Our Washington State Cougars are in the Land of Enchantment today, readying for an evening affair with the New Mexico Lobos, a team that started off the season horribly before righting the ship somewhat. The Lobos opened with a loss to FCS Montana State (who might just win the FCS national championship) and then proceeded to lose three more before reversing that streak and winning three straight. They’ve gone 2-1 since, so you could say they’re a streaky team.
The Cougs, meanwhile, are on a streak of their own. After opening the season 4-0, they lost to Boise State on the road before ripping off four straight. They sit 8-1 and no. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Jesse already laid out who you should be rooting for to get the Cougs miraculously in the top 12 by season’s end. Odds are long, but they ain’t zero.
But those odds increase somewhat with a win today in Albuquerque. And to win, the Cougs will need to contain New Mexico dual threat quarterback Devon Dampier. WSU hasn’t faced a true dual threat QB yet this season, and if Dampier isn’t running through the WSU defense, it’ll be Lobos’ running back Eli Sanders. He’s gone for 834 yards (7.1 yards a carry) on the ground this season, just behind Dampier’s 872 yards (7.9 yards per carry).
The Lobos will definitely get their rushing yards tonight, whether it’s Dampier or Sanders. WSU will need to limit the explosives and breakdowns and get off the field, because the Lobo defense is giving up 477 yards and 38 points a game, good enough for….checks notes….fifth-worst in the nation.
WSU has its own dual threat quarterback, of course, in John Mateer. He’ll need to keep the WSU offense on the field (and in the end zone). The cliche goes that the best defense is a good offense, and the less the WSU defense is on the field and missing tackles (a huge struggle this season), the better the chances are for WSU to get to 9-1.
Talk about it here, and go Cougs!
When
This is WSU’s sixth game that starts under the lights this season, as kickoff is 6:30 p.m. PT, 7:30 p.m. New Mexico time.
Where
University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you’re like me and wondered why a stadium has such a boring name, apparently it was called Dreamstyle Stadium after a local construction company bought the naming rights for $10 million over 10 years in 2017. But in 2020, the relationship between the university and Dreamstyle soured for some reason, and there went the naming rights.
How to Watch
FS1, with Dan Hellie and Petros Papadakis on the call.
The Line
WSU, -10.5, O/U is 72.5
Remember Him?
Former WSU edge rusher Gabriel Lopez now suits up for the Lobos. Lopez had just one tackle in 11 appearances over three seasons while he was in Pullman. At New Mexico, Lopez started all 12 games last season and had a defensive-line leading 26 tackles. This year, Lopez has eclipsed that mark with 27 tackles, including eight against Wyoming.
New Mexico also has Dominic Tatum on its roster, a one-time Coug. Tatum was on the WSU roster just last season after transferring from Utah State and recorded no stats in the crimson and gray. At New Mexico, the safety has recorded just two tackles.
All the best to Lopez and Tatum….BUT NOT TODAY.
Great (and not so great) moments in WSU’s history at University Stadium
Let’s start with the good memory.
Coming off their third straight 10-win season, the Cougs opened the 2004 football schedule with a trip to Albuquerque with a mostly new roster, including quarterback Josh Swogger. After the teams went into halftime with the always exciting 0-0 score, the game suddenly started when Swogger hit Chris Jordan for a touchdown. New Mexico scored the next 14 points to take a one-score lead into the fourth quarter, and then extended the lead to 17-7 after a field goal. A Trandon Harvey touchdown got WSU within three, and then the WSU defense came up big. Omowale Dada blocked a punt that set up the game-winning touchdown by tight end Troy Bienemann.
WSU was 1-0 and we all thought we were on our way to another 10-win season. Alas, we only got halfway, as the Cougs finished a disappointing 5-6.
The not-so-great moment at University Stadium? I don’t even need to remind you.