Previewing Utah State football’s 2026 schedule: Washington State Cougars

LOGAN, Utah – Week 6 for Utah State features a rematch of the 2025 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl loss to the Washington State Cougars.

Washington State travels to Logan for the first time since 1950 as the two programs meet as conference foes for the first time.

In their first meeting as Pac-12 rivals, the matchup pits two programs on vastly different timeframes.

🔨 @GeorgeMaile1: Big rock breaker! 🪨

Last day of summer workouts ✅

🎟️: https://t.co/ogxb0J9CUS pic.twitter.com/L41pisKeOR

— USU Football (@USUFootball) July 31, 2026

Bronco Mendenhall has spent two full offseasons building Utah State’s culture and roster, while Wazzu starts from scratch under its fourth head coach since 2020.

The Cougars gutted their roster and rebuilt through the transfer portal, making them a tough team to scout — and a dangerous one to overlook.

The Aggies will be looking for payback after a 34-21 loss to end the 2025 season. Washington State finished 7-6 last year but was a dismal 1-5 away from home.

The Friday night showdown is the only kickoff for Utah State that doesn’t fall on a Saturday.

Previewing the Washington State Cougars

The team Utah State hosts in October will be a far cry from the opponent it faced in December.

Washington State has been a revolving door of coaches in recent years, and 2026 is no different.

Kirby Moore was hired as the 36th head coach in program history — and the fourth head coach in six years — agreeing to a five-year contract after leading Missouri to an 8-5 record as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Previewing Utah State football’s 2026 schedule: Troy Trojans

Big Sky Freshman of the Year Caden Pinnick is the favorite to get the car keys to Moore’s offense in Year 1. No matter who ends up under center, the quarterback should benefit from a running backs room that features 2025 leading rusher, Kirby Voorhees.

The defense is completely revamped after losing all 17 players who logged more than 200 snaps last season.

Washington State Offense

Matt Miller steps in as offensive coordinator after six seasons at Boise State. He takes the reins of an offense that averaged 22.5 points per game behind a physical running game and opportunistic passing attack.

Pinnick landed with the Cougars as an FCS freshman All-American out of UC Davis, a dual-threat quarterback capable of picking defenses apart with his arm or his legs.

He led the Big Sky in passing efficiency (172.4), passing touchdowns (32) and yards per completion (13.4), finishing the year with 3,206 passing yards and 10 interceptions. Pinnick added 437 rushing yards and three touchdowns, accounting for more than 300 yards of total offense per game.

New WSU QB Caden Pinnick showing off the elusiveness last season at UC Davis pic.twitter.com/mbHqHG014W

— Greg Woods (@GregWWoods) January 6, 2026

He joins a quarterback room that includes returning sophomore Julian Dugger and redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman. Dugger saw action in nine games last season as a change of pace behind starter Zevi Eckhaus. He completed 2 of 6 passes for 39 yards and ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Voorhees returns for his redshirt junior season after rushing for 576 yards and five touchdowns in his first year with the program. He displayed versatility out of the backfield, catching 19 passes for 125 yards.

Behind him, Leo Pulalasi and Maxwell Woods return after combining for 645 yards last season.

The pass-catching group will be led by 2025 Pac-12 top special teams performer Tony Freeman. The senior wide receiver caught 54 passes for 590 yards and three touchdowns last season.

WSU adds on with a short rushing TD Kirby Vorhees. That was set up by a 43-yard punt return by Tony Freeman, who has really unleashed his speed today.

WSU 13, OSU 0 pic.twitter.com/QYFg7tquc6

— Greg Woods (@GregWWoods) November 30, 2025

Redshirt senior wide receiver Darrius Clemons left Pac-12 rival Oregon State for Pullman after recording 29 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns in 2024. He did not play in 2025 because of injury.

Former four-star Florida signee Tank Hawkins transfers in after two uneventful seasons with the Gators.

Redshirt junior tight end Trey Leckner is back after recording 24 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns last season. He is joined by UCLA transfer Jack Pedersen, a 28-game veteran looking to make more of an impact as a pass catcher.

The offensive line brings back two starters and three others who made at least two starts in 2025, while adding highly anticipated Washington transfer Maximus McCree at tackle.

Washington State Defense

Former Oregon State head coach Trent Bray takes over as defensive coordinator and has a monumental rebuilding task ahead of him.

Bray leaned heavily into the transfer portal, landing defensive ends Linus Zunk from Vanderbilt, Matyus McLain from Idaho and Paul Hutson III from Marshall.

Zunk brings 36 games of SEC experience after recording 15 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for the Commodores in 2025. McLain had 42 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season as a redshirt sophomore. Hutson played 12 games for Marshall, finishing with 40 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Linus Zunk has been in the backfield a lot so far this season. Taylor got credited with the pick, but Zunk deserves some too. pic.twitter.com/x3pPtlOKPE

— Billy Derrick (@billyderrick10) September 8, 2024

Former Kent State linebacker Nylan Brown steps into a room that lost two players to transfer and two others to graduation, meaning 279 tackles need to be replaced. Brown had 38 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore.

Safeties Jshawn Frausto-Ramos (Arizona) and Jeremiah Bernard (Cal Poly) step into a completely remade defensive backfield.

Frausto-Ramos did not see the field at Arizona last season. He has 40 tackles and one forced fumble in his career. Bernard recorded 57 tackles, one sack and four interceptions with the Mustangs in 2025.

Cornerback Jalil Tucker followed Bray from Oregon State and is likely penciled in as a starter. Jaylen Thomas (San Jose State) could get a chance to start on the opposite side.

Tucker started 10 of 11 games in 2025, totaling 25 tackles, one interception and five passes defended. Thomas started all 12 games for San Jose State, finishing with 59 tackles, six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

The Bottom Line

Utah State would love to head into its lone 2026 bye week riding a win, but Washington State won’t make it easy.

The Cougars’ defense is a complete unknown — built almost entirely through the portal and relying on Bray to fast-track cohesion with a group that has never played together.

If Pinnick is as advertised, Moore’s offense has the skill-position talent to keep this game within striking distance.

The Aggies’ advantage comes down to continuity, home turf and Friday night lights — luxuries a program on its fourth head coach in six years simply can’t match.

Week 6 | Washington State Cougars @ Utah State Aggies

Date: Friday, October 9, 2026

Venue: Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium

Location: Logan, Utah

Kickoff: 7 p.m. MT

What channel is Utah State football on?

The USU football game against Washington is available on The CW Network.

Listen to the Utah State Aggies on KSL Sports Zone

Following Utah State football with KSL Sports Zone

The Aggies open the 2026 season against Idaho State on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on September 5. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. MT.

Find Utah State football’s entire 2026 schedule here.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.

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