Washington State

Washington State's offseason centered on replacing massive offensive production lost to the transfer portal, particularly at receiver where Tony Freeman (27.9 PPA) and Mackenzie Alleyne (7.7 PPA) both departed. The Cougars also lost backup quarterback Jaxon Potter to Old Dominion but return starter Zevi Eckhaus under new head coach Kirby Moore, who takes over a program that went 6-6 in 2025. JP+ rates Washington State 86th nationally with a -3.1 power rating, driven primarily by an offense that ranks 108th while the defense sits at a respectable 63rd and special teams checks in at 36th. The portal math tells the story of this transition year: 41 departures cost 79.6 PPA while 28 arrivals added just 9.3 PPA, headlined by Missouri transfer Daniel Blood at receiver.

JP+ projects 5.0 wins for Washington State in an 11-game schedule that includes challenging road trips to Washington and Kansas State plus a home date with Arizona. The Cougars should find easier sledding against Oregon State on the road and home games against Colorado State and Duquesne, but the offensive struggles suggested by their 108th ranking could make even winnable games competitive. If Moore can quickly integrate the new receiving corps around Eckhaus and the defense maintains its solid foundation, Washington State could exceed modest expectations and push toward bowl eligibility. If the offensive transition proves rocky, however, the Cougars risk falling short of even their projected win total in the Pac-12.