WSU’s Tucker Large Brings Playoff Mentality to Potato Bowl Finale
BOISE - For Tucker Large, December has always meant one thing: win or go home. That’s what happens when you spend four seasons at South Dakota State, where deep playoff runs are the norm and every snap this time of year carries weight. Now, as he prepares for his final college game - this time in a Washington State uniform - Large is trying to balance that same intensity with a new kind of postseason experience: the bowl game.
Washington State faces Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Monday morning, and while the stakes aren’t quite as high as an FCS semifinal, the mindset for Large hasn’t changed much.
“When we’re at practice, be locked in, be talkative,” Large said. “And outside of that, enjoy the time. Have fun with your friends, enjoy the relationships.”
That’s the line WSU’s veterans are walking this week - staying focused enough to compete, while soaking up the final moments of a season that’s been anything but routine.
A Team in Transition
To say the Cougars have had a whirlwind December would be an understatement. They’re preparing for a bowl game under interim head coach Jesse Bobbit, who took over after Jimmy Rogers left for Iowa State.
But Bobbit’s not sticking around either - he’s set to follow Rogers to Ames as the Cyclones’ next defensive coordinator. That means Monday’s game will be his last with the Cougars as well.
Meanwhile, new head coach Kirby Moore - formerly Missouri’s offensive coordinator - is in place but not coaching the bowl. So it’s Bobbit and the current staff guiding the team one last time, with uncertainty looming for many of them.
Some may be retained. Others will soon be job hunting.
“This will look a lot different in a couple days,” Bobbit admitted.
And that’s not just true for the coaching staff. WSU’s roster is in flux, too.
Fourteen players have announced plans to enter the transfer portal after the bowl game. Some of those players will still suit up Monday - like wide receiver Tony Freeman and linebacker Anthony Palano - while others, including wideout Carter Pabst and cornerback Kenny Worthy III, are sitting out.
Then there’s the senior class, a group that’s been the backbone of this team’s 6-6 campaign. Monday marks the final collegiate game for several key contributors: quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, offensive lineman Christian Hilborn, safeties Cale Reeder and Matt Durrance, linebackers Parker McKenna and Caleb Francl, defensive ends Raam Stevenson and Buddha Peleti, wideout Josh Meredith, and of course, Large.
It’s a group that’s been through a lot - coaching changes, roster turnover, and a season full of ups and downs. But they’ve stuck together, and now they’re getting one last shot to finish on a high note.
The Utah State Challenge
Standing in their way is a Utah State team that’s also 6-6 and led by first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall. Cougar fans might remember Mendenhall - he beat WSU last winter when he was still at New Mexico.
The Aggies are led by senior quarterback Bryson Barnes, a gritty, dual-threat playmaker who’s as comfortable lowering his shoulder as he is slinging the ball downfield. He’s completed 60% of his passes for 2,687 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just four interceptions - and he’s also the team’s leading rusher, with 733 yards and nine scores on the ground.
“The biggest thing with him is that he’s kinda reckless - in a good way,” Bobbit said. “He’s out there not acting like a quarterback.
He’s lowering his shoulder, trying to make plays happen. He’s impressive, and he can throw the ball from all angles.”
WSU quarterback Zevi Eckhaus kept it short when asked about Utah State’s defense: “They play fast, they play physical, they play together.” The smirk on his face said the rest - he’s ready to let loose one more time.
One Last Ride
This week has been about more than just game prep. It’s been about reflection, connection, and finishing strong.
“A large majority chose to be here to finish this together,” Bobbit said. “The energy and spirit from the first team meeting we had when the change happened has been awesome. The leadership within this team has been awesome.”
And that’s shown up in practice - not just in the reps or the install sessions, but in the way players have competed with and for one another. For a group that’s been through so much, this final game is about more than a win. It’s about honoring the journey.
That’s especially true for guys like Large, who’ve spent their college careers chasing championships and now find themselves in a different kind of December. The stakes may not be the same, but the pride, the preparation, and the bond with teammates? That still matters.
And come Monday, when the Cougars take the field for one last time this season, you can bet Large and company won’t be dialing anything down. They’ll be locked in - just like always.