While many teams are starting to drag at this point in a long season, Washington State coach Jake Dickert has asked the No. 20 Cougars to give more.

Washington State faces Utah State on Saturday night in Pullman hoping to keep its longshot chances for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff alive.

“If we can give 10% more when teams normally this time of year get worn down and give 10% less, that's going to be the edge that we need to succeed,” Dickert said. “So as we go throughout these final four games, take them one at a time and stay focused on us.”

The Cougars (7-1, No. 21 CFP ) remain part of the Pac-12, which is down to just two teams after realignment shifted the college football landscape. The conference was dropped from the Power Five, so the Cougars would have to eke their way into the 12-team playoffs as an at-large team.

It's not impossible, but it depends on several things falling in Washington State's favor the rest of the way — like whether No. 12 Boise State can secure an automatic bid as the highest-ranked Group of Five team. And whether other higher-ranked teams fall down or out of the rankings.

In other words, it's complicated. But if the Cougars can finish 11-1, they've mostly done what they can do. Blowout wins in the final four games would help.

Get our free mobile app

“There's going to be a lot of things as we go through the finish line that we cannot control, and it deserves zero of our attention,” Dickert said. “We've just got to keep attacking the work of what it takes to win, because at the end of the day it's just about stacking up 1-0s. Stay in the dark, don't let the noise suffocate you."

Both Washington State and Utah State are coming off byes. The Cougars' last game was a 29-26 come-from-behind victory at San Diego State.

The Aggies (2-6) are facing their fourth ranked opponent this season after games against USC, Utah and Boise State. Utah State’s last game was a 27-25 victory over Wyoming, won on a last-minute field goal.

Diminished D

Utah State is allowing 42 points a game, second-to-last in the nation. Only Kent State (46.6) is allowing more. They’re also allowing opponents 244 rushing yards a game, also second-to-last nationally, and 254 passing yards per game.

One reason for the defensive struggles is that the Aggies have been inundated with season-ending injuries. They've lost defensive tackles Miguel Jackson and Taz Williams, defensive end Enoka Migao, and linebackers Clyde Washington, Jon Ross Maye and Logan Pili.

Looking ahead

The two teams left in the Pac-12, Washington State and Oregon State, have been busy on two fronts. First, trying to fill out a schedule for next season and second, trying to rebuild the conference for 2026.

The schedule part is complete. The Pac-12 opted out of its scheduling agreement with the Mountain West for next season. So instead the Cougars built a slate that will include road trips to Ole Miss and Virginia.

Washington State and Oregon State will play each other twice in 2025, once in Corvallis and then in Pullman.

“I thought the administration was in a tough spot to put all those things together. Obviously we have to do this, right? We have to go far and wide to find those games. It wasn't easy, just kind of knowing the behind the scene of what went into it all,” Dickert said.

As for the Pac-12 rebuild, five Mountain West schools will join in 2026, including Utah State, Boise State, Fresno, San Diego State and Colorado State. The conference also added Gonzaga as a non-football member. The Pac-12 needs one more football member to be recognized under NCAA rules.

Utah State (2-6, 1-3 Mountain West) at No. 20 Washington State (7-1, 0-0 Pac-12, No. 21 CFP), 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday (The CW).

BetMGM College Football Odds: Washington State by 20 1/2.

Series Record: Series tied 2-2.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Both Washington State and Utah State are coming off bye weeks. The Cougars are 7-1 for the first time since 2018. The Cougars have reached bowl eligibility in eight of the last nine seasons. Washington State has won three straight overall and five straight at home. The Cougs are coming off a 29-26 come-from-behind win at San Diego State. The Aggies are playing under interim coach Nate Dreiling, who is also the defensive coordinator. Utah State's last game was a 27-25 victory over Wyoming, won on a last minute field goal. Utah State and Washington State will both be in the re-built Pac-12 starting in the 2026 season. The Aggies are one of five Mountain West teams that will join the conference.

KEY MATCHUP

The Aggies’ defense is a clear weakness against the Cougars. Utah State is allowing 42 points a game, second-to-last in the nation. Only Kent State (46.6) is allowing more. They're also giving up opponents 244 rushing yards a game, also second-to-last nationally, and 254 passing yards per game. Utah State has also lost six players from the defense to season-ending injuries this year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Utah State: QB Spencer Petras, who spent the last five seasons at Iowa, ranks eighth nationally with an average of 304.2 passing yards a game. He's got a career-high 13 touchdown passes. He's 56 passing yards shy of his career high.

Washington State: QB John Mateer is averaging 341 yards in total offense per game, ranking him fourth in the country. He has thrown for 2,153 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's also Washington State's leading rusher with 575 yards and 10 scores.

FACTS & FIGURES

Washington State has the nation's 12th-ranked scoring offense with an average of 38.1 points per game. … Utah State is 4-4 in its last eight road games. … The Cougars' defense has 15 takeaways, good for 26th nationally. Cornerback Ethan O’Connor has three interceptions. … Washington State has three fourth-quarter comebacks for wins this season. …. Utah State is 6-69 all-time against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. The Aggies have faced four ranked teams this season alone — USC, Utah and Boise State. It is just the third time in school history the team has faced that many ranked opponents in a single season.