How the Cougs fared in Week 8 of the NFL season

The Cougars lost their second game of the season on Saturday, but at least managed to make it through the rest of the weekend without any major staff changes this time.

That allowed us to focus on the Cougs at the next level on Sunday, including one player making his first career start.

Deone Bucannon - Arizona Cardinals - Linebacker/Safety

Bucannon got the week off as the Cardinals were on their bye week.

Xavier Cooper - Free Agent- Defensive Line

Cooper was waived by the 49ers last week. The move came less than two weeks after Cooper played a season-high 32 snaps.

Joe Dahl - Detroit Lions - Offensive Line

Dahl is on injured reserve for the Lions.

Shalom Luani - Oakland Raiders - Safety

The Raiders lost on Sunday, but it was a notable game for Luani who made the first start of his NFL career. He finished with seven tackles and one pass defended. He started due to an injury, but it seems like he might be in line for increased action going forward.

Vince Mayle - Baltimore Ravens - Tight End

Mayle only played on offensive snap for the Ravens, but did make the tackle on a punt return.

Destiny Vaeao - Philadelphia Eagles - Defensive End

Vaeao recorded a pair of tackles for the Eagles in a win against the 49ers.

*****

Football:

Analysis: Washington State played ‘hard’ but ‘dumb’ in 21-point loss to Arizona | The Spokesman-Review
TUCSON, Ariz. – At the start of the season, the Washington State Cougars were supposed to be the team rich with offensive prowess, while the Arizona Wildcats were supposed to be the ones trying to find an identity. Scratch that. The Wildcats have one. The Cougars are still searching for theirs.

Washington State vs. Arizona: 6 takeaways from Arizona's win over the Cougars - Arizona Desert Swarm
Another impressive showing by Khalil Tate

Washington State-Stanford secures lunchtime kickoff for Dad’s Weekend game in Pullman | The Spokesman-Review
The 25th-ranked Cougars and 18th-ranked Cardinal are slated to kick off at 12:30 p.m. at Martin Stadium and will appear on FOX. The fifth and final home game of the season will also serve as Senior Day for WSU.

Pac-12 Week 9 power rankings: Arizona's rise continues thanks to QB Khalil Tate - Pac-12 Blog- ESPN
5. Washington State (7-2, 4-2); Lost to Arizona, 58-37: When the Cougars lose, they make sure it is done in spectacular fashion. QB Luke Falk probably would have broken the Pac-12 career record for passing yards Saturday night, but was replaced by Tyler Hilinski, who threw for 509 yards with four costly interceptions.

Basketball:

Pac-12 basketball preview: Ernie Kent sees Luke Ridnour in WSU sophomore point guard Malachi Flynn | Sports | Eugene, Oregon
Ernie Kent sat on the stage at Pac-12 media day making a comparison for sophomore point guard Malachi Flynn.

"One of the best point guards in the West, reminds me of Luke Ridnour," the Washington State coach said in reference to his former Oregon star.