:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51598845/usa-today-9588456.0.jpg)
When WSU takes on Arizona in Pullman on Saturday for Dad’s Weekend, the Cougars finally will do so with a number next to their name.
After coming back to beat Oregon State on Saturday, the Cougs (6-2 overall and 5-0 in the Pac-12) finally broke through to make their debut in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches college football polls this morning, showing up at No. 25 in both.
WSU had been 26th in both polls and benefitted from losses by Tennessee and Navy, who each dropped out of both polls. (The coaches also finally voted Houston out of their poll.)
With that, the Cougs are now ranked for the first time since late last season. The Cougars were ranked for two weeks last season and reached a high of No. 20 heading into the Apple Cup. The last time WSU was ranked in consecutive seasons was 2002 and 2003, and it’s only happened six other times in program history.
Also, there’s this:
The last time Washington (No. 4) and Washington State (No. 25) were both ranked in the #APTop25 was Sept. 28, 2003. https://t.co/VIgQJphKbu pic.twitter.com/ES8pFFWsnf
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) October 30, 2016