Washington State gets a chance to clean things up Saturday, and the matchup with Duquesne hands Kirby Moore’s team a pretty clear path to do it.
The Cougars are still looking for their first win, but this game lines up as the best opportunity yet for WSU to get rolling at Gesa Field. Duquesne is also breaking in seven new starters on defense, just like Washington State, and neither offense has exactly been setting the pace.
For WSU, the most obvious opening may come with Caden Pinnick and Kirby Vorhees on the ground. Duquesne has already had trouble dealing with quarterback run games and interior rushing attacks in its first two games, first against Air Force and then against Youngstown State. Air Force quarterback Liam Szarka ran for 51 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-0 win, and Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard followed that up with 290 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, 111 rushing yards and two more scores.
Duquesne has spent plenty of time in a 4-4 shell defense, and it has struggled to hold up against inside runs from quarterbacks and backs. That could be exactly where Washington State finds some rhythm, especially with Pinnick overdue for a productive day and Vorhees coming off his best run against Kansas State coming between the tackles.
The Dukes’ offense has been just as limited. Through two road games in 2026, Duquesne has scored only one touchdown, and seventh-year transfer quarterback Carson Camp has had a rough go of it.
Against Youngstown State, he missed open receivers and also threw two interceptions. On the season, Camp is 12-for-27 for 105 yards with one touchdown and those two picks.
That gives WSU’s secondary a real chance to make plays again. Safety Jaylen Thomas is coming off a two-interception performance and was named the Pac-12 Conference defensive player of the week.
One of those turnovers went back 50 yards for the Cougars’ lone touchdown. And the Washington State defense should also get a boost with starting cornerbacks Jalil Tucker and Khamari Terrell expected back after being nicked up.
Still, Duquesne does have one player who can create problems. Running back Ness Davis flashed big-play ability against Youngstown State, hurdling a defender on his first carry and bursting for a 36-yard run that set up an opening field goal. He finished with 88 yards on 11 carries, and Washington State will need to account for that kind of burst.
That’s especially true after Kansas State gashed the Cougars for 302 rushing yards on 40 carries last week, including Rodney Fields Jr.’s 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Moore said the defense lost gap integrity on a few of those big second-half runs, and that issue has been a focus in practice this week.
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 🡒]