Three Bold Predictions for WSU vs. Oregon State

It has been 316 days since the Washington State Cougars last took the field in an actual college football game. Since then, we saw Mike Leach and his coaching staff leave, Nick Rolovich and his coaching staff arrive, spring football wiped out by COVID-19, the Pac-12 cancel the season before finally re-starting the season, some player opt-outs and then a fall camp in mostly cold weather that ended with a true freshman claiming the top spot on the quarterback depth chart.

Whew.

College football fans have become conditioned to get the itch in late July when media days begin with fall camps around the corner. This has been a year of re-conditioning. It’s Nov. 7 and we’re in week 1 for the Pac-12 when—in a normal year—we’d be in week 10. WSU was originally scheduled to play at Colorado today and we’d be in the thick of postseason projections across the conference.

Alas, we must only worry about what we can control, and what we can control when it comes to WSU football is our fandom. I’ll be on my couch like all other Coug fans at 7:30 PST tonight with the TV turned to FS1 eager to see what the 2020 version on Cougar football will bring us. We have a true freshman starting at quarterback (make sure you read Theo Lawson’s awesome story on Jayden de Laura). We have a new offense that isn’t too far removed from the old offense. We have a new defensive coordinator with a good track record at a G5 school and hopefully a better defense.

With that, it’s time to—finally!—make some awful, horrible predictions that will probably never be right:

Three Bold Predictions

1. Jayden de Laura will play the entire game, throw three touchdown passes and run for no less than 60 yards (not counting sacks or—*crosses fingers*—kneel downs) and one touchdown.
2. Joey Hobert will score two touchdowns.
3. The FS1 broadcasters will mention the Nick Rolovich-Jonathan Smith recruiting snafu from last year before the first commercial break.

The biggest question mark this fall was at the quarterback position. De Laura beating out Cammon Cooper and Gunner Cruz as a true freshman raised some eyebrows and it sounds as if all three will get playing time this season. And why not? It’s a truncated season where nobody loses a year of eligibility. Might as well try a few things for comfort.

But not tonight.

Also, Hobert has to score with his bare hands after the hype we’ve heard about him this fall, right?

Lastly, that recruiting snafu is well behind the two coaches and while I understand it’s a great storyline for media, it’s old news and just about everybody has moved on. So of course they’ll bring it up, right?

Links

John Blanchette: Greetings from pass-happy Pullman, where airing it out is nothing new | The Spokesman-Review
If you need to put a date to it, then Jan. 4, 1976, might be as good as any.

With the backing of those who pioneered it, Nick Rolovich is ready to lead a run-and-shoot revolution at Washington State | The Spokesman-Review
The headline came from a 2014 article in Grantland, depicting the inevitable demise of an offensive system that kicked around for a number of decades, changed the way many looked at football, but never had the stamina or substance to grab a permanent seat in the NFL, let alone grow in popularity at the college level.

Breaking down Washington State's 2020 football schedule, game by game | The Spokesman-Review
A look at each of the Cougars six known opponents this fall.

Breaking down every position on Washington State's 2020 depth chart | The Spokesman-Review
College football coaches habitually say their depth chart is written in sand. It’s often a way of keeping competition alive between players, even if some are notably more talented than others.

The success of first-year coaches with Washington State football | The Spokesman-Review
Washington State will have yet another first-year football coach this season: former Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich.

Washington State's Max Borghi, Abraham Lucas, Blake Mazza named to Preseason All-Pac-12 First Team | The Spokesman-Review
No matter what else Washington State does this season, the Cougars should be able to run the ball well, especially behind the right tackle, and put three points on the board whenever they're remotely in field goal range.

Oregon State Football: Opponent Preview - Washington State - Building The Dam
We are just days away from Oregon State sports. Here’s what to look forward to.

Washington State vs. Oregon State odds, line: 2020 college football picks, predictions from proven model - CBSSports.com
The SportsLine Projection Model has a pick for the clash between Oregon State and Washington State

Washington State vs. Oregon State Football Prediction and Preview | AthlonSports.com
Our college football experts predict, pick and preview the Washington State Cougars (WSU) vs. Oregon State Beavers (OSU) Pac-12 game, with kickoff time, TV channel and spread.

At long last, the WSU Cougars are set to embark on 2020 season — starting with a tough challenge against Oregon State | The Seattle Times
Two months later than originally planned – and with a schedule nearly half the size – because of the coronavirus, new coach Nick Rolovich and his run-and-shoot offense will play...

What is Oregon State facing in a retooled, Nick Rolovich-coached Washington State? Q and A with a Cougar beat writer - oregonlive.com
The Cougars have many questions heading into the season, including an offense that goes from the Air Raid to Run 'N Shoot

Oregon State safety David Morris available to play Saturday against Washington State, players to wear ‘Dam Change’ helmet decals - oregonlive.com
Outside linebacker Addison Gumbs still battling a hamstring injury and won't play against the Cougars