Washington State Cougars vs Utah State Aggies Final — October 9, 2026
WSUOffense2026 regular season to dateUSU
WSUDefenseUSUWSURecent formUSUWSUHome and roadseason to dateUSUWSULast 10 gamesUSURest & travelrest and travel
WSURest & travelUSUAbout these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 5 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
The pre-game matchup
Washington State (0-4) visited Utah State (1-3) on Friday, October 9 at 9:00 PM ET.
Washington State has the 136th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 101st-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, Utah State has the 112th-ranked offense and the 46th-ranked defense. When Washington State has the ball, a 136th-ranked offense (−0.284 EPA per play) meets a 46th-ranked defense (−0.004 allowed); when Utah State has it, a 112th-ranked offense (−0.084) meets a 101st-ranked defense (+0.158 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Washington State offense is at 36.5% (135th) and the Utah State offense at 41.3% (119th). Washington State scores 11.8 points per game (131st) and allows 29.5 (86th); Utah State scores 13.2 (128th) and allows 24.0 (53rd).
Washington State is 1-4 and 3-2 against the spread; its last game was a 26-6 loss to Fresno State. Utah State is 1-4 and 3-2 against the spread; its last game was a 37-18 loss to Boise State.
Utah State closed as a 4.5-point favorite at home against Washington State. The spread opened at Utah State -1.5. The total closed at 43.5, down from 46.5 at the open. After removing the vig, the closing moneyline (Washington State +150, Utah State -189) prices Washington State at 38% and Utah State at 62%.
Written from the numbers available before kickoff.
Result
Final score and result vs the closing line
Washington State Cougars 16, Utah State Aggies 17
Utah State Aggies won by 1.
- Against the closing spread (Utah State Aggies -4.5): Washington State Cougars covered.
- Combined score 33 vs the closing total of 43.5: Under.
- Utah State Aggies closed at -189 on the moneyline (a 62% no-vig market-implied chance).
Before the game: market and G&W
From open to close the market moved 9 points toward Utah State Aggies.
Market numbers are the consensus moneyline with the bookmaker margin removed.
Win probability
Each team's chance of winning through the game, starting from the market's closing price (Washington State Cougars 38%, Utah State Aggies 62%) and moving with every snap until the final.
Biggest swings
- Q3 7:08 — Utah State Aggies ball, 3rd & 10 at WSU 27No Huddle-Shotgun #9 G.Brosterhous pass complete deep right to #7 E.Wood caught at WSU00, for 27 yards to the WSU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 07:08, 1ST DOWN #19 K.Afrook…Utah State Aggies 19% → 32% (+13 pts) · Drive 17 in Drive X-Ray
- Q4 10:22 — Utah State Aggies ball, 2nd & 5 at WSU 19No Huddle-Shotgun #9 G.Brosterhous pass incomplete short right to #7 E.Wood thrown to WSU15 broken up by #0 C.Solis-Lumar PENALTY USU UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduc…Washington State Cougars 53% → 69% (+16 pts) · Drive 21 in Drive X-Ray
- Q4 8:18 — Washington State Cougars ball, 3rd & 11 at WSU 11No Huddle-Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick pass complete short right to #28 J.Pedersen caught at WSU17, for 8 yards to the WSU19 fumbled by #28 J.Pedersen at WSU19 forced b…Utah State Aggies 28% → 46% (+18 pts) · Drive 22 in Drive X-Ray
- Q4 2:40 — Utah State Aggies ball, 4th & 1 at USU 47#3 L.Rehkow punt 28 yards to the WSU25, out of bounds at WSU25Washington State Cougars 30% → 47% (+17 pts) · Drive 25 in Drive X-Ray
- Q4 0:44 — Utah State Aggies ball, 3rd & 10 at USU 42No Huddle #9 G.Brosterhous rush middle for 5 yards loss to the USU37 (#21 K.Brown; #13 K.Terrell)Utah State Aggies 72% → 100% (+28 pts) · Drive 27 in Drive X-Ray
Utah State Aggies won after falling as low as 14% (Q3 10:15).
Game DNA
| Washington State | Points added | Utah State |
|---|---|---|
| -7.0 | Passingdropbacks | -18.1 |
| -4.7 | Rushingdesigned runs | -3.8 |
| +5.8 | Explosive plays1 plays · 2 plays | +8.1 |
| -9.3 | Turnovers2 giveaways · 0 giveaways | +0.0 |
| -0.2 | Special teamskicks, punts and returns | -4.6 |
| -5.5 | Penaltiespre-snap and dead-ball | +3.1 |
| +0.0 | Red zoneTDs on trips: 0 of 1 · 1 of 2 | -0.5 |
| -20.9 | All plays | -15.8 |
The biggest single gap: passing, worth about 11.1 points to Washington State Cougars. The final margin was 1.
Points added: what each team's plays added to its expected points, credited to the team with the ball. Each play counts once.
The official play, graded
The official play on this game, at the price it was sent, graded against the final score.
Every official play is logged and graded, wins and losses alike. Full track record.
Line review
Utah State Aggies closed as the market favourite at 62% and won.
The line moved toward Utah State Aggies before kickoff, and they won.
Market
Closing line and line movement
Washington State +1.5 (-104)
Washington State +4.5 (-113)
Utah State -125 53%
Utah State -189 62%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. Open = first line after both teams' previous games; Close = consensus at kickoff. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts142
- Completion %61.3%139th
- Passing yards796175th
- Yards per attempt5.6240th
- TD–INT3–5
- Rushing yards235146th
- Season line42 carries, 235 yds, 2 TD
- Receiving yards190232nd
- Season line17 catches, 190 yds
- Tackles30173rd
- Attempts116
- Completion %57.8%185th
- Passing yards764190th
- Yards per attempt6.6184th
- TD–INT6–6
- Rushing yards33165th
- Season line55 carries, 331 yds, 1 TD
- Receiving yards38829th
- Season line30 catches, 388 yds, 4 TD
- Tackles4322nd
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 255 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 7, 5:35 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | Washington State | Utah State |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateWashington State offense vs Utah State defense | 39.0%112th | 42.9%63rd |
| Early-down success rateUtah State offense vs Washington State defense | 45.1%94th | 35.7%133rd |
| 3rd-down conversion rateWashington State offense vs Utah State defense | 19.1%137th | 47.2%110th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateUtah State offense vs Washington State defense | 47.4%113th | 35.4%95th |
| Explosive play rateWashington State offense vs Utah State defense | 2.8%136th | 6.7%70th |
| Explosive play rateUtah State offense vs Washington State defense | 9.1%121st | 7.2%56th |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 58.5%12th-highest | 55.1%33rd-highest |
On 3rd down Washington State converts 19.1% (137th) against a Utah State defense allowing 47.2% (110th).
On 3rd down Utah State converts 35.4% (95th) against a Washington State defense allowing 47.4% (113th).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | Washington State | Utah State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kirby Moore | Bronco Mendenhall |
| Tenureat this school | 1st season | 2nd season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 1–4 | 7–11 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 1–4 | 147–99 |
| Offensive coordinator | Matt Miller | Robert Anae |
| Defensive coordinator | Trent Bray | Nick Howell |
Staff list as of October 6, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 3 times since 2021: Washington State won 2 and Utah State 1.
| Date | Score | Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22, 2025 bowl | Washington State 34, Utah State 21 Washington State won | ||
| Nov 9, 2024 | Utah State 28, Washington State 49 Washington State won | ||
| Sep 4, 2021 | Utah State 26, Washington State 23 Utah State won |
Meetings since 2021, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.
Teams
Washington State Cougars
- Washington State Cougars team stats
- Washington State Cougars at San Diego State Aztecs (Oct 31)
- Boise State Broncos 31, Washington State Cougars 10 (Oct 24)
- Washington State Cougars 30, Oregon State Beavers 48 (Oct 17)
- Fresno State Bulldogs 26, Washington State Cougars 6 (Oct 3)
Utah State Aggies
- Utah State Aggies team stats
- Colorado State Rams at Utah State Aggies (Oct 31)
- Utah State Aggies 17, Texas State Bobcats 20 (Oct 24)
- Utah State Aggies 18, Boise State Broncos 37 (Oct 3)
Gridiron & Wine graded a pick on this game: see the archived pick.
More NCAAF games on October 9, 2026
Dig deeper
Follow the market every day
See every game's current line on the odds board, or check our fully tracked results.
Odds boardTracked results