Duquesne7 @FINAL 48Washington State , Week 3, Sep 19, 2026

The Dukes managed just 107 total yards in the opener at Air Force, with 54 rushing yards on the ground and 53 passing yards through the air. Two quarterbacks combined to complete 9 of 22 attempts, and the run game that averaged only 3.8 yards per carry in 2025 was completely stymied. Washington State, even at 0-2, has far more defensive talent than anything Duquesne saw in the NEC last season. The offensive line lost three starters from a unit that already struggled, and without any proven playmakers at receiver or running back, Duquesne will struggle to sustain drives. This is a significant mismatch that favors Washington State.

Last season Duquesne ranked near the bottom of the NEC in passing yards allowed per game, giving up 245 yards through the air. The secondary lost its top two cornerbacks to graduation, and the replacements have combined for only a handful of career starts. Air Force, a run-heavy team, still managed to complete passes efficiently when needed. Washington State, even with a 0-2 record, will present a far more sophisticated passing attack than Air Force. The Cougars have the athletes to exploit Duquesne's young corners, and if the Dukes' safeties bite on play-action, big plays will follow. This is a major advantage for Washington State.

Duquesne is making a 1,896-mile trip to Pullman, its second long road trip in three weeks after traveling to Colorado Springs. The Dukes' roster is built on limited substitutions, and the cumulative travel (3,220 miles this season) could wear them down. Washington State, at 0-2, is desperate for a win and will be playing at home in front of a crowd that expects a blowout. The combination of travel fatigue, a hostile environment, and a motivated opponent is a recipe for a slow start. This situational edge heavily favors Washington State.

The prediction market gives Duquesne essentially no chance to win, and the line is among the largest of any FCS-vs-FBS matchup this week. This is not an overreaction to travel or venue; it reflects a genuine talent chasm. Washington State returns enough talent to compete in the Pac-12, while Duquesne lost its starting quarterback, top two receivers, and three defensive linemen from a team that already struggled. The Dukes' power rating is far below Washington State's, and nothing in their Week 1 performance suggests a narrowing of that gap. The market's skepticism is well-founded, and there is no reason to expect Duquesne to keep this close.

Despite the massive spread, Duquesne's only realistic hope is to shorten the game by controlling the clock with a ball-control offense and forcing Washington State into a methodical, run-heavy attack that limits possessions. If Duquesne can avoid turnovers and keep the game in the 20s, they could stay within the number, even if they never threaten to win. This is a narrow path, but it is the one the Dukes' coaching staff will be aiming for. However, given Washington State's offensive firepower and Duquesne's defensive deficiencies, this scenario is unlikely.

Through two games the Cougars have one offensive touchdown, Caden Pinnick's 11-yard keeper against Washington; the only other score was Jaylen Thomas's 47-yard interception return at Kansas State. Pinnick is 9 of 20 for 65 yards in the most recent outing and the run game managed 101 yards against the Wildcats. Duquesne's power rating sits far below both Washington and Kansas State, so this is the first opponent that will not overwhelm a rebuilt offensive line still meshing five returners with transfer Maximus McCree. Expect Kirby Moore to lean on Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods and Leo Pulalasi early to build Pinnick's confidence on manageable downs.

Washington State held Washington to 24 points and stuffed two fourth-down attempts, then limited Kansas State's passing game to 192 yards with two interceptions before Rodney Fields Jr. broke free for a 75-yard score. Edge rushers Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk have been the most reliable defenders, and the interior rotation of Kaden Beatty, Damarjhe Lewis, Paul Hutson III and Jirah Leaupepetele has held up better than the preseason scouting suggested. Duquesne does not bring the size or athleticism of either prior opponent, so this is the game where the front seven should generate consistent negative plays and give the offense short fields.

Stevens missed from 32 and 52 yards in the Apple Cup, leaving at least six points on the board in a 14-point loss, after connecting on 16 of 19 field goals and all 33 extra points a season ago. In a game where Washington State is a massive favorite, those misses matter less to the result than to Stevens's rhythm and the staff's willingness to attempt long kicks. If the Cougars stall in Duquesne territory, watch whether Moore trusts Stevens from distance or goes for it on fourth down, a tell about how the kicking game is being managed after a shaky start.

The line and prediction market both treat Duquesne as a heavy underdog with essentially no path to victory, and that is consistent with the gap in power ratings and the fact that Washington State has covered one of two spreads against far better opponents. The Cougars' offense has been the weak link, but Duquesne does not have the defensive front to exploit it the way Washington and Kansas State did. The market's confidence is not misplaced; if anything, the only question is whether Washington State's offense can score enough to justify the margin, which is a lower bar than it faced in either of the first two weeks.

After opening with a rivalry road game at Washington and a 1,160-mile trip to Manhattan, the Cougars finally play at home with a full week of rest and no travel. The venue advantage is modest compared to Husky Stadium or Bill Snyder Family Stadium, but it is the first time this young team, with a first-year head coach and a new quarterback, will operate in a friendly environment. That matters for communication on offense and for a defense that wore down in the fourth quarter against Washington. Duquesne also has to travel, and the combination of rest, home crowd and a lesser opponent is the clearest situational edge Washington State has had all year.