WASHINGTON STATE has spent much of this season chasing turnovers, and the numbers tell the story plainly. Through nine games, the Cougars have forced only six, a total that leaves them tied for No. 132 out of 138 FBS teams. Only two teams in the country have created fewer.
That issue has become impossible to ignore as WSU heads into the final three games, starting with Colorado State at home this weekend. The Cougars are 1-8 after a six-point loss to San Diego State on Halloween night, and while they made a late push, the comeback ended with a turnover on downs.
Jaylen Thomas was one of the few bright spots in that game. The safety came up with an interception early in the third quarter after linebacker Keith Brown tipped the ball into the air, and Thomas hauled it in before returning it 17 yards into SDSU territory. It was his third interception of the season, the most by a Cougar since 2024.
“Keith made his play, and I was just in the right spot at the right time,” Thomas said. “Happened to be under the ball. Trusted myself, and just let my athleticism take over after that.”
Thomas has made a habit of being around the football in his first season at WSU. He picked off two passes against Kansas State, returning one for a touchdown.
The next week, he took a punt back for a touchdown against FCS Duquesne. He has also broken up two passes since then.
Back in September, he put it this way: “I feel like putting in the work now,” he said back in September, “so I can have an easier life later.”
After the SDSU game, Thomas shifted the focus to what the defense still needs to produce.
“Gotta create more takeovers from a defensive standpoint to help the offense start in a better position on the field and just help the team overall, with the turnover battle as well.”
That has been the problem area for this defense. WSU’s six forced turnovers include Thomas’ two picks against Kansas State, Jackquintin Bal’s pick-six against Arizona, a forced fumble by Jirah Leaupepetele that Khamari Terrell recovered against Fresno State, and Thomas’ interception against SDSU. The Cougars also got credit for Utah State’s muffed kickoff, recovered by linebacker Carsten Reynolds, though that one does not count as a defensive takeaway.
The lack of takeaways has had a ripple effect. WSU’s defense has forced only one turnover in its last four games, and that shortage has helped leave the offense in rough field position far too often. The Cougars rank No. 134 nationally in BCF Toys’ field position rankings, and only about 7% of their drives have started past their own 40-yard line.
Another part of the issue sits in the backfield pressure category. WSU has only eight sacks this season, which ranks No. 134 in the nation. The Cougars have gone without a sack in their last three games.
That’s a surprising number given the presence of defensive ends Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk. McLain has 25 QB pressures, which ranks fifth in the Pac-12, but only one sack. Zunk has 18 pressures and two sacks.
Kirby Moore said opponents have played with that in mind.
“I think naturally, teams we play do have a plan to get the ball out,” WSU coach Kirby Moore said, “or they’re chipping Matyus and Linus, and so you gotta give them credit as well, and that’s forced them to get the ball out quicker at times. We’ve been close. We had opportunities even in the San Diego State game there, where the quarterback got out, kinda made a late lateral there to the back.”
“We gotta finish,” Moore added. “That’s definitely something that we looked at on the opportunities that we had as well, because a lot of times when you get a sack, it at times can equal a sack-fumble, and you create a turnover.”
Colorado State brings a strange contrast into the matchup. The Rams allow 45 points per game, the worst mark in the country, but they are plus-6 in turnover margin, ranking No. 18 nationally. They have lost only eight turnovers, which ranks No. 24 in FBS and second in the Pac-12.
For WSU, finding a way to flip that script may be part of the path to FBS win No. 1. Thomas, at least, believes the answer starts with the daily work.
“It starts at practice, just taking everything more seriously,” Thomas said after the SDSU game. “Just looking, having some self-reflection and just looking inward.
Everybody having the mindset of, ‘what can I do better to help the team?’ I really take that to heart.
Try to just focus on what I can control to help the team succeed, and you that’s what we all try to do.”
In Other News...
Washington State Is Bringing A Fresh Look Into Pac-12 After Dark
After a bye week, Washington State comes back home Saturday with a fresh look for another Pac-12 After Dark stage, and the Cougars are leaning into it with a new uniform combination. The set pairs anthracite jerseys and pants with a crimson helmet and white facemask, a variation on looks the program has used before but not quite in this exact way.
It also adds another entry to a long-running trend under the current run of uniform creativity, becoming the 58th new combination since 2017. Washington State has had some memorable results tied to these pieces in the past, which only adds a little extra intrigue to what the Cougars will look like when they take the field at home again. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Gets A Rare Opening It Can't Waste Saturday
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Colorado States offense brings a different kind of problem, with quarterback Hauss Hejny adding stress to a Washington State secondary that will need to stay disciplined. For the Cougars, the opportunity is obvious: if they can handle the Rams defensive vulnerabilities and limit the damage on the back end, they can finally chase down their first Pac-12 win of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Let A Strong Start Slip In A Costly Loss
Washington State had the kind of loss that lingers because it was there to be won. The Cougars built a strong start, but Duquesne kept hanging around and eventually pulled out a 72-71 decision in regulation, moving to 3-0 on the season. Even in defeat, there were signs of progress for Washington State, especially as the defense tightened late and the game turned into a possession-by-possession fight.
Kerem Konan was central to the finish for Duquesne, delivering the game-winning three-point play and setting a career high with nine assists, while Arness Lawson gave the Dukes important minutes as both a defender and scorer. Washington State still has issues to sort out, particularly on the perimeter, but this was the sort of narrow loss that can sharpen a team if it carries the right lessons forward. [Read more 🡒]