Colton Clark

PULLMAN – Wide receiver Zeriah Beason is no longer a member of Washington State's football program, Cougars coach Jake Dickert told media members Monday.

PULLMAN – Cameron Ward showed clear signs of frustration after he tossed his second red-zone interception of the game. But the Washington State quarterback regrouped and finished strong.

PULLMAN – Washington State, coming off a narrow loss to a top-15 team in the country, rebounded with a convincing victory over Cal. Have the Cougars proven enough to crack the national rankings?

PULLMAN – Washington State’s defense bounced back with a well-rounded performance. The Cougars’ offense finished the job.

PULLMAN – Washington State's defensive backfield showed inexperience last weekend, but a veteran leader is returning to the Cougs' secondary for the team's Pac-12 matchup Saturday against Cal.

Early-season momentum is at stake when Washington State plays host to Cal for a Pac-12 clash between well-matched teams, both of which sit on the bubble of relevance.

Story of the game …

PULLMAN – Last weekend, Washington State outplayed a Pac-12 heavyweight for all but 5 minutes. The Cougars crumbled in crunch time and Oregon rallied, pulling off a two-score comeback in the waning moments of the game.

PULLMAN – Asked to evaluate Washington State’s Air Raid system through four weeks of the season, Eric Morris offered a frank assessment filled with constructive criticism.

PULLMAN – Washington State’s secondary showed inexperience last weekend, but the Cougars’ defensive backfield might welcome back a veteran leader Saturday.

After collapsing down the stretch Saturday in a stunning loss, Washington State’s defense is putting an extra emphasis on “finishing.”

What is it? Coming off a late collapse in a heartbreaking loss to Oregon, the Washington State Cougars (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) look to rebound on homecoming against an improved team from Cal (3-1, 1-0).

PULLMAN – Washington State center Dishon Jackson, a strong defender and capable scorer in the Cougars’ frontcourt over the past two seasons, announced Monday through WSU’s social media channel that he will be “sidelined for an indefinite stretch of time” due to an unspecified medical issue.

PULLMAN – Saturday’s showdown between Washington State and Oregon had all the high-drama thrills of a Pac-12 classic.

PULLMAN – A game-sealing interception dampened the mood, but the overall performance of quarterback Cameron Ward and Washington State’s passing game should provide encouragement for the Cougars’ fan base.

PULLMAN – Midway through the fourth quarter, all signs pointed to victory for Washington State.

PULLMAN – ESPN’s College GameDay isn’t in town this time, but Washington State is aiming for a similarly momentous victory.

The significance of the moment caused some nervous energy for Robert Ferrel as he prepared for Saturday's game, but the receiver found himself calm when he took the field, lining up in a familiar offensive system.

PULLMAN – Last weekend, Washington State had an impressive performance on a bright stage and raised the expectations surrounding its program.

PULLMAN – Billy Riviere’s 38-yard catch was significant for several reasons.

PULLMAN – Washington State’s Air Raid hasn’t operated with much consistency early this season. The Cougars are still searching for rhythm as they sharpen up the technical details and communication in their freshly installed system.

PULLMAN – Washington State brought a healthy roster into its Week 1 matchup with Idaho.

And so begins the Jake Dickert era at Washington State. For real, this time. The Cougs played well under Dickert for the final six games of the 2021 season, after coach Nick Rolovich was dismissed for failing to comply with a state COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Yet Dickert’s seventh game at the helm – 6:30 p.m. Saturday versus Idaho – will signal the proper start to his head-coaching career at WSU.

Washington State’s nonconference football slate features two favorable matchups against lower-level opponents and one major test on the road against a notable Power Five foe. The Cougars open Pac-12 play with a grueling month-long stretch, during which they will face four of the conference’s best projected teams – including defending champion Utah. WSU’s schedule for November is much less daunting. The Cougars close their season with four very winnable games, all against opponents they beat in 2021.