Good morning, Coug fans- and happy October! Spooky season is officially upon us. While I hope none of you are trick or treating later this month, I think I have a treat for you this week- no trick required!

As you all probably know, we’re slotted to get the schedule for the season tomorrow. That’s a treat itself! However, if you’re impatient, like me, you’re probably speculating quite a bit. Here’s my predictions for what this season could look like, if you’ll humor me.

*Important PSA— I have no tangible reason behind any of the predictions I’m making, this is purely for sport. Take everything with a grain of salt. However, if I’m right, everyone owes me $5.*

First game will be against the Ducks. The chaos and uncertainty of playing UO sets the perfect tone for the inevitable chaos and uncertainty of this season- it’s fun, it gets your heart pumping, and recently it’s been hard to tell if it’ll go one way or another.

Next up I think we’ll play Cal. It’s Friday the 13th. A recipe for Cal b-s. Need I say more?

On the weekend of Thanksgiving, I think we’ll still play UW. Why? Any lingering reminders of when there was not a pandemic is welcomed. So I think they’ll keep that as Rivalry Weekend simply for nostalgia. However, if this is the case, it could go well for us! Who knows anymore!

Once December begins, I think Oregon State will be next. I say that only because I want a win, so I’m putting them there.

After OSU will be a Southern California team, whichever one hasn’t had a COVID outbreak. I hope none do, but let’s think realistically.

And lastly, on the 18th of December, I think we will play Utah. This could go either way, but I think it’s very on brand if we end with Utah, because every time I think of Utah, I’m reminded that they ended Connor Halliday’s redshirt freshman season when he played with a lacerated liver. I was at that game, in fact! The only thing I chose to remember is the kind lady seated behind my dad and I, yelling “CHEATERS— dirty, rotten Utah CHEATERS!!” the whole game. I hope she is well. I think of her often.

Let me know if you agree or disagree!

Links!

Washington state colleges devise institution-specific COVID-19 plans – Whitman Wire
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee released a proclamation on June 24, mandating that each higher education institution create an institution-specific plan while meeting certain safety requirements. Some of the requirements include limiting dining facilities capacity, developing contact-tracing protocols, limiting visitors to campus, creating new protections for workers and creating self-health certifications for those on campus....

Two months after call with Washington State coach, D-FW native Kassidy Woods reflects on how life has changed
The plan was for Kassidy Woods to opt out of playing in the 2020 football season, stay in school at Washington State, and return to the team the following...

Minshew discusses his journey into the NFL with Players’ Tribune
Gardner Minshew's path to the NFL was a difficult one as he went to four colleges in four years before being selected by the Jags.

A Grip on Sports: College football's playoffs need to expand, but this isn't the year the Pac-12 will help make it happen | The Spokesman-Review
A GRIP ON SPORTS • In a year when everything is different, from presidential politics to youth sports, why not try a little out-of-the-box thinking? Nope. Not in college football.

Washington State mailbag: Addressing the future of the running back position in a post-Max Borghi world | The Spokesman-Review
In a previous story, not long after the NCAA announced athletes wouldn’t have to forfeit a year of eligibility even if they compete this fall, I (jokingly) floated the concept of Max Borghi returning to Pullman as a fifth-year senior in 2022 to shattering every rushing, receiving and scoring record at Washington State.