WSU

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.

Eshelman and WSU need the offense to show up if they want to beat Oregon State

The rock is on the line, but that's the least of Wazzu's worries right now. Owen Eshelman gets his first college start Saturday in Corvallis, and the kid has barely played. Two snaps. Garbage time against Duquesne. Now he's supposed to fix an offense averaging 12.6 points a game, with a turnover margin that's dead last in the country. That's not a soft landing. Keith Brown, the veteran linebacker who started his career at Oregon, says he wasn't nervous when he faced Ohio State as a true freshman. He felt prepared. Eshelman might feel the same way. He's got the arm and the accuracy. But the Cougs need more than a live arm. They need the whole offense to show up for the first time all year. Oregon State, meanwhile, is rolling. Braden Atkinson is throwing for 376 yards a game. Jesse Legree has 12 receiving touchdowns. The Beavs' offense is ranked fifth in the country, and they just hung 66 on San Diego State. The WSU defense has been the one bright spot this season, but slowing that down is a tall order. Kirby Moore made the switch at QB. He took over playcalling last week. He's trying everything. Now it's on Eshelman to prove the change matters. If the Cougs can't score, it won't matter how well the defense plays. For more on the challenge facing WSU's secondary, check out "WSU's secondary gets its biggest test of the season against OSU's Legree." Go Cougs.

Eshelman finds the end zone, but Beavers build a big lead

Owen Eshelman found the end zone for the first time in his college career Saturday, and that's about the only good news the Cougars got in Corvallis. The redshirt freshman connected with Branden Ganashamoorthy for a 40-yard touchdown late in the second quarter, but by then the Beavers had already built a lead too big to ignore. Oregon State put up 27 points before Washington State could answer with a field goal. The Beavers came out swinging. Jesse Legree is every bit the problem we worried he'd be, the star freshman hauled in a 90-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, and he hasn't been held under 100 receiving yards all season. That's not a stat you see often. Oregon State's offense kept rolling with an 88-yard screen from AJ Newberry, who piled up 159 scrimmage yards on the day. Washington State's offense stalled near the goal line in the second quarter, settling for a 19-yard field goal from Jack Stevens. Meanwhile, Caleb Ojeda added two field goals for the Beavers, including a 48-yarder to stretch the lead early. This one got away fast. The Cougars are still searching for their first FBS win of the season, and the defense, stout as it's been, had no answer for Legree and company. If you want to know how Eshelman earned the starting job in the first place, check out our earlier piece, "Eshelman walked in asking why, and WSU coaches took notice.

WSU's secondary gets its biggest test of the season against OSU's Legree

Jesse Legree has not been held under 100 receiving yards once this fall. Not once. That stat alone should make any Coug nervous heading into Corvallis. The freshman leads the country with 12 receiving touchdowns and has won Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors all six weeks of the season. Zero drops on 54 targets. He's the kind of problem that keeps defensive coordinators up late. WSU's secondary gets its biggest test Saturday. Cornerbacks Jalil Tucker and Khamari Terrell will likely draw the Legree assignment, and they'll need help from the pass rush. Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk will have to generate pressure on QB Braden Atkinson, but OSU's line has only given up two sacks all season. The weak spots are there: right tackle Teko Shoats has been dinged for 10 pressures, and right guard Tyler Voltin has given up two sacks. The Cougs need to find them. On offense, Owen Eshelman gets the start after Caden Pinnick's turnovers and inability to stretch the field. If Eshelman can connect early, tailbacks Maxwell Woods and Kirby Vorhees might finally get room to run. That's a big if. This is a longshot, but it's not impossible. For deeper context on how Trent Bray's defense has been building toward this, check out "Bray's defense brings the heat, and a little revenge, to Corvallis." Go Cougs.

Eshelman walked in asking why, and WSU coaches took notice

BECU's new Cougar Athletics pod sits down with Foss and Buren

BECU's new Cougar Athletics pod is doing exactly what it should: sitting down with Foss and Buren and letting them talk. No fluff, no corporate polish, just two names Cougs know well getting some real time on the mic. That's the kind of content we actually want to click, not another generic hype video set to a soundtrack we've heard a hundred times. The pod is a smart move for BECU, too. They've been around Pullman long enough to know the audience isn't looking for a sales pitch. They're looking for connection. And when you've got Foss and Buren in the room, you don't need to manufacture energy. You just let them roll. It's also a nice reminder that the Coug network runs deeper than game days. You see it in the research coming out of WSU, like that study on cannabis and breastfeeding that made everyone do a double take. You see it in the rivalry stuff with OSU, where the emotion is real even when the conference math gets messy. And you see it here, in a credit union pod that treats athletes like people, not stats. We've been through a lot lately, and it's easy to get caught up in the noise. But this pod feels like a good hang. Two Cougs, a couple of mics, and stories worth hearing. Go Cougs.

WSU study says pass the bong, not the breastmilk, new moms

If you're a new mom who also happens to enjoy cannabis, a new WSU study has some advice: pass the bong, not the breastmilk. The researchers aren't out here saying weed is fine for babies. They're saying we don't actually know what happens when it gets into breastmilk, and that's the problem. The study calls for more research on how cannabis use during breastfeeding affects infant health. Right now, the science hasn't caught up to the reality that plenty of moms use it. That gap matters. It's the kind of real-world question that doesn't get the same attention as the football field, but it matters just as much to Coug families. And speaking of focus, if you missed it, we also published a piece on Keith Brown deleting social media to lock in on WSU's defense. Different kind of discipline, same respect for tuning out what doesn't serve you. This cannabis-and-breastfeeding study isn't a recommendation. It's a heads-up. Moms deserve real answers, not just a shrug. WSU is asking the question. That's the Coug way, look at the thing nobody wants to stare at and say, "We should probably figure this out." Go Cougs.

The Rock Is Real WSU and OSU Make Their Rivalry Official

Noah Dunham looked confused when a reporter asked about the rivalry rock. That's fair. A 50-pound, two-part rock formation, half basalt and half granite, isn't the first thing you expect to play for on Saturday. But it's real. It's here. And it might be the most fitting trophy two schools could have. The rock comes from Biggs Junction, a spot halfway between Corvallis and Pullman. It's made from Missoula flood erratics, boulders carried by the same ancient floods that shaped the land under both campuses. A WSU grad named Jesse Lyon came up with the idea while sitting on his porch, thinking about what ties the Cougs and Beavs together. He landed on the floods. Then he landed on the rock. There's something right about this. The trophy isn't official yet. It won't get hoisted at midfield. It'll live in the winner's alumni association building. But it was made by an OSU geologist who isn't even a football fan, using rocks from the ground both schools share. That's not forced. That's earned. Keith Brown hadn't heard about it either. Once he did, he smiled and said what every Coug is thinking: "Let's go win the rock." For a deeper look at where these two schools stand now, read *"It hurts: Beavers rising while Cougs slide in the new Pac-12."* Go Cougs.

It hurts: Beavers rising while Cougs slide in the new Pac-12

It hurts to read this, and it should. Six weeks ago, we were standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Oregon State, the last two Cougs and Beavers holding the damn thing together. We were partners in the salvage operation, the rebirth of the Pac-12. Now? One of us is ascending, and it isn't us. The Beavers are the story of the season. JaMarcus Shephard, their third-choice head coach, has them at 4-2 with a path to the College Football Playoff. They hit on a quarterback nobody wanted and a defensive coordinator who used to be a national Coach of the Year. They got lucky. We got Kirby Moore, who just changed quarterbacks and stripped his offensive coordinator of playcalling duties in the same week. We're 1-5 and winless against FBS competition. It's easy to sit in Pullman and wonder what if. But the difference isn't luck. It's a series of decisions made last fall. OSU fired Trent Bray and swung for energy. We chased stability. Stability got us an inept offense and an overburdened defense. On the margins of this sport, success is fleeting, and right now, we're the ones who caught the wrong end of it. For a deeper look at how we handle pressure, check out our study on sensitivity and social threat, "Wazzu Study: Sensitivity Is About Social Threat, Not Just Loud Noises." It might explain a thing or two about how this team is reacting. Go Cougs.

Wazzu Study: Sensitivity Is About Social Threat, Not Just Loud Noises

A new WSU study found that being a Highly Sensitive Person isn't really about flinching at loud noises or complaining about the office thermostat. It's about social threat. Researchers discovered that HSPs react more to perceived judgment, rejection, or social cues than they do to physical conditions like heat, cold, or air quality. That tracks for anyone who's ever replayed a conversation in their head for three days while sitting in a perfectly comfortable room. The study shifts the focus from the environment to the people in it, which feels right. It's not that the lights are too bright; it's that someone might be mad at you. That's a useful distinction for anyone who's ever been called "too sensitive" and wondered if it meant their ears were too good or their feelings were too close to the surface. Turns out the science is on the side of the feelings. If you want to read more about how WSU researchers are looking at human behavior in unexpected ways, check out our related piece on how employees react when AI threatens their jobs. It's a different kind of threat response, but it's the same brain trying to protect itself. Go Cougs.

Keith Brown deleted social media to lock in on WSU's defense

Keith Brown deleted social media to lock in on WSU's defense, and honestly, that tells you everything you need to know about this guy. He went into halftime against Arizona not knowing the score. Had to ask a teammate. That's not checked out, that's focused on the wrong things being the wrong things to focus on. WSU's defense ranks dead last in starting field position. Dead last. Opponents are starting drives at their own 35-yard line on average against the Cougs. That means Brown and his unit are jogging onto the field already behind, cleaning up turnovers from an offense that keeps handing the ball away. Seven of those nine turnovers came from one quarterback. And still, this defense is allowing 23.7 points per game, good for fifth in the Pac-12. That's not a headline-grabber until you remember what they're working with. Trent Bray returns to Corvallis this week, facing the program he used to run. Oregon State opened as a 17.5-point favorite. Their offense is prolific. Brown's response? "Just another opportunity to go out there and compete." No drama. No excuses. If you want to see how the rest of the Cougs are holding up across the board, go read about the golf team hanging tough in Miami. That kind of grit is running through Pullman right now. But for this defense, the story is simple: they're holding the line while the offense finds its footing. Go Cougs.

If you think AI is coming for your job, you might start slacking off

Turns out the best way to prepare for AI taking your job is to start acting like you've already lost it. A new WSU study found that workers in fields most likely to get disrupted by artificial intelligence aren't just worried, they're checking out. They showed higher moral disengagement and more counterproductive behavior on the clock. Slacking off, cutting corners, that sort of thing. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy: you think the robot's coming for your gig, so you stop caring, which makes you easier to replace. I get the instinct. Nobody wants to grind for a job that might vanish. But this study is a cold splash of Palouse water. It suggests the real threat isn't just the tech, it's how we react to it before it even arrives. WSU researchers are basically saying the panic does more damage than the algorithm. That feels true. We've all seen someone check out before the axe falls. Now there's data behind it. Pullman keeps punching above its weight on this kind of work. Speaking of punching above weight, if you need a break from existential workplace dread, go read about the WSU Volleyball team showing up in Texas and giving the home team a scare. That's the kind of fight we like to see. Go Cougs.

Jane LaRiviere on Gonzaga Week and what's next for WSU rowing

Jane LaRiviere doesn't sugarcoat Gonzaga Week. She knows what it means for WSU rowing, and she's not shy about saying this is the kind of test that tells you what you're made of. The Cougs have been putting in the work on the Snake River, and now they get to see if that translates against a program that doesn't take days off. LaRiviere is the kind of coach who will tell you the scoreboard matters, but she'll also tell you the process matters more. That's a good thing, because Gonzaga doesn't roll over. What comes next for WSU rowing is the part that should get Cougs paying attention. This isn't a one-week blip. LaRiviere is building something that lasts, and the depth she's talking about suggests the program is past the point of hoping for a good race. They expect to be in it. If you're looking for more on what's ahead for Cougar sports, our piece on Korey Schroeder behind the mic for Boise State and Fresno State gives you a different look at what game week prep sounds like from the booth. Two sports, same kind of focus. For now, the oars are in the water and Gonzaga is on the schedule. That's enough. Go Cougs.

TV tip times locked in for Pac-12 men's hoops slate

TV tip times are locked in for Pac-12 men's hoops, and that means you can finally plan your winter Saturdays around something other than shoveling the walk. The conference released the full broadcast schedule, so now we know exactly when the Cougs will tip off against the league. No more guessing. No more refreshing your phone at the bar. You can set your DVR or, if you're old school, write it on the calendar magnet you still have from that Pullman insurance agency. Look, the Pac-12 isn't what it used to be. We know. But this is still the league we grew up on, and these are still the games that matter when you're checking scores from a coffee shop in Seattle or a living room in Spokane. The Cougs will get their share of windows. Some early. Some late. All of them worth staying up for, even if you have to explain to your coworkers why you're dragging on Monday. If you're hungry for more than tip times, we've got you. Read "Pinnick, Pulalasi, Leaupepetele: Three Cougs, One Postgame Story" for a look at what happens after the final buzzer. It's the kind of thing you won't find anywhere else. So mark the dates. Get your snacks ready. And remember, when the ball goes up, we're all still in Pullman, even if the wheat fields are a thousand miles away. Go Cougs.

Korey Schroeder on the mic ahead of Boise State and Fresno State

Korey Schroeder is back on the mic, and that means the next week of Cougar sports sounds like a road trip and a home stand rolled into one. Schroeder has the call for Boise State and Fresno State, two very different tests for a volleyball team that's been grinding. You know the drill: the Broncos always bring a crowd, and the Bulldogs are never an easy out in the gym. This is the kind of week that tells you what a team is made of, especially when you're bouncing from Idaho back to Bohler. We already broke down the full schedule if you need to plan your couch time. Check out "Volleyball hits the road for Boise then hosts Fresno State in the same week" for the details. It's a packed stretch, and having Schroeder's voice on the call makes it feel like you're there, even if you're listening from a kitchen in Seattle or a desk in Spokane. Look, we love the research coming out of WSU as much as the next Coug, but right now it's about serves and blocks. Boise first. Then Fresno. Schroeder will have the stories. You bring the noise from wherever you are. Go Cougs.

Cougs Hang Tough in Miami, Fifth After 18 Holes

Cougs are in the mix. After 18 holes in Miami, Washington State sits fifth on the leaderboard. That's a solid start, not a headline, but it's early. The team hung tough against a field that doesn't care about your travel legs or the time zone change. You take that. You build on it. This is the kind of weekend where you find out what you're made of. The scorecard says they're in the hunt. The Palouse says keep your head down and grind. Miami is a long way from Pullman, but the Cougs didn't look lost. They looked like they belonged. If you want to know how the rest of the athletic department is handling its business, we've got you covered. Check out our sit-down with Jane LaRiviere on Gonzaga week and what's next for WSU rowing. That crew is putting in work, too. So here's the take: fifth place after one round is a good spot. It's not a trophy, but it's a toehold. Now go get the next 18. Go Cougs.

Pinnick, Pulalasi, Leaupepetele: Three Cougs, One Postgame Story

Three names, one box score line, and a story that tells you everything about why this team is fun again. Pinnick, Pulalasi, Leaupepetele. Say those out loud. That's a backfield with rhythm, and Saturday it had a beat. You don't need to be in the room to know what that postgame felt like. Three guys who carried the rock, shared the load, and then shared the moment. That's not always how it works. Sometimes guys get salty about touches. Sometimes the stat sheet gets in the way. Not this group. This was three Cougs who understood the assignment: win the game, then celebrate like it's nobody's business but ours. It's the kind of game that makes you text your old Pullman crew and say, "Okay, we might actually have something." And if you want the full breakdown of what the coaches saw, Kirby Moore breaks down what he saw from the Cougs after Utah State. That's the deep dive. This is the vibe check. What we love here is the specificity. Not just "the running backs played well." Three names. Three dudes. Three stories in one huddle. That's the Coug way. We don't get five-star recruiting classes. We get guys who block for each other and then talk about it after the game like it mattered. Because it did. Go Cougs.

Kirby Moore breaks down what he saw from the Cougs after Utah State

Kirby Moore didn't sugarcoat it. After the Cougs took care of business against Utah State, he broke down what he saw, and it sounds like the kind of honest film-room talk you want from a coach who's paying attention. Not everything was perfect, and that's fine. The point is he saw it. There's something reassuring about a coach who names what went wrong even after a win. Moore's not out here pretending the Cougs are a finished product in November. He's pointing at the details, the execution, the timing, the stuff that doesn't show up in the box score but shows up in February. That's the stuff that actually matters. And while the football team grabs the headlines, the other Cougs are quietly stacking wins too. The swim squad handled Seattle U in October, and Whitaker led the way again in the recent dual. If you missed that one, our recap on the Cougs rolling against Seattle U is worth a read. Different pool, same standard. That's the thing about Wazzu. It's not just one team. It's a whole bunch of people in crimson who show up, do the work, and don't make a big scene about it. Moore gets that. He's not looking for style points. He's looking for progress. The takeaway here is simple: the Cougs are trending the right way, and the coach sees it. He just wants more. Good. So do we. Go Cougs.

WSU Volleyball showed up in Texas and gave the home team a scare

WSU Volleyball walked into Texas and almost stole the whole show. The Cougs gave the home team a real scare, which is exactly the kind of energy we like to see from a program that doesn't get enough attention. Pullman doesn't produce quitters. It produces teams that travel a thousand miles and make people sweat. This isn't the football squad still searching for that first win down south, or the one that apparently found a dark cellar with the lights off. This is volleyball, showing up unannounced and reminding everybody that Cougar athletics runs deeper than the scoreboards people check on Saturdays. You love to see it. Speaking of things that travel further than expected, we also published a piece on WSU researchers tracking a crop-killing virus crossing borders in Chile. Tomato and pepper crops are under threat from an insect-spread pathogen, and our people are on it. That is the other side of being a Coug: we show up in Texas to compete, and we show up in South America to solve problems. Stick around for more on Oregon State looming. But for now, tip your cap to the volleyball team. They went on the road, made some noise, and left a mark. Go Cougs.

Cougs keep rolling: Swim squad handles Seattle U in October meet

The Cougar swim squad didn't just beat Seattle U in October. They handled them. Clean, early, and with the kind of confidence that suggests this team isn't here to participate. They showed up, did the work, and left the pool with a win that should make the rest of the schedule pay attention. There's something satisfying about a non-conference meet that goes exactly how it should. No drama. No comeback needed. Just a group of Cougs taking care of business on their own deck. That's the kind of foundation you build a season on, especially before the schedule starts stacking up. And while the pool was getting sorted, the volleyball squad was down in Texas giving a ranked team everything they could handle. If you missed that one, check out our piece on WSU Volleyball showing up in Austin. Different sport, same attitude. These Cougs aren't backing down from anyone. Then there's the work coming out of the research side, with WSU and Chile pinning down a crop-killing virus that's been crossing borders. That's the other side of being a Coug. We don't just compete. We solve problems that matter. October was a good month to be wearing crimson. The swim team got the win. The researchers got the science. And the rest of us get to feel a little smug about it all. Go Cougs.

Emerson Matthews on the win, the grind, and proving it in Texas

Emerson Matthews doesn't flinch. After a win in Texas, after the grind of a road trip that could have gone sideways, he stood there and talked about proving it. Not hoping for it. Not waiting for it. Proving it. That's the kind of talk that lands differently when you've actually done the work. Matthews and the Cougs went into Texas and took care of business. The scoreboard shows the win, but the way he talks about it, the real story is the work that got them there. The long hours. The reps. The stuff nobody sees from the stands. We've been tracking this team all month. If you want the full picture of how they got to 3-1, go back and read "Volleyball knocks down Texas State, moves to 3-1 on the season." It lays out the early momentum. What Matthews is describing now is what happens when that momentum meets a team that refuses to coast. Texas is a long way from Pullman. The travel alone can break a squad. But Matthews sounds like a guy who knows exactly what he's building. Not loud. Not flashy. Just certain. He's not interested in moral victories or close calls. He wants the proof, and he wants it on the road, against a team that thought it had the home advantage. That's Cougar volleyball right now. No excuses. No looking back. Just the next win, and the next one after that. Go Cougs.

WSU and Chile pin a crop-killing virus crossing borders

A crop-killing virus just jumped a border, and WSU researchers helped catch it. The pathogen, a destructive, insect-spread thing that wipes out tomatoes and peppers, has been confirmed in Chile. That is a long way from Pullman, but it is the same kind of trouble our ag scientists have been tracking for years. Crops do not care about passports, and neither do the bugs that carry this stuff. The work out of WSU here is the kind that does not make a highlight reel but keeps food on the table. Identifying the virus in a new country means growers on both continents can start figuring out how to stop it before it gets worse. That is the kind of research that matters long after the final whistle. If you need a break from worrying about tomato blight in South America, we have you covered. Our latest on the football side is not pretty: Wazzu heads to Oregon State still searching for that first win, and Owen Eshelman gets the start at QB after Pinnick was benched. Read "Cougs turn to Owen Eshelman at QB, Pinnick benched for Oregon State" for the full shakeup. It is a different kind of fight, but Cougs fight. Go Cougs.

Swimmers take care of business against Seattle U, Whitaker leads the way

The Cougars didn't mess around. Seattle U came to Pullman and left with a loss, plain and simple. Whitaker set the tone, and the rest of the squad followed. That's how you handle business in October: no drama, no letdown, just a clean win against a regional opponent. There's something satisfying about a meet like this. It's not the headline-grabbing showdown of the season, but it's the kind of work that builds a team. You don't win the big ones in February if you're sleepwalking through the ones in October. The swimmers clearly got the memo. Whitaker leading the way is a good sign. When you've got someone willing to step up and carry the load, it takes pressure off everyone else. They can settle in, do their jobs, and let the results pile up. That's how a squad starts believing in itself. And if you want more on the momentum this program is carrying, check out "Emerson Matthews on the win, the grind, and proving it in Texas." Different sport, same attitude. These Cougs aren't just showing up; they're showing out. For now, the pool is taken care of. The scoreboard says what it says. Next one up, and the Cougs keep moving. Go Cougs.

Cougs open the home pool slate against Seattle U in Thursday dual

Thursday night at Gibb Pool, the Cougs get back in the water for their home opener against Seattle U. It's a dual meet, which means the scoring is simple: win your race, stack points, and don't give the Redhawks any freebies. We like that format. No relays drama, no diving theatrics. Just swimming, and a chance to defend the home pool. This isn't the first time these two have met this season. The Cougs already cleaned up in Seattle back in October, and Whitaker led the way in that one. If you missed it, we've got the recap from that meet, "Cougs Open the Pool Season by Cleaning Up in Seattle", so you can see how the squad looked before they hit the road again. Thursday is about keeping that momentum going, but it's also about setting a tone at home. Pullman crowds show up for football and hoops, but a packed Gibb Pool on a Thursday night? That's a different kind of energy, and it matters. Seattle U isn't going to roll over. They've had a few weeks to adjust, and dual meets can get tight when the lineup gets shuffled. But the Cougs have the depth and the early-season confidence. We're not calling this a blowout, just a statement. Win the close ones, take the early leads, and let the scoreboard do the talking. Go Cougs.