Washington State is back under the lights Saturday, and the Cougars are making sure the look matches the moment.
After the bye week, WSU returns to action at home in Pullman for the first time since the October 24 loss to Boise State, and the team will do it in a fresh Pac-12 After Dark uniform combination. The Cougars are set to wear anthracite jerseys and pants with a crimson helmet, a pairing that also includes a white facemask this time around.
That detail matters because, by rule, this is a new combo for Washington State. The last time the Cougars wore the anthracite jersey and pants with the crimson helmet, the helmet featured a crimson facemask instead. This week’s version makes it the 58th new uniform combination for WSU since 2017.
The anthracite jersey itself first showed up in 2024 against Texas Tech and has been used five more times since then. Washington State is 4-2 in the jersey overall, and this will be the second-and likely final-time the Cougars wear it this season after using it in the home loss to Fresno State.
The crimson helmet with a white facemask is also a familiar but not especially lucky look. It hasn’t been seen since the season opener at Washington, and the Cougars are 16-30 in that combination since 2011, including 3-8 since 2017.
The anthracite pants are back for the second time in the 2026 season as well. They were last worn in the loss to Utah State, and Washington State is 14-14 in those pants since 2017.
In Other News...
WSUs Defense Has A Season-Long Problem That Wont Go Away
Washington States defense gave the Cougars another reason to regret a tight loss to San Diego State, even as Jaylen Thomas came through with his third interception of the season. The play was one of the few bright spots in a game that ended with Washington State falling to 1-8, and it fit into a season where the defense has had trouble creating the kind of game-changing moments that can swing close contests.
The bigger issue has been hard to miss all year: this unit simply has not produced enough turnovers or pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Near the bottom nationally in both turnovers forced and sacks, Washington State keeps putting itself in long stretches where the defense is on the field without delivering the extra possession or negative play the Cougars need. Until that changes, even the occasional takeaway feels more like a brief reprieve than a sign of a larger fix. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Gets A Rare Opening It Can't Waste Saturday
Washington State has a chance Saturday to take advantage of a Colorado State team still trying to keep its bowl hopes alive, and the matchup gives the Cougars a clear path to a much-needed conference breakthrough. The Rams have had trouble on defense, especially against the run, which puts the spotlight on Washington States ability to control the line of scrimmage and turn a favorable setup into momentum.
Colorado States offense brings a different kind of problem, with quarterback Hauss Hejny adding stress to a Washington State secondary that will need to stay disciplined. For the Cougars, the opportunity is obvious: if they can handle the Rams defensive vulnerabilities and limit the damage on the back end, they can finally chase down their first Pac-12 win of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Let A Strong Start Slip In A Costly Loss
Washington State had the kind of loss that lingers because it was there to be won. The Cougars built a strong start, but Duquesne kept hanging around and eventually pulled out a 72-71 decision in regulation, moving to 3-0 on the season. Even in defeat, there were signs of progress for Washington State, especially as the defense tightened late and the game turned into a possession-by-possession fight.
Kerem Konan was central to the finish for Duquesne, delivering the game-winning three-point play and setting a career high with nine assists, while Arness Lawson gave the Dukes important minutes as both a defender and scorer. Washington State still has issues to sort out, particularly on the perimeter, but this was the sort of narrow loss that can sharpen a team if it carries the right lessons forward. [Read more 🡒]