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This is the latest installment in our series of stories previewing the 2020 Washington State Cougars football season. For other installments, click here.
Let’s be honest: Picking games this season is even more of a crapshoot than it is in every other season. It’s going to be a seven-game sprint to the finish in mid-December, and nothing about the preparation for 2020 was normal.
Still ... that won’t stop us from trying to guess how it will play out! Here are our authors’ predictions for the season.
2020 Season Predictions
| Name | @OSU | ORE | @STAN | UW | @USC | CAL | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | @OSU | ORE | @STAN | UW | @USC | CAL | TOTAL |
| Jeff Nusser | WSU | ORE | STAN | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | WSU | 2-4 |
| Michael Preston | WSU | ORE | WSU | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | CAL | 2-4 |
| Mark Sandritter | WSU | ORE | WSU | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | CAL | 2-4 |
| Zane Murfitt | WSU | ORE | WSU | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | WSU | 3-3 |
| Nick Nordi | WSU | ORE | WSU | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | WSU | 3-3 |
| Kevin Dudley | OSU | ORE | WSU | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | CAL | 1-5 |
| Jesse Cassino | WSU | ORE | STAN | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | CAL | 1-5 |
| Brian Anderson | WSU | ORE | WSU | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | WSU | 3-3 |
| PJ Kendall | OSU | ORE | WSU | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | CAL | 1-5 |
| Craig Powers | WSU | ORE | WSU | LOLYEAHRIGHT | USC | CAL | 2-4 |
Jeff Nusser
I just have this feeling that the program was on a bit of a downward trajectory under Leach — that last season’s issues (especially on defense) weren’t just a one-off. For years, we’ve been able to ride the offense. Is that reasonable to expect with a true freshman QB? I just can’t talk myself into more than two wins out of the first six, while hoping for a third in the crossover.
Michael Preston
It’s an exhibition year unless we win the Apple Cup in which case I hang the banner from every light post in West Seattle.
Mark Sandritter
I think there will be a lot of growing pains with a new staff and a true freshman QB, but enough bright spots to make this a solid building “season” for the future.
Zane Murfitt
There is still a lot of talent on offense, even with the unknowns at QB. I think Max Borghi balls out and the defense gets some help via Dickert to keep WSU in games and steal a few
Nick Nordi
New coach, new offense, true freshman quarterback, and an already weird season - what can go wrong?
Kevin Dudley
The perfect storm rolled into Pullman this year, in that a new coaching staff didn’t get to have any spring ball, then hosted a non-traditional fall camp, and nobody on the roster has taken snaps at quarterback in a college football game. There isn’t a ton of depth at any position, really, but hey, maybe they surprise me. I’ve been wrong a time or two.
Jesse Cassino
It’s 2020. [shrug emoji]
Brian Anderson
This season is a roulette wheel of spring games. Whatever predictions you get right are luck and your heart knows that. You could tell me Max Borghi will lead the conference in rushing and scoring and Jayden de Laura is Freshman of the Year and I’d shrug and nod and say it sounds pretty damn good. They could also rotate QBs, never find a rhythm offensively, not fix anything on defense, and look like a mixture of confused, lost, and pissed off for 60 minutes on 6 Cougar Football Saturdays and not win a game. Sounds less good.
PJ Kendall
Too difficult of a climb, given the schedule, new quarterback and lack of non-conference warmups. They could win three if things break right, but it’s really hard to see more than one. This is a seven-game preseason anyway.
Craig Powers
Honestly, I have no idea.
*definitely not experts