Analysis: Breaking Down Washington State’s 2026 Football Schedule
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Washington State Cougars running back Maxwell Woods (3) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images [/caption]
Washington State has officially released its 2026 football schedule, marking the first season of the rebranded Pac-12 era with seven conference opponents. In year one under head coach Kirby Moore, the Cougars will face a challenging and intriguing slate filled with the Apple Cup, Power Four opponents, and newly-minted conference matchups.
Who will the Cougs play and which games stand out as their toughest draws entering the Moore era? Starting with their biggest state rivals, there won’t be an easing in period for Wazzu:
September 5 – at Washington (Apple Cup)
The Kirby Moore era begins in dramatic fashion as the Cougars open the season in Seattle against rival Washington Huskies in the annual Apple Cup.
Starting the season with a rivalry game is unusual, but it immediately sets the tone, and this should be expected with the two programs no longer in the same conference. The Huskies welcome the return of quarterback Demond Williams Jr. despite all the drama that happened in the offseason with his attempted transfer, and his presence back under center will put pressure on the Cougars dealing with his dual-threat capabilities. Washington State will need to be sharp from the opening kickoff in one of the tougher environments in college football to have any shot at an upset.
September 12 – at Kansas State
The Cougars travel to Manhattan - nicknamed the “Little Apple” - to face the Kansas State Wildcats in what could be another challenging road contest for Moore’s squad.
After longtime head coach Chris Klieman retired following a 6–6 season, former Wildcat standout Collin Klein takes over as a first-time head coach. Kansas State has some questions heading into the season under a new regime, but nonetheless, this will be a good test to see the level the Cougars are at against a viable Power Four foe.
September 19 – Duquesne
Washington State returns to Pullman for its home opener against the Duquesne Dukes of the FCS.
Duquesne finished 7–5 last season and should provide a manageable matchup in Washington State’s home opener. This game offers the Cougars a chance to build or sustain momentum before entering a tougher stretch heading into October.
September 26 – Arizona
An old Pac-12 rival comes to town as the Arizona Wildcats visit Pullman in a game that could be a major swing contest for both programs heading towards their conference schedules.
Arizona is coming off a 9–4 season under Brent Brennan, with quarterback Noah Fifita returning to orchestrate the offense. On paper, this may be Washington State’s biggest home game of the season. It’s a marquee non-conference matchup that should bring a good crowd to the Palouse and a win would do wonders for the confidence of the program moving forward.
October 3 – Fresno State
Kicking off the new Pac-12 schedule, the Fresno State Bulldogs make the trip to Pullman with a talented squad, albeit one with plenty of questions.
Fresno State wrapped up its final Mountain West season with a strong campaign. Head coach Matt Entz, entering his second season, will look to continue building momentum and spoil Washington State’s home opener in a rebranded conference.
October 10 – at Utah State
Washington State travels to Logan for a rematch of the Idaho Potato Bowl against the Utah State Aggies, but don’t expect to see too many familiar faces for either team compared to that December 2025 matchup.
Utah State will be tough team to face at home, as the Aggies have added some fun pieces in the transfer portal to go with a fair share of returning players. Traveling to Logan won’t be an easy road trip to start the away conference slate.
October 17 – at Oregon State
The Cougars head to Corvallis for the third straight season to face the Oregon State Beavers, but at least they will not have to play each other twice this time around with an actual conference to play in. (Or, maybe not? More on that later…)
Washington State has dropped its last two trips there in a battle between long-time Pac-12 foes. With first-year head coach JaMarcus Shepard leading Oregon State, this matchup could play a key role in shaping the Pac-12 standings and how both teams fare by the end of the season.
October 24 – Boise State
The Boise State Broncos visit Pullman in what is arguably one of the biggest home games of the year against one of college football’s non-Power Four blue bloods.
Boise State is coming off a 9–5 season that was considered somewhat of a down year by its standards. Still, the Broncos remain one of the premier programs in the West and always bring national attention. Along with Arizona, this will be one of the Cougars marquee home games, and a win would make quite the statement with the Broncos being viewed by some as the Pac-12 favorite.
October 31 – at San Diego State
Rekindling a rivalry that has waged in recent years as non-conference foes, the Cougars will make the long flight down to San Diego to face an Aztecs squad that has positive momentum after a bounce-back 2025 season.
The Aztecs finished 9–4 last season and were known for their elite defense, though they didn’t play well against the Cougars. Head coach Sean Lewis enters his third season, and with the weather getting worse in Washington, this may be a highlighted road trip for fans to enjoy the southern California sun.
November 14 – Colorado State
The Colorado State Rams come to Pullman with former Seahawks coach Jim Mora taking over the program from Jay Norvell, who received a pink slip midway through the 2025 season.
Colorado State will look to establish a new identity under Mora, who did a fantastic job at his last stop revitalizing UConn’s dormant program. For the Cougars, this is a key November home game as bowl positioning begins to take shape within the conference.
November 21 – at Texas State
The Cougars head south to face the Texas State Bobcats, the last significant addition to the new Pac-12 that expanded the conference’s reach into the Lonestar State.
Texas State finished 7–6 in the Sun Belt last season and has quietly become a competitive program in recent years. Playing in Texas late in the season could present unique challenges, dealing with the potential heat and the longest road trip.
November 28 – Flex Game (Projected: vs. Oregon State)
Washington State’s regular-season finale is currently listed as a flex game. The Pac-12 will determine the matchup “based on the best interests of the league, including College Football Playoff considerations at that time.”
If the projected matchup with Oregon State holds, it would mark the second consecutive year the teams play twice in the same season. The flex format guarantees Washington State a home game against a team they have not yet hosted earlier in the year.
