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.
Analysis: Tony Freeman Headlines Mostly Revamped Cougars’ WR Corps
With Kirby Moore taking over as the new head coach at Washington State, the Cougars will have an almost new receiving room in 2026, with a few old standbys and several intriguing newcomers to watch heading towards training camp this summer.
Returning after briefly testing the transfer portal, Tony Freeman is probably the most proven receiver in this group right now. The third-year Coug had a strong 2025 season, hauling in 54 catches for 590 yards and three touchdowns. At 5-8, Freeman is a smaller but extremely shifty receiver who not only finished as the Cougars’ second-leading pass catcher last season, but also became a dynamic weapon in the return game, earning 2025 Pac-12 Special Teams Performer honors with 415 punt return yards.
As the other noteworthy wideout to stay in Pullman after the coaching change, Brandon Ganashamoorthy will enter his fourth season with the program hoping to take on a larger role in Moore’s offense. The former walk-on and Monroe native was primarily used as a blocking receiver last season and brings solid size at 6-3 and 194 pounds. Ganashamoorthy caught five passes for 42 yards in 2025 and will hope to carve out a more consistent piece of the pie in the passing game while playing for his third coach in as many seasons.
Away from Freeman and Ganashamoorthy, the Cougars will lean on a number of transfer acquisitions, starting with Daniel Blood.
Cougars Transfer Portal: Who’s In, Who’s Out, and What’s the Impact for Wazzu Football?
With a new head coach taking over for a second straight year, the Cougars will likely undergo major roster turnover with several key starters already hitting the transfer portal. Who will bolt Pullman and who will join Kirby Moore’s squad via the portal?
Transfer Portal Tracker: Breaking Down Cougars’ Returning Players, Newcomers
With plenty of player movement expected with the transfer portal officially open, new Cougars coach Kirby Moore will look to keep as many key contributors in Pullman as possible while adding quality talent from other programs. Who will return and which newcomers jumped onboard?
How Can Kirby Moore Achieve Success at Washington State?
Coming back to his home state, the Cougars will be hoping Kirby Moore can provide stability for their fledging football program, and plenty of challenges await for him to meet such expectations in the new-look Pac-12.
Monday Musings: Washington State Upset Bid Falls Short in 24-20 Loss to James Madison
In what has become an unfortunate trend in 2025, Washington State gave a College Football Playoff contender a run for its money on the road on Saturday, only for James Madison to score two long touchdowns after halftime to steal the win.
Analysis: How Have Washington State’s Pass Catchers Performed Through Five Games?
Following the loss of Kyle Williams and several other receivers off last year’s squad, the Cougars have leaned more on their running backs and tight ends thus far through five games.
Washington State Reveals Depth Chart Heading Into Season Opener vs. Idaho
With the first depth chart released, it still is a complete mystery who will actually start for the Cougars when they face the Vandals on August 30.
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