Apple Cup Preview: Washington State Begins Kirby Moore Era Against No. 17 Washington

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Caden Pinnick will make his first start as a Washington State Cougar in a hostile Husky Stadium as the team opens with an Apple Cup road contest. [/caption]

Washington State will officially begin the Kirby Moore era on the road when the Cougars take on the Washington Huskies in the Apple Cup, presenting a substantial challenge for the new coach as he tries to get his squad off to a fast start.

Moore will become Washington State’s third head coach in as many years, taking over a roster that has undergone significant changes throughout the offseason as they head into the first season competing in the new-look Pac-12 conference. With plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball, the Cougars will open the new campaign as a heavy underdog against a ranked Huskies team while looking to avenge last season’s loss.

What stands out as the Cougs prepare for their annual - at least for now - rivalry matchup in Seattle?

Pinnick at the Wheel for Washington State Offense

Caden Pinnick will take over as Washington State’s starting quarterback as the Cougars open the season with with plenty of changes on offense.

Pinnick, a transfer from UC Davis, was named Big Sky Freshman of the Year and will be tasked with leading an offense that features a few noteworthy returners from last year’s squad, including a backfield with Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods and Leo Pulalasi all returning. The Cougars will also bring back their second and third-leading receivers from a year ago in Tony Freeman and tight end Trey Leckner. Leckner, however, will miss part of the season after suffering a foot injury.

Fortunately for Pinnick and his stable of experienced backs, Wazzu’s offensive line will also have some experience returning in the trenches. Ashton Tripp and Jonny Lester both made 13 starts last season and will provide some much-needed continuity up front. Kyle Martin and Noah Dunham will also be back after appearing in four and nine games, respectively, last season.

While Moore and offensive coordinator Matt Miller will have some familiar pieces to work with, the offense will still have plenty to prove against a Washington defense that will be looking to set the tone early in the season, and newcomers such as Pinnick will have to rise to the occasion against a ranked opponent right out of the gate.

First Glance at New-Look Washington State Defense

With a fair number of returnees on offense, the biggest changes for Washington State will come on the defensive side of the ball.

After losing several players to graduation and the transfer portal during the spring, Moore and defensive coordinator Trent Bray turned to the portal to rebuild the Cougars' defense. As a result, there will be plenty of fresh faces taking the field when Washington State travels to Seattle.

Kaden Beatty is one of the familiar faces returning on the defensive line and could see an expanded role this season. Keith Brown will also be back for his third year in Pullman after missing last season because of injury, hoping this time to avoid being sidelined. Those two players will be counted on for veteran leadership as two of the few defenders back for a second season or more with the program.

Washington State will also look to a pair of experienced transfers to make an immediate impact up front and help close that leadership gap. Linus Zunk, who transferred from Vanderbilt, and Matyus McLain, who came over from Idaho, are expected to play major roles on the defensive line and each offer some pass rushing punch.

The secondary will feature an almost completely new group, with Khamari Terrell and Jalil Tucker expected to help lead the new-look unit after losing both starting cornerbacks and both starting safeties from last year’s team.

For Bray, the Apple Cup will be the first opportunity to see how quickly the new defensive pieces can come together against a talented Washington offense, providing one heck of a litmus test to see where things stand before eventually jumping into the Pac-12 schedule.

High Hopes - and Lofty Expectations - for Jedd Fisch’s High-Octane Offense

Washington enters the Apple Cup with considerably more continuity, led by quarterback Demond Williams Jr.

Williams returns to Seattle after briefly announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal in the aftermath of signing an NIL deal with the Huskies, which caused plenty of angst on Montlake before he pivoted and returned to the program. He enters the season as one of the biggest players to watch in the Apple Cup after combining for 31 total touchdowns last season.

Williams also had a huge performance against Washington State a year ago, accounting for 386 total yards and five touchdowns, so the Cougars will face a tall task trying to slow him down with dual threat capabilities.

The Huskies will return four starters along the offensive line to protect Williams, giving Washington plenty of experience up front. However, there will be some significant holes to fill in the backfield and at receiver. Running back Jonah Coleman and wide receiver Denzel Boston are both now in the NFL, leaving Washington with the task of replacing two major contributors from last season.

Freshman running back Quaid Carr could be one player who sees a larger role. Carr carried the ball four times last season and could have an opportunity to take on a much bigger workload this year, while the Huskies have ample receiver talent to offset Boston’s departure, including rising sophomore Dezmen Roebuck.

Prediction

Opening the Moore era on the road against the No. 17 team in the country is about as difficult of a start as Washington State could have asked for, especially with a new starting quarterback and so many other new faces around him.

The Apple Cup is always unpredictable, and rivalry games have a way of throwing expectations out the window. Add in this game being the opener for both teams, there’s even more room for unanticipated chaos. However, Washington enters the matchup with more experience and continuity, while Washington State is still trying to build chemistry with a new coaching staff and a significantly reworked roster.

The Cougars have enough talent to keep it competitive for a while, but the Huskies simply have too many horses, especially in the season opener, for Moore’s team to be able to hang for four quarters in a hostile environment.

Final Score: Washington 31, Washington State 17