Washington State will break out a look it hasn’t worn in years when it takes the field at San Diego State on Saturday.
The Cougars are going with white helmets featuring the crimson WSU logo and white facemasks, paired with white jerseys and crimson pants. It’s a combination WSU hasn’t used since a 58-37 loss to Arizona in 2017, when Luke Falk was at quarterback and Mike Leach was the head coach.
The school has leaned on the reverse setup more often - crimson helmets, white jerseys and white pants - but this exact mix has stayed largely out of the regular rotation. WSU is 0-2 this season in white helmets, falling to Kansas State and Utah State.
It is also 0-4 in white jerseys, with losses to Washington, Kansas State, Utah State and Oregon State. In addition, it has been nearly two years since the Cougars have won a true road game in white uniforms.
The crimson pants have brought mixed results as well, with WSU going 1-2 in them, beating Duquesne while losing to Washington and Boise State.
This year’s uniform tracker, listed in helmet, jersey, pants order, has run through several combinations already: UW: Crimson/White/Crimson; Kansas State: White/White/White; Duquesne: White/Crimson/Crimson; Arizona: Crimson/Gray/Crimson; Fresno State: Gray/Anthracite/Gray; Utah State: White/White/Anthracite; Oregon State: Gray/White/Gray.
The uniform reveal this week featured Tank Hawkins, though this time the unveiling was handled with a still image rather than a full video. Hawkins was shown in front of a crimson background.
The 5-10, 180-pound third-year wide receiver transfer from Florida has seen his role grow as injuries have thinned the Cougars at receiver. He has 22 catches for 117 yards and four carries for two yards. With Tony Freeman and Darrius Clemons sidelined, his speed appears like a piece Washington State could use more often.
Hawkins follows DT Kaden Beatty, LB Keith Brown, DE Matyus McLain, safety Jeremiah Bernard, LB DJ Warner, DT Paul Hutson III, safety Jaylen Thomas and running back Kirby Vorhees as the previous uniform models.
Among the players who served as uniform models last year, only four remain on the roster this season: running backs Maxwell Woods and Leo Pulalasi, linebacker Isaiah Hung and safety.
In Other News...
Washington State's Rebuild Just Took A Brutal Turn In The Pac-12
Boise State stayed on top of the Pac-12 standings after handling Washington State 31-10, a result that did more than just keep the Broncos in control of the race. It also underscored how quickly the picture can change around a league where Texas State has climbed two spots after edging Utah State 20-17, and where every week seems to reshuffle the chase for the top spot.
Oregon State is trying to position itself for the stretch run after its bye, with wide receiver Jesse Legree back in the mix and a demanding three-game run ahead against Fresno State, Texas State and Boise State. Fresno State and San Diego State still have their own opportunities to affect the championship picture, so the Cougars' setback landed at a time when the margin for error around the Pac-12 is getting thin. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Brutal Road Test With One Clear Edge
Washington State heads into its ninth straight game of the season with a chance to lean on one area where the matchup appears friendliest: the passing game. San Diego State has had to rebuild its secondary because of injuries and departures, which creates at least some opportunity for the Cougars to test the back end and look for shots downfield on a road trip that otherwise has plenty of landmines.
The challenge is that San Diego State still brings real stress points on offense, starting with a pair of productive running backs in Javion Kinnard and Lucky Sutton. Redshirt freshman Jaylon Hawkins adds another layer as both a return threat and a receiving option, so Washington State cannot afford to get too comfortable even if the aerial matchup tilts in its favor. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Has A Must Fix Problem Before San Diego State
The frustration coming out of the loss to Boise State was easy to hear in Kirby Moores comments, and it centered on a problem Washington State cannot afford to carry into the next week. The Cougars offense never quite settled in, with quarterback Owen Eshelman finishing 21 of 40 for 191 yards without a touchdown and throwing one interception, and Moore made it clear the protection in front of him needs to be better.
Moore also pointed to the kind of messy details that can snowball fast for an offense, including communication breakdowns along the line and a Boise State pass rush that kept the Cougars uncomfortable. With San Diego State next on the schedule, Washington State is facing an early test of whether it can clean up those issues quickly enough to give Eshelman a cleaner picture and the offense a chance to function the way it needs to. [Read more 🡒]