Homecoming weekend on the Palouse brings a familiar look back into the spotlight for Washington State.
When the Cougars host Boise State, they’ll do it in their all-crimson uniforms, a look the program revealed on social media earlier today behind the voice of Keith Jackson.
This is the one uniform set that has shown up every year since 2017, and it has a clear connection to Boise State history. The first time Washington State wore this redesign’s all-crimson combo came against the Broncos in 2017. Saturday will mark the 10th time the Cougars have gone with that full crimson package, and the record in it sits at 4-5.
The early run was strong. Washington State won its first three games in all crimson, then dropped five straight in the look between 2020 and 2024. The Cougars snapped that skid last year, beating Oregon State in the regular season finale while wearing the same uniform set.
The jersey will be making its third appearance of the season. Washington State has already worn the crimson tops in a win over Duquesne and a loss against Arizona.
The crimson pants are also set for their third run, after showing up in the loss at Washington and the win over Duquesne. Saturday will be the first time this season the Cougars wear the all-crimson helmet, though it will be the second crimson helmet appearance overall this year.
At this point, crimson has become the Homecoming standard. Washington State used to let fans vote on the Homecoming uniform in the mid-2010s, but that stopped beginning in 2018. The only chance for fans to pick from the current set came in 2017, when they chose a crimson helmet, anthracite jersey and crimson pants for a win over Colorado.
The Cougars went back to anthracite for Homecoming in 2018 against Utah, pairing it with a gray helmet and gray pants. Since then, WSU has worn a crimson jersey for every Homecoming game, including this all-crimson look in 2023.
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Washington State Upset Hopes Rest On A Few Cougars Stepping Up
Washington State heads into its upcoming matchup with 21st-ranked Boise State knowing the margin for error is slim, and the Cougars path to an upset likely starts with a few players stepping into larger roles. The spotlight is on the new starting quarterback, but the bigger picture is just as important: WSU has to find answers against a Boise State team that brings a strong rushing attack and enough balance to make every possession matter.
For the Cougars, the pressure points are obvious. Third-down execution could decide whether they can sustain drives, and the defense will need to create more disruption than it has at times this season to tilt the field in its favor. Boise States passing game adds another layer of difficulty, which means Washington State cannot afford to be ordinary in the trenches or passive in coverage if it wants to keep the Broncos from controlling the game. [Read more 🡒]
Boise States Playoff Grip Suddenly Looks Less Comfortable
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For Washington State, the backdrop matters because the Cougars are headed into Saturdays matchup with a Boise State team that is trying to keep its playoff path clear while not letting the noise get in the way. Broncos coach Spencer Danielson has stressed that his program is focused on daily performance rather than rankings, but the odds board shows how quickly a single result elsewhere can tighten the picture around a team trying to protect its place. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Found A Special Teams Weapon In An Unlikely Place
Max Dean has quietly become one of Washington States more reliable weapons this season, giving the Cougars a field-position edge from a spot that can be easy to overlook. The Australian punter from Gisborne has settled in after a winding path to Pullman, one that included training at Prokick Australia in Melbourne and earning his way onto a college roster at New Mexico State before transferring into a larger role with Washington State.
His rise makes the backstory even more striking, because Dean did not come through the usual American pipeline on his way to becoming one of the teams top performers. Washington State found a specialist who not only handles the job well, but does so after arriving with a different football upbringing and a long road to get here, which is part of what makes his emergence worth watching as the Cougars continue to lean on him. [Read more 🡒]