Washington State visits New Mexico to extend winning streak (TIP)

Our Washington State Cougars are in the Land of Enchantment today, ready for an evening affair with the New Mexico Lobos, a team that started the season horribly before righting the ship somewhat. The Lobos opened with a loss to FCS Montana State (who might just win the FCS national championship) and then proceeded to lose three more before turning that streak around and winning three in a row. They’ve gone 2-1 since, so you could say they’re a streaky team.

The Cougs, meanwhile, are on a streak of their own. After opening the season 4-0, they lost to Boise State on the road before ripping off four in a row. They sit 8-1 and no. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Jesse has already stated who you should be rooting for the Cougs to miraculously finish in the top 12 at the end of the season. The odds are long, but they are not zero.

But those odds increase somewhat with a win today in Albuquerque. And to win, the Cougs will have to contain dual-threat New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier. WSU has yet to face a true dual threat QB this season, and if Dampier doesn’t run through the WSU defense, Lobos running back Eli Sanders will. He has 834 yards (7.1 yards per carry) on the ground this season, just behind Dampier’s 872 yards (7.9 yards per carry).

The Lobos will definitely get their rushing yards tonight, whether it’s Dampier or Sanders. WSU will have to limit the explosives and breakdowns and get off the field because the Lobo defense is giving up 477 yards and 38 points a game, good enough for….checking notes….fifth-worst in the nation.

WSU, of course, has its own dual-through quarterback in John Mateer. He will need to keep the WSU offense on the field (and in the end zone). The cliché goes that the best defense is a good offense, and the less the WSU defense is on the field and missing tackles (a huge struggle this season), the better the chances are for WSU to go 9-1.

Talk about it and go Cougs!

When

This is WSU’s sixth game to start under the lights this season, as kickoff is 6:30pm PT, 7:30pm New Mexico time.

Where

University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you’re like me and wondered why a stadium has such a boring name, apparently it was called Dreamstyle Stadium after a local construction company bought the naming rights for $10 million over 10 years in 2017. But in 2020, the relationship between the university and Dreamstyle soured for some reason and there went the naming rights.

That’s how you see

FS1, with Dan Hellie and Petros Papadakis on the call.

The line

WSU, -10.5, O/U is 72.5

Do you remember him?

Former WSU edge rusher Gabriel Lopez is now suiting up for the Lobos. Lopez had just one tackle in 11 games over three seasons while in Pullman. At New Mexico, Lopez started all 12 games last season and had a defensive line leading 26 tackles. This year, Lopez has surpassed that mark with 27 tackles, including eight against Wyoming.

New Mexico also has Dominic Tatum on its roster, a one-time Coug. Tatum was on the WSU roster last season after transferring from Utah State and recorded no stats in the red and gray. In New Mexico, the safety has only recorded two tackles.

All the best to Lopez and Tatum….BUT NOT TODAY.

Great (and not so great) moments in WSU history at University Stadium

Let’s start with the good memory.

Coming off their third straight 10-win season, the Cougs opened the 2004 football schedule with a trip to Albuquerque with a largely new roster, including quarterback Josh Swogger. After the teams went into halftime with the always exciting 0-0 score, the game suddenly started when Swogger hit Chris Jordan for a touchdown. New Mexico scored the next 14 points to take a one-score lead into the fourth quarter, then extended the lead to 17-7 on a field goal. A Trandon Harvey touchdown got WSU within three, and then the WSU defense came up big. Omowale Dada blocked a punt that set up the game-winning touchdown by tight end Troy Bienemann.

WSU was 1-0 and we all thought we were headed for another 10 win season. Alas, we only made it halfway as the Cougs finished a disappointing 5-6.

The not-so-great moment at University Stadium? I don’t even need to remind you.