The Washington State Cougars are back home at last, and Saturday’s opener against Duquesne will come with a look built to match the occasion.
After starting the 2026 season with road losses at Washington and Kansas State, WSU returns to Pullman for its first home game of the year, and the school is leaning all the way into a crimson out. The uniform combo on deck is the one fans have nicknamed the “Ketchup Bottle” look: white lids, crimson tops and crimson pants.
It’s a familiar setup for the Cougars. WSU first used this white/crimson/crimson combination in the 2018 Alamo Bowl win over Iowa State, then brought it back in 2021 for a win over Portland State and again in 2022 in another victory over Cal.
This time, though, there’s a twist. In the unveiling video and the photos that followed, the white shell was shown with a crimson facemask. The original “Ketchup Bottle” combinations were all paired with a white facemask, so by rule this version becomes the 53rd different uniform combination WSU has worn since updating its uniforms in 2017.
The home crimson jerseys are also making their first appearance of the season, which makes sense for the first game on home turf. WSU wore those jerseys four times at home last year and won each one. Since 2017, the crimson jerseys have gone 29-11.
The rest of the look is already known to Cougar fans. The white shell and crimson facemask helmet combination was used last week in the loss at Kansas State and now stands at 3-8 overall. The crimson pants were worn on the road at Washington and enter Saturday with a 19-18 record.
In Other News...
WSU's Top Recruit Is Still Drawing Pressure Fans Can't Ignore
Rashaun Lavatai has given Washington State a major early boost in its 2026 class, and the four-star offensive tackle from Curtis High School has stuck with that verbal commitment even as other FBS programs continue to circle. His profile has only risen since the Cougars first landed him in June, with his frame filling out and his reputation as one of the states more important line prospects growing right along with it.
The pressure on WSU is the familiar kind that comes with holding onto a top in-state recruit, especially one who is still playing out his senior season and sharing the field at Curtis with his younger brother. Lavatai is still planning to be at the Cougars homecoming game, a sign that the relationship remains strong, but the broader recruiting battle around him is not fading anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Women Showed Serious Grit In Nonconference Finale
Washington State closed out its nonconference slate with a hard-earned 2-1 win over Seattle U, a result that reflected both the Cougars resilience and the kind of pressure they were willing to absorb on the road to a finish. True freshman Isabella Amado provided the early spark with her first collegiate goal, giving WSU a lead it had to protect through a physical, back-and-forth match.
Ashlyn Dvorak was at the center of that effort, turning aside a career-high 13 shots to help keep Washington State in front long enough for the decisive moment to arrive in the 66th minute. The eventual game-winner came off a Seattle U own goal, but the broader takeaway for the Cougars was less about how the second goal went in and more about how they hung on when the match demanded it. [Read more 🡒]
Coug Fans Are About To See Martin Stadium Very Differently
Martin Stadium looks and sounds a little different this fall after Washington State University unveiled a batch of recent $10.2 million renovations designed to sharpen the game-day experience. The upgrades include a new PA system, lights with a crimson tint, a new video board and AstroTurf, all part of a wider effort to give the Cougars a fresher home environment as the season gets underway.
The changes were on display during a student pep rally, where WSU also announced that all students will receive free tickets to the upcoming home opener against Duquesne. Some of the biggest visual effects will come later in evening games, when the new lighting is easier to appreciate, but the overall message was clear: Martin Stadium is being reintroduced as more than just a place to play. [Read more 🡒]