Washington State took a hit Monday that goes well beyond the next game. Kirby Moore confirmed that wide receiver Tony Freeman tore his ACL and is done for the season, ending what was supposed to be a major role in WSU’s offense.
Freeman left the Apple Cup in the first quarter, and even then it didn’t look like a quick return was coming. Now the timeline is official: his 2026 season is over.
"Still determining his surgery date," Moore said. "We're all going to be there to support Tony through this. And for him, think he has the potential to come back with the new five for five rule for another season here at Washington State."
That’s a tough break for the Cougars. Freeman was their top returning receiver from last year and was expected to be Caden Pinnick’s go-to option in 2026.
Instead, the 5-8, 174-pound receiver from Richmond, Calif., will wrap up his season with only 10 snaps. WSU also loses its standout punt returner.
With Freeman sidelined, the Cougars will need more from Darrius Clemons, Daniel Blood and Branden Ganashamoorthy, and they’ll likely have to expand the roles of Tank Hawkins and Jordan Dees as well.
The injury news didn’t stop there. Defensive end Michael Hughes missed Saturday’s game at Kansas State, and Moore said both Hughes and fellow DE Malachi Wrice will be out for a while.
"Mike Hughes will be out here for a couple weeks," Moore said. "Knee, kind of leg injury there.
We should get him back here in a couple weeks or so. And then Malachi Wrice will be week-to-week from an edge standpoint.
" Ben Beatty, Fernando (Lecuona), Eduwa (Okundaye) played about 11 snaps there on Saturday. So all those guys, we have to rotate and be fresh up front, and that's going to be important."
Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk remain the top two on the depth chart at that spot, but WSU’s depth is going to matter. Wrice, a 6-4, 248-pound third-year from McAlester, Okla., logged 29 snaps and had two pressures. Hughes, a 6-4, 241-pound fourth-year from Santa Ana, delivered one big hit on Demond Williams on one of his 14 snaps in the Apple Cup.
There was at least some better news on the injury front. After missing the game at Kansas State, cornerbacks Jalil Tucker and Khamari Terrell are expected back this weekend when WSU hosts Duquesne at 12:30 p.m. on USA Network.
"We do anticipate Khamari Terrell and Jalil Tucker being back this week," Moore said. "That (Terrell's injury) kind of came after the Apple Cup.
It wasn't initial, but it was later on there, kind of late Monday or Tuesday when that started ... he had a concussion. Just the symptoms of that were a little bit later."
In Other News...
WSU Is Expanding Martin Stadium Options With A Catch For Fans
Washington State is adding more variety at Martin Stadium this fall, expanding its home football alcohol menu to 11 different beer and seltzer options starting with the game against Duquesne. The move is part of a broader push around the fan experience, with new dining options also announced for the stadium as the Cougars continue to tinker with what game day looks like on the Palouse.
There is a catch for fans, though, as the alcohol pilot program is set to continue into 2026 with more alcohol-free sections and tighter enforcement aimed at monitoring sales and preventing policy violations. The school is also planning stricter consequences for breaches, a sign that the increased options will come with closer oversight as Washington State tries to balance access, safety, and the atmosphere inside Martin Stadium. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Found A Bigger Role For Leo Pulalasi At The Right Time
With injuries thinning Washington States tight end room, Leo Pulalasi has quietly become one of the more useful pieces in the offenses reshaped puzzle. The junior running backs job has expanded this season, and his move to H-back during the offseason gave the Cougars another way to keep key personnel on the field without sacrificing flexibility.
Kirby Moore said the role change was part of the plan well before the opener, and Pulalasi has already shown why it matters. He supplied a lead block on a touchdown in the season opener, while also getting a few touches as a runner and receiver, a modest usage profile that still hints at how much the staff trusts him in multiple spots. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Is Bringing A New Look To Its Martin Stadium Opener
Washington State is giving Martin Stadium a fresh first impression for its 2026 home opener against Duquesne, unveiling a new uniform combination built around white helmets with the crimson Cougar logo, paired with crimson jerseys and crimson pants. The look was revealed with fifth-year defensive tackle Paul Hutson III serving as the model, giving the rollout a veteran face from a player who arrived from Marshall and has already carved out a role in the rotation.
Hutson has logged 60 snaps this season, and his presence helps underscore why these small details matter in Pullman. Openers carry a little extra weight anyway, and a new home look can become part of the atmosphere as Washington State settles into the season in front of its own crowd, even before the football itself starts to sort out what kind of team this will be. [Read more 🡒]