Saturday’s matchup gives Washington State a familiar coaching chess game and a tough assignment all at once.
Arizona coach Brent Brennan and WSU defensive coordinator Trent Bray know each other well from their time together at Oregon State, and Brennan said Monday that his children even call Bray “Uncle Trent.” Brennan didn’t mince words about the challenge ahead, either.
"Trent is an outstanding football coach," Brennan said. "That defense is physical.
They're sound. They fly to the football.
He is going to have those guys ready to play."
For Washington State to have a real shot at pulling the upset at Gesa Field, it has to win a handful of key battles that could decide whether the Cougars can keep Arizona off balance.
One place to start is the left side of WSU’s offensive line. When the Cougars moved Jonny Lester back to left guard full-time last week, it strengthened that side alongside team captain Ashton Tripp at left tackle. Kirby Vorhees took advantage immediately, ripping off both of his touchdown runs against Duquesne on that side of the field, including a 58-yard score to end the third quarter.
Arizona is a different animal entirely. The Wildcats bring pressure from all over, whether it’s through the linebackers or the secondary, and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales has built that reputation from the Rocky Long coaching tree through his stops at New Mexico and San Diego State. That style figures to disrupt some runs from Vorhees, Maxwell Woods and Leo Pulalasi.
Still, if the Cougars can create any room, it may come from Tripp and Lester working against a smaller Arizona defensive end.
The passing game will demand just as much precision from quarterback Caden Pinnick. He has to sort out where the pressure is coming from before deciding where to go with the ball, especially with Arizona likely to keep changing the picture.
WSU’s quick game should matter here, with throws to the backs in the flat and to tight ends or receivers on seams. But the Cougars also need to be ready to take their shots. Arizona’s defense will leave some chances for deep passes, and WSU has to be willing to go after them.
Branden Ganashamoorthy looks like the natural downfield target. His speed and ability to win in the air give him a chance in one-on-one matchups, and the Cougars should test Arizona corners Dwight Bootie and Tyrese Boss. Bootie allowed a 61-yard completion to BYU’s Legend Glasker, while Boss gave up a 52-yard touchdown pass to Northern Illinois’ Cam Thompson.
On the other side, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita enters his 38th career start with the kind of experience that usually makes defenses work overtime. He has more than 10,000 passing yards and 80 touchdowns, so he’s no stranger to reading pressure and punishing mistakes.
But the last two games have been rougher. Fifita has been sacked seven times over that stretch, including four times against Northern Illinois, and he said the issue was holding the ball too long.
That game offered a couple of clear examples. One sack came on a backfield blitz. Another came when Northern Illinois stayed patient, waited for Fifita to roll outside the hash and then finished the play.
Fifita is a progression passer, so he’ll spend the time to work through his options. At the same time, he’s good enough to sense pressure, plant and fire before a defense can get comfortable.
That means Bray will likely keep mixing coverages and pressure looks to challenge him. For WSU, the priority is simple: stay disciplined, keep everything in front of them and don’t let Arizona turn those looks into explosive plays.
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WSU Faces An Early Test Against A Coach Who Knows Pullman Well
Arizonas Brent Brennan enters the matchup with Washington State carrying more than a typical opponents scouting report. The Wildcats coach has known Cougars defensive coordinator Trent Bray for a long time, and their shared history stretches back through past coaching stops together. That familiarity adds a personal layer to a game that already figures to tell Arizona plenty about where Washington State stands early in the season.
Brennan also made clear he has spent time studying what Washington State wants to do on offense, with particular attention on the running game and the way the Cougars build their attack. From Arizonas side, the challenge is straightforward: prepare for a scheme Brennan knows will demand discipline, especially against a team that can lean on the ground game to set the tone. For Washington State, it is another early chance to show its identity against a coach who understands the personnel and the place as well as anyone. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Faces Three Washington State Threats That Could Decide Pullman
Brent Brennan knows the trip to Pullman rarely comes with easy answers, and Arizonas third-year coach pointed to the usual road-game variables as the Wildcats prepare to face Washington State. The Cougars bring a few especially tricky matchup pieces into the game, starting with Woods, whose running style can turn a routine carry into a long gain and force a defense to stay alert for the explosive play.
Pinnick has also given Washington State a steadier presence at quarterback, giving the Cougars a more complete look on offense, while Thomas adds value in more than one phase with his work on defense and in punt returns. For Arizona, the challenge is not just slowing one threat but accounting for all three without letting the game tilt in Pullmans favor. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Brings One Big WR Question Into A Dangerous WSU Test
Arizona heads into its matchup with Washington State carrying one of the more important questions on its offense, and it comes at a spot the Cougars will be watching closely. Quarterback Noah Fifita has kept the Wildcats moving even as the status of star wide receiver Giovanni Richardson remains uncertain after a lower extremity injury, leaving Arizona to sort through its passing-game options on the fly.
Richardson missed the last game and is listed week-to-week, so his availability for this one is still unclear. That matters even more because Arizona has not gotten much going on the ground, with its rushing offense sitting last in the Big 12, which puts extra pressure on the passing game as the Wildcats prepare for a tough test against Washington State. [Read more 🡒]