Three weeks into the 2024 college football season the Cougs are 3-0. They have beaten two Power 4 opponents and now move into the Mountain West Conference slate of games.

As is the case every year, the better your opponents are, the better you look. When your opponents win before you play, it looks better when you beat them. When they win after you play, the win you hold over them looks even more impressive.

Thus, keeping tabs on all of WSU’s 2024 opponents is critical, especially with the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams this season, and WSU already receiving 30 votes in the post-week three AP Poll. So, without further ado, your 2024-week three ops report.

Portland State Vikings (0-2) – Week three game canceled

The Cougs beat PSU 70-30 in week one at home, and in week two Portland State lost 43-16 against Weber State University. Overall, the Vikings are not only an FCS team but a struggling one. They still have time to get in the win column in Big Sky play, but as of now are largely just a tune-up game in the eyes of most for WSU.

Their week three game against South Dakota, a formidable FCS opponent, was canceled, due to a case of pertussis (whooping cough) getting into the PSU locker room, per the AP. There has been no announcement on rescheduling.

Next game: At Boise State (1-1) (health status pending)

Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-1) – Win 66-21 over North Texas (2-1)

The Cougs trampled TTU in their week two matchup at Gesa Field 37-16. But in week three, the Red Raider offense that scored 52 in week one was back to their explosive ways. Quarterback Behren Morton threw for 273 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions on just 19 passes while running back Tahj Brooks returned from injury to run for 109 yards and a touchdown.

TTU’s offense is currently ninth in the nation in yards per game with 538.7 and 14^th in scoring offense with 44.7 points per game. Although against inferior competition, TTU’s week three win was a show of dominance the Cougs love to see after having beaten them this season.

Next game: Home vs Arizona State (3-0)

Washington Huskies (2-1) – Loss 24-19 to WSU

To keep it short, WSU beat UW in the Apple Cup, making a statement to UW and the college football world alike. Despite the rivalry, Coug fans should hope to see UW make a run in the Big 10 to prove the win was more than taking advantage of a rebuilding opponent.

Next game: Home vs Northwestern (2-1)

San Jose State (3-0) – Win 31-10 over Kennesaw State (0-3)

WSU welcomes in an undefeated opponent on Friday night for Cougs after action. They will face a former WSU QB and the nation’s leader in all major receiving categories. For more on this game see our game preview.

Next game: At WSU (3-0)

Boise State Broncos (1-1) – Bye Week

Week one was a dominant offensive, but tough defensive week for the Broncos winning 56-45 over Georgia Southern (2-1) and week two was the same case in a 37-34 loss to the No. 7 Oregon Ducks at the time (3-0). The team is led by Ashton Jeanty, a junior running back who ran for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns with 569 receiving yards and five touchdowns a season ago.

This year Jeanty is in the Heisman conversation, having run for 267 yards and six touchdowns on just 20 carries in week one and then running for 192 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries in week two. He is averaging 10.2 yards per carry this season so far and will be a brutal test for any defense in his way.

The Broncos are the best competition left on the Cougs schedule this season, receiving the second most votes among non-ranked teams with 62 in the most recent AP Poll. The two teams will square off in week six on the Blue Turf in Boise, Idaho.

Next game: Home vs Portland State (0-2) (Health pending)

Fresno State Bulldogs (2-1) – Win 48-0 vs New Mexico State (1-2)

A newly announced member of the Pac-12 in 2026, the Bulldogs have begun 2024 strong, with their only loss coming in week one 30-10 at No. 9 ranked Michigan, the defending National Champions. FSU could be a frisky MWC opponent who could look good on the Coug’s resume if they can continue to win before they play in week seven.

Next game: At New Mexico (0-3)

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (1-2) – Loss 31-13 at Sam Houston State

Hawaii got off to a strong start to 2024 beating Delaware State 35-14 and leading UCLA in week two going into the fourth quarter on the road. After forfeiting the lead late and losing to the Bruins, however, Hawaii was steamrolled on the road by the SHSU Bearkats.

Overall, the Rainbow Warriors have developed a defensive identity this season, and hopefully, they can use it to build as much momentum going into a week eight matchup with the Cougs as possible.

Next game: Home vs Northern Iowa (2-1)

San Diego State Aztecs (1-2) – Loss 31-10 at California at Berkeley

The Aztecs have benefited but also fallen victim to a tough non-conference slate in 2024. They dominated Texas A&M Commerce 45-14 in week one but fell 21-0 to Oregon State in week two and then fell by 21 to Cal. SDSU is also set to join the Pac-12 in 2026 and could help enhance the national perception of the conference by rattling off wins in the MWC.

The Aztecs and Cougs will square off in week nine in San Diego.

Next game: At Central Michigan (1-2)

Utah State Aggies (1-2) – Loss 38-21 vs Utah

Reigniting an old rivalry, the Aggies fell to the No. 12 ranked Utes at home in blowout fashion. USU defeated Robert Morris University in week one 36-14 but fell 48-0 in week two at USC.

The Aggies have been unable to hold up against superior competition so far in 2024 and it does not get any easier the next two week with Boise State and UNLV (3-0). Any value from a potential victory over USU in week 11 for the Cougs will likely only come from not losing, and it will likely require a large margin of victory.

They have a chance to bounce back against the winless Temple Owls next week.

Next game: At Temple (0-3)

New Mexico Lobos (0-3) – Loss 45-19 at Auburn (2-1)

Don’t lose. The Lobos have struggled immensely in 2024 losing to FCS Montana State in week one and then to 21st-ranked Arizona 61-39 in week two before being dismantled by Auburn a week ago. They now enter the MWC portion of the schedule winless and with no momentum.

The Cougs will face the Lobos in week 12 in New Mexico, where the final score is likely to matter more than the result.

Next game: At Fresno State (2-1)

Oregon State Beavers (2-1) – Loss 49-14 at Oregon

After a 2-0 start with wins over Idaho State and SDSU, the Beavs headed to Eugene for the Civil War game. WSU took down the rival Huskies in the Apple Cup, but unfortunately, the other half of the Pac-12 had little success at Autzen Stadium against the Ducks.

OSU is still finding their footing after former head coach Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State this offseason with 25 players transferring out as well including the top two QBs and top RB from the 2023 team. They are led this year by Idaho transfer QB Gevani McCoy and first-year head coach Trent Bray.

If their 21-0 win over SDSU meant anything, it is they can certainly compete with MWC opponents and could set up an electric week 13 ‘-“Pac-2” matchup with the Cougs in Corvallis, Ore.

Next game: Home vs Purdue (1-1)

Wyoming Cowboys (0-3) – Loss 34-14 vs BYU

The Cowboys are a shell of their old selves in 2024 already 0-3 including a 48-7-week one loss to ASU and a 17-13 loss at home to FCS Idaho (2-1). It is yet to be seen if they can turn it around, but as of now, it looks to be a potential tune-up game for WSU in the final week of the regular season.

Next game: At North Texas (2-1)

The WSU ops report will be updated weekly, keeping tabs on players, wins, losses and trends of both former and future Cougar opponents throughout the 2024 season.