Uni Stats: WSU looks to exercise uniform demons against San Diego State

Can WSU finally break the white/white/anthracite curse?

For the fifth time this season, the Washington State Cougars will be rolling with a never worn before uniform set.

This is the third variation of white/white/anthracite and, hopefully, the third times the charm. Since 2017, WSU has worn this combo four times and lost all four games. In three of the losses sporting a crimson logo and facemask — at USC in 2018, at Arizona State in 2019 and at UCLA in 2023 — and the other lone loss wearing an anthracite logo and white facemask at Utah in 2020.

Prior to the season, I called for this combo to be retired for not only its poor performance but painful memories of those losses. The infamous no-targeting call at USC in 2018 and the beginning of a six-game losing streak at UCLA last season. However, maybe the change to the anthracite/gray facemask and logo will turn this combo around.

This helmet is currently 2-0 and has only been paired with the anthracite jersey and white pants, last worn against Oregon State last season. The white jerseys are 16-24 and anthracite pants are 12-12.

In other uniform news, last week Jake Dickert revealed that the anthracite helmets have been “phased out.” Along with the anthracite helmets, the old anthracite jerseys also may have also been retired in favor of the newer ones we saw against Texas Tech, as in their latest title update, EA Sports replaced the old anthracite jerseys with the new ones in College Football 25.

If the news is true and we never see the anthracite helmets again, we will be losing one of the best performing helmets at 13-4 since 2016 and some of the best uniform sets WSU ever showcased.

A moment of silence as we remember the anthracite helmets.

Jack Ellis/CougCenter

Jack Ellis/CougCenter

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports