Washington State didn’t get the upset it wanted in the 118th Apple Cup, but the Cougars left Husky Stadium with one clear takeaway: the defense showed up. The offense, meanwhile, spent most of Sunday afternoon fighting uphill in a 24-10 loss to No. 17 Washington.
That split defined the day. WSU’s defense kept the game within reach for long stretches, while the offense struggled to find rhythm until late. The Huskies never trailed and controlled the lead throughout, but they also had to work through plenty of their own mistakes before finally finishing the job.
For Washington State, the biggest concern was how little the offense could sustain early. Before the fourth quarter, the Cougars had crossed midfield only twice.
They didn’t convert a third down all game, going 0-for-11, and the offense also gave away three turnovers, allowed eight tackles for loss, took three sacks and missed two field goals. The running game never got going either, with three tailbacks combining for just 38 yards on 16 carries and one fumble.
Transfer quarterback Caden Pinnick had a rough introduction to the FBS stage. In his first game at this level, he completed 16 of 25 passes for 142 yards and two interceptions, while also running for 61 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown. He looked uneasy for much of the afternoon, though he did flash more as the game moved into the final period and helped lead two scoring drives.
There was another blow for the Cougars when senior receiver Tony Freeman went down with a non-contact leg injury in the first half and spent the rest of the game on the sideline on crutches.
Still, there were some bright spots on that side of the ball. Daniel Blood and Darrius Clemons gave WSU a few encouraging moments in the passing game, combining for 97 yards on eight catches. And Pinnick’s mobility at least gave the offense a dimension it could lean on when the passing game wasn’t clicking.
The defense, though, was the real story for Washington State. In a first game under new coordinator Trent Bray and with an entirely new lineup, the Cougars’ front bothered Demond Williams Jr. enough to keep the Huskies from running away with it early. Linus Zunk and Matyus McLain helped generate pressure at times, and WSU limited Washington to one run of 20 yards or more.
The Huskies did find more room as the game went on, and the secondary appeared to wear down later after holding Williams to 108 passing yards in the first half. But Washington State still answered some dangerous situations, including after two turnovers deep in its own territory. One of those giveaways led to a UW touchdown, but the next time the Cougars were backed into a corner, the defense forced a missed field goal.
The best sequence for WSU came at the end of the first half. With time expiring, the Cougars stuffed a fourth-and-goal run from the 1-yard line to keep Washington out of the end zone in a huge goal-line stand.
The result was a loss, and a missed chance for a statement win, but the performance also made one thing plain: the gap wasn’t as overwhelming as many expected. Washington State was supposed to be overmatched, yet it stayed within striking distance until late despite an offense that rarely moved. That alone made the afternoon feel more competitive than the preseason chatter suggested.
In Other News...
Washington State May Be Without Its Most Dangerous Weapon At Kansas State
Washington State may have to head into its game at Kansas State without one of its most explosive playmakers after wide receiver Tony Freeman suffered a knee injury in the Apple Cup. Coach Kirby Moore said Freeman is trending on being out while the Cougars wait on MRI results, a development that would leave them trying to replace a receiver who has been one of the biggest threats in the passing game and on special teams.
Kirby Moores update at least brought some clarity elsewhere on the roster, with cornerback Jalil Tucker and defensive end Ben Beatty expected to be available. But Freemans status is the one that matters most for an offense that will need other receivers and return men to absorb his workload if he cannot go, and the final medical word will shape how Washington State approaches a difficult road matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Huge Receiver Problem Ahead Of Kansas State
Washington State is heading into its matchup with Kansas State with a concern that could reshape the offense for a week. Wide receiver Tony Freeman is likely to miss the game because of a knee injury, according to head coach Kirby Moore, and his exit from the previous game came early enough to raise immediate questions about the Cougars depth at the position.
Freeman was seen on crutches afterward, which adds to the uncertainty around how quickly Washington State can get back to full strength on offense. There is some better news on the injury front, with cornerback Jalil Tucker and defensive end Ben Beatty expected to be available, but the receiver situation leaves the Cougars with a key issue to sort out before they face Kansas State. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Has Two Costly Problems To Fix Before Kansas State
Washington States 24-10 loss to Washington in the Apple Cup left the Cougars with a familiar kind of frustration: too many stalled drives, too many wasted chances and too little margin for error. Coach Moore and quarterback Caden Pinnick both pointed to the same broad issues afterward, with turnovers and special teams adding to the damage in a game that never really gave WSU a chance to settle in.
The most glaring concern is the offenses inability to stay on the field, a problem that showed up against the Huskies and will loom even larger with Kansas State next on the schedule. Add in the kicking-game hiccups, and the Cougars enter the new week knowing the fix is not about one area alone but about cleaning up several parts of the operation before the competition level rises again. [Read more 🡒]