Caden Pinnick doesn’t have the luxury of easing into the job. In just his third week of FBS football, Washington State’s starting quarterback is already carrying the weight that comes with two straight losses, a sputtering offense and a fan base waiting to see something, anything, that looks like progress.
Saturday’s home opener against FCS Duquesne, set for 12:30 p.m. on USA Network, gives the Cougars a clean shot to start changing that conversation. It also comes with the kind of pressure that follows an uneven opening stretch.
WSU is 0-2 for the first time in a decade, and its offense sits last in the country in scoring offense and points per game at 8.5, a number helped a bit by safety Jaylen Thomas’ pick-six last weekend. Through two games, the Cougars have managed just one offensive touchdown.
That makes this one simple in one sense and tricky in another. Beat a winless FCS team and cover a 38.5-point spread, and WSU will have handled the assignment it’s supposed to handle. Fall short, and the questions around Kirby Moore’s team get louder fast.
Pinnick, though, still sees room for this offense to show something. Senior receiver Tony Freeman is out for the season with a torn ACL, but the Cougars believe there’s still more to work with. After last weekend, Pinnick said he sat down with Moore and offensive coordinator Matt Miller to sort through what needs to change.
“I think we’ve reached an agreement on what can help with the offense holistically,” Pinnick said, “whether that’s simplifying plays, trying not to do too much, just make our easy plays. At the end of the day, whatever leads up to Saturday is on me.”
That reset starts with third down. WSU has converted just 2 of 21 chances through two games, a number that leaves the Cougars one spot above dead last nationally. Part of that is the quality of the opponents - Washington and Kansas State have been plenty punishing - but the coaches and players have also made it clear the offense has to do more for itself.
Duquesne may offer the right setup to get that moving. The Dukes have already lost to FBS Air Force and FCS Youngstown State, and they’re giving up 314 rushing yards per game, a figure inflated by a 70-13 loss to Youngstown State. That opens the door for WSU’s running backs - Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods and Leo Pulalasi - to produce.
It also gives the offensive line a chance to stabilize. WSU ranks last nationally with a Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of 17.3, and against Kansas State, four of the Cougars’ six offensive linemen posted individual grades of 0.0, the lowest possible mark. Duquesne won’t bring that same level of defensive heat, which should help Pinnick settle in and operate with more confidence.
That part matters, because while Pinnick has thrown two interceptions and completed 56% of his passes, his PFF offensive grade of 75.6 is the best on the team among qualified players. Kirby Moore likes what he sees, but he also knows the quarterback can’t do it alone.
“We’re all in this thing together. He’s gotta have a great week of practice,” Moore said.
“There were some things outside of his control in terms of protection (against K-State). Thought he tried to extend plays, and there’s a couple times where we gotta make sure we make this simple play.”
There’s better news on the other side of the ball. Starting cornerbacks Khamari Terrell and Jalil Tucker, both sidelined last week with injuries, are expected back against Duquesne. Their return gives the secondary a boost alongside safety Jaylen Thomas, who earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after his two interceptions last weekend.
The Cougars should also have a real chance to create their first turnover of the season. Duquesne quarterback Carson Camp, a seventh-year senior, has completed just 32% of his passes for 105 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in two games. WSU will also be looking to wake up a pass rush that produced only six pressures last weekend, with edge rushers Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk still central to that effort.
For all the noise around the defense, though, the biggest spotlight remains on the offense. WSU needs more than a tidy win here. It needs a game that looks like the start of something, especially with Arizona coming to Pullman next week.
“I think a lot of people are quick to point the finger at the offense and just say there’s a lot of problems there,” Pinnick said. “But the way I look at it, I think it’s an incredible opportunity to play in front of a home (crowd) and just really showcase what we really have, just take care of the business that we need to take care of.”
In Other News...
Washington State Finally Gets Relief In A Spot That Needed It Most
Washington State is getting a needed boost in the secondary heading into its matchup with Duquesne, with coach Kirby Moore saying cornerbacks Jalil Tucker and Khamari Terrell will be available. For a position group that can get tested quickly, simply getting bodies back matters, and it gives the Cougars a little more flexibility as they try to settle in early in the season.
Moore also laid out a broader injury picture that still leaves some questions hanging. Malachi Wrice and Mike Hughes are expected to be out, while Trey Leckner is moving forward in practice and Peyton Read is expected to be ready, and the coach also pointed to the growth of Caleb Northcroft and Kaden Beatty. For Washington State, the encouraging part is that the roster appears to be trending the right way, even if a few key pieces are still working their way back. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Needs A Spark In Its Home Opener From These Playmakers
Washington State finally gets to come home for its 2026 opener after opening the season with three straight road games, and the timing could hardly be better for a team looking to shake off an 0-2 start. Duquesne brings a defense that has already shown some vulnerability, which gives the Cougars a chance to settle in offensively and put a more complete game together in front of their own fans.
The spotlight falls on Pinnick, Thomas and Blood, three players WSU needs to help set the tone and provide the kind of spark the offense has been missing. With the Cougars still searching for traction early in the year, this matchup feels like an opportunity to regain some confidence and establish a rhythm before the schedule tightens further. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Thomas Is Giving WSU A Huge Boost In His New Role
Washington State has been searching for dependable answers in the secondary, and Jaylen Thomas has become one of the most interesting ones as he settles into a new spot. The redshirt sophomore made the move from cornerback to safety and has looked comfortable there, showing the kind of range and playmaking ability that can change a game in a hurry for a defense that needs steady impact players.
Against Kansas State, Thomas showed exactly why the switch has mattered, coming away with two interceptions in one quarter and turning one of them into a pick-six. The performance earned him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors, and even the celebration stood out, with a backflip after the touchdown return. The bigger question for WSU is how much more there is to come now that he seems to have found a role that fits. [Read more 🡒]