Washington State Looks to Build Momentum vs. Visiting Arizona

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Washington State Cougars wide receiver Tank Hawkins Jr. (10) celebrates after returning a punt for a touchdown against the Duquesne Dukes during the second half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect [/caption]

Washington State will return home Saturday afternoon looking to build on its first win of the Kirby Moore era when the Cougars host the Arizona Wildcats at Gesa Field.

The Cougars enter the matchup 1-2 after opening the season with road losses to Washington and Kansas State before bouncing back with a 48-7 win over Duquesne last Saturday. Arizona enters Pullman at 2-1 after defeating Northern Illinois 42-17 last weekend. Kickoff is set for 4:30 PM PT on CBS.

For Washington State, the Arizona game represents another opportunity to see where the team stands against a Power Four opponent with a winning record.

The Cougars showed significant improvement against Duquesne, particularly in the running game and on special teams. Washington State rushed for 316 yards, had two 100-yard rushers and returned two punts for touchdowns in the victory, but those numbers came against a winless FCS foe that hasn’t competed with anyone so far this year.

Now, the Cougars will face a much more experienced Arizona team that brings one of the nation's most experienced quarterbacks to Pullman. What should fans be watching as Moore’s squad seeks a win over a Power Four foe?

Caden Pinnick Looks to Continue Progress

Coming off his best game so far, Pinnick will need to continue his improvement if Washington State wants to compete with Arizona, let alone have a shot at the upset.

The UC Davis transfer struggled during the first two games of the season, but took a big step forward against Duquesne. Pinnick completed 17 of 22 passes and threw his first two touchdown passes as a Cougar in the 48-7 victory.

Pinnick has also shown the ability to make plays with his legs, rushing for 166 yards and two touchdowns through the first three games.

Arizona will be a much tougher test than Duquesne, however. Pinnick will need to be more consistent throwing the football beyond five yards while continuing to use his mobility to keep the Wildcats’ defense from settling into a rhythm.

After struggling through the first two games and putting together his best performance against Duquesne, Saturday's matchup will give Cougar fans and coaches a better look at what they can expect from their starting quarterback against a quality opponent, and he still has to prove he can play up to this level of competition.

Washington State's Running Game Could Be Key

The biggest positive from the Duquesne game was Washington State's rushing attack. The Cougars rushed for 316 yards as a team with Kirby Vorhees leading the way with 109 yards and two touchdowns, while Maxwell Woods added 116 yards. It was the first time Washington State had two 100-yard rushers in the same game since 2005.

That production will be harder to replicate against Arizona. But the Wildcats have allowed 45 points across their two FBS games, including 28 points on the road against BYU, so they have had some vulnerabilities in the early stages of the season.

If the Cougars can establish the run, it could take pressure off Pinnick and open up opportunities for Washington State's receivers downfield to create timely explosive plays, which will be necessary if Moore’s team has any chance to steal a home win.

Receivers Need to Make Plays

Washington State will need more consistency from its passing game, and that’s not just about Pinnick playing better. His supporting cast has to show up big time on Saturday.

The Cougars entered the season expecting Tony Freeman to play a major role as the team's top receiver and punt returner, but his knee injury suffered against Washington has kept him out of the lineup and he’s done for the season. While his loss is a major blow to the offense, that has created opportunities for players such as Daniel Blood, Darrius Clemons and Branden Ganashamoorthy, with the latter scoring against Duquesne last week.

Tank Hawkins and Jaylen Thomas also provided a major spark on special teams against Duquesne. Washington State returned two punts for touchdowns in the game, with Thomas and Hawkins each finding the end zone.

Against Arizona, Washington State will need those playmakers to create explosive plays while Pinnick continues developing his chemistry with the receiving corps to have a chance at earning a second straight home win.

Noah Fifita Presents Another Major Challenge

While Washington State is trying to establish its new quarterback, Arizona brings back one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football to Gesa Field.

Noah Fifita enters the game with 10,017 career passing yards and 80 touchdown passes on his resume. He recently broke Arizona's career passing-yardage record after throwing for 325 yards against Northern Illinois.

Fifita was especially efficient against NIU, completing 31 of 34 passes for 325 yards while accounting for five touchdowns, feasting on one of the worst defenses in the FBS division.

Washington State's defense will have to find a way to make Fifita much more uncomfortable without giving up big plays, which could be easier said than done.

A Chance to Make a Statement at Home

Saturday’s fourth game gives Washington State an opportunity to show how much it has grown since the beginning of the season.

The Cougars have already played two difficult road games against Washington and Kansas State, followed by a dominant home win over Duquesne. Arizona provides another test against a Power Four opponent, but this time Washington State will have the home-field advantage at its disposal.

Familiar opponents from their Pac-12 days, the two opponents should know one another fairly well. Arizona leads the all-time series 28-19 and won the most recent matchup 44-6 in Pullman in 2023. Washington State, however, has won three of the previous four meetings against the Wildcats.

For Washington State, the goal is simple: continue building on the progress shown against Duquesne and show that those improvements can translate against a far better opponent.

To do that, the Cougars will need to establish the running game, give Pinnick opportunities to make plays, and prevent one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country from taking over the game.

After a difficult start to the season, Washington State now has its next opportunity to put together a complete performance against a quality opponent at home. Arizona will provide the test. The Cougars will have to prove they are ready for it this time.