After Apple Cup win, could WSU make the College Football Playoff?

After Apple Cup win, could WSU make the College Football Playoff?

The "Go Cougs" crowd might soon be adopting a phrase once unthinkable: "Go Dawgs." In a season marked by intense rivalry, Washington State University (WSU) fans find themselves in the unusual position of rooting for their cross-state foes, the University of Washington (UW) Huskies. Wazzu's recent 24-19 victory over Washington was one of their most satisfying wins in program history, momentarily soothing the sting of the Pac-12's dissolution. But now, something bigger is at stake: a potential College Football Playoff (CFP) berth — with a little help from UW. Sorry for jinxing it by looking ahead, but Washington State, currently 3-0, may have already faced their toughest opponent in the Huskies. This has more to do with the Cougars' remaining schedule than their own strength. Their upcoming games feature San Jose State, Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii, San Diego State, Utah State, New Mexico, Oregon State, and Wyoming—none of which are ranked in the AP Top 25. Boise State is close, receiving enough votes to land at 27th, while WSU comes in at 31st. Some fans might argue that beating Washington makes the season a success, no matter what happens next. Others would be satisfied with a rivalry win and a bowl appearance. But what if the Cougs go undefeated and secure a CFP spot? Or even finish 11-1 and sneak into the playoff? As of now, ESPN’s playoff predictor gives WSU a 24% chance to make the 12-team playoff, tied for 16th among all FBS teams. Ironically, they're tied with Boise State, whom the predictor currently favors in their upcoming game on September 28. Even with one loss, WSU would still have a shot at the CFP, with a better-than-50% chance if that loss comes against Boise State, Oregon State, or Fresno State. Here’s where UW (and Texas Tech) comes into play. Wazzu fans need both these Power Four teams to have strong seasons to help bolster WSU’s résumé. Can Texas Tech, whom WSU beat 37-16 in Week 1, make noise in the new-look Big 12? And can UW pull off an upset against Big Ten heavyweights like Michigan, Oregon, or USC? The Huskies have been a mystery this season, with significant roster turnover and seven NFL draft picks departing. It’s tough to predict how they'll fare, but WSU’s win might have exposed a mediocre UW team — or maybe the Huskies are a solid squad that simply lost to a strong opponent. Few WSU fans are happy about the collapse of the Pac-12, with its deep traditions and financial benefits, but the current landscape might actually give the Cougars a better shot at the CFP than the old Pac-12 ever could. And if they make it that far, they’ll have the nation rooting for them. It’s still unclear how good WSU truly is, despite their perfect record and high offensive output. But averaging nearly 44 points per game and securing wins against two major conference teams is about as promising a start as they could have hoped for. WSU could become the new rallying point for Pacific Northwest sports, just as UW was last year. Meaningful games in late November? Few in Pullman would turn that down. Of course, it’s easy to get excited in September, before the schedule reveals any weaknesses. Colorado experienced this last year, starting 3-0 before finishing 4-8. But this feels a little different. No one — not even the most optimistic Coug fans — expects WSU to compete for a national title. However, they do have a chance to become a national darling. For that to happen, a lot will need to go right, including success from the Huskies. A small price to pay, perhaps, for a potential dream season. Regardless of where Washington ends up, WSU’s bragging rights are secure.