I know as just one of the two remaining members of a PAC-12 that was taken apart by realignment Washington State will have no opportunity to win a major conference and receive an automatic spot into the national championship playoff. But if not for that Boise State loss in Week-5 these Cougars, who are 8th nationally in points scored per game, would be sitting at 9-0 along with just four other teams in the FBS instead of 8-1. But in spite of the loss that they knew would most likely keep them out of the conversation for an at-large berth Washington State continues to try and prove a point. As noted by Joe Landergan in his Sport’s Illustrated article regarding the first College Football Playoff rankings released last week that point hasn’t gone unnoticed: “Michigan Athletic Director and CFP Selection Committee Chair Warde Manuel praised the Cougars for their strong resume after eight games and a 7-1 start saying; We looked at them in terms of what they’ve done this season . . . Their only loss was to Boise State, who’s ranked 12th, and they have four wins against teams above .500, but the best win was their win over Washington 24-19. While they’re playing consistent football [and their] offense is putting up 38 points per game, we still felt as the deliberations occurred that at the present time the committee ranked them based on their body of work at 21 with a lot of football obviously left to play.”
The Cougars wasted no time getting out in front in this one scoring back-to-back-to-back touchdowns to start the game while holding Utah State to just a single score. Up 21-7 at the break Washington State didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half either, scoring touchdowns on four of their five possessions and missing a field goal on the other. After scoring a TD in their second possession of the game, the Aggies were held scoreless until their third possession the second half. But by then they were down 35-to-14. They matched the Cougars in the 4th Qtr with fourteen points, but with Washington State scoring the same it only made the numbers on the scoreboard look more respectable but not enough to mask the fact that this game was a blowout.
You have to think that Washington State head coach Jake Dickert can’t wait for the PAC-12 to add their teams and get going as his uber talented QB John Mateer is just a Sophomore. In this one he connected on 75% of his throws for 179 yards and four TD’s with three of those going to his Senior WR Kyle Williams and the other to Senior TE Cooper Mathers. Leading on the ground, and another player for Dickert to be excited about, was Freshman RB Wayshawn Parker who gained 149 yards and 3 TD’s on just 11 carries—a 13.5 average—with Mateer running in a fourth. The Cougars were 50% on third down conversions and made both of their 4th down attempts. They led in first downs, rushing, total yards, had fewer penalties, didn’t turn the ball over and led in time-of-possession.
Regarding the Cougs and their chances to get into the playoff, Greg Woods in an article for The Seattle Times had this to say; “All told, WSU is kicking off the final four games of the regular season on the right note. The Cougars now face three more games: At New Mexico on Nov. 16, at Oregon State on Nov. 23 and at home against Wyoming on Nov. 30. Then they’re off to a bowl game, and though the odds may be long, the Cougs do have a small chance of making the 12-team College Football Playoff. How realistic is that scenario? WSU is ranked No. 21 in the first round of CFP rankings, putting the group nine spots out of the playoff. But on Saturday, several teams ahead of the Cougars dropped games, including No. 15 LSU, No. 17 Iowa State and No. 18 Pittsburgh. It may not matter much in the end — but either way, lots of good things happened for WSU this weekend.”