Holiday Bowl Keys to Victory vs. Syracuse

On December 28, 2024By Littum

Washington State concludes its 2024 season on Friday when it takes on #21 Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl. The Orange will enter the game as multi-touchdown favorites against a Cougars unit that looks a lot different than it did a few weeks ago thanks to the transfer portal. Despite riding a three-game losing streak, losing a lot of its talent and now not even having their head coach anymore, WSU still wants to end its year on a high note, and here’s how they can do it in San Diego .

Rally around who’s left

Zevi Eckhaus, who has served as Washington State’s backup QB all season long, has suddenly been thrust into the starting role after John Mateer hit the portal to become a Sooner. Similarly, Pete Kaligis was bumped to the interim head coaching position in light of Jake Dickert leaving for Wake Forest. For better or worse, these two will be driving the ship for the Cougs this Friday in the Holiday Bowl, and their chances of success increase if the rest of the team and staff can rally around them and do everything in their collective power to to make life easier for them.

For Eckhaus, that means a mix of leaning on the run game and calling high-percentage throws. If he can connect on some passes early and build some confidence, it will better set him and the offense up for success for the rest of the game. Receivers like Kyle Williams and Josh Merideth will be Eckhaus’ best friends in this game. Running back Leo Pulalasi will also have to step up as Wayshawn Parker is also gone.

Limit McCord’s damage

Syracuse signal caller Kyle McCord was among the best in the ACC this year, passing for 4,326 yards and 29 touchdowns. He can take over a game, and the Cougars will have to do everything they can defensively to make sure that doesn’t happen. McCord will make his plays and get his yards, but if the Washington State D can mitigate that injury, they’ll have a shot. However, that task will be made even more difficult with players like top tackler Buddah Al-Uqdah on the transfer portal.

However, senior linebacker Kyle Thornton is still around, as are standout DBs Kapena Gushiken and Tyson Durant. Gushiken and Durant will need to lock down star receivers Jackson Meeks and Trebor Pena… McCord’s top two targets… and force the Orange to look elsewhere for their big plays. McCord isn’t much of a runner at all. If the Cougs can get pressure and force him into uncomfortable throws, anything can happen.

Establish a running game

Even with Parker gone, it’s imperative that WSU’s offense gets going in a rushing attack. Syracuse’s defense isn’t great on the ground, allowing six different opponents to rush for more than 150 yards. Through the final five games of the regular season, the Orange gave up an average of 201.2 rushing yards per game. Washington State will need to take advantage of this weakness to give themselves a leg up, and that would also help Eckhaus out a lot and open up some passes for him.

The aforementioned Pulalasi will have his chance to show the Cougars’ staff what he’s got, coming in with 241 rush yards and two touchdowns on the season. However, he will drive behind an offensive line that has also lost a key piece. Fa’alili Fa’amoe is now at Nebraska, but the rest of the front remains largely intact.

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