Three Big Questions WSU Football Needs to Answer in 2024

Uncertain times lie ahead for the Cougs and pressing issues hover above the team heading into this season.

Oct 21, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Jake Dickert reacts on the sidelines during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports / Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

1. What will the QB position look like in life after Ward?

Signal-caller Cam Ward was a breath of fresh air for Washington State after transferring in from Incarnate Word prior the 2022 season. Ward's time in Pullman, however, is no more as he's now at Miami. Thus, the quarterback spot is, naturally, the biggest concern facing the team right now.

As of right now it certainly appears that either redshirt sophomore John Mateer or Bryant transfer Zevi Eckhaus is going to be the starter come Week 1. Mateer has appeared in just one game during his career at Wazzu but had the most first-team reps of anyone during spring ball. Eckhaus had a tremendous season with the Bulldogs in 2023, throwing for 2,907 yards and 28 touchdowns. Mateer is the frontrunner currently but, of course, fall camp will be all-telling.

If he indeed does get the nod, WSU will have someone who's been under offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle before and is more familiar with the scheme. Of the two in this QB competition, Mateer is the more pure passer with a quicker release.

If Eckhaus is the one to snag the job, though, things might look a little different. He too was part of a pass-first offense at Bryant and he has the arm to sling it almost anywhere on the field. He's patient in the pocket and goes through his progressions on most every drop back before firing. Just because Eckhaus is a good passer, though, doesn't mean he can't or won't run. He rushed for 353 yards and touchdown last season.

Whoever ends up as the starter will not bring the same things to the table that Ward did and the play calling will have to adjust accordingly.

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2. Has the rushing attack improved in a significant way?

It's no secret that WSU's ground game struggled greatly in 2023. The Cougars averaged just 85.3 rushing yards per game last fall, ranking second to last in the Pac-12. That has to change, and that change will likely have to start with Djouvensky Schlenbaker.

As a freshman back last year, Schlenbaker was part of the supporting cast out of the backfield for Washington State, appearing in all 12 games and running for 146 yards. He had more receiving touchdowns (1), however, than rushing ones (0). With Nakia Watson gone now, however, Schlenbaker is the next man up. During the spring game he eclipsed 100 yards on 16 carries and found the end zone once; a promising sign of an increased role.

Redshirt junior Dylan Paine will also be one to keep an eye on moving into this season. He has had a relatively quiet career at WSU so far, having ran for only 214 yards in two seasons. Whether or not his workload will see a boost this year is still very much up in the air.

Despite a poor showing a season ago, the Cougars were silent in the portal this offseason when it came to the rushing attack. Their additions were limited to incoming freshman. Five of the seven backs currently on the roster are underclassmen.

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3. Will the new-look schedule help or hurt?

Perhaps the most imposing and big-picture question that Cougs fans have been asking since the near-complete dissolution of the Pac-12 last season is about the structure of the team's new schedule and what that might mean for overall success. Will a Mountain West-heavy slate actually be a blessing?

A year ago, Washington State managed a 5-7 overall record. Six of those seven losses, however, came against teams that WSU will not face this year and might not for the foreseeable future. That's not to say that a fair share of challenges still won't be coming down the pipe, though.

Boise State, the Cougars' Week 5 opponent, is one of the hottest G5 picks to make the newly-minted 12-team College Football Playoff. The Broncos are pretty loaded on both sides of the ball. Then there's sneaky-good matchups with Utah State and Hawaii... two more MW mainstays... that will surely present their own challenges. All of that is failing to mention a Week 2 bout with Texas Tech that may end up being the toughest one on the docket.

The 2024 schedule is certainly a big difference from what Cougs fans have been used to but to actually call it easier might be folly. They still have to see two defending conference champs and eight opponents that played in bowl games at the end of last year.