New Mexico
Wazzu keeps New Mexico in one place: 3 stories so far. The section currently leads with “The Pac-12 power rankings are here, and the top spot isn't Pullman”, “Oh look, WSU football found the cellar and the lights are off”, and “Max Dean's migraines make Cougs' punting a game-time call”. Boise State sits at No. The Pac-12 power rankings are out, and WSU football is sitting at the bottom. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every New Mexico story on Wazzu, newest first.
The Pac-12 power rankings are here, and the top spot isn't Pullman
Boise State sits at No. 1 in the Pac-12 power rankings, and the Cougs are at the bottom. That stings. But the numbers don't lie. Washington State is 1-8, winless in conference play, and staring down a very real possibility of not winning again until 2027. That's not alarmism. That's math. The rest of the conference has flipped since October. Oregon State looked unbeatable. Now they've allowed 992 yards in two games. Texas State was under .500. Now they're churning toward a conference championship game. Utah State was entirely beatable. Now they've won two straight. The only constant is Boise State, which controls its own path to the College Football Playoff berth. For the Cougs, Saturday against Colorado State is everything. The Rams have the worst total defense in the country. If Washington State can't win that one, the next chance is next September. That's a long offseason to sit on one win. If you need a break from the football despair, we've got you covered elsewhere. The Cougs left Fresno in the dust and the record book in the pool this week. Go read that one. It'll help. Go Cougs.
Oh look, WSU football found the cellar and the lights are off
The Pac-12 power rankings are out, and WSU football is sitting at the bottom. Dead last. Number eight. The Cougs lost to Utah State 17-16, dropping to 1-5 on the season, and the Hotline's take is brutal: "destined for a 2-10 season." Readers asked where the second win comes from, and the answer was basically, maybe they stumble into another one. Ouch. That's the kind of week it was. Meanwhile, Boise State handled Fresno State 38-31 with a 13-play, all-run drive that was pure Boise grit. Oregon State wiped San Diego State 66-14. The conference is moving on without us. The real story in this week's rankings isn't just the order, it's the math. The Pac-12's path to the College Football Playoff runs through the Group of Six. Boise State is the only team in the conference that can clear the 12-1 bar. The rest of us are just trying to figure out if two losses becomes the threshold by December. For WSU, that's a long way off. First, they've got to find a second win. Kirby Moore is making a change at quarterback, with Owen Eshelman getting the start against Oregon State. If you want the full breakdown on that, check our piece on the QB switch. The Cougs head to Corvallis still searching for their first win of the season. It's not pretty, but it's where we are. Go Cougs.
Max Dean's migraines make Cougs' punting a game-time call
Max Dean's migraines are making Saturday a game-time call, and for a Coug punter averaging 45 yards a boot, 18th in the country, that's a problem Washington State doesn't need. Dean emerged from the locker room around 3:15 p.m. for warmups, which is a good sign, but if he can't go, kicker Jack Stevens takes over punting duties. Stevens has never punted in college. Not once. High school was the last time. He's also 1-for-5 on field goals this season, including a missed extra point. So, yeah, that's not ideal. Dean has been a bright spot in a season that already saw the Cougs let a 14-point lead dissolve against Arizona, a game we covered in "Cougs jump Arizona early, then watch a 14-point lead dissolve." His 14 punts for 627 yards, five inside the 20, and a long of 52 are the kind of quiet consistency that wins close games. Coach Kirby Moore said it best: Dean's work in the punt game is getting overshadowed. He's right. If Dean can't go, the Cougs lose more than a leg. He also holds kicks, and that job is suddenly up for grabs too. Against a Wildcats team that just flipped the script on them, special teams can't be a question mark. Go Cougs.