"Moore to the Story" The Next Chapter in Cougar Football

[Deuce2223]

2027 TOP-25 PRESEASON POLL

(Overall/Offense/Defense)

#1 Georgia (95/96/94)
#2 Michigan (92/94/91)
#3 Alabama (97/99/94)
#4 Ohio State (96/96/96)
#5 Oregon (93/91/96)
#6 Florida (91/91/91)
#7 Miami (91/89/94)
#8 Penn State (92/94/89)
#9 BYU (85/86/84)
#10 Texas A&M ( 87/89/86)
#11 Ole Miss (86/84/89)
#12 Louisville (81/79/84)
#13 Nebraska (85/86/84)
#14 USC (90/91/89)
#15 Duke (83/81/86)
#16 Notre Dame (94/91/99)
#17 LSU (92/94/91)
#18 North Texas (71/71/71)
#19 Pitt (76/74/81)
#20 UCLA (81/81/81)
#21 Auburn (89/86/94)
#22 Utah (74/74/76)
#23 Texas Tech (79/76/84)
#24 Oklahoma (89/89/89)
#25 Iowa State (79/81/76)

Others Receiving Votes- Boise State (81/81/81) Texas (91/89/96) Clemson (91/91/91)

[ShireNiner]

Wow Texas not ranked.

[Deuce2223]

CHAPTER 2 THE 2027 SEASON

THE SCHEDULE

The Schedule looks pretty similar to last year as the Cougars will continue to make the Apple Cup a priority leaving WSU just 2 non-conference games to schedule..

This year the Cougars will open the season on the road facing Kirby Moore's former team as they take on the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field in Week 1.

WSU will then face another former Moore team as they head to Fresno in Week 2 to play the Bulldogs in their Pac-12 opener.. WSU will then return home for it's 2027 Home Opener vs Nevada in Week 3 before taking on the Huskies in Seattle in Week 3 in the Apple Cup Showdown.

After a Week 4 "Bye" WSU will return to action in Week 5 as they continue Pac-12 play @ Boise State.

Here is a full look at the schedule

Week 1 @ Missouri
Week 2 vs Nevada
Week 3 @ Washington
Week 4 "Bye"
Week 5 @ Boise State
Week 6 @ Utah State
Week 7 vs San Diego State
Week 8 @ Cal
Week 9 vs UTSA
Week 10 vs Oregon State
Week 11 vs Stanford
Week 12 "Bye"
Week 13 vs Texas State (Senior Day"

With their final 4 games at home WSU has a chance to have a very nice finish this year as they should be favored to win in 8 of their 12 games.

THE ROSTER

QB
#10 RS SR Malachi Nelson (83)-Los Alamito CA
#13 RS JR Ajani Sheppard (80)-Bronx NY
#14 (R) Jonathan Provo (73)-Jackson MS
#7 RS FR Julius Flowers (65)-Rigby ID

Nelson a former 5* and #1 QB in his class is now playing for his 5th team in 5 seasons. Starting his career at USC before going to Boise State and then to UTEP in 2025 where he started 7 games passing for 1155 yds with 11 TD and 4 INT. He transferred again in 2026 going to Kansas but appeared in just 5 games for the Jayhawks passing for 927 yds with 5 TD and 1 INT well also adding 2 touchdowns on the ground.

Sheppard started 12 games for the Cougars last season and finished with 3497 yds with 24 TD and 18 INT well completing 63% of his passes. He also added 485 yds and 4 scores on the ground..

Provo is a 4* Recruit who will redshirt this season with the plans of taking the starting job in 2029.. Flowers is a 3* Recruit who redshirted last season but will be the team’s scout QB and emergency QB this year.

RB/FB
#20 RS SR Leo Pulalasi (85)-Tacoma WA
#23 RS JR Brevin Doll (83)-Adel IA
#3 RS JR Maxwell Wood (80)-Carver MN
#24 SO Antonio Abbott (79)-Concord CA
#34 RS SO Greg Ard (79)-New Orleans LA
#31 (R)FR Alex Goings (77-Hartland WI
#45 SO Cliff Provo (76)-Wales WI
#41 RS JR Sean Bures (68)-Lacey WA

Pulalasi returns as RB1 starting 10 games posting 197 carries for 880 yds with 9 TD and also logging 32 rec for 274 yds and 1 TD.

Abbott returns as the team’s primary backup after appearing in all 13 games as a True Freshman.. Abbott lead the team in touchdowns with (12) well logging 145 carries for 561 yds

Iowa State transfer Brevin Doll posted the fastest 40 time in the spring camp (95 Speed 98 ACC, 93 AGI) and will push Greg Ard and Maxwell Wood for snaps as the change of pace back. Doll will also join Woods who returns as the Jet Award winner on Special teams working as both a Kick and Punt returner. Doll started his career at Iowa and played in 8 games logging 7 carries for 20 yds before transferring to Iowa State last year but after just 1 carry for 5 yds he hopes to find a home here in Pullman.

Fellow Iowa State transfer Alex Goings is going to redshirt this season after spending the last season on the Cyclones Special teams (13 games no stats)

Provo started all 13 games last year at FB but carved out a major role in the offense finishing the season 3rd in carries (114) and yards (523) , scoring 3 touchdowns. He also proved to be a capable receiver logging 29 rec for 239 yds and 1 TD

Bures will be the team’s #2 FB to allow Provo more opportunities to play HB.

WR/TE
#83 RS SR Dazmin James (84)-Clayton NC
#17 SO Lester Creer (81)-Reno NV
#8 RS SR Branden Ganashmoorthy (74)-Monroe WA
#21 RS SO Carter Pabst (72)-Wichita KS
#84 RS SO Landon Wright (71)-Fresno CA
#85 (R) FR Deon Rugamba (75)-Seattle WA
#16 (R ) FR Calvin Wayne (74)-Portland OR
#86 (RS SR) Mason Wliliams (85)-Mogadore OH
#87 SO Junior Fineanganofo (73)-Burien WA
#12 RS SO Greg Fiore (71)-Camas WA

James, a transfer from Cal appeared in 13 games for the Bears but had just 6 rec for 86 yds but a strong spring camp shows he is ready to step into a starting spot opposite Creer.

Creer returns after a record setting year (92 rec 1195 yds 17 TD) to once again lead this unit

B.G. and Carter Pabst will battle it out to be the team’s #3/#4 with Landon Wright filling the #5 role this will allow Rugamba and Wayne a year to redshirt and be ready to take over the #2/#3 role’s next season.

Williams started his career at Ohio and posted 37 rec 385 yds and 2 TD for the Bobcats. He then went to Minnesota in 2026 and had 43 rec for 427 yds and 5 TD.

Finenganofo earned the #1 TE job last season as a True Freshman recording 50 rec for 619 yds but didn’t catch his first touchdown until the Bowl game against LSU.

Fiore is a former WR turned TE who provides depth at both spot

O-Line
#71 RS SR Ashton Tripp (75)-Kennewick WA
#58 JR Jaymar Tasi (84)-Seattle WA
#73 RS JR Terrell Kim (78)-North Medford OR
#61 RS SR BJ Tolo (83)-Santa Ana CA
#70 RS JR Robert Bourdon (73)-Collierville TN

Tasi and Tolo both transfers last season return as the leaders for this starting unit and are joined by a pair of transfers from this year’s class. Kim played RG for Arizona State but moves to Center well Bourdon comes via Texas A&M

Tripp appeared in 12 games for the Cougars last year but gave up a team high 11 sacks. He will be on a short leash this season with the added depth that Coach Moore now has to work with.

#76 RS SR Nikola Miovac (74)-Indija International
#79 SO Andy Weiner (74)-Oakland CA
#60 Isaia Woolfork (69)-Spokane WA

Milovac a 2 year starter at Kennesaw State will be the primary backup at OT and could move into the starting lineup if Tripp continues to give up Sacks. Weiner will be the primary backup at OG after appearing in 5 games last year as a True Freshman well Woolfork will be the primary backup at Center after starting all 13 games last year well giving up 6 sacks as a True Freshman.

RS SO S. Falealo (71), RS SR Jaylin Caldwell (69), RS SO Isaiah Lyons (70), RS SO Trevor Bindel (68)

This unit will provide addition depth should the line struggle with injuries like last sason.

FR D. Livings (68) FR C. Anders (68) FR M. Ejofor (68) FR S. Gibbs (66) FR J. Bueno (69) FR L. Tuipulotu (67)

All 6 of the incoming Freshman will redshirt and hopefully with a year or 2 of training be ready to take over when the bulk of the group in front of them has graduated.

D-Line
#84 RS JR Malachi Wrice (75)-McAlester OK
#56 RS JR Fernando Lecuona (75)-Omaha NE
#91 RS FR Stephen Harris (75)-Atwater CA
#90 RS JR Michael Hughes (71)-Santa Ana CA
#98 RS FR Jeremiah Makovicka (70)-Camas WA
#47 RS SO Luke Webb (68)-Huntington Beach CA
#92 RS SO Jaden Rice (68)-Tacoma WA

Wrice (16 TFL 6.0 Sacks) and Leecuontler (75)-Toronto INT
a (14 TFL 5.5 Sacks) return as the teams starting DE. Hughes recorded 7TFL and 3.0 sacks as the primary backup. Harris was a 3* Athlete that redshirted last season but he will take over as a backup at DE as well as LB this season.

#52 RS SR Kaden Beatty (75)-Chesapeke VA
#74 RS SR Bryce Butler(75)-Toronto CAN
#93 RS FR Nolan Conklin (72)-Baton Rouge LA
#96 RS FR Kahli Figueroa (69)-Concord NC
#94 RS FR Josh Johnson (69)-Magnolia TX

Beatty appeared in 12 games last year recording 33 Tackles with 10 TFL and 6.5 sacks as the teams #2 DT now he moves to the #1 role with transfer Bryce Butler joining him in the starting lineup. Butler started his career at Washington but appeared in just 4 games in 2025 recording 5 tackles and 1 TFL before transferring to Middle Tennessee where he appeared in 13 games in 2026 recording 21 Tackles with 8 TFL and 2.5 sacks.

Conklin, Figueroa and Johnson all redshirted last season they provide depth with the hopes the 2 of them will become starters in 2028.

Linebackers
#33 RS JR Gage Jones (76) Eagle ID
#12 RS JR Carsten Reynolds (74)-Sedro-Wooley WA
#43 SR Dallas Pritchard (76)-Olympia WA

Jones started all 13 games last year and recorded 96 Tackles with 11 TFL and 2 sacks. Reynolds (68 Tackles 6 TFL 1.5 sacks) and Pritchard (56 Tackles 3 TFL and 2 Sacks) rotate in as the other starting LB and all 3 started when WSU used a 3-3-5 Defense. They same rotation will happen again

#36 RS SO Jovan Clark (72)-Chicago IL
#10 RS FR Tye Rubin (73)-Seattle WA
#14 SO Angel Mercer (68)-Rome GA

Mercer and Clark spent the bulk of their PT on Special teams, well Rubin redshirted. With only 6 LB’s on the roster this will be a #1 priority this season to find future starters to replace Jones and Reynolds.

Secondary
#9 RS SR Sharif Denson (82)-Jacksonville FL
#21 RS SO Tre Poteat (78)-Thiensville WI
#26 RS SO Tyrone Cotton III (76)-Chicago IL
#28 RS JR Tyson Weaver (75)-Sammamish WA
#8 RS JR Kenny Worthy III (73)-Buckeye AZ
Denson (Florida) and Poteat (Tennessee) come in via the Portal to take over as CB1 and CB2. Cotton III will likely battle Weaver for the #3 role and a chance to start when WSU runs a 4-2-5 Defense

#15 FR Jay Cotter (68), #11 FR Marques Stroughter (66) and #3 FR Chuck Hajrullahu (64) are all incoming 3* who will redshirt.

#0 RS JR Anthony Palano (77)-Arlington Heights IL
#19 RS JR Kayo Patu (76)-Sacramento CA
#7 RS FR Juluis Canady (67) Bellflower CA

Palano returns to his starting role after recording 81 Tackles with 3 TFL last season. Patu also will start when the team runs a 4-2-5 Defense he logged 83 Tackles last season with 1 TFL
Splitting time as the SS and the #5 DB

#31 RS JR Trey Ridley (73)-Overland Park KS
#2 RS FR Dwayne Carstens (70)-Bountiful UT
#20 RS FR Willie Hamrick (68)-Spanaway WA
#29 RS FR Kevin Burnett (66)-Woodinville WA

Ridley appeared in all13 games and started a 6 recording 66 Tackles with 10 TFL and 1 Sack after recording 28 TFL the year before as a reserve.

Cartens/Hamrick/Burnett all redshirted last year and will be Special team players probably for the next 2 years until Ridley/Palano/Patu graduate.

Special Teams
#97 RS SO Adlai Lounsbury (70)-Story City IA
Lounsbury connected on 20/23 FG’s and 56/67 XPT last sason

#98 SR Ryan Harris (73)-Vancouver CAN
Harris a 2 year starter saw his #’s drop last year to 57 punts (65 in 2025) for 2499 yds with a 43.8 Avg and a Net Avg of 36.8.. He had 10 TB and a long of 64 pinning opponents inside the 20 (7) times.

[Deuce2223]

Wow Texas not ranked.

It seem to happen every year where a couple of 90+rated teas don't make the Top-25 poll Pre-season.
They play #2 Michigan in Week 9 and #11 Ole Miss in Week 2 as well as Clemson who is also unranked in Week 4 so hey will get their opportunities to impress early. They also face Oklahoma in Week 6 and Georgia in Week 8 plus TAMU in Week 10 so it could also be another season where they miss the playoffs again as well.

[djp73]

That is a big jump in team rating, hopefully it shows on the field

[redsox907]

didn't you ball out with Nelson back in 25 with Boise?

Defense still a little light, but hopefully they over perform

[Deuce2223]

didn't you ball out with Nelson back in 25 with Boise?

Defense still a little light, but hopefully they over perform

I did he actually led me to a pair of Natty's.. I feel like the Defense is good enough to help me compete in the Pac-12 but it's going to take awhile before I am able to compete against the likes of LSU..

[Deuce2223]

That is a big jump in team rating, hopefully it shows on the field

Yeah I honestly didn't think we added that many guy's that would cause that big of a jump in the Overall.

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 0 RECAP

The return of Kirby Moore to take on his former team Missouri was the headline this week as the Cougars took on the Tigers in what looked to be a pretty evenly matchup on paper (Both teams rated 81 Overall) and for 20 minutes it was even pretty evenly matched on the field.

Missouri opened up the game with a 13 play drive capped by a Desean Coats 5 yd touchdown.. WSU would settle for a 23 yd FG to make it (7-3) before the Tigers marched down field with another scoring drive as Coats scored touchdown #2 making it (14-3) but WSU would battle back as Malachi Nelson making his first start as the new QB1 finds Lester Creer right were he left off from last season hauling in a 66 yd bomb to cut the lead to (14-10).. Then it was Florida transfer Sharif Denson coming up big with his first Cougar INT as he picked off Missouri FR QB Tre Ahlers (79 ovr) setting up a Nelson 1 yd touchdown run as WSU takes the (17-14) lead.

Missouri would open up the 2nd Quarter scoring with a 43 yd FG to tie the game (17-17). Midway through the the 2nd,, the tTigers would retake the lead as Tre Ahlers finds Shaun Terry on a 20 yd score with 4:17 to play in the half.

Iowa State transfer Brevin Doll would see some action in the 2nd Quarter with 3 runs including a 3 yd touchdown as the game is tied up yet again (24-24) with 2;17 to play

The Cougar Defense would come up strip sack with under a minute to play and Moore and Miller decided to try and end the half aggressive as Nelson goes deep for James but the pass is picked off setting up a Tony Tuttle 51 yd FG to give the Tigers the (27-24) lead going into the locker room.

Nelson looked pretty good in his Washington State debut completing 20/35 pass’s for 298 yds with the 1 TD and 1 INT well also adding a rushing score.

Leo Pulalasi had a solid 1st half with 8 carries for 44 yds (5.5 avg) well Brevin Doll finished with 30 yds on 3 carries and a touchdown. Doll also had 4 rec for 40 yds

Lester Creer led all WR's as he hauls in 6 catches for 130 yds including the 66 yd score, well Carter Pabst also had a solid 1st half finishing with 3 rec for 74 yds including a 48 yd catch late in the 2nd Quarter.
.
Despite giving up 27 points in the 1st half, the Cougars Defense did manage to create 2 turnovers and sacked Ahlers 3 times The Freshman QB finished the half 16/27 for 242 yds with 1 TD 1 INT and the Fumble.

Neither team would do much in the 3rd Quarter as both teams traded FG's making it (30-27) going the 4th Quarter, and that's when the wheels would fall off for the Cougars.

With a chance to take the lead Nelson would throw his2nd INT of the game in the endzone with 4 minutes to play but the damage wasn't just the INT as Nelson takes a massive hit on the throw. The turnover would lead to Missouri extending their lead as Ahlers hits SO WR Shaun Terry II on a 22 yd scoring strike to make it a 10 point game (37-27).

When the WSU offense retook the field it was Ajani Sheppard leading the way, but Sheppard first series looked very much like his 2026 season, as the Junior throws the first of 2 INT's in the final 3 minutes of the game as the Cougars attempted a late comeback. With no timeouts all WSU could do was watch as Missouri knelt out the clock securing their Week 0 victory.

FINAL SCORE MISSOURI-37 WASHINGTON STATE-27

KEY PLAYERS
QB M. Nelson-30/55 (54%) 370 yds 1 TD 2 INT, 1 Rushing TD (Sacked 4 times)
QB A. Sheppard-2/5 (40%) 12 yds 2 INT
RB L. Pulalsi-17 carries 90 yds (5.3 avg), 1 rec 7 yds
RB B. Doll-5 carries 32 yds (6.4 avg) 1 TD, 6 rec 46 yds
WR L. Creer-8 rec 151 yds 1 TD
WR C. Pabst-6 rec 97 yds
WR D. James-4 rec 33 yds
TE M. Williams-4 rec 28 yds
CB S. Denson-1 INT


QB T. Ahlers-24/40 (60%) 324 yds 1 TD 1 INT, 1 Rushing TD
RB D. Coats-19 carries 52 yds (2.7 avg) 2 TD, 3 rec 41 yds
RB N. Vaughn-10 carries 61 yds (6.1 avg), 1 rec 11 yds
WR S. Terry-11 rec 144 yds 1 TD
WR J. Burns-5 rec 94 yds
Tiger Defense-9 TFL, 4 Sacks, 4 INT

MOORE AFTER THE GAME

To be honest I felt like our team lost focus (I got a phone call that lasted most of the 2nd half well I played and to be honest it didn't help with TOP Missouri 24:42 vs WSU-15:18) . Even with 5 minutes to play in the game we still had a chance but you can't win a game with 3 turnovers in the 4th Quarter Overall I felt like our Defense played well giving up just 10 points in the 2nd half with us trailing by 3 that's a game we have to win.

INJURY NEWS

Malachi Nelson was cleared and should be ready to go next week against Fresno State, however the WSU Defense took a major hit losing 2 starters and a key reserve.

SR CB Sharif Denson who finished with 6 tackles and the INT will miss the next 4 weeks with a Torn Labrum and Starting SS Trey Ridley is expected to miss the entire season with a Torn Pectoral (35 weeks), well backup DE/LB RS FR Stephen Harris will miss then next 2 weeks with a Broken Thumb. Harris had 7 Tackles against the Tigers.

RS SO Tryone Cotton III will start in place of Denson well JR FS Kayo Patu will move SS opening up the door for JR CB/FS Tyson Weaver to step into the starting lineup as the #5 DB.

[djp73]

Probably hoped for a win in that one. Interceptions bad