The 2021 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Nick Rolovich for the first seven games of the season. Rolovich was fired on October 18 after refusing to comply with Washington's COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert took over as the team's interim head coach for the reminder of the season. He was announced as the Cougars 34th head coach following their Apple Cup victory on November. The team played their home games in Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, and competed as members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference.
2021 Washington State Cougars football | |
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Sun Bowl, L 21–24 vs. Central Michigan | |
Conference | Pac–12 Conference |
North Division | |
Record | 7–6 (6–3 Pac-12) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Brian Smith (2nd season) |
Co-offensive coordinator | Craig Stutzmann (2nd season) |
Offensive scheme | Run and Shoot |
Defensive coordinator | Jake Dickert (2nd season) |
Base defense | 4–2–5 |
Home stadium | Martin Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 22 Oregon xy | 7 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington State | 6 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon State | 5 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
California | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington | 3 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stanford | 2 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Utah xy$ | 8 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UCLA | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona State† | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USC | 3 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colorado | 3 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona | 1 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Utah 38, Oregon 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After finishing the regular season with an overall record of 7–5, the Cougars accepted an invitation to the Sun Bowl, to face the Miami Hurricanes. On December 26, the Hurricanes announced that they would not be able to play, due to COVID-19 issues; organizers stated that they would try to secure a replacement team to face the Cougars.[1] On December 27, the Central Michigan Chippewas were named as the Sun Bowl replacement team.[2] The Chippewas had originally been scheduled to face the Boise State Broncos in the Arizona Bowl, until the Broncos had to withdraw due to COVID-19 issues and the Arizona Bowl was canceled.[3][4]
Schedule
editDate | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 4 | 8:00 p.m. | Utah State* | P12N | L 23–26 | 24,944 | |
September 11 | 3:00 p.m. | Portland State* |
| P12N | W 44–24 | 22,651 |
September 18 | 12:30 p.m. | USC |
| FOX | L 14–45 | 24,714 |
September 25 | 11:30 a.m. | at Utah | P12N | L 13–24 | 51,483 | |
October 2 | 2:30 p.m. | at California | P12N | W 21–6 | 40,286 | |
October 9 | 1:00 p.m. | Oregon State |
| P12N | W 31–24 | 24,157 |
October 16 | 4:30 p.m. | Stanford |
| ESPNU | W 34–31 | 26,171 |
October 23 | 12:30 p.m. | BYU* |
| FS1 | L 19–21 | 22,541 |
October 30 | 12:00 p.m. | at Arizona State | FS1 | W 34–21 | 46,136 | |
November 13 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 3 Oregon | ESPN | L 24–38 | 52,327 | |
November 19 | 6:00 p.m. | Arizona |
| P12N | W 44–18 | 22,541 |
November 26 | 5:00 p.m. | at Washington | FS1 | W 40–13 | 68,077 | |
December 31 | 9:00 a.m. | vs. Central Michigan* | CBS | L 21–24 | 34,540 | |
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Game summaries
editvs Utah State
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aggies | 3 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 26 |
Cougars | 0 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 23 |
Game information | ||
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vs Portland State
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
Cougars | 7 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
at Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
- Date: September 11, 2021
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C) Sunny
- Game attendance: 22,651
- Referee: Mark Duddy
- TV announcers (P12N): Greg Heister, Lincoln Kennedy
Game information | ||
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vs USC
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trojans | 0 | 7 | 28 | 10 | 45 |
Cougars | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
- Date: September 18, 2021
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. PDT
- Game attendance: -
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (FOX): Joe Davis (play-by-play) and Brock Huard (analyst)
At Utah
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cougars | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
Utes | 0 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 24 |
at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
- Date: September 25, 2021
- Game time: 11:30 a.m. PDT
- Game weather: Sunny, Wind: 3 west, Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 51,483
- Referee: Stephen Strimling
- TV announcers (P12N): Roxy Bernstein (play-by-play), Lincoln Kennedy (analyst)
Game information | ||
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At California
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cougars | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Golden Bears | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA
- Date: October 2, 2021
- Game time: 2:30 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 40,286
- Referee: Francisco Villar
- TV announcers (P12N): Matt Chazanow (play-by-play), Alex Brink (analyst), Jessamyn McIntyre (sideline)
vs Oregon State
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beavers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Cougars | 0 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 31 |
at Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
- Date: October 9, 2021
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 24,157
- Referee: Mike McCabe
- TV announcers (P12N): Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Yogi Roth, (analyst)
Game information | ||
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vs Stanford
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinal | 13 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 31 |
Cougars | 0 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
at Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
Game information | ||
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vs BYU
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BYU Cougars | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
WSU Cougars | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
at Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
- Date: October 23, 2021
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. PDT
- Game attendance: 22,541
- Referee: Kevin Hassell
- TV announcers (FS1): Cory Provus, Mark Helfrich
At Arizona State
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cougars | 14 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 34 |
Sun Devils | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ
- Date: October 30, 2021
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. PDT
- Game attendance: 46,136
- Referee: Matthew Richards
- TV announcers (FS1): Cory Provus, Mark Helfrich
At No. 3 Oregon
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cougars | 0 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
No. 3 Ducks | 14 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 38 |
- Date: November 13, 2021
- Game time: 7:40 p.m.
- Game weather: 57,858 °F (32,126 °C); Sunny;
- Game attendance: 52,327
- Referee: Mark Duddy
- TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Stormy Buonantony
vs Arizona
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildcats | 0 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 18 |
Cougars | 7 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 44 |
at Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
- Date: November 19th, 2021
- Game time: 6:10 p.m. PST
- Game attendance: 22,541
- Referee: Matthew Richards
- TV announcers (P12N): JB Long, Maurice Jones-Drew
At Washington
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cougars | 10 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 40 |
Huskies | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
- Date: November 26th, 2021
- Game time: 5:10 p.m.
- Game attendance: 68,077
- Referee: Michael Mothershed
- TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust, Petros Padadakis
Game information | ||
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Sun Bowl
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cougars | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
Chippewas | 13 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
at Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
- Date: December 31st, 2021
- Game time: 9:00 a.m. PST
- Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 46 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 34,540
- Referee: Larry Smith
- TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (Analyst), and Jamie Erdahl (Sideline)
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Awards
editPlayer | Award | Date |
---|---|---|
Travell Harris | Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week[6] | September 13, 2021 |
Brennan Jackson | Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week[7] | October 4, 2021 |
George Hicks III | Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week[8] | October 11, 2021 |
Liam Ryan | Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week[9] | October 11, 2021 |
Brennan Jackson | Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week[10] | October 18, 2021 |
Ron Stone Jr | Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week[11] | November 1, 2021 |
Jahad Woods | Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week[12] | November 22, 2021 |
Armani Marsh | Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week[13] | November 28, 2021 |
Dean Janikowski | Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week[14] | November 28, 2021 |
Jayden de Laura | Pac-12 Freshman of the Week[15] | November 28, 2021 |
Staff
editName | Position | Seasons at Washington State |
Alma mater |
---|---|---|---|
Nick Rolovich | Head coach (fired October 18) | 2 | Hawaii (2004) |
Brian Smith | Associate head coach / offensive coordinator / running backs | 2 | Hawaii (2005) |
Jake Dickert | Head coach (hired December 2) / defensive coordinator / Linebackers (until October 18) | 2 | Wisconsin–Stevens Point (2007) |
John Richardson | Assistant head coach / Cornerbacks / recruiting coordinator (fired October 18) | 2 | North Dakota State (2010) |
Craig Stutzmann | Co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks (fired October 18) | 2 | Hawaii (2002) |
Kyle Krantz | Special teams coordinator | 1 | Northern Colorado (2009) |
Andre Allen | Wide receivers | 2 | Ashford (2014) |
Mark Banker | Safeties | 2 | Springfield (MA) (1978) |
A. J. Cooper | Defensive ends | 2 | North Dakota State (2006) |
Ricky Logo | Defensive tackles (fired October 18) | 2 | North Carolina State (1992) |
Mark Weber | Offensive line (fired October 18) | 2 | Cal Lutheran (1980) |
Dwain Bradshaw | Head strength and conditioning coach | 2 | Arizona State (2014) |
Jason Cvercko | Chief of Staff | 2 | Connecticut (2011) |
Rankings
editTeam | Poll | Pre | Wk 2 |
Wk 3 |
Wk 4 |
Wk 5 |
Wk 6 |
Wk 7 |
Wk 8 |
Wk 9 |
Wk 10 |
Wk 11 |
Wk 12 |
Wk 13 |
Wk 14 |
Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington State | AP | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | |||
C | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | ||||
CFP | Not released | NR | NR | NR |
Improvement in ranking | ||
Drop in ranking | ||
Not ranked previous week | ||
No change in ranking from previous week | ||
RV | Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll |
References
edit- ^ Adelson, Andrea (December 26, 2021). "Miami out of Sun Bowl against Washington State due to COVID-19 issues in football program". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- ^ Sallee, Barrett (December 27, 2021). "Central Michigan to play Washington State in Sun Bowl after Miami pulls out due to COVID-19 issues". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Glasspiegel, Ryan (December 27, 2021). "Dave Portnoy announces Boise State out of Barstool Bowl due to COVID-19". New York Post. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ "UPDATE: Arizona Bowl canceled for 2021". KOLD-TV. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via MSN.com.
- ^ "2021 Washington State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 2" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 5" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 6" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 6" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 7" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 9" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 12" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 13" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 13" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 13" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.