Washington State Football: 5 Critical Mistakes That Are Costing Them Victories

As I sit here reviewing the Washington State Cougars' recent performances, I can't help but feel a sense of frustration mixed with genuine concern. Having followed college football for over fifteen years, I've seen programs rise and fall, but what's happening with the Cougars feels particularly painful because the potential is clearly there. The team's current 4-5 record tells only part of the story - the real tragedy lies in how they're losing games they absolutely should be winning. I remember watching their heartbreaking 24-21 loss to Oregon last month where they led until the final three minutes, and thinking about that quote from a UP graduate about strengthening both mind and heart. That philosophy seems particularly relevant to what's ailing this football program right now.

The most glaring issue I've observed is their inability to maintain offensive consistency in critical moments. Statistics don't lie - the Cougars are converting only 32% of their third downs in the fourth quarter, compared to 45% in the first three quarters. That's a dramatic drop-off that speaks to mental fatigue or perhaps inadequate conditioning. I've noticed they tend to abandon their offensive identity when under pressure, shifting from their effective air raid offense to conservative play-calling that simply doesn't suit their personnel. Against Stanford two weeks ago, they ran the ball on eight of their final twelve offensive plays despite having one of the conference's most accurate quarterbacks. This lack of trust in their system and themselves costs them dearly in close contests.

Defensively, there's a pattern of breakdowns in situational awareness that I find baffling for a Power Five program. The secondary, in particular, seems to struggle with communication during no-huddle situations, resulting in blown coverages that lead to big plays. I counted at least three instances in the Arizona game alone where defenders were visibly confused about assignments, leading to touchdowns of 40 yards or more. What's frustrating is that these aren't talent issues - these are mental lapses that should be corrected through proper coaching and preparation. The "tibayan ang utak" mentality - strengthening the mind - seems to be missing precisely when they need it most.

Special teams have been another area of concern that I believe doesn't get enough attention. The Cougars rank near the bottom of the Pac-12 in both punt return average and field goal percentage beyond 40 yards. In their matchup against Utah, a missed 38-yard field goal and a muffed punt return directly resulted in a 10-point swing that ultimately decided the game. These aren't minor issues - they're fundamental aspects of football that separate winning programs from mediocre ones. Having visited several practices this season, I've noticed special teams often get shortchanged in terms of practice time and attention to detail, which shows on game days.

Clock management has been particularly painful to watch from my perspective. Against California, the Cougars burned two timeouts in the third quarter due to confusion about formations, then had no way to stop the clock during their final drive. This isn't just on the players - the coaching staff needs to shoulder significant responsibility for these repeated errors. I've tracked their timeout usage throughout the season, and they've wasted at least 12 timeouts this year due to administrative issues or confusion. In close games, those lost opportunities to stop the clock or reconsider strategy become magnified.

Perhaps the most concerning trend I've observed is the team's inability to maintain intensity after suffering setbacks. When opponents score consecutive points, there's a visible deflation that occurs on the sideline - players hanging their heads, reduced communication, and what appears to be a loss of belief. This is where the "puso" or heart aspect becomes critical. The great teams I've covered over the years all shared that intangible quality of resilience, that ability to find the good in difficult situations and fight through adversity. Right now, Washington State seems to lack that championship mentality when facing adversity.

The solution, in my view, isn't about making dramatic changes to scheme or personnel. It's about addressing these mental and emotional aspects of the game. They need to develop what that UP graduate described - that strengthened mind and heart that allows athletes to perform under pressure and find ways to win rather than inventing ways to lose. With the talent on this roster, there's no reason they shouldn't be competing for the Pac-12 North title. But until they fix these fundamental mistakes that are costing them victories, they'll continue to be a program with potential rather than a program with results. As someone who genuinely wants to see this team succeed, I hope the coaching staff and players can embrace this challenge before another promising season slips away.