CHAPTER 1 (2026)
The First Chapter of the Moore era starts in 2026, as Washington State will look to navigate their way through a new Pac-12 Conference. With the return of Cal and Stanford as well as the additions of Boise State and Fresno State, the Cougars are not just expected to roll through the conference and start packing the trophy room with Pac-12 titles.
The 2026 Schedule will feature 9 games against the 12 Pac-12 members with the Cougars not playing Rice or Colorado State this season. WSU will kickoff it's non-conference schedule in Week 1 as they travel to San Jose State to take on the Spartans. San Jose is coming off disappointing 5 win season in 2025 in the Mountain West but is a favorite to win the conference with the departure of BSU and Fresno as they look to challenge UNLV for the Crown.
WSU will start their new Pac-12 schedule in Week 2 as they host Coach Moore's former employer (Fresno State), followed by a early "Apple Cup" matchup with the Washington Huskies in Pullman. WSU will then host Idaho (FCS West) in the "Battle of the Palouse" followed by a Week 5 matchup with Coach Moore/Miller's former team Boise State.
Moore "Playing 4 of our first 5 games at home is something most coaches dream about. It's a great way to start the year strong playing in front of the home crowd but at the same time that also means that 4 of our last 5 games are on the road which is also a very tough way to end a season.. Typically a perfect season almost balances each other out week to week"
After a Week 6 "Bye" the Cougars will return to action with a full slate of 7 Pac-12 games
Week 7 @ San Diego State
Week 8 vs Cal
Week 9 @ UTSA
Week 10 @ Oregon State
Week 11 @ Stanford
Week 12 vs Utah State "Senior Night"
Week 13 @ Texas State.
Moore "If I had to give honest feedback and project our future I think 7-8 wins is very doable. 4 of our toughest 5 opponents are all home games this year and I believe we can win at least 2 of those games. If we can do that as well as win the games we should be favored to win that yeah I think anything less then a Bowl trip would be a disappointment"
THE ROSTER
This year's roster features just 70 players (33 Offense/35 Defense/2 SPT) and of those 70 players there is only 9 Seniors (5 Offense/4 Defense) as well as 8 Juniors (Again 5/4) with the bulk of the roster made up of 17 Sophomores and a combination of 36 Freshman (Redshirts/True).
Here is a look at the roster. (Overall Rating)
QB
(78) #13 RS SO Ajani Sheppard-Bronx NY
(75) #2 RS SO Julian Dugger-Pittsburgh PA
(65) #11 SO Doug Bayer-Westake Village CA
(62) #7 FR Julius Flowers-Rigby ID
Sheppard and Dugger were both listed as #3/#4 on the Depth chart last year but never saw any action.. Both have very similar abilities the biggest difference between the 2 is Dugger is a “Lefty”
Bayer was a 2* JC Transfer and Flowers was a 3* Recruit.. Bayer will be active and listed as the #3 well Flowers will likely Redshirt but could see action in at least 4 games should anyone get hurt.
RB
(81) #20 RS JR Leo Pulalasi-Tacoma WA
(78) #24 FR Antonio Abbott-Concord CA
(77) #34 RS FR Greg Ard-New Orleans LA
(76) #3 RS SO Maxwell Woods-Carver MN
(74) #45 FR Cliff Provo-Wales WI
(72) #29 FR Matthias Rourke-Salt Lake City UT
Pulalasi appeared in all 13 games last year recording 7 carries for 22 yds with 2 rushing touchdowns and had 2 rec for 14 yds and a receiving touchdown.
Woods appeared in 4 games last year but didn’t record a carry or catch, Ard was a Boise State Bronco last year but also didn’t record any stats.
Abbott and Provo are 4* Recruits well Rourke is a 3* added after Moore took over. Abbott appears to have beaten out Ard for the #2 role as well as the goal line back well Provo is going to move to FB during formations that need one and will be push Pulalasi for snaps as the 3rd Down Back.
WR
(86) #18 RS SR Tobias Merriweather-West Camas WA
(83) #5 SR Donovan Faupel-Riverside CA
(74) #17 FR Lester Creer-Reno NV
(73) #8 RS JR Branden Ganashamoorthy-Monroe WA
(70) #21 RS FR Carter Pabst-Witchita KS
(67) #84 RS FR Landon Wright-Fresno CA
(64) #12 SO Greg Fiore-Camas WA
(64) #10 FR Dexter Darnold-Denver CO
Merriweather posted 29 rec for 437 yds and 7 TD in 9 games last year for Utah.
Faupel had 56 rec for 635 yds and 7 TD last year in 13 games for New Mexico State
Creer is 4* Recruit who looks like he will start as the team’s #3 and play out of the slot.
Ganashamoorthy appeared in 4 games last year but didn’t record a catch.. Pabst and Wright both redshirted well Fiore (2* Recruit) and Darnold (3* Recruit) will most likely redshirt this season.
TE
(70) #27 RS SR Hudson Cedarland-Gig Harbor WA
(68) #41 RS SO Sean Bures-Lacey WA
(65) #87 FR Junior Fineanganofo-Burien WA
Cedarland was the team’s #4 TE last year. Fineanganofo is a 3* recruit who looks like could push his way to the #1 role this year, as he has the best hands of the group.
0-Line
(73) #71 RS JR Aston Tripp-Kennewick WA
(75) #65 RS SR Hall Schmidt-Gig Harbor WA
(66) #64 RS JR Jaylin Caldwell-Chicago IL
(66) #50 Sone Falealo-Anchorage AK
(81) #58 SO Jaymar Tasi-Seattle WA
(68) #63 RS FR Isaiah Lyons-Rockwood OR
(68) #67 RS SR Jonny Lester-Spokane WA
(80) #61 RS JR BJ Tolo-Santa Ana CA
(68) #79 FR Andy Weiner-Oakland CA
(67) #55 RS FR Trevor Bindel- Hayti MO
(66) #60 FR Isia Woolfork-Spokane WA
(62) #72 RS FR Arion Williams-Fontana CA
Tripp and Schmidt (Boise State transfer) will start at LT and RT. Tasi the New Mexico transfer and Tolo the New Mexico State transfer takeover as the starting guards. Woolfork a 3* Recruit wins the starting Center job
D-LINE
(75) #84 RS SO Malachi Wrice-McAlester OK
(73) #56 RS SO Fernando Lecuona-Omaha NE
(71) #91 FR Stephen Harris-Atwater CA
(69) #90 RS SO Michael Hughes-Santa Ana CA
(67) #47 RS FR Luke Webb-Huntington Beach CA
(67) #98 FR Jeremiah Makovicka-Cama WA
(65) #92 FR Jaden Rice-Tachoma WA
(76) RS SR Byrson Lamb-Bellingham WA
(73) RS JR Kaden Betty -Chesapeke VA
(67) FR Nolan Conklin-Baton Rouge LA
(66) FR Kahil Figueroa-Concord SC
(66) FR Josh Johnson-Magnolia TX
Wrice and Hughes were both backups last season and now will start on the ends, well Lamb and Beatty will look to plug up the middle with Lamb being the Team Captain of this group.
LINEBACKERS
(73) #12 RS SO Carsten Reynolds-Sedro-Woolley WA
(72) #33 RS SO Gage Jones-Eagle ID
(70) #43 JR Dallas Pritchard-Olympia WA
(69) #36 RS FR Jovan Clark-Chicago IL
(69) #34 FR Manny Quinn-Sammamish WA
(59) #32 FR Angel Spain-Chandler AZ
(65) #10 FR Tye Rubin-Seattle WA
(65) #14 FR Angel Marcer-Rome GA
(64) #24 FR Fernando Handy-Katy TX
Playing a 4-2-5 Defense Reynolds and Jones will likely be the starters most of the True Freshman will redshirt with Pritchard, and Jovan Clark as the primary backups.
SECONDARY
(79) #1 SR Jayden Mickey-Eastvale CA
(78) #13 SR AJ Davis-Dallas TX
(75) #4 SR Kai Rapolla-Winchester CA
(71) #26 Tyrone Cotton III-Chicago IL
(70) #8 Kenny Worthy JR-Buckeye AZ
(65) #7 Julius Canady-Bellflower CA
(73) #19 RS SO Kayo Patu-Sacramento CA
(73) #0 RS SO Anthony Palano Arlington Heights IL
(70) #26 RS SO Tyson Weaver-Sammamish WA
(70) #28 RS FR Kyle Peterson-Pearland TX
(72) #31 RS SO Trey Ridley-Overland Park KS
(67) #2 FR Dwayne Carstens-Bountiful UT
(65) #20 FR Willie Hamrick-Spanaway WA
(62) #29 FR Kevin Burnett-Woodinville WA
Mickey a Notre Dame transfer who played last season at BSU recording 39 Tackles and 1 INT will be the #1 CB.. Davis and Rapolla will likely rotate in as the team’s #2 and #5DB . Patu will start at FS well Palano will start at SS with Ridley as the primary backup to both.
SPECIAL TEAMS
(68) #97 RS FR Adlai Lounsbury-Story City IA
(71) #98 RS JR Ryan Harris-Vancouver Canada
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Both Dugger and Sheppard can move the ball with their feet as well as their arm.. Expect both to see action for the first 4 weeks well Moore/Miller decide who is the long term starter. Pulalasi is the only returning player from last year with a carry and a reception.. Look for him to carry the load with Abbott/Provo/Ard working in the support role. Merriweather and Faupel give whoever is throwing the ball veteran targets but the passing games success will hinge on 4* Lester Creer and FR TE Junior Fineanganofo. The 0-Line features 5 brand new starters that includes 3 transfers and 1 True Freshman.. Will be interesting to see how they gel over the season.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
CB AJ Davis is the only returning starter from last year’s Defense and CB J. Mickey who started at BSU. This unit will feature 8 starters who are Redshirt Sophomores.. Hopefully Bray can find some playmakers cause if not this could be either a very long season or a year in which WSU will need to win games by just out scoring their opponent.
Redshirts
Guy's like Abbott, Provo, Creer, Fineanganofo and probably Woolfork (Center) are either starters or guy's #2 on the depth chart but the rest of the Freshman I will likely try and rotate in for some PT but also not play more then the 4 games, unless there are some major injuries that destroy the depth chart.
ENCOURAGE TRANSFERS
I will not allow myself to encourage transfers unless the player is a Junior or Senior and is not on the 2 deep depth chart. Any Freshman that I recruit even if they are a bust will either have to transfer out on their own or will have to stay on the roster until the Junior year.
