Washington State 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Washington State Cougars 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Washington State roster and what to expect in the Pac-12 this season. Can new head coach Kirby Moore lift a 7-6 Cougars team that finished 107th in total offense a season ago? And is UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick, an FCS Freshman All-American and Big Sky Freshman of the Year, the answer at quarterback in Pullman?
Can offensive coordinator Matt Miller drag an offense out of the triple digits now that Pinnick, running back Kirby Vorhees and a 28-transfer portal haul are in the fold? Can Trent Bray rebuild a defense that ranked 15th in the country a year ago but returns no starters and just 36 percent of its production? What does a Saturday feel like at Martin Stadium when the Cougs run out in Pullman? Can Washington State handle an Apple Cup opener against Washington and an early gauntlet before the Pac-12 slate opens up? And where’s the betting value on the Washington State win total, Pac-12 odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
Kirby Moore Takes Over In Pullman
This Washington State 2026 preview opens with a coaching change. Kirby Moore takes over in Pullman. First, the deck rates his hot seat a cool 1 out of 10 in year one. The Cougars went 7-6 a season ago. Then they lost four of five games decided by four points or less. Because those close games slipped away, the real record hides some upside. So Moore inherits talent and a fresh start on the Palouse.
Caden Pinnick And An Offense Climbing Out Of The Basement
Washington State’s offense ranked 107th nationally in total offense in 2025. Scoring, passing and rushing all sat in the triple digits. Matt Miller runs the unit as offensive coordinator. First, UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick steps in at quarterback. He arrives as an FCS Freshman All-American and the Big Sky Freshman of the Year. Then running back Kirby Vorhees returns to anchor the backfield. Also receiver Tony Freeman and tight end Trey Leckner are back. Meanwhile the portal did heavy lifting, with 28 transfers among 42 commits. Darrius Clemons and Tank Hawkins headline the new receivers. The offense returns just 48 percent of its production.
Trent Bray’s Defense Starts Over
Trent Bray takes over the Washington State defense. First, the 2025 unit ranked 15th nationally in total defense. Scoring defense sat 26th and passing defense 13th. Then almost everyone left. The Cougars return no defensive starters and just 36 percent of their production. So Bray rebuilds from scratch. He leans on transfers like edge Linus Zunk and corner Jalil Tucker. Also the incoming defensive class ranks 130th in the country. Meanwhile the standard is set high, because last year’s defense carried the team.
The Schedule, The Apple Cup And The Win Total
Washington State’s 2026 schedule opens with the Apple Cup against Washington. Seattle hosts the 100th edition of the rivalry. First, road trips to Kansas State, Utah State and Oregon State dot the slate. Then home dates fill Martin Stadium against Arizona, Fresno State, Boise State and Colorado State. From there the Cougars close with a trip to Texas State. What does a Saturday feel like in Pullman? The deck sets the Washington State win total at 4.5. The Cougars sit at plus 1100 to win the Pac-12 and plus 10000 to make the College Football Playoff. So the hosts weigh the over against a first-year staff and a defense starting over.
College Football Previews
SEC
Arkansas Razorbacks
Auburn Tigers
Georgia Bulldogs
Kentucky Wildcats
LSU Tigers
Missouri Tigers
Oklahoma Sooners
South Carolina Gamecocks
Tennessee Volunteers
Big Ten
Illinois Fighting Illini
Iowa Hawkeyes
Michigan State Spartans
Northwestern Wildcats
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Big 12
Baylor Bears
Iowa State Cyclones
Kansas State Wildcats
Oklahoma State Cowboys
TCU Horned Frogs
Texas Tech Red Raiders
UCF Knights
West Virginia Mountaineers
ACC
Boston College Eagles
Clemson Tigers
Miami Hurricanes
Pittsburgh Panthers
Syracuse Orangemen
Virginia Cavaliers
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Pac-12
Boise State Broncos
Fresno State Bulldogs
San Diego State Aztecs
Washington State Cougars
American
Army Black Knights
Navy Midshipmen
Temple Owls
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Mountain West
Air Force Falcons
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
New Mexico Lobos
San Jose State Spartans
Sun Belt
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia State Panthers
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns
Marshall Thundering Herd
South Alabama Jaguars
MAC
Bowling Green Falcons
Buffalo Bulls
Miami OH Redhawks
Ohio Bobcats
Toledo Rockets
Umass Minutemen
Western Michigan Broncos
Conference USA
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Liberty Flames
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Independents
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
UConn Huskies
Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
02:46 Hosts And 2025 Recap
06:43 Close Losses And Schedule Chaos
08:48 Kirby Moore Takes Over
10:37 Cougs History And Realignment Rant
14:25 Offense Reboot And Portal Adds
18:04 Defense Reset With Trent Bray
24:39 NIL Beer And Pullman Traditions
27:37 Coug Culture, GameDay Flag And Martin Stadium
30:48 Martin Stadium Love
31:09 Rogers Field Fire Story
31:43 Coug Legends Roll Call
32:40 Go Cougs Jet
33:10 Hanging With Mike Leach
37:05 Program State Rating
39:17 Apple Cup Week One
44:37 Early Season Gauntlet
47:39 Midseason Pac-12 Battles
49:45 Stretch Run Bowl Math
52:57 Win Total And Future Bets
54:54 Rivalries We Need Back
56:11 Final Shoutouts
