Cougars

Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images The Cougars took advantage of a loss by Michigan State. The Washington State Cougars’ nice road victory over the Houston Cougars on Friday allowed them to move up to No. 19 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls this morning. There wasn’t a lot of upheaval above the Cougs in the polls after Saturday’s action on the field, but WSU was one of the teams to benefit from the road win by the Arizona State Sun Devils over the Michigan State Spartans, who had been ranked No. 18 but dropped out in this week’s poll. The Pac-12 put two new teams in the AP poll this week, as the 3-0 Sun Devils jumped in at No. 24, while the 3-0 California Golden Bears debuted at No. 23. The Utah Utes continue to lead the way, moving up to No. 10 after leapfrogging the idle Michigan Wolverines, followed by the Oregon Ducks (No. 16), Cougs, and Washington Huskies (No. 22). That means WSU’s remaining schedule now looks like this: vs. UCLA at No. 10 Utah at No. 24 Arizona State vs. Colorado

Morgan Weaver and Elyse Bennett scored in the opening 20 minutes of action to lead WSU past LMU, 2-1, Sunday in Pullman.

Morgan Weaver and Elyse Bennett scored in the opening 20 minutes of action to lead WSU past LMU, 2-1, Sunday in Pullman.

Morgan Weaver and Elyse Bennett scored in the opening 20 minutes of action to lead WSU past LMU, 2-1, Sunday in Pullman.

Morgan Weaver and Elyse Bennett scored in the opening 20 minutes of action to lead WSU past LMU, 2-1, Sunday in Pullman.

Morgan Weaver and Elyse Bennett scored in the opening 20 minutes of action to lead WSU past LMU, 2-1, Sunday in Pullman.

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports Has a better mustache ever started an NFL game? Nope. The legend of Gardner Minshew II continues to grow. The former Washington State Cougars quarterback will become the first Mike Leach quarterback* to start an NFL game today when his Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans. If you live in some parts of Texas, New Mexico, a sliver of Oklahoma, parts of Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and a small part of Alabama, you can catch the game on CBS starting at 1 p.m. EST. The rest of you? I hope you have NFL RedZone, or find a local bar that does. Minshew, as you know, is starting in place of the injured Nick Foles. It’s been nice to see the rest of the nation and NFL fans—who clearly do not overlap a ton with college football fans—discover Minshew and all that makes him who he is, like jock strap stretching, his mustache and more. And oh by the way, this was making the rounds on Twitter yesterday, but this is from the Alamo Bowl flight and not Minshew’s fli

Check out the postgame notes and top social media posts from the win at Houston.

Check out the postgame notes and top social media posts from the win at Houston.

Check out the postgame notes and top social media posts from the win at Houston.

Check out the postgame notes and top social media posts from the win at Houston.

Check out the postgame notes and top social media posts from the win at Houston.

Cougars sweep Liberty to start the season 3-0 inside Bohler Gym.

Cougars sweep Liberty to start the season 3-0 inside Bohler Gym.

Cougars sweep Liberty to start the season 3-0 inside Bohler Gym.

Cougars sweep Liberty to start the season 3-0 inside Bohler Gym.

Cougars sweep Liberty to start the season 3-0 inside Bohler Gym.

The 2019-20 season begins at home as the Cougs host a 15-team tournament at Palouse Ridge.

The 2019-20 season begins at home as the Cougs host a 15-team tournament at Palouse Ridge.

The 2019-20 season begins at home as the Cougs host a 15-team tournament at Palouse Ridge.

The 2019-20 season begins at home as the Cougs host a 15-team tournament at Palouse Ridge.

The 2019-20 season begins at home as the Cougs host a 15-team tournament at Palouse Ridge.

The Husky Invitational runs Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 16-17 at the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.

The Husky Invitational runs Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 16-17 at the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.

The Husky Invitational runs Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 16-17 at the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.

The Husky Invitational runs Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 16-17 at the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.

The Husky Invitational runs Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 16-17 at the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.

Three big games took over the airwaves on Friday night as college football Week 3 got kicked off, and fans were treated to some impressive performances. Wake Forest hosted North Carolina to get things started. Around halftime of that game, Kansas and Boston College kicked off in Chestnut Hill. Capping the evening off, No. 20 Washington State took on D’Eriq King and the Cougars in Houston. All three games provided some exceptional entertainment value. These are the players who stood out for their individual performances. Carter Stanley, quarterback, Kansas Based on what Carter Stanley did the first two weeks of this season, there was plenty of noise that he shouldn’t even start in Week 3. At the least, nobody was really expecting him to go supernova on Boston College Friday night. Yet that’s exactly what happened, as this senior quarterback took command of the offense and put on a memorable performance. Stanley was almost perfect throwing the ball in the first half, completing 13-of-15 for 165 yards and three

It was the Washington State defensive performance in the second half that made the difference in this meeting of master and pupil.

A late interception sees Houston hit the locker room with a 14-7 lead.

The Washington State Cougars offense is used to racking up points early and creating big plays. While it took a little longer to get things rolling, quarterback Anthony Gordon finally struck gold with his go-to receiver. Washington State found itself trailing 7-0 midway through the second quarter against Houston Friday night when Gordon dropped back in the pocket and saw wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. open deep down the field. A flick of the wrist led to a beautiful dime, and Winston Jr. walked in for the game-tying touchdown. It’s a connection that first developed during their time together at City College of San Francisco. Now Winston Jr. is burning defenses and catching touchdown passes on national television at the highest collegiate level. This is the connection that helps fuel Mike Leach’s special passing attack. The chemistry doesn’t get better than what these two playmakers have on the field and we’ll see more of it this season.

WSU continued to roll through opponents at the 2019 Cougar Challenge.

WSU continued to roll through opponents at the 2019 Cougar Challenge.

WSU continued to roll through opponents at the 2019 Cougar Challenge.

WSU continued to roll through opponents at the 2019 Cougar Challenge.

WSU continued to roll through opponents at the 2019 Cougar Challenge.

For the first time in nearly three years the Cougars fell at home in non-conference play.

For the first time in nearly three years the Cougars fell at home in non-conference play.

For the first time in nearly three years the Cougars fell at home in non-conference play.

For the first time in nearly three years the Cougars fell at home in non-conference play.

For the first time in nearly three years the Cougars fell at home in non-conference play.

The first match inside Bohler Gym this season sees the Cougars beat Idaho State.

The first match inside Bohler Gym this season sees the Cougars beat Idaho State.

The first match inside Bohler Gym this season sees the Cougars beat Idaho State.

The first match inside Bohler Gym this season sees the Cougars beat Idaho State.

The first match inside Bohler Gym this season sees the Cougars beat Idaho State.

HOUSTON (AP) After No. 20 Washington State struggled to get going early on Friday night against Houston before pulling away in the second half for a win, coach Mike Leach lamented that his team didn't have more time to play.

HOUSTON (AP) After No. 20 Washington State struggled to get going early on Friday night against Houston before pulling away in the second half for a win, coach Mike Leach lamented that his team didn't have more time to play.

HOUSTON (AP) After No. 20 Washington State struggled to get going early on Friday night against Houston before pulling away in the second half for a win, coach Mike Leach lamented that his team didn't have more time to play.

HOUSTON (AP) After No. 20 Washington State struggled to get going early on Friday night against Houston before pulling away in the second half for a win, coach Mike Leach lamented that his team didn't have more time to play.

HOUSTON (AP) After No. 20 Washington State struggled to get going early on Friday night against Houston before pulling away in the second half for a win, coach Mike Leach lamented that his team didn't have more time to play.

The Cougars open conference play Jan. 2 at home to finish off a month-long home stand.

The Cougars open conference play Jan. 2 at home to finish off a month-long home stand.

The Cougars open conference play Jan. 2 at home to finish off a month-long home stand.

The Cougars open conference play Jan. 2 at home to finish off a month-long home stand.

The Cougars open conference play Jan. 2 at home to finish off a month-long home stand.

Fans clamoring for more top matchups such as the ones we saw last Saturday will have to wait another week, as college football Week 3 features nary a single ranked-versus-ranked matchup on the schedule. We’ve got our eye on some key storylines, however, that should lead to some interesting events this weekend. Friday night fireworks in Houston Dana Holgorsen and his Houston Cougars are hosting Mike Leach’s Washington State Cougars Friday night in a nationally televised game on ESPN. Both coaches are known as offensive gurus, and they both have some talented quarterbacks at their disposal. The Cougars have lit up their first two opponents as Anthony Gordon has picked up right where Gardner Minshew left off. He’s passed for 884 yards with nine touchdowns as Washington State racked up 58 and 59 points, respectively, the first two weeks of the season. D’Eriq King hasn’t gotten off to the red-hot start many expected, but this dual-threat dynamo is still one of the most dangerous weapons in college football. This

Yardbarker's Kate Rooney and Michael Weinreb address some of the hottest issues in college football. This week's topic: Week 1's most intriguing games. Rooney: The first full week of college football has finally arrived, and with it, myriad questions and expectations. If there's anything to be gleaned from the two-game slate in "Week 0," it's that things don't always go smoothly at the outset. Florida, ranked eighth in the preseason AP poll, proved once again that those rankings are virtually meaningless. The Gators eked out a four-point win over unranked Miami while the teams racked up a combined 23 penalties for 218 yards. The nightcap on Saturday was a thrilling, if no less sloppy affair -- Hawaii escaped with a one-score win over Arizona.  All in all, the weekend was the perfect appetizer for the season. Now the full menu is available, and while there's something for every dietary need, the chef's specialty is clear: No. 16 Auburn hosts No. 11 Oregon on Saturday. It's the only Week 1 contest that feature

A classic dividing line between people has to do with pets: are you a dog or cat person? Many people prefer one over the other, while some like both, and some like neither. Then there are those who despise one or other. Mike Leach doesn’t understand the cat haters. The Washington State Cougars head coach, who is known to opine on random subjects, tweeted Tuesday about his lack of understanding regarding cat hate. When told by someone that people hate cats because the animals “think they’re superior,” Leach offered a humorous response. He said he was troubled people value the opinion of cats. Leave it to Leach to get to the bottom of a pressing issue. This is exactly why people love him.