Utah State secured a 17-16 victory over Washington State at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, following a second-half collapse by the Cougars. A critical fumble recovery by Utah State linebacker Asher Cunningham set up the winning touchdown, while Washington State struggled with turnovers and a season-high number of penalties.
First Half Dominance
The victory for the Aggies came after a dominant first half by the Cougars. Washington State entered the game with a 16-3 halftime lead, fueled by an offensive rhythm under first-year coach Kirby Moore, who made his debut as the play-caller for the offense. During that first half, the Cougars amassed 193 yards, their highest yardage total in a first half against an FBS opponent this season. Additionally, the Cougars scored a season-high 16 points in the first half alone.
Offensive Struggles and Penalties
The momentum shifted drastically in the second half as Washington State's offense stalled, gaining only 64 total yards in the final two quarters. The Cougars' struggles were compounded by a season-high 13 penalties, which resulted in 113 to 133 yards of lost yardage. Ten of these penalties were assessed against the offense, including seven flags against the offensive line. Specific issues were noted on the right side of the line, where right guard Nick Bakken was flagged for two offensive holding penalties and a false start, and right tackle Jaylin Caldwell was flagged for two offensive holding miscuses.
Critical Turnovers
A pivotal moment occurred with 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter when Utah State linebacker Asher Cunningham intercepted the ball from Washington State tight end Jack Pedersen. Pedersen was initially ruled to have maintained possession during a play where he went to the ground after a short reception, which would have forced a WSU punt from deep within their own territory. However, Utah State challenged the ruling, and officials in the Pac-12 replay office overturned the call, awarding the Aggies the ball at the WSU 19-yard line. Three plays after the overturned call, Utah State running back Javen Jacobs scored a 2-yard touchdown run to take a 17-16 lead.
Aggies Turnover Momentum
The second half turnover that preceded the winning touchdown was a fumble by Washington State quarterback Caden Pinnick on a misdirection run at the 39-yard line with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter. This turnover allowed Utah State quarterback Grady Brosterhous to find Eli Wood for a 27-yard touchdown pass, which trimmed the Cougars' lead to 16-10. While the touchdown was contested because Wood appeared to bobble the ball while going out of bounds, officials did not review the play and the score stood.
Individual Performances and Injuries
Washington State's offensive difficulties were marked by a lack of a deep ball from Pinnick, who finished the game completing 23 of 36 passes for 156 yards. Earlier in the game, the Cougars had seen a spark when running back Leo Pulalasi scored a 54-yard touchdown in the second quarter, marking his first touchdown in nearly two calendar years. The game also saw injury concerns for WSU, as left tackle Ashton Tripp exited the game in the first quarter and returned wearing a boot, eventually being replaced by Washington transfer Maximus McCree.
Season Implications
The loss marks the third consecutive setback for Washington State, leaving the team with a 1-5 record and 0-2 in Pac-12 play. The Cougars' offense failed to score a single point in the second half. During the final six minutes of the game, Washington State attempted two drives to reclaim the lead but went three-and-out on both attempts, gaining only two total yards. The team's struggle with turnovers has been a recurring theme, as the Cougars have committed at least one turnover in each of their six games this season.
Looking Ahead
Washington State is scheduled to travel to Corvallis to face Oregon State next Saturday, a venue where the Cougars have not recorded a win since 2018.
