watch. For more on how the Cougs are building that identity, check out our coverage of fall ball and the early roster talk in "Riley and the roster speak, fall ball is next." It's good context for what you'll see in Everett. Mark the calendar. Bring a friend who forgot what Pullman feels like. And remember, when the ball goes up, it's just you, the Coug next to you, and the game. Go Cougs.
Colorado State and Texas State roll into Pullman for a proving ground
Colorado State and Texas State are rolling into Pullman, and for a program that spent the fall bouncing between Hawai'i and California, this is the part of the schedule where you find out what you're made of. You don't bring two schools from different conferences into Beasley unless you want a real measuring stick. The Cougs have been running the road all season, if you caught our piece on the hoop squad loading the bus for a Pac-12 trip north, you know this team isn't afraid of miles. But those were away games. This is home court, and Pullman shows up for a proving ground. Both visitors are hungry. Colorado State has been building something steady, and Texas State plays with the kind of chip that makes for uncomfortable afternoons. Wazzu's roster has the talent to handle it, but talent doesn't win a weekend like this. Execution does. Rebounding. Not giving up the baseline. The kind of stuff that doesn't show up in a box score but decides the game. The Cougs have been close in spots this year, ninth in Hawai'i, mid-pack in California, a steady round from Boenning that kept things respectable. That's fine for fall. Spring is when you prove it. This weekend is the first real test. Go Cougs.
Helm guides Cougs through opening day of Hawaii tournament
Helm walked into Hawaii's tournament opener and got exactly what you'd expect from a first day on a strange course: a mix of good swings, a few head-scratchers, and enough to keep the Cougs in the game. If you've ever lined up a putt with the wind coming off the Pacific, you know. It's not the Palouse. The team settled in, though, and Helm's steady hand through the rotation kept things from drifting. No heroics. No panic. Just the kind of golf that gives you something to build on for the rest of the week. If you missed it, we also had the Cougs at the Saint Mary's Invitational recently, different island, different feel, same stubborn approach to getting the ball in the hole. Worth a read if you want to see how this squad handles a road trip. For now, the Hawaii tournament is still wide open. The Cougs are in the mix. That's all you can ask on day one. Go Cougs.
Golf Cougs One Swing Back at Saint Mary's Invitational
The Washington State golf team is back on the course this week at the Saint Mary's Invitational, and they've got a little momentum to work with. After a tough stretch, the Cougs are one swing back. That's the kind of phrase that means something when you've been grinding through a fall schedule that doesn't let up. They're not looking for moral victories out there in California. They're looking to stack a solid round and keep climbing. This group has shown flashes. The question is whether they can string them together when it matters. The field at Saint Mary's won't hand out anything easy, but that's the point. You go to these tournaments to find out what you're made of, and Pullman has always been a place that builds players who can handle a little adversity. If you missed our earlier coverage on the Cougs heading to the Tyson Invitational, that story gives you a sense of how this team prepares for the road. Same grit, different course. For now, the focus is on Monterey. One swing at a time. Go Cougs.
Cougs head to Tyson Invitational ready for a test on the road
The Cougs are heading to Fayetteville this weekend for the Tyson Invitational, and nobody should confuse that with a warm-up. This is a meet that separates the pack. Washington State's track squad will be lining up against some serious competition on the road, and that's exactly the kind of test you want to see this early in the season. It's one thing to roll through a home meet on the Palouse. It's another to go into a loaded invitational and hold your own. If you've been following along, you know this program has been putting in the work. We've already written about the crew keeping things rolling on the Spokane River this season, and that same energy needs to carry over to the indoor track in Arkansas. The Tyson Invitational is a proving ground. The Cougs have the talent to make some noise, but talent alone doesn't win in a field like this. It takes grit, focus, and the kind of quiet confidence you earn in practice when nobody's watching. That's Pullman tough. That's what we expect to see. So keep an eye on the results this weekend. If the Cougs show up and compete, it says a lot about where this team is headed. If they don't, it tells you what they still need to figure out. Either way, we'll be watching. Go Cougs.
Boise State comes to Pullman for the first time since 2017
The last time Boise State came to Pullman, Tyler Hilinski came off the bench and won it in triple overtime. That was 2017. This Saturday, the Broncos are back at Gesa Field, ranked No. 21, and WSU is still looking for its first FBS win of the season. The Cougs are 14-point underdogs. That feels about right. Boise State has won five straight since losing to Oregon, and running back Dylan Riley is averaging 139 yards per game. Quarterback Maddux Madsen has thrown 13 touchdowns and zero picks. Zero. That offense is a machine, and WSU's defense just gave up 347 passing yards to Oregon State. But there was something to like last week. Owen Eshelman got his first start and looked like a different offense. 32 of 49, 289 yards, two touchdowns, and 136 rushing yards. The running backs? Still stuck in neutral, 26 yards on 13 carries. Moore said it starts up front, and he's right. This is also a full-circle game for Kirby Moore, who played at Boise State and built the coaching connections he uses now. You can read more about what worked for him after the Oregon State win in our piece "Kirby Moore breaks down what worked after the win over Oregon State." It's a long shot. But it's Pullman, and it's Boise State, and that 2017 game still echoes. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore finally had something to say, and it wasn't about a tie
Kirby Moore finally looked like he had something to say, and it wasn't about a tie. After WSU's 48-30 loss to Oregon State, the head coach showed up to the postgame microphone visibly frustrated, animated, and far more fired up than we've seen all season. For a guy who usually sounds like he just finished a scrimmage, this was a real shift. He benched Pinnick, started Owen Eshelman, and the offense finally looked alive. Eshelman completed 32 of 49 passes for 289 yards and ran for 136 more, the second-most rushing yards by a WSU quarterback in program history. If you didn't know it was his first start, you'd have called your buddy a liar. Moore also punted on fourth-and-short from midfield twice, both times leading to long OSU touchdowns. He defended the calls after the game, saying he has confidence in the defense. That's the right thing to say to the room. But you can tell he's learning. The Cougs are 1-6 and this season is basically a lost cause. But Eshelman changes the look of the rest of the schedule. They might not beat Boise State next weekend, but San Diego State and Colorado State suddenly feel different. Moore took too long to make this call. That's fair to say. But he made it, and that matters. For more on the bright spots from that game, check out our piece on Eshelman and Branden Ganashamoorthy making the scoreboard hurt a little less. Go Cougs.
Cougs keep rolling on the Spokane River this season
You don't need a calendar to know it's spring on the Spokane River. The Cougs are back on the water, and the rhythm feels right. Rowing is one of those sports that doesn't shout for attention, but the results speak for themselves. Washington State's crew has been putting in the work, and this season is shaping up like they mean to make some noise before the last shell is racked. If you've been following along, you already know the defense has been setting the tone elsewhere. Trent Bray's squad brought the heat in Corvallis, and that kind of edge travels well. The crew team might not share a practice field with the football program, but the same competitive streak runs through Pullman right now. It's a good time to be a Coug who likes watching athletes earn it. For deeper coverage, check out "Bray's defense brings the heat, and a little revenge, to Corvallis." It's a good read on how that side of the ball is finding its teeth. For now, the river is the thing. No hype needed. Just oars hitting the water and a program that keeps showing up. That's the Coug way. Go Cougs.
Braden Atkinson keeps slinging it, now tops in the FBS
Braden Atkinson threw a 90-yard touchdown in the first half and never looked back. The Oregon State quarterback, a sophomore transfer from Mercer, is now the FBS leader in passing yards and touchdown throws. He went 23 of 38 for 347 yards, three scores, and zero picks against Washington State. That brings his season totals to 2,604 yards and 24 touchdowns with just two interceptions. The guy won the Jerry Rice Award as the FCS freshman of the year last season. He looks like he belongs at this level. The Cougars could not stop him, and they could not stop AJ Newberry either. The Oregon State running back, a Vanderbilt transfer, put up 225 total yards and a touchdown. He ran for 105 yards on 11 carries, averaging 9.5 a pop, and caught five passes for 120 more. His 88-yard screen pass touchdown in the second quarter made it 27-3. That was more than WSU could climb back from. The Cougars found some offensive rhythm with a new quarterback, but consistency is still missing. If you want the full picture, check out "Kirby Moore finally had something to say, and it wasn't about a tie" for the head coach's take on this stretch. Go Cougs.
Bray's defense brings the heat, and a little revenge, to Corvallis
Trent Bray is going back to Corvallis, and he's bringing a defense that has earned the right to be a little salty. Three interceptions, two of them pick-sixes, and a unit that ranks among the best in the conference. That's the kind of stat line that makes you believe in a homecoming upset. But then you look at the other side. Oregon State's offense is a different animal. Braden Atkinson leads the country in passing yards per game, and Jesse Legree is a freshman who has yet to be slowed down. Even in losses. That's the wall Bray has to run through. Kirby Moore made a call. He benched Caden Pinnick and is handing the ball to redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman. Big arm, good accuracy, zero meaningful college snaps. It's a lot to ask a 20-year-old to match wits with the Beavers' high-flying attack. We're picking Oregon State 35-20, and the Cougs are 18.5-point dogs for a reason. But here's the thing: starting Eshelman might not be about winning Saturday. It might be about getting him the reps he needs to settle in. Throwing him into the fire in Corvallis is a trial by combat. If he can keep pace, even in a loss, that's a win for the future. For a deeper look at how that decision played out in real time, check out our coverage in "Eshelman finds the end zone, but Beavers build a big lead." Go Cougs.