Washington State Cougars

Washington State sits at 1-6 overall and 0-3 in Pac-12 play in Kirby Moore's first season, with the lone win a 48-7 home rout of FCS Duquesne. The Cougars have been competitive against the spread (5-2 ATS) but have struggled to finish games, losing their three conference matchups by an average of 16 points. The offense has been the primary culprit, managing just one offensive touchdown against FBS opponents through the first six weeks before a late surge against Oregon State.

The rebuilt offensive line, which returned five starters (Tripp, Lester, Martin, Dunham, Caldwell) and added transfer Maximus McCree, has yet to find consistency. Caden Pinnick, the FCS transfer from UC Davis, has shown flashes but has been plagued by turnovers and road struggles, throwing for under 160 yards in three of his last four starts. Redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman provided a spark in his first career start at Oregon State, throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns while adding 136 rushing yards, but the quarterback situation remains fluid. The run game, led by Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods, and Leo Pulalasi, has been held under 65 yards twice in the last three games.

Despite losing six defensive linemen to Iowa State in the offseason, the Cougars' rebuilt front seven has been a strength. Edge rushers Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk have generated consistent pressure, and the interior rotation of Kaden Beatty, Damarjhe Lewis, Paul Hutson III, and Jirah Leaupepetele has held up better than expected. However, the defense has faded in the second half of competitive games, allowing 20 second-half points to Arizona, 14 unanswered to Utah State, and 21 second-half points to Oregon State. The unit has been forced to carry a heavy load due to the offense's inability to sustain drives.

Jack Stevens, who connected on 16 of 19 field goals and all 33 extra points last season, has struggled mightily in 2026, making just 1 of 6 field goal attempts. His misses have directly cost the Cougars points in close games, including two in the season-opening loss to Washington and a blocked attempt against Arizona. The staff's confidence in Stevens appears shaken, and the kicking game remains a significant vulnerability in a season where every point matters.

With bowl eligibility now out of reach, the remainder of the season becomes an evaluation period for Moore and his staff. The development of Eshelman at quarterback, the continued growth of the young defensive front, and the emergence of playmakers like receiver Branden Ganashamoorthy (147 yards on 11 catches at Oregon State) are key storylines. The Cougars have shown resilience, covering five of seven spreads, but they must clean up turnovers, improve third-down conversions (28.9% early in the season), and find a reliable kicking option to close the gap in the new-look Pac-12.