loss
Wazzu keeps loss in one place: 8 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Wazzu's effort was there in Fort Collins, even if the win wasn't”, “Eshelman and the O Show Signs of Life in Corvallis Loss”, and “Kirby Moore finally had something to say, and it wasn't about a tie”. FORT COLLINS wasn't kind to Wazzu's women's basketball team, but the effort was there. The O showed signs of life, and that alone felt like a win in Corvallis. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every loss story on Wazzu, newest first.
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.
Eshelman and the O Show Signs of Life in Corvallis Loss
The O showed signs of life, and that alone felt like a win in Corvallis. Eshelman finally found a rhythm, the offense moved the ball with something resembling purpose, and for stretches, it looked like the unit that was supposed to show up in September. That matters. Not because it changes the record, but because it changes the conversation on the bus ride home. You want to know what that bus ride was actually like? We've got a separate story on that quiet trip back, and it pairs well with this one. Kirby Moore has spent weeks answering questions about what's broken. After this one, he finally had something to say that wasn't about a tie. That's progress. The scoreboard still says loss, and nobody in Pullman is popping champagne for a moral victory in Corvallis. But if you watched the whole thing, you saw a quarterback settle in, a line give him time, and a few throws that reminded you why you keep tuning in. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't enough. But it was something to build on, which is more than we had a week ago. 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 hit the road and left an impression on Boise State
Boise State fans might have expected an easy tune-up. Instead, they got a reminder that Cougs travel well. Wazzu hit the road and left an impression on the blue turf, showing up with the kind of grit that doesn't quit when the stadium noise turns against you. It wasn't pretty every snap, but that's not the point. The point is that this team walked into someone else's house and didn't back down. That matters. You can feel the season turning. The confidence is building, and it's not just on the gridiron. Over on the women's golf side, the Cougs closed out their fall season with a trip to Hawai'i, tough duty, but someone has to do it. And if you want to see where that same poise shows up in a different sport, find the piece on Owen Eshelman. That kid walked into a meeting asking "why," and the coaches noticed immediately. That's the kind of Coug we're talking about. No flash. Just substance. So yeah, Boise got a taste of what Pullman produces. Not the flash. The fight. That's the take you text your buddy. Go Cougs.
Cougs gave Colorado State everything they could handle, just not a win
They don't hand out moral victories in the Mountain West, but if they did, the Cougs would have earned a framed certificate in Fort Collins. Colorado State got the win, sure, but Wazzu made them sweat for every last possession. That's not nothing. This team has a habit of showing up in the moments that look toughest on the calendar. They don't flinch. They don't fold. They just run out of clock. There's a difference between getting beat and getting outlasted, and Saturday felt like the latter. CSU made a play or two more. That's the whole story, and it stings. But here's the thing about a loss like this: it travels. It shows up in the film room on Monday. It proves the gap between "close" and "closed" is smaller than the record suggests. If the Cougs keep bringing that same edge, the close ones start tipping the other way. That's not a prediction. That's just how the math works when effort is consistent. We've got more on where this team goes from here. If you want the full picture of how the weekend shook out, check our piece on the Cougs sneaking into a tie for second out in Tacoma. Different arena, same fight. For now, take the loss, keep the lesson, and get ready for the next one. Go Cougs.
Fresno State gets the edge but the Cougs fought until the final whistle
Fresno State got the final edge, but the Cougs made them earn every bit of it. That's the kind of fight you want to see from a team that refuses to fold, even when the scoreboard isn't kind. This wasn't a game where Washington State got pushed around and waved the white flag. They scraped, they clawed, and they left everything on the field. If you were watching, you saw a group that believed they could win until the very last whistle blew. That matters. A loss is a loss on the schedule, sure. But the way a team loses tells you more than the way it wins sometimes. This one tells you the Cougs have grit. They are not the kind of team that gets rattled when things get tight. They are the kind that makes you work for it. For a deeper look at how the team processed that final whistle, go check out "Kirby Moore and the Cougs Talk Fresno State After the Final Whistle." It gets into the mindset you saw on the field. For now, take this: the Cougs didn't get the result they wanted, but they reminded everyone what they are made of. That is not nothing. That is the foundation of something better. Go Cougs.
Coug O-line opened holes, but the scoreboard didn't cooperate against SDSU
The offensive line did its job Saturday. The Cougs opened holes, gave the quarterback time, and generally did the dirty work you want to see in the trenches. Then the scoreboard happened. Against San Diego State, Washington State moved the ball well enough to win, but the points didn't follow. That's the frustrating part of this one: the physicality was there, the execution up front was there, and the result wasn't. You can't blame the big guys for this loss. They created running lanes and kept the pocket clean. When the O-line does that, the offense should cash in. It didn't. Maybe that's a red-zone issue, maybe it's a turnover problem, maybe it's just one of those Saturdays where the ball bounces wrong. Either way, the protection wasn't the problem. It's a tough one to swallow because the effort was obvious. The Cougs didn't get pushed around. They pushed back. But football doesn't award style points, and Pullman is left wondering what could have been if a few more drives ended in the end zone. The good news? The season isn't over, and there's plenty of football left. If the line keeps blocking like that, the wins will come. For more on what's happening around the program, check out "Palouse Hoops Is Back: Cougs, Vandals Set Two-Year Series" for a look at the hardwood rivalry returning. For now, Cougs, this one stings, but the foundation is there. Go Cougs.
Cougs sweep Southern Utah with highlights worth the replay
The Cougs swept Southern Utah, and the highlights are the kind you actually want to rewatch. Not just because the scoreboard looked good, because the plays earned it. There was a rhythm to that match that Bohler Gym hasn't always found this early in the season, and it showed in the little things: clean passes, sharp kills, and a defense that refused to let rallies die cheaply. This is the kind of weekend that builds momentum before conference play really digs in. If you missed it, find the replay. Trust me. For those of you already thinking about what comes next, we've got you covered with "Bohler's Back in Business: Pac-12 Volleyball Slate Drops for the Cougs." It lays out who's coming to town and when you need to have your plans locked in. Because nobody wants to be the one asking for a ride to the game ten minutes before first serve. The Cougs looked like they're starting to figure out who they are. That's a good thing, because Pac-12 play doesn't wait for anyone to get comfortable. For now, take the sweep, enjoy the highlights, and get ready for the real test ahead. Go Cougs.