Cougars Head East for Saturday Showdown at No. 21 James Madison

WASHINGTON STATE (5-5, 0-0 Pac-12) at NO. 21 JAMES MADISON (9-1, 7-0 Sun Belt)

10 a.m. (PT), Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 • ESPN+

Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field (24,877) • Harrisonburg, Va.

COUGARS HEAD EAST FOR SHOWDOWN AT NO. 21 JAMES MADISON
Washington State heads to the east coast for the second time this season, heading to Harrisonburg, Va. for a Saturday matchup at No. 21 James Madison. Kickoff is ready for 10 a.m. (PT) on ESPN+.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State returned from its second bye week and posted a 28-3 win over Louisiana Tech final Saturday, bettering to 5-5 and owns wins over Idaho, San Diego State, at Colorado State and Toledo. The Cougars had a pair of fourth-quarter comebacks held off at No. 4 Ole Miss and at No. 18 Virginia in October. Head Coach Jimmy Rogers is in his first yr at WSU after teaching the earlier two seasons at South Dakota State highlighted by an FCS National Championship in 2023. The Cougars went 8-5 final season, essentially the most wins since 2018, and earned a visit to the Holiday Bowl for this system’s eighth bowl recreation within the final 9 full seasons and nineteenth bowl recreation. The 2025 roster featured simply three returning starters on offense and 75 newcomers. 

COUGAR QUICK GAME

TEAM

• WSU rushed for 157 yards together with season-high 3 touchdowns towards Louisiana Tech, its sixth straight recreation with 100-plus dashing yards and seventh this season • WSU rushed for a season-high 162 yards towards Toledo • Jimmy Rogers was the primary head coach to win his first two video games at WSU since Mike Price in 1989 • The 2025 Apple Cup was the primary Gesa Field sellout (32,952) since 2023 (Oregon State) • Over the final 6 video games, WSU has allowed a mixed 11.5 ppg, 287.3 ypg in whole offense, 163.0 passing yards/g and tallied 14 sacks

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

• QB Zevi Eckhaus has began final 7 video games, beat Colorado State to earn first win as a Coug, has 5 profession video games as a Coug starter with 2 cross TD • DE Isaac Terrell’s 4 tackles-for-loss at Ole Miss are tied for the Third-most by any participant nationally, was essentially the most by a Coug since 2017 (5.0, Hercules Mata’afa, at Utah) • Terrell’s 10 tackles-for-loss and 5 sacks are team-highs • TE Trey Leckner’s 2 TD catches towards San Diego State was the fifth 2-TD recreation by Cougar TE in program historical past • C Brock Dieu was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List (Top Collegiate Center) • WR Jeremiah Noga and OL AJ Vaipulu have been named to the 2025 Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List • Jack Stevens go-ahead 32-yard FG with three seconds remaining was the first last-minute victory since 2019 (54-53, Max Borghi TD run, Oregon State) • TE Beau Baker’s first profession catch was a 12-yard TD within the Apple Cup • WR Joshua Meredith leads WSU with 12 catches of 20+ yards together with 3 of 40+ yards

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday would be the first assembly between Washington State and James Madison. WSU is looking for  its first win over a Top-25 opponent since a 38-35 win dwelling win over No. 14 Oregon State in 2023 and first street win over a Top-25 opponent since beating No. 19 Wisconsin in Madison in 2022, 17-14.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD

Dating again to the 2003 season, ESPN College GameDay has had the WSU flag seem all through the present. The streak reached 332 final week at Pitt. The first look got here in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) and the streak started two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). Two flags – Ol’ Crimson and Gray – have been flown within the background of the GameDay set. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason’s “No White Flags.” Appearance No. 217 was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

16,578 – WSU will journey 16,578 miles to and from its 6 street video games in 2025

10,000 – Zevi Eckhaus surpassed 10,000 profession passing yards vs. Toledo, enters week with 10,329 

75 – WSU’s 2025 roster options 75 new gamers

55 – 55 gamers have made their WSU debuts in 2025

25 – 25 gamers have made their collegiate debuts

21 – WSU returned 21 gamers who earned a varsity letter in 2024

13 – 13 true freshmen have performed this season

10 – WSU’s 2025 schedule options groups from 10 totally different conferences 

8 – Jack Stevens began the season 8-of-8 in FG, matching finest begin to a profession by a Cougar kicker (Aaron Price, 1992)

7 – 7 Cougs have been named to the East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List (C Brock Dieu, S Matthew Durrance, LB Caleb Francl, CB Colby Humphrey, RB Angel Johnson, S Tucker Large, OL AJ Vaipulu)

7 – 7 seniors have spent their total careers at WSU; C Brock Dieu, RT Christian Hilborn, WR Joshua Meredith, WR Leon Neal Jr., RB Dylan Paine (sixth), WR Leyton Smithson, DE Raam Stevenson

6 – Zevi Eckhaus’ 6 dashing TD are tied for Seventh-most by a quarterback in WSU single-season historical past

5 – WSU misplaced street video games at No. 4 Ole Miss (24-21) and No. 18 Virginia (22-20) by a mixed 5 factors

3 – WSU returned 3 starters, all on offense; C Brock Dieu, RT Christian Hilborn, WR Josh Meredith

COUGAR DEFENSE SETTLING IN

The Washington State protection has settled in underneath new defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit. Over the final six video games the Cougars held Colorado State (W, 20-3), at No. 4 Ole Miss (L, 21-24), at No. 18  Virginia (L, 20-22), Toledo (W, 28-7), at Oregon State (L, 7-10) and Louisiana Tech (W, 28-3) to a mixed 11.5 ppg, 287.3 ypg in whole offense, 163.0 passing yards/g and tallied 14 sacks.

• WSU has held 5 opponents to 10 factors or much less in 2025 and gone 4-1 in these video games • WSU has held three opponents to single-digit factors this season, essentially the most since 2017 • WSU held two straight opponents (Oregon State, Louisiana Tech) underneath 200-yards of whole offense for the primary time since 1994 • WSU didn’t enable a landing at Colorado State and towards Louisiana Tech, the primary time holding two FBS opponents and not using a landing in the identical season since 1994 (Fresno State, at UCLA, vs. Baylor) • held Idaho to 10 factors, 33 rush yards, recorded 5 TFL, 2 takeaways (2 fumbles) • held San Diego State to 13 factors and 215 yds of whole offense, recorded 7 TFL, 3 sacks, 2-of-13 on Third downs, a security • held Colorado State to season-low 3 factors, recorded 9 TFL and 4 sacks • held No. 4 Ole Miss to then-season lows in whole offense (439) and factors (24), had 6 TFL and three sacks, essentially the most sacks allowed by Ole Miss  • held No. 18 Virginia to 122 rush yards and 179 cross yards and then-season low 22 factors • held Toledo to 61 rush yards and season-low 7 factors • held Oregon State to 10 factors, 184 yards of whole offense, 60 cross yards, had 8 TFL and three sacks • WSU held Louisiana Tech to three factors, simply 167 yards of whole offense, the fewest yards allowed since 2018, 60 passing yards and 11 first downs

JIMMY ROGERS NAMED HEAD COACH

Jimmy Rogers was named the Cougars’ Head Football Coach December 28, agreeing in precept to a five-year contract in turning into the thirty fifth head soccer coach in program historical past. Rogers arrived at WSU having spent the final 12 years at South Dakota State University, the previous two as head coach. In these two years, he guided SDSU to a 27-3 report, led the Jackrabbits to the 2023 FCS Championship and reached the FCS semifinals final season.

POSTGAME NOTES – LOUISIANA TECH

• WSU rushed for 157 yards, its sixth straight recreation with 100-plus dashing yards and seventh this season • WSU rushed for a season-high three touchdowns • WSU scored on its opening drive for the third time this season (at Colorado State, at Virginia) • WSU recorded its third, second-half shutout of the season (at Colorado State, Toledo) and fourth shutout half of the season (1st, Idaho) • Christian Hilborn made his forty third profession begin in his forty sixth profession recreation, passing Gunner Eklund (OL, 2012-15) for the sixth-most video games performed in program historical past • Ishmael Gibbs (CB) made his collegiate debut on kickoff protection within the fourth quarter • Zevi Eckhaus threw for 146 yards and one landing, additionally rushed for 56 yards together with his first profession two-rushing TD recreation • Kirby Vorhees matched a career-high with 16 carries, had 76 dashing yards together with a 19-yard landing run, his third-straight recreation with a dashing landing and fourth within the final 5 video games • Joshua Meredith caught his third landing cross of the season, completed with 5 catches for 70 yards • Colby Humphrey picked off his first cross of the season, fifth interception of his profession, completed with 5 tackles • Kayo Patu appeared in his fifth profession recreation, fourth this season, and his cross breakup on the first-quarter faux punt was his first profession stat • Tony Freeman’s second-quarter 58-yard punt return was a profession lengthy, his third punt return of 40-plus yards this season

POSTGAME NOTES – AT OREGON STATE

• WSU recorded eight tackles-for-loss together with three sacks • WSU rushed for 125 yards, its fifth-straight recreation with 100-plus dashing yards • Kirby Vorhees scored his third dashing landing of the season • Anthony Palano made 10 tackles, his second double-digit sort out recreation of the season • Sullivan Schlimgen made his first profession begin, recorded eight tackles together with his first profession tackle-for-loss • Tony Freeman had a 47-yard punt return

POSTGAME NOTES – TOLEDO WIN

• WSU rushed for a season-high 162 yards • WSU rushed for 2 touchdowns, its first recreation of 2025 with a number of dashing touchdowns • WSU’s 21 first-half factors have been essentially the most scored in any half this season • WSU recorded its second, second-half shutout of the season (at Colorado State) and third shutout half of the season (1st, Idaho) • Kirby Vorhees rushed 15 occasions for 62 yards and one landing • Joshua Meredith caught 4 passes for 81 yards together with a pair of 40-yard catches • Carter Pabst caught his first profession landing cross, completed with two catches for 49 yards • Parker McKenna recorded 10 tackles and picked of his second profession cross, first as a Coug • Tucker Large made a career-high 13 tackles together with one for loss, his first profession double-digit sort out recreation • Jack Janikowski recorded his first profession sack, additionally pressured a fumble on the play

POSTGAME NOTES – at No. 18 VIRGINIA

• WSU’s 35 rush makes an attempt have been the second-most this season (36, San Diego State) • WSU rushed for 143 yards, its third straight 100-game and fourth this season • Kirby Vorhees set a profession excessive with 16 carries, rushed for 45 yards and had a 10-yard catch • Angel Johnson had a season-high 33 rush yards on 5 carries • Joshua Meredith had seven catches for 108 yards, his second profession 100-yard recreation • Caleb Francl made a team-high 11 tackles, his second profession double-digit sort out recreation (11, Idaho), made season-high 1.5 tackles-for-loss

POSTGAME NOTES – AT NO. 4 OLE MISS

• WSU rushed for 127 yards on 28 carries, its third recreation with 100-plus dashing yards this season • WSU recorded six tackles-for-loss together with three sacks • Jaylin Caldwell began at proper sort out in his Cougar debut • Kirby Vorhees’ 46-yard landing run within the third quarter was his longest run of the season, first landing as a Coug • Vorhees rushed for a WSU-season excessive 88 yards • Landon Wright’s fourth profession catch was a 26-yard landing, his first profession TD • Tony Freeman matched a career-high with 9 catches, set a career-high with 92 receiving yards and caught his first profession landing cross • Parker McKenna recorded 12 tackles • Isaac Terrell matched a career-high with 5 tackles recorded 4 tackles-for-loss with two sacks and compelled fumble • Terrell’s 4 tackles-for-loss tied for the eighth-most in WSU single-game historical past and most since Hercules Mata’afa recorded 5 within the win at Utah in 2017 

POSTGAME NOTES – AT COLORADO STATE WIN

• WSU allowed simply three factors, the fewest factors allowed since beating San Jose State 31-0 in 2018 (Pullman) • WSU posted its first second-half shutout since 2021 at California (W, 21-6) • WSU’s 9 tackles-for-loss have been a season-high • WSU’s 4 sacks have been a season-high • Zevi Eckhaus earned his first win as a Cougar quarterback • Jeremiah Noga caught his first landing as a Coug, had one landing catch in 2023 for Oregon State • Ademola Faleye’s landing was his third profession landing and first as a Coug (1 in 2021, 1 in 2022 at Norfolk State) • Parker McKenna recorded 10 tackles, his first double-digit sort out recreation as a Coug • Anthony Palano recorded a career-high 13 tackles • Soni Finau recorded his first profession two-sack recreation • Bryson Lamb recorded WSU’s first blocked discipline aim since 2023 (Jaden Hicks, at UCLA) 

POSTGAME NOTES – APPLE CUP

• Game temperature was 81 levels, the most popular recreation temperature in Apple Cup historical past • first Gesa Field sellout of 2025 and first since 2023 (Oregon State) • WSU recorded three sacks, essentially the most sacks in an Apple Cup since 2012 • WSU recorded seven tackles-for-loss, essentially the most in an Apple Cup since 2015 • WSU had a season-high 14 receivers catch a cross • WSU recorded season-highs in first downs (21) and passing yards (277) • Beau Baker’s first profession catch was a 12-yard landing

POSTGAME NOTES – at NORTH TEXAS

• Maxwell Woods set career-highs with 5 catches for 42 yards • Landon Wright recorded his first profession catch, a 34-yard seize within the second quarter • Cale Reeder made his WSU debut, completed three tackles • Jack Ellison made his 1st profession, made 5 tackles

POSTGAME NOTES – SAN DIEGO STATE WIN

• WSU recorded its first security since 2021 (blocked punt out of finish zone, fog recreation towards Arizona in Pullman) • Jaxon Potter threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns • Trey Leckner caught a career-high six passes, his first and second touchdowns of the season, second and third of his profession • Leckner recorded the fifth 2-TD recreation by Cougar tight finish in program historical past • Leon Neal Jr. caught his first profession landing, 18-yard catch in third quarter, completed with two catches for 19 yards • Isaac Terrell recorded his first profession sack, a security within the second quarter

JAXON POTTER DELIVERS WIN IN FIRST CAREER START

Redshirt-sophomore quarterback Jaxon Potter notched a pair firsts in his first profession begin, the season-opening 13-10 win over Idaho. Potter went 23-of-30 for 208 yards together with his first profession landing cross, a six-yard scored to wideout Joshua Meredith within the second quarter. Potter capped his night time going 6-for-6 on his first profession game-winning drive, guiding WSU to a nine-play, 59-yard drive earlier than Jack Stevens kicked the go-ahead 32-yard discipline aim with three seconds remaining.

POSTGAME NOTES – IDAHO WIN

• WSU received its fourth straight season-opener, received its eleventh straight recreation within the sequence towards Idaho • Jack Stevens go-ahead 32-yard discipline aim with three seconds remaining was WSU’s first last-minute victory since 2019 (54-53, Max Borghi TD run with two seconds remaining, Oregon State) • Jack Stevens made his first profession discipline aim (30 yards, Third quarter) and his second profession discipline aim was the go-ahead 32-yarder with three seconds remaining

SIX NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS

Washington State introduced its group captains for 2025 as voted by the gamers; OL Brock Dieu, S Tucker Large, WR Joshua Meredith, DT Max Baloun, DE Raam Stevenson, LB Caleb Francl.

13 COUGS HAVE EARNED DEGREES

Four gamers with school levels; DL Max Baloun (Physical Education), LB Keith Brown (Social Sciences), LS Colson Brunner (Social Sciences), TE Hudson Cedarland (Management), CB Jamorri Colson (Humanities), DL Darrion Dalton (Business), QB Zevi Eckhaus (Social Sciences), OL Christian Hilborn (Humanities), LB Parker McKenna (Social Sciences), WR Leon Neal Jr. (Marketing), WR Jeremiah Noga (Public Health), RB Dylan Paine (Marketing), DT Mike Sandjo (Human Rights). 

COUGAR FOOTBALL PLUS ONES

Four Washington State gamers took the plunge this previous offseason.

    – C Brock Dieu married his spouse Chloe this previous summer season

    – LG Jonny Lester married his spouse Chloe this summer season

    – DE Isaac Terrell married his spouse Madison this summer season

    – DE Malaki Ta’ase married his spouse McKinley this previous January

COUGS ON A MISSION

A pair of Cougs not too long ago accomplished their missions; LB Gage Jones spent two years (2022-2023) on a mission in Chile and DE Malaki Ta’ase spent two years (2022-23) on a mission in Ghana.

WALK-AROUND ALCOHOL PILOT PROGRAM AT GESA FIELD

Washington State introduced a brand new pilot program that may enable walk-around beer and wine gross sales at Gesa Field. This initiative is designed to boost the fan expertise whereas sustaining a robust dedication to security and accountable consumption. Fans aged 21 and over with legitimate, government-issued identification (ID) will be capable to buy beer and wine from basic concession stands all through the stadium. The program follows a profitable mannequin already applied inside the state that has gone via an intensive overview by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board’s enforcement group. The Liquor Board supplied last approval at its Sept. 10 assembly. 

 

Key parts of the pilot program per the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board embrace: 

– No stadium re-entry as soon as a ticket has been scanned. 

– Walk-around beer and wine gross sales can be found via the top of the third quarter. 

– Student part stays alcohol-free with a strict zero-tolerance coverage. 

– Limit of two alcoholic drinks per individual, per transaction and ID checks for all alcohol purchases. 

– Rogers Field/Cougville turns into a part of the ticketed footprint of Gesa Field and would require a recreation ticket to enter. Fans getting into Rogers Field/Cougville is not going to be allowed to re-enter the stadium as soon as they depart.

 

WSU and Aramark will proceed to emphasise accountable ingesting via employees coaching, signage, and enforcement protocols. 

FAN EXPERIENCE ENHANCEMENTS FOR COUGAR FOOTBALL GAMES

Kickoff At The CUB

New this yr is the Kickoff At The CUB tailgate, positioned within the CUB Senior Ballroom. Beginning three hours previous to kickoff, all followers are welcome to benefit from the pregame environment with featured meals and drinks – together with beer, wine, soda, and cocktails – accessible for buy. The CUB Senior Ballroom is positioned on the second ground of the Compton Union Building.

 

Hollingbery Fieldhouse

New this yr, Hollingbery Fieldhouse is not going to be open to the general public. The venue  will likely be used to host non-public occasions for company companions of Cougar Athletics.

 

Cougville

Cougville, positioned on Rogers Field, stays one of many premier pregame tailgate spots on campus. Cougville supplies followers with leisure choices for your entire household, together with a beer backyard for adults and a youngsters zone with inflatable bounce homes for younger Cougar followers to get pleasure from. Cougville will open two hours previous to kickoff, shut as soon as the sport begins, then re-open for halftime. Fans should present their recreation tickets to enter Cougville pregame.

 

Cougar Prowl

Don’t miss this gameday custom as followers collect to cheer on the Cougars as they make their manner into Gesa Field. New for the 2025 season, the Cougar Prowl will start two hours and 40 minutes previous to kickoff and can now begin on the Taylor Sports Complex.