Washington State’s nonconference football slate features two favorable matchups against lower-level opponents and one major test on the road against a Power Five notable. The Cougars open Pac-12 play with a grueling monthlong stretch, during which they will face four of the conference’s best teams — including defending Pac-12 champion Utah. WSU’s schedule for November is much less daunting. The Cougars close their season with four very winnable games, all against opponents they beat in 2021.
Sept. 3 vs. Idaho
After a five-year hiatus, the Battle of the Palouse is back. The border neighbors are both led by first-year coaches in Jake Dickert and Jason Eck, who were co-workers at a couple of past coaching stops. That adds intrigue to a farmland feud that has been largely uninteresting over the past two decades — the Cougs have outscored the Vandals 396-99 overall in nine straight wins. WSU will be a heavy favorite over Idaho, which dropped down to the FCS level in 2018. WSU, 45-10.
Sept. 10 at Wisconsin
Dickert returns to his home state for one of WSU’s most anticipated nonconference games in some time. The Badgers eventually wear WSU out with their powerful running game, combined with a tenacious defensive front and a booming home-field advantage of over 80,000 fans. Wisconsin, 30-24.
Sept. 17 vs. Colorado State
WSU gets back on track against a Mountain West Conference bottomfeeder, cruises to a well-rounded victory. WSU, 37-13.
Sept. 24 vs. Oregon
The Cougars go toe-to-toe with a ranked Ducks team before a rowdy crowd at Gesa Field, but the Air Raid can’t find enough cracks in an Oregon defense led by first-year coach Dan Lanning, who guided the Georgia Bulldogs’ superpowered defensive unit over the past three seasons. UO, 33-26.
Oct. 1 vs. California
WSU comes out firing on homecoming and maintains its big early lead over a middling Cal team. WSU, 40-24.
Oct. 8 at USC
USC is off to the Big Ten Conference in two years. So, the Trojans have a target on their back and will probably get everyone’s best shot this season. But USC also has a talent advantage over perhaps all of its Pac-12 peers. The Trojans, who rejuvenated their program this offseason with the addition of a vaunted head coach (Lincoln Riley) and a host of standout transfers, present matchup issues for WSU’s secondary. USC, 41-28.
Oct. 15 at Oregon State
The Beavers’ stout rushing attack and play-action game gives WSU’s defense a considerable challenge, but the Cougars’ aerial attack proves too explosive for Oregon State’s defensive backs to contain. WSU, 34-26.
Oct. 27 vs. Utah
Utah, visiting Pullman for the first time in four years, grinds out its fourth consecutive win over the Cougars. The Utes, the favorites to win the Pac-12 this season, churn out a few long possessions behind veteran QB Cam Rising and their loaded defensive front rattles WSU’s unproven offensive line on a bitter Thursday night. Utah, 27-16.
Nov. 5 at Stanford
Ward outduels touted Cardinal QB Tanner McKee, and the Cougars’ veteran-laden defensive line clamps down on Stanford’s persistent ground game as WSU extends its winning streak in the series to six games. WSU, 30-17.
Nov. 12 vs. Arizona State
There always seems to be at least one wacky home game on WSU’s schedule annually. The Cougs and Devils trade blows in a shootout for much of the night during a wild edition of “Pac-12 After Dark.” Ward leads an up-tempo possession in crunch time but a potential walk-off field goal misses the mark in wintry conditions. ASU, 31-29.
Nov. 19 at Arizona
The Cougs take out their frustrations on a struggling Wildcats team led by former WSU QB Jayden de Laura, who sees steady pressure in his pocket throughout the night. WSU, 40-14.
Nov. 26 vs. Washington
The Cougars retain the Apple Cup trophy. Dickert improves to 2-0 in the rivalry series. Why not? WSU, 38-27.