Idaho at Washington State
One thing’s for sure, the Washington State Cougars have had themselves some great QB’s in recent years. Going back to Luke Faulk in 2015 who finished the year leading the FBS in passing completions, second in completion percentage, fourth in passing TD’s and fifth in yards. That year the Cougars had their best season in the prior 12 while finishing with a record of 9-4 including a win in the Sun Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes—their first bowl win since 2003. Who can forget the magical 2018 season of Minshew-mania with the Pirate Coach Mike Leach and his mustached protege Gardner Minshew who threw for 4,779 yards, 38 TD’s and ran four more into the end zone himself en-route to an 11-2 season where they knocked off No. 12 Oregon, No. 16 Washington, and No. 25 Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl. In 2019 the Apple Cup was stopped in the first quarter to recognize Cougar QB Anthony Gordon, the nation’s leading passer, after he had reached the 5,000 yard mark and becoming only the 13th player in college football history and fourth Mike Leach QB to do it. In 2022, Jake Dickert’s first full year as head coach after replacing Nick Rolovich, and 2023 you had Cameron Ward. In 2023 Cameron Ward passed for 3,736 yards, 33 TD’s plus 4 more rushing TD’s then after declaring for the NFL Draft decided to stay in college, entered the transfer portal and went to Miami where he won the Davey O’Brien and Manning awards as best quarterback in the nation and was eventually drafted No. 1 in the 2025 NFL draft and is now the starting QB for the Tennessee Titans. And then last year John Mateer, who after sitting behind Cam Ward for two years, took over as the starter for the Cougars and threw for well over 3,000 yards, 29 TD’s in the air and 15 on the ground. In his first career start he threw for over 350 yards, connected for five TD’s and ran one into the end zone himself. But with Oklahoma hiring Ben Arbuckle away from Washington State to be their Offensive Coordinator and the Sooners starting QB transferring to Auburn, Mateer followed his coach. In his first start this past weekend against Illinois State Mateer completed over 80% of his passes for 392 yards, 3 TD’s in the air while also rushing seven times for another score.
But that was 2024 and John Mateer is gone and so is head coach Jake Dickert and former Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle and so is the PAC-12 as we once knew it. In 2026 what was the Conference of Champions will get a new start with Washington State and Oregon State as the founding members to be joined by Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State, Fresno State, Texas State and Gonzaga. But for 2025, Cougar Football will be led by Head Coach Jimmy Rogers who has been coaching the South Dakota State Jackrabbits for twelve years, the last two as their head coach in which he had a 27-3 record and won a 2023 FCS Championship with teams that were noted for a heavy ground attack and solid defense. Well, that’ll certainly be different after the pass heavy air raid offense that the Cougar fans got used to over the years.
Regarding their first game of 2025, the good news is they beat the Idaho Vandals at home in Pullman. The scary news, they barely won 13-10. After holding Idaho scoreless through three quarters the Vandals came back to tie the game at 10-10 with under two minutes left in the game. It took another new comer, Place Kicker Jack Stevens, to win it by kicking a 32 yard field goal with time expiring. Neither team scored in the first quarter which consisted of two punts from each team followed by a missed 44 yard field goal by the Vandals. Washington State followed that up to start the 2nd quarter by marching 76 yards down the field in 8 plays and into the end zone on a 6 yard TD pass to Senior WR Joshua Meredith by the Cougars new Sophomore QB, Jaxon Potter. But that was all the scoring before the break as Idaho fumbled away their next opportunity on just the second play from scrimmage. Unfortunately, just three plays later after a short run and two incomplete passes by Potter the Cougars had to punt the ball back. Fifteen plays later the Vandals followed suit and kicked it right back to Washington State who crammed in nine plays in way less than two minutes but still couldn’t get the ball past mid-field. Score at half-time, 7-0 Washington State.
The third quarter was pretty much a sad repeat of the first two. Three punts, a fumble by Idaho, and then finally another Cougar score on a Jack Stevens 30 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Washington State after three. Tensions rose in Pullman’s Martin Stadium starting in the 4th Qtr as the Vandals took the ball 75 yards on 16 plays and into the end zone on their first possession of the period to make it 10-7 with half of the 4th Qtr left to play. After that, back-to-back three-and-outs were followed by a Washington State fumble at their own 28 yard line with over two minutes left to play. Four plays and less than 40 seconds later Idaho tied the score at 10-10 on a 21 yard field goal by Junior Place Kicker Cameron Pope with less than two minutes to play. To the relief of everyone in the stadium the Cougars were able to eat up the clock, move 59 yards down the field, and win the game with time expiring on another Jack Stevens field goal—this one from 32 yards out—whew! It’s going to get really hairy in a hurry as they get to stay home but have San Diego State this next Saturday and will host Washington in the Apple Cup on September 20th.
Cal at Oregon State
One of the biggest concerns going into the season for Cal was replacing former starting QB Fernando Mendoza who left via the portal to play with his brother Alberto at Indiana. Last year Mendoza threw for over 3,000 yards with 16 TD’s and just 6 interceptions while also rushing for over 100 yards and 2 more scores. Cal’s biggest problem last year was their offensive line which was not able to help their run game or protect Mendoza who was sacked 41 times—highest in the FBS. Well, from the looks of the first game it seems as though that box has been checked. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, only the second true freshman to ever start at QB for Cal, was nine-for-nine to start the game on the road in Corvallis with two of those connecting for TD’s—one to Sophomore TE Mason Mini and the other to Senior WR Trond Grizzell to lead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Although Cal led from start to finish Oregon State had a hand in helping the Golden Bears off to that early lead. With the Beavers winning the toss and deferring to start the game, Cal took the ball but found themselves sitting 4th and 1 at their own 36 yard line just a few plays later and was forced to punt. But Oregon State was penalized for having too many men on the field during the play resulting in a first and ten for Cal, another chance for the rookie QB, and a 7-0 lead just four plays later.
Sagapolutele was 20-of-30 for 234 yards, 3 TD’s, and no interceptions while also kicking in 30 rushing yards on just 2 carries. On the ground Cal ran 32 times for 122 yards with Sophomore RB Brandon High Jr. finding the end zone for the Golden Bears’ only rushing TD. It’s hard watching Oregon State, who had worked so hard under Jonathan Smith to build a nationally competitive program, struggle now to keep their head above water. The Beavers finally got some points on the board in the form of a field goal after those back-to-back TD’s that Cal started the game with. But the Beavers wouldn’t score again—this time a TD—until about 4 minutes left in the 3rd Qtr to make it 24-9 after Cal had already put another 10 points up on the board via a 49 yard field goal by Freshman Place Kicker Abram Murray and Sagapolutele’s third TD pass—this one to Senior TE Landon Morris.
Starting the 4th Qtr with a TD, Cal would add seven more points to the board to make it 31-9. Oregon State came back to cut the lead by six to 31-15 at the end of a 10 play 78 yard drive and 3 yard TD run by their Junior QB Maalik Murphy followed by a missed two point conversion. Murphy would go 21-of-33 on the day for 248 yards, no TD’s, and 1 interception. The Beavers rushed 27 times for 65 yards and 2 TD’s, one by Murphy and one by their Senior RB Anthony Hankerson who carried the rock for over 1,000 yards last year. The Golden Bears would finish up their scoring for the day with a 23 yard field goal by Junior Place Kicker Chase Meyer to make it 34-15 where it would stay. Cal heads back home to take on the Texas Southern Tigers this next Saturday while Oregon State stays in Corvallis to host the always tough Fresno State Bulldogs.