Tag: Washington State

Oregon State head coach Trent Bray watches his team compete during the Oregon State Spring Game at Reser Stadium on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Corvallis, Ore.

Pac-12 inks TV deals for Oregon St., Wazzu home games

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon State and Washington State home football games will be back on The CW this coming season, with CBS and ESPN also in the mix, as part of a media rights deal the Pac-12 Conference signed with the three networks.

The Pac-12 made the deals with an eye toward the 2026 season, when the league will add five current members of the Mountain West Conference — Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Colorado State and Boise State — along with Gonzaga from the West Coast Conference.

Gonzaga does not have a football program, so to qualify for the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the Pac-12 will need to bring in at least one additional full-time member with a football program.

The CW will handle nine games while ESPN and CBS (along with Paramount+) will get two games apiece. In 2024, The CW broadcast nine games, with the other four shown on Fox.

In Week 2 on Sept. 6, The CW will showcase previews of the new Pac-12 with Washington State hosting San Diego State and Fresno State visiting Oregon State. Washington State and Oregon State will meet in a home-and-home series in November.

ESPN will broadcast Cal at Oregon State on Aug. 30 and Houston at Oregon State on Sept. 26. CBS has the Apple Cup on Sept. 20 featuring Washington State at Washington and Washington State at Oregon State on Nov. 1.

Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal.

Despite having just two schools in the conference in 2024, Pac-12 football averaged 431,000 viewers over 12 telecasts last season on The CW and 1.99 million on the two Fox games.

–Field Level Media

South Dakota State Jackrabbits head coach Jimmy Rogers on the sidelines during the semi-final game against North Dakota State Bison on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Fargodome in Fargo, Nouth Dakota.

Reports: Washington State hiring Jimmy Rogers as new coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Washington State is hiring Jimmy Rogers of South Dakota State as its new head coach, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

Rogers reportedly accepted a five-year deal, according to ESPN.

Rogers, 37, is 27-3 in two seasons as head coach of FCS program South Dakota State. He guided the Jackrabbits to a 15-0 record and the 2023 national championship and went 12-3 in 2024.

Rogers will replace Jake Dickert, who recently departed Washington State to take over the Wake Forest program.

Rogers played linebacker for South Dakota State from 2006-09 and has spent 13 of his 15 seasons in the coaching profession at the school. He became head coach after the 2022 season when John Stiegelmeier retired after leading the team to the FCS title.

Washington State went 8-5 this season and lost 52-35 to Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night. It was the Cougars’ fourth straight loss following an 8-1 start.

Star quarterback John Mateer entered the transfer portal after the regular season and will play for Oklahoma next season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2024; San Diego, CA, USA; Syracuse Orange running back LeQuint Allen (1) runs the ball against Washington State Cougars linebacker Parker McKenna (46) during the second quarter at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images

Kyle McCord’s 5 TDs power Syracuse’s rout of Wazzu in Holiday Bowl

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Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns as No. 21 Syracuse authored an offensive masterpiece in a 52-35 win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Friday in San Diego.

As part of his stellar performance, McCord set the Atlantic Coast Conference single-season record for passing yards (4,779) in his first year at Syracuse. The old mark of 4,593 was set by Clemson’s Deshaun Watson in 2016.

On Friday, McCord threw two touchdown passes apiece to Trebor Pena and Oronde Gadsden II.

LeQuint Allen also caught a TD pass to go along with 120 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground for the Orange (10-3), who finished with 606 yards of offense.

Zevi Eckhaus passed for 363 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions while adding a rushing score for Washington State (8-5).

Kyle Williams had 172 receiving yards and a score on 10 catches to pace the Cougars, who fought valiantly after a tumultuous month in which coach Jake Dickert bolted for Wake Forest and more than 30 players entered the transfer portal, including Oklahoma-bound starting quarterback John Mateer.

The Cougars trailed 35-21 at halftime before slicing their deficit in half on Eckhaus’ 42-yard TD pass to Carlos Hernandez. However, the Orange scored the next 17 points to win comfortably.

Late in the third quarter, McCord connected with Pena, who took a short pass and ran down the left sideline for a 45-yard score to make it 42-28. Allen increased the margin to 52-28 late in the fourth with a 33-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

Eckhaus gave Washington State an early 7-0 lead with a 4-yard TD scramble, but the Orange answered with touchdowns on their next two possessions. First, McCord hit Pena for a 19-yard TD on a back-shoulder throw, and then Allen found some room en route to a 12-yard scoring run.

Syracuse’s momentum didn’t last long, however. On the Cougars’ third play of the ensuing drive, Williams took a slant pass and split the defense for a 66-yard touchdown. Shortly thereafter, Leon Neal Jr. blocked a Syracuse punt and Josh Meredith recovered for a 12-yard score, putting Washington State ahead 21-14 after one quarter.

The second quarter was action-packed, as well — at least for the Syracuse offense. The Orange outscored the Cougars 21-0 in the period, highlighted by two touchdown passes from McCord to Gadsden.

In all, Syracuse racked up 364 yards in the first half en route to a 14-point lead at the break.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord (6) drops back to pass against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Stability for No. 21 Syracuse, new faces for WSU in Holiday Bowl

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When No. 21 Syracuse faces Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Friday in San Diego, the matchup presents itself, in many ways, as stability vs. chaos.

The Orange (9-3) have won their last three games, including a 42-38 upset of Miami in the regular-season finale, to enter the postseason with considerable momentum. More importantly, Syracuse has a head coach/quarterback combo that it can count on, as first-year coach Fran Brown has turned around the program, thanks in large part to standout signal-caller Kyle McCord.

Meanwhile, the Cougars (8-4) are dealing with the opposite situation — and their three-game losing streak to end the regular season is the least of their concerns.

Cougars coach Jake Dickert recently bolted for Wake Forest, while quarterback John Mateer announced that he is transferring to Oklahoma. More than 25 Washington State players have reportedly entered the transfer portal, which has turned Syracuse from a slight favorite in this game to a two-touchdown favorite at some sportsbooks.

As for Syracuse, Brown has his sights set on double-digit victories in his first year at the helm. The program has only won 10 games in a season once over the last two decades.

“(We’re) just trying to get to 10 wins,” said McCord, who finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy balloting after throwing for a national-best 4,326 yards and 29 touchdowns. “I think that would be a huge accomplishment for us and the team. I’m excited for it.”

Not only has McCord decided to play in the bowl game, but he is reportedly challenging the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility.

“We don’t opt out around here. We love football,” Brown said.

Meanwhile, Washington State is scrambling under acting head coach Pete Kaligis and new No. 1 quarterback Zevi Eckhaus.

A senior who has thrown only seven passes this season, Eckhaus will be making his first start for the Cougars. And he has enormous shoes to fill, as Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns and ran for a team-high 826 yards and 15 more scores.

“My message to (the players) was, ‘I know who we are. We’re going to play this game, and I’m going to give you everything that I have in the next nine days, that when you look back in 10 years, you’ll go, ‘Wow, that was a very special time and I didn’t even realize it,” Kaligis said. “I just love them so much. I want them to have everything. I want them to have everything in the next eight days.”

Washington State has lost its last three bowl appearances and has not won a postseason contest since the Alamo Bowl at the end of the 2018 season.

Finally, a commonality between the two programs, as Syracuse also is looking for its first bowl win since the conclusion of the 2018 season, as that victory in the Camping World Bowl has been followed by bowl losses in each of the last two years.

“I think (a win in the Holiday Bowl) would put us on the right track (in future years) to be able to reach our ultimate goal,” Brown said, “which is to get to the college playoffs, which is to win the conference championship and then win a national championship. That was the goal the entire time.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback John Mateer (10) walks off the field after a game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Washington State Cougars won 15-14. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Former Wazzu QB John Mateer transferring to Oklahoma

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Former Washington State standout John Mateer, one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, is transferring to Oklahoma, he announced Wednesday evening on social media.

Widely considered the best player available when he entered the transfer portal on Monday, Mateer is following former Cougars offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who was hired by Oklahoma earlier this month, as well as quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski, who is expected to join him.

The Sooners, who lost starting QB Jackson Arnold to Auburn through the transfer portal, were regarded as the front-runners for Mateer. Miami, where former Washington State QB Cam Ward starred this season, became a Heisman Trophy finalist and is entering the NFL Draft, also was considered a potential landing spot.

Mateer, who waited behind Ward at Washington State for two years, is a redshirt sophomore with two seasons of eligibility remaining. He led the FBS in total touchdowns (44) in his first season as a starter in 2024, compiling 3,139 yards with 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions and rushing for 826 yards with 15 scores in 12 games.

Washington State head coach Jake Dickert left his job to become Wake Forest’s head coach on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2024; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Jake Dickert looks on during a game against the San Jose State Spartans in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Reports: Wake Forest hiring Washington State’s Jake Dickert

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Wake Forest is hiring Washington State coach Jake Dickert to fill the vacancy left by Dave Clawson’s resignation, multiple outlets reported on Wednesday.

Dickert, 41, is 23-20 with the Cougars since taking over midway through the 2021 season. That includes an 8-4 record this season heading into the Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl against Syracuse.

Clawson, 57, stepped down on Monday after 11 seasons and seven bowl berths with the Demon Deacons, who finished 4-8 for the second straight year in 2024.

Dickert was elevated from defensive coordinator to interim coach at Washington State in October 2021 after head coach Nick Rolovich was fired for refusing to comply with the state’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

The Cougars went 3-3 under his leadership in 2021 and lost to Central Michigan in the Sun Bowl. They were 7-6 in 2022 and lost to Fresno State in the LA Bowl before slipping to 5-7 in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback John Mateer (10) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

Washington State QB John Mateer enters portal with high interest

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Washington State quarterback John Mateer entered the transfer portal on Monday and is widely considered the best player available at the time of his decision.

“John will be the most sought-after player in the portal. I think he’s gonna be the best player in the country next year. He informed us he is in fact going to hit the portal,” Washington State coach Jake Dickert said Monday.

Mateer led the FBS in total touchdowns (44) in his first season as a starter in 2024, compiling 3,139 yards with 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions and rushing for 826 yards with 15 scores.

Mateer, who transfers with two years eligibility remaining, stepped into the starting spot when Cam Ward opted to transfer to Miami, where he became a Heisman Trophy finalist this season.

Washington State was the only Division I offer Mateer received coming out of Little Elm, Texas, but Ward said his talent was abundantly clear from the time he hit campus.

“I’m excited for him,” Ward said before the Heisman ceremony of Mateer. “He sat behind me for two years and me and John (were) just locked in, locked in for life. And I can just tell the biggest thing he got better at over the course of the season was staying in the pocket and winning from the pocket even more down the stretch. He’s accurate with the football. I think he’ll end up being one of the best quarterbacks in the country next year.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 16, 2021; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Nick Rolovich looks on during warms before a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Cal hires ex-Wazzu coach Nick Rolovich as assistant

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Nick Rolovich, who lost his job as Washington State’s head coach by refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, was hired by Cal as a senior offensive assistant on Friday.

Rolovich led the Huskies to a 1-3 record in the abbreviated 2020 season, then a 4-3 mark in 2021 before he was fired when he wouldn’t adhere to the state of Washington’s vaccine mandates for state employees.

Rolovich contended he had a religious objection to the vaccine, but the university rejected his explanation. He subsequently filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination, and the case is still pending.

Cal’s school policy requires students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated or opt out by submitting a written statement.

Rolovich, 45, joined the Cougars after a stint as coach at Hawaii from 2016-19, where he produced a 28-27 record and led the Rainbow Warriors to three bowl games.

Since getting fired by Washington State, he served on the coaching staff of the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023.

Cal finished the regular season with a 6-6 record, including a 2-6 mark during its first Atlantic Coast Conference campaign. The Bears will face No. 24 UNLV in the LA Bowl on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers quarterback Ben Gulbranson (17) throws during the second quarter against the Washington State Cougars at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

Oregon State outlasts Washington State in Pac-12 shootout

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Everett Hayes booted a 55-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to lift Oregon State to a wild 41-38 victory over Washington State on Saturday night at Corvallis, Ore., in the lone Pac-12 game of the season.

Ben Gulbranson completed 22 of 34 passes for 294 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions as Oregon State (5-6, 1-0 Pac-12) halted a five-game losing streak.

The Beavers’ winning points followed a costly turnover by Washington State’s Kyle Williams. After catching a pass, Williams lost a fumble that was recovered by Oregon State’s Jaden Robinson at the Cougars’ 49-yard line with just under two minutes remaining.

John Mateer was 17-of-23 passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 75 yards and two scores for Washington State (8-3, 0-1).

The victory was just Oregon State’s second in the past 11 meetings with the Cougars.

Ten teams formally departed the Pac-12 in the summer to join other leagues. Washington State and Oregon State will be part of a rebuilt Pac-12 that begins with the 2026-27 school year.

Trent Walker caught 12 passes for 136 yards, Jermaine Terry II had five receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown and Darrius Clemons also caught a scoring pass for the Beavers.

Taariq Al-Uqdah returned an interception for a touchdown for the Cougars. Carlos Hernandez and Williams (five catches, 95 yards) had scoring receptions.

Oregon State held a 31-24 lead after Gulbranson tossed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Terry with 1:41 to go in the third quarter.

The Cougars knotted the score on Mateer’s 4-yard run with 12:04 left in the game.

Two plays later, Al-Uqdah stepped in front of Gulbranson’s pass and returned it 29 yards to put Washington State back ahead.

The Beavers battled back with a 16-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by Gulbranson’s 4-yard scoring pass to Clemons to tie it at 38 with 2:45 left in the game.

Both teams scored a touchdown in the first quarter, and Gulbranson’s 1-yard run with 13 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Beavers a 21-17 halftime lead.

Hayes booted a 46-yard field goal to give the Beavers a 24-17 advantage early in the third quarter. The Cougars pulled even when Williams caught a pass in the right flat and turned it into a 57-yard touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Jake Dickert celebrates after a missed field goal attempt by the Hawaii Warriors in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Abandoned rivals reunion pits Oregon State, Washington State

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The Pacific-12 Conference championship will be on the line when Washington State plays Oregon State on Saturday in Corvallis, Ore. Or perhaps that should be the Pac-2 championship.

With 10 teams bolting for other conferences this fall, the Cougars (8-2) and Beavers (4-6) are all that’s left of the Pac-12.

That makes Saturday’s showdown the lone conference game of the season.

There seemingly was a camaraderie that developed between the two schools as they’ve tried to keep the brand alive. But WSU coach Jake Dickert isn’t buying the friendly territory chatter as the Cougars hit the road.

“First thing, I’ve never gotten into, like, they’re our buddy. Oregon State’s not our buddy. They would have left us as fast as we would have left them. This is what it is. It’s one of our biggest rivals now,” Dickert said. “That’s the way I looked at it. That’s not bulletin board material. I hope they would say it the same way, let’s go compete. We’ve been waiting to compete with these guys.

“They’ve dealt with a lot of adversity. We’ve dealt with a lot of adversity. I think it’s going be an energized (game). Their stadium is going to be packed, and there’s going to be a lot of Cougs there. To know that this is going to be opponent that we’re going to play for a long time, let’s go do it.”

The Cougars dropped out of the College Football Playoff race with a stunning 38-35 loss at New Mexico on Saturday. The loss wasted a peak performance from quarterback John Mateer completing 25 of 36 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns.

The Beavers have lost five consecutive games, including a 28-0 defeat Saturday at Air Force.

“When you lose like we’ve lost the last five weeks, it’s never just one thing, and it’s certainly not just the players,” Beavers coach Trent Bray said. “Absolutely, I challenge myself and the coaches to come up with a better way to get these guys to perform at the level we know.”

The Beavers’ biggest problem is at quarterback. Transfer Gevani McCoy has started eight of nine games, but has twice as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes (three) and was benched at halftime last week for freshman Gabarri Johnson. Junior Ben Gulbranson has starting experience but missed last week’s game with an injury.

“It’s hard to get a beat and a pulse on them,” Dickert said. “I’m sure that’s what they’re feeling a little bit offensively too, as well, and who gives them the best chance of winning. We’ll prepare for all three (QBs).”

–Field Level Media