Washington State had Martin Stadium buzzing early, then watched the night slip away.
The Cougars built a 14-0 lead Saturday and looked in control for a stretch, but Arizona took over from there and left Pullman with a 34-24 win in front of 23,000-plus. It was Wazzu’s first home loss, its second straight defeat against its former Pac-12 rival, and another night where the Cougs couldn’t finish the job against an FBS opponent.
At 1-3, Washington State is still winless against fellow FBS teams and Power-4 foes, with all three losses coming by double figures. Now the Cougars turn to a new chapter of sorts: their first Pac-12 game in a handful of years, next week against Fresno State in Pullman.
The biggest early jolt came from Jackquintin Bal, whose 25-yard interception return for a touchdown gave Washington State one of the night’s signature plays. Bal read the passing play cleanly and turned it into the Cougars’ third pick-six of the season, and the first at home in two years. The moment carried extra weight for Bal, who transferred from Arizona State and picked off a former rival.
But the second half belonged to Arizona.
Washington State’s offense lost its rhythm after the fast start, with the rushing attack going quiet and quarterback Caden Pinnick spending too much time under pressure. The Cougars never really got back on track after that opening burst, and the same concerns that surfaced in losses to Washington and Kansas State came right back into focus - especially along the offensive line.
There were a few positives on defense. Washington State’s front seven finally got home for three sacks, with Linus Zunk and Jirah Leaupepetele each recording one in the first half. For a group that has dealt with sack issues for several seasons, that was at least a step in the right direction.
Special teams had its moments, too. Jack Stevens had a field goal blocked, though the protection in front of him offered little help.
He later connected on a 33-yard field goal at the end of the half to send WSU into the break up 17-14. Damarjhe Lewis also got a hand on a Wildcats field goal attempt in the second half to keep the Cougars in front at that point.
Still, the back end couldn’t hold up after Bal’s touchdown. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita found more room in the second half, with Washington State giving up open looks and deep completions.
Fifita connected on four passes of 15 yards or more as the Wildcats pulled away. Whether the issue was miscommunication, missed assignments, soft coverage or missed tackles, the Cougars didn’t have an answer once Arizona started hitting downfield.
A late touchdown to a wide-open Branden Ganashamoorthy in the fourth quarter gave Washington State one last spark, but it wasn’t enough. The Cougars still couldn’t force a Wildcats punt, and a 51-yard field goal pushed the margin to two possessions with two minutes left.
Washington State now gets ready for Fresno State next Saturday night at Martin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m., with USA Network carrying the broadcast.
In Other News...
Kirby Moores Washington State Debut Comes With Real History Attached
Kirby Moores first season at Washington State arrives with more weight than a standard coaching debut, because the matchup on the other sideline also carries its own layers. Fresno State comes in under second-year coach Matt Entz, a proven winner who built his reputation at North Dakota State, and the Bulldogs have already shown the kind of balance that can make a September or early-season test feel much bigger than the calendar suggests.
There is also some familiar coaching overlap in the backdrop, with Moore now trying to put his own stamp on the Cougars after stops as an offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Missouri. Meanwhile, Fresno State has gotten important recent production from quarterback Jayden Mandal and running back Rayshon Luke, giving the Bulldogs a steadier profile as Moore steps into a game that connects his present job to parts of his past in more than one way. [Read more 🡒]
Jack Bal Is Forcing A Bigger WSU Role Than Anyone Expected
Jackquintin Bal did not arrive at Washington State with the kind of fanfare that usually comes with a season-shaping defensive piece, but he has worked his way into that conversation fast. The Arizona State transfer has started the last three games for the Cougars, and his snap count has climbed each week as he has become more comfortable in the defense. He also leads the team with nine tackles and turned in one of the defenses biggest plays of the year with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown against Arizona.
What makes Bals rise more interesting is how steady it has been. Pro Football Focus credits him with missing only two tackles all season, which fits with the kind of reliability Washington State has needed while dealing with an injury to another player in the secondary. Kirby Moore has praised Bals mindset and the way he has handled the opportunity, and for the Cougars, his emergence has started to look less like a fill-in and more like a role they will have to keep finding room for. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces An Early Home Test It Cant Take Lightly
Washington State is back at Martin Stadium for its first true Pac-12 home test of the season, and Fresno State brings just enough intrigue to make this one feel less routine than a typical early conference date. The Bulldogs arrive at 3-1 after a relatively soft non-conference slate, but they have still shown enough on offense to demand attention, with quarterback Jayden Mandal steering the attack and giving the Cougars a different kind of challenge than they have seen so far.
For Washington State, the game also sets up a few individual matchups that could shape the afternoon. Fresno State receiver Josiah Freeman has been one of the names to track, while cornerback Simeon Harris will be part of the Cougars' effort to keep the Bulldogs from finding easy answers outside. Early conference games can punish a team that assumes the record tells the whole story, and this is the sort of home opener in league play that can reveal whether Washington State is ready to handle the details that matter. [Read more 🡒]