Pac-12 Era Opens With Soccer Wins, Football Ahead

Washington State is returning to conference football against Fresno State, its first true conference game since 2023 after seasons disrupted by realignment. Fans welcomed the return of familiar rivals and expressed optimism about first-year coach Kirby Moore, who previously worked at Fresno State. The Cougars enter 1-3 and are looking to address second-half struggles, including defensive fatigue, difficulty stopping the run and stalled drives. Fresno State arrives on a three-game winning streak, averaging 28 points per game and led by a careful quarterback and productive running backs.