Ranking Washington State Football 2024 Home Opponents

Jared Miller | Jun 24, 2024

Nov 17, 2023; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars mascot, Butch, at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Washington State’s 2024 home slate will feature six games in what will be an amalgamation of opponents from several different conferences. In order to adapt to life without most of their former Pac-12 counterparts, WSU had to get a little creative but the Mountain West stepped in to help and the Cougars will have a full 12-game schedule. 

Here’s who makes the trek to Pullman this year.

6. Portland State Vikings

Washington State’s 2024 slate kicks off with a battle against Portland State. The Vikings, hailing from the Big Sky Conference, are on an uptick in the FCS ranks right now but the Cougars should be able to handle business in this one. PSU went 5-6 last season and, in their two FBS games last year, lost 31-17 to Wyoming and surrendered a staggering 81 points to Oregon in a lopsided defeat in Eugene. The team said farewell to its three best receivers from last year, but does return a dynamic signal-caller in QB Dante Cachere.    

5. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

As part of their Mountain West-heavy schedule, the Cougars will open the doors of Martin Stadium to Hawaii for a mid-October battle with the Rainbow Warriors. Timmy Chang’s team did show some improvement in Year 2 under his leadership last fall, going 5-8, but WSU should still be able to win if they play to their potential. Hawaii’s defense gave up 385.3 yards per game last year while they put up a mere 76.1 on the ground and didn’t fare a ton better through the air. The Cougs should have enough on both sides of the ball to put this one away. 

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4. Utah State Aggies 

November will kick off with the Aggies of Utah State making a trip through the Pacific Northwest. USU won six games last fall and reached a bowl game but none of those victories came against teams that finished with a winning record. Receiver Jalen Royals, the squad’s 1,000-yard receiver from last year is back as is standout safety Ike Larsen. The Aggies will have talent in the mix again but they also haven’t strung together a winning season since 2021. Washington State, if relatively healthy at this juncture of the season, has a good matchup here. 

3. San José State Spartans

San José State is a difficult one to peg down right now. One hand the Spartans won six of their final seven games to close out 2023 and return some big playmakers like wideout Nick Nash. On the other hand, SJSU has lost a lot of other big talent at quarterback, running back and practically on every level of defense. As of right now SJSU is a big question mark but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cougars should take this game lightly. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo is making his Spartan debut after a good, long run with Navy. Niumatalolo delivered some excellent seasons in Annapolis, bringing the Mids six bowl wins and three AAC title game berths. 

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2. Wyoming Cowboys

The Cougs’ regular season wraps up with a bout against Wyoming in late November. In their first year of the Jay Sawvel era, there are several questions that loom for the defending Arizona Bowl champs but that’s not to say that the Cowboys will be a pushover. Leading rusher Harrison Waylee returns to the scene but both last year’s starting quarterback Andrew Peasly and stud linebacker Easton Gibbs are gone. How will that affect a defense that held its opponents to under 150 rush yards per game in 2023? Washington State has a puncher’s chance but they’ll have to be at their best.

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders

WSU’s toughest home opponent this year will be Texas Tech. The Red Raiders make a swing through Pullman in Week 2 and they’ll serve as a mighty test for Jake Dickert and company. Texas Tech is fresh off a seven-win season with some notable victories over teams like a then-#16 Kansas and TCU. Running back Tahj Brooks is back after a 1,500-yard season as is quarterback Berhen Morton. On the defensive side, the Red Raiders return young phenom linebacker Ben Roberts as well. Top to bottom the boys from Lubbock are going to be a handful.