Washington State Rolls Past Duquesne 48-7 for First Win of Kirby Moore Era
Washington State finally got the performance it had been looking for. After struggling to find any consistency during the first two games of the season, the Cougars broke out in the second half Saturday afternoon, scoring 41 unanswered points on their way to a 48-7 win over Duquesne at Gesa Field.
The victory gave Washington State its first win of the season and the first career victory for head coach Kirby Moore. The Cougars improved to 1-2 on the season after opening the year with tough losses to Washington and Kansas State.
Washington State led just 14-7 at halftime with the Dukes giving them a better than anticipated fight early, but the Cougars completely took control after the break. WSU scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the second half before adding two more scores in the fourth quarter, blowing the contest wide open in the final 30 minutes.
The Cougars finished with 26 first downs and 480 total yards, including 316 rushing yards, and had multiple 100 yard rushers.
Here are four takeaways from the Cougs first win of 2026:
1. Caden Pinnick put together his best performance of the season after struggling through the first two games.
Pinnick, a redshirt sophomore, completed 17 of 22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns while adding 76 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. He also distributed the ball to seven different receivers, making significant improvements as the game wore on.
After a rough start that included a botched snap and an interception, Pinnick settled down and helped Washington State move the ball consistently against Duquesne. His 19-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter gave the Cougars a 14-7 lead heading into halftime, building momentum needed to break things open after the break.
Washington State Offense Looks to Bounce Back Against FCS Foe Duquesne
After a tough 34-7 loss to Kansas State last weekend, the Washington State offense will look to find its identity and put together a much better performance when the Cougars host Duquesne on Saturday at 12:30 PM PT at Gesa Field.
Washington State enters the matchup 0-2 after opening the season with road games against No. 17 Washington as well as Kansas State. The Cougars have struggled to consistently move the football during the first two games, and the offense will have an opportunity to get back on track in its home opener against an FCS underdog.
The Dukes also enter the game 0-2 after losses to Air Force and Youngstown State. Duquesne has allowed 104 points through its first two games, giving Washington State a prime opportunity to get into a rhythm on offense versus one of the worst defenses at the lower Division I level so far.
Wildcats Pounce on Sluggish Cougars’ Offense, Washington State Falls to 0-2
When Washington State's Jaylen Thomas made his break on the ball along the Cougars sideline, Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson knew the mistake he just made. Thomas jumped the route for his second interception of the game and returned it for a touchdown with no time remaining in the first half. This lifeline from their safety put Wazzu on the board trailing 17-7, providing a much-needed momentum boost going into the break.
Courtesy of a 54-minute weather delay at halftime, the Cougs had time to sit on that momentum. But Washington State did not build off the big play in the second half and continued to fall further behind in an eventual 34-7 loss to Kansas State on Saturday morning at the Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Washington State received the kick after the delay. A false start immediately pushed the sticks back. Wazzu went three-and-out and on the ensuing Kansas State offensive play, running back Rodney Fields Jr. ripped off a 75-yard touchdown. The stark contrast to open both drives was indicative of how both teams would respond following the delay. The Wildcats would not slow down and the Cougars had no answers to speak of.
Washington State Likely Without Tony Freeman for Road Test at Kansas State
The Washington State Cougars will have to earn their first win of the Kirby Moore era without their top receiver in Tony Freeman when they battle the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan this weekend.
Freeman suffered a knee injury during Washington State's Apple Cup loss to Washington last Sunday, leaving the Cougars without one of their most important players on offense and special teams.
Exiting in the opening quarter, Freeman’s absence was noticeable on special teams as much as offense. Washington State struggled with punt returns, including having a dropped punt. Safety Jaylen Thomas took over as the Cougars' punt returner after Freeman exited the game and likely will continue in that role in Week 2.
Bad Tasting Apple: Washington State Falls to Washington 24-10, Loses Kirby Moore's Debut
The Washington State Cougars stayed within striking distance for much of Sunday afternoon’s season opening Apple Cup before their defense eventually ran out of gas in the fourth quarter, as coach Kirby Moore’s squad left Husky Stadium with a 24-10 loss to No. 17 Washington.
While the final score does not tell the full story, Washington State's defense repeatedly kept the Cougars close, including making a crucial goal line stop at the end of the first half, and gave the offense several opportunities to capitalize and potentially steal a road upset.
However, missed opportunities, three turnovers, and obvious issues along the offensive line ultimately proved too much to overcome in Moore’s debut on the sidelines.
The Cougars finished with just 242 total yards and struggled to sustain drives, failing to convert a single third down. Washington State also missed two field goals, leaving points on the board against a Washington defense that could prove to be the toughest unit the Cougars face all season.
What stood out from the 14-point defeat in the latest Apple Cup?
Apple Cup Preview: Washington State Begins Kirby Moore Era Against No. 17 Washington
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.
Will Apple Cup Continue Past 2028? Like Everything Else in College Football, It’s Complicated
With its future uncertain, the Apple Cup kicks off this Sunday as the season opener for both Washington and Washington State.
There’s a lot in that lede that would have sounded absurd a few years ago. Welcome to college football in 2026, a time in which traditions are maintained — as long as they come with maximum revenue streams.
Washington State's Defensive Ends Lead New Look Defense as Apple Cup Approaches
When Washington State takes on the Washington Huskies next Sunday in the Apple Cup, the Cougars will have a new look on the defensive side of the ball.
After losing several players from last season’s defense to transfers and graduation, there will be plenty of new faces looking to make an impact. With Trent Bray coming over from Oregon State to take over as Washington State’s defensive coordinator, the Cougars are counting on several new players to help lead the defense.
Two of those players will line up on the edge, with transfers Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk expected to play major roles at defensive end.
Both players have received positive reviews throughout fall camp and will be looking to make an immediate impact as Washington State begins a new era defensively.
Highlighting Cougars Noteworthy Returners for 2026 Football Season
With plenty being said about who stayed and who left during the Washington State Cougars’ busy offseason, Emerald City Spectrum is highlighting players who followed Jimmy Rogers to Pullman and decided to stay with the program to play for Kirby Moore in the 2026 season.
When Rogers left South Dakota State to take over at Washington State, several former Jackrabbits followed him to the Palouse. After Rogers left Washington State for Iowa State following just one season, those players were faced with another decision about their futures.
Instead of entering the transfer portal again, many of those players chose to remain with the Cougars and become part of Moore’s first roster in Pullman.
Here are the former South Dakota State players who followed Rogers to Washington State and remain on the Cougs’ roster, along with another Rogers-era transfer who decided to stay heading into 2026:
Kirby Vorhees
Running back Kirby Vorhees followed Rogers from South Dakota State to Washington State and quickly became one of the Cougars’ most productive offensive players out of the backfield last season.
In his first season in Pullman, Vorhees finished the 2025 season with 576 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries. He also contributed in the passing game with 19 receptions for 125 yards, finishing with more than 700 total yards from scrimmage.
Washington State Names Caiden Pinnick Starting Quarterback
Washington State has its starting quarterback for the 2026 season.
The Cougars have named UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick the starter ahead of their season opener against the Washington Huskies. Pinnick entered fall camp as the favorite to win the job and ultimately beat out returning quarterbacks Julian Dugger and Owen Eshelman.
For Washington State, the decision gives the Cougars some clarity at one of the most important positions on the roster heading into the start of the Kirby Moore era.
As a redshirt freshman at UC Davis, Pinnick completed 69.6% of his passes for 3,206 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Those numbers show the type of production Washington State is hoping to get from its new quarterback.
Washington State Football Feels Impact of New Five-for-Five Rule
With the NCAA’s new five-for-five eligibility rule changing the way college basketball teams approach recruiting and roster management, its effects are beginning to reach college football as well. Washington State is now navigating the rule as it looks to add another familiar face to its defensive line ahead of the 2026 season.
According to CougFan.com, Washington State is going through the process of adding defensive lineman Soni Finau to its roster. Finau, a Cal Poly transfer, played for the Cougars during the 2025 season after transferring from Cal Poly.
During his time in Pullman, Finau made an impact on the defensive side of the ball, recording 12 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. If he is cleared to return, Finau would provide the Cougars with another experienced option along the defensive interior.
Finau would join a defensive tackle group that already includes Kaden Beatty, Paul Hudson, Jirah Leaupepetele, Damarjhe Lewis, and Josh Wedel. Adding a player who was in the rotation last season could give Washington State some valuable depth as the season approaches.
Season Preview: Meet Kirby Moore, Cougars New-Look Coaching Staff
As fall camp rolls along, Emerald City Spectrum is giving you the rundown on what you need to know before the Washington State Cougars open the 2026 season against Washington in the annual Apple Cup.
Washington State enters the season with a completely new coaching staff at the top, led by first-year head coach Kirby Moore. Moore has also brought in Matt Miller to run the offense and Trent Bray to lead the defense.
While all three coaches bring different backgrounds and coaching experiences to Pullman, they share one common goal: getting Washington State ready to compete in the new-look Pac-12.
Here is a look at the three men calling the shots for the Cougars in 2026:
Kirby Moore, Head Coach
Kirby Moore enters his first season as Washington State’s head coach, but he is far from new to college football.
A native of Prosser, Washington, Moore grew up around football. His father, Tom Moore, was a longtime high school coach at Prosser, where Kirby played before eventually joining his older brother, Kellen Moore, at Boise State.
Moore played wide receiver for the Broncos from 2009-13, helping Boise State post a 45-8 record during his career. He finished with 115 receptions for 1,137 yards and six touchdowns. After his playing career ended, he quickly moved into coaching.
Camp Preview: New Faces to Know on Washington State's Defense
With just under a month until Washington State opens the 2026 season, there are plenty of new faces on the Cougars’ defense.
Washington State enters the season with a new coaching staff led by head coach Kirby Moore and defensive coordinator Trent Bray. The Cougars also saw significant turnover on defense during the offseason, with several players entering the transfer portal and a number of veterans exhausting their eligibility.
That leaves Bray with the challenge of putting together a new-look defense in a short amount of time without much personnel that was in Pullman last season. While Washington State still has returning pieces such as linebacker Keith Brown, much of the defense will feature players who were not on the field for the Cougars last season.
Washington State brought in several experienced transfers to help fill those holes. Four players in particular could have a major impact on the Cougars’ defense this season.
New Faces to Know on Washington State's Offense
With about a month until the Washington State Cougars kick off the 2026 season, it's time to take a look at some of the new faces on the offensive side of the ball.
A new coaching staff usually brings plenty of roster turnover in today's college football landscape, but the Cougars did an impressive job retaining most of their offensive core following the hire of Kirby Moore. Washington State returns its top three running backs, its leading returning receiver, and the majority of its offensive line despite the presence of the transfer portal. Still, the coaching staff brought in several talented additions who could make an immediate impact this fall, including a projected new starter under center.
How Do Washington State's Football, Basketball Programs Stack Up in New Pac-12?
Washington State enters the rebuilt Pac-12 as one of the conference's two cornerstone programs. Alongside Oregon State, the Cougars helped keep the Pac-12 alive through one of the most turbulent periods in college athletics before leading the conference's rebuild.
Now, with the league officially returning in 2026, Washington State once again finds itself at the center of Pac-12 football and basketball.
For the conference's new members, Washington State represents one of the league's most recognizable brands. The Cougars spent more than a century competing at the Power Conference level and have built a reputation as a tough, competitive program that consistently punches above its weight. While Pullman may be one of the smallest college towns in the country, it has produced some of the Pac-12's most memorable moments and one of the most passionate fan bases in college sports.
Analysis: What NCAA's New 5-for-5 Rule Means for Washington State Athletics
College athletics entered a new era this summer as the NCAA officially adopted its new "5-for-5" eligibility model. The rule is one of the biggest changes to college sports in decades, replacing the traditional four seasons of competition with a much simpler system. Student-athletes now receive five full seasons of eligibility, provided they enroll in college within the required age window. The change also eliminates redshirts and many of the waiver exceptions that had made eligibility increasingly complicated in recent years.
The rollout of the new model has already produced additional legal developments. On July 31, a federal judge in Colorado granted an extra year of eligibility to athletes who were part of the 2022 recruiting class. While those athletes are immediately eligible to compete, they cannot transfer to another school unless they entered the transfer portal during the spring transfer window.
Meanwhile, separate lawsuits in Ohio and Tennessee have resulted in temporary rulings allowing the named plaintiffs in those cases to enter the transfer portal through August 10. Those decisions currently apply only to the athletes directly involved in the lawsuits, but they illustrate just how quickly the college athletics landscape continues to evolve.
For Washington State, the new rule presents both opportunities and challenges as the Cougars prepare for life in the rebuilt Pac-12.
Washington State, Rebuilt Pac-12 Welcome New Opponent in San Diego State
A familiar foe for many of its new rivals, including the Washington State Cougars, the San Diego State Aztecs enter the rebuilt Pac-12 as one of the conference's top additions.
While the Aztecs are best known for their basketball success, they have consistently fielded competitive programs in both football and men's basketball, immediately raising the profile of the new-look conference.
For Washington State fans, San Diego State is hardly an unfamiliar opponent. The Cougars and Aztecs have faced each other several times in football over the years, including as recently as last season when Washington State emerged victorious, but those matchups will now carry much more significance as conference games.
Washington State, Rebuilt Pac-12 Welcome New Opponent in Utah State
A former member of the Mountain West, the Utah State Aggies will be among the newcomers set to join the rebuilt Pac-12 this season. While the Aggies may not carry the national brand recognition of some schools, few programs outside the Power Four have been as consistently competitive in both football and men's basketball over the past several seasons.
For Washington State fans, Utah State is a familiar opponent. The two programs have met on the football field in recent years, but those non-conference matchups will now carry much more significance as conference games in the new-look Pac-12.
The Aggies' football program has experienced both success and transition over the last several years. Utah State captured the Mountain West championship in 2021 with an 11-win season under Blake Anderson, turning in one of the best campaigns in school history. The Aggies have made a bowl game in three of the last four seasons and seven out of the last eight.
Washington State, Rebuilt Pac-12 Welcome Perennial Group of 5 Power Boise State
Just two years removed from being in the College Football Playoff, the Boise State Broncos immediately enter the rebuilt Pac-12 as one of the conference's top athletic programs, bringing a nationally respected football program and a basketball program that has become a consistent NCAA tournament contender. The Broncos arrive from the Mountain West as maybe the strongest brand among the league's newest schools.
For Washington State Cougars fans, Boise State is already a familiar opponent. The two schools have played in several memorable football games in the past and have faced off in basketball in recent years. Now, those matchups carry conference championship implications as both programs begin a new chapter in the Pac-12.
Football has long been the standard in Boise. Few Group of 5 programs have matched the success the Broncos have enjoyed since 2000, as they have racked up multiple conference championships, a plethora of double-digit win seasons, numerous New Year's Six bowl appearances, making Boise State one of college football's most recognizable programs.
Washington State, Rebuilt Pac-12 Welcome New Opponent in Colorado State
Colorado State is the latest program to join the rebuilt Pac-12, bringing a combination of recent basketball success and a football program searching for a new direction. The former Mountain West member now finds itself in the same conference as Washington State, adding another familiar regional opponent to a league that continues to take shape ahead of a new era.
For Washington State fans, Colorado State is not an unfamiliar foe. The two programs have met on the football field in recent years. Now, those matchups become conference games, adding another layer of intrigue to the new-look Pac-12.
Football remains a work in progress in Fort Collins. The Rams have reached just one bowl game over the last seven seasons and have struggled to build consistent momentum. Those challenges led to change within the program, as Colorado State moved on from coach Jay Norvell during the middle of last season.
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