Preview: Washington State Braces For Tough Road Tilt vs. No. 4 Ole Miss
Coming off of their first bye week of the 2025 season, the Washington State Cougars will travel into the heart of SEC country this weekend for a scary matchup against No. 4 Ole Miss, marking the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The Cougars, sitting at 3–2 under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers, enter the matchup as massive underdogs against a Rebels team that’s been nearly flawless to start the season. Lane Kiffin’s squad has rolled to a 5–0 record and sits among the nation’s most explosive offenses, averaging well over 40 points per game while maintaining a top-10 national ranking. Oddsmakers have installed Ole Miss as a 33-point favorite, and ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Rebels a 98 percent chance to win — but Washington State is treating this as a proving ground opportunity rather than a surrender.
Ole Miss has built its success on a fast-paced, balanced attack led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who’s quietly become one of the SEC’s most efficient passers with multiple 300-yard outings. Running back Kewan Lacy provides the power behind the offense, already ranking near the top of the conference in rushing touchdowns. The Rebels’ ability to stretch the field through the air and dominate up front on the ground has made them a nightmare for opposing defenses, and Kiffin’s play-calling flair only adds to the challenge.
For Washington State, the formula will need to be simple but sharp — win the turnover battle, slow the tempo, and find ways to limit explosive plays. The Cougars showed flashes of that blueprint in a 20–3 win over Colorado State earlier this season, where their defense stiffened in the red zone and the offense found balance behind improved line play. Quarterback Zevi Eckhaus and the stable of Cougars running backs will have to play their best football of the year, while the Wazzu defense faces the steep task of keeping pace with Ole Miss’s relentless tempo and elite SEC athleticism.
Beyond the scoreboard, this game serves as a measuring stick for both programs. For Ole Miss, it’s another opportunity to affirm its playoff credentials and fine-tune before jumping into the meat of the SEC schedule. For Washington State, it’s about grit, growth, and respect — testing themselves against one of college football’s elite. If the Cougars can hang around into the second half, it would signal real progress for a rebuilding team looking to carve out its identity. Still, all signs point to Ole Miss flexing its depth and talent in front of a home crowd eager for another statement win.
