2021 Washington State Cougars football team

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
Sun Bowl, L 21–24 vs. Central Michigan
ConferencePac–12 Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Record7–6 (6–3 Pac-12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrian Smith (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinatorCraig Stutzmann (2nd season)
Offensive schemeRun and Shoot
Defensive coordinatorJake Dickert (2nd season)
Home stadiumMartin Stadium
(Capacity: 32,952)
2021 Pac-12 Conference football standings
ConfOverall
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  6 –3   8 –5  
USC  3 –6   4 –8  
Colorado  3 –6   4 –8  
Arizona  1 –8   1 –11  
Championship: Utah 38, Oregon 10
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

After finished the regular season with a 7–5 overall record, 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
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 48:00 p.m.Utah State*
P12NL 23–2624,944
September 113:00 p.m.Portland State*
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
P12NW 44–2422,651
September 1812:30 p.m.USC
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
FOXL 14–4524,714
September 2511:30 a.m.at Utah
P12NL 13–2451,483
October 22:30 p.m.at California
P12NW 21–640,286
October 91:00 p.m.Oregon Statedagger
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
P12NW 31–2424,157
October 164:30 p.m.Stanford
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
ESPNUW 34–3126,171
October 2312:30 p.m.BYU*
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
FS1L 19–2122,541
October 3012:00 p.m.at Arizona State
FS1W 34–2146,136
November 137:30 p.m.at No. 3 Oregon
ESPNL 24–3852,327
November 196:00 p.m.Arizona
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
P12NW 44–1822,541
November 265:00 p.m.at Washington
FS1W 40–1368,077
December 319:00 a.m.vs. Central Michigan*
CBSL 21–2434,540
Source:[5]

Conference opponents not played this season: Colorado, UCLA

Game summaries

vs Utah State
See also: 2021 Utah State Aggies football team
Utah State Aggies vs Washington State Cougars - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Aggies 3 2 61526
Cougars 0 6 14323

at Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA

  • Date: September 4, 2021
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C) Sunny
  • Game attendance: 24,944
  • Referee: Mike Cuttone
  • TV announcers (P12N): Jordan Kent (Play-by-Play), Bob Davie (Analyst)
Game information

vs Portland State
See also: 2021 Portland State Vikings football team
Portland State Vikings vs Washington State Cougars - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 10 01424
Cougars 7 23 7744

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

vs USC
See also: 2021 USC Trojans football team
USC Trojans vs Washington State Cougars - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Trojans 0 7 281045
Cougars 7 7 0014

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
See also: 2021 Utah Utes football team
Washington State Cougars at Utah Utes - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cougars 0 6 7013
Utes 0 7 31424

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)

At California
See also: 2021 California Golden Bears football team
Washington State Cougars at California Golden Bears - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cougars 14 0 7021
Golden Bears 6 0 006

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
See also: 2021 Oregon State Beavers football team
Oregon State Beavers vs Washington State Cougars - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Beavers 0 10 7724
Cougars 0 3 141431

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)

vs Stanford
See also: 2021 Stanford Cardinal football team
Stanford Cardinal vs Washington State Cougars - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinal 13 3 01531
Cougars 0 20 7734

at Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA

  • Date: October 16, 2021
  • Game time: 4:30 p.m. PDT
  • Game attendance: 26,171
  • Referee: Micheal Mothershed
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Kevin Brown, Hutson Mason

vs BYU
See also: 2021 BYU Cougars football team
BYU Cougars vs Washington State Cougars - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
BYU Cougars 7 0 7721
WSU Cougars 7 0 6619

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
See also: 2021 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
Washington State Cougars vs Arizona State Sun Devils - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cougars 14 14 0634
Sun Devils 0 7 01421

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
See also: 2021 Oregon Ducks football team
Washington State Cougars vs Oregon Ducks - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cougars 0 14 01024
No. 3 Ducks 14 0 101438

at Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR

  • 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
See also: 2021 Arizona Wildcats football team
Arizona Wildcats vs Washington State Cougars - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 7 3818
Cougars 7 14 16744

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
See also: 2021 Washington Huskies football team and Apple Cup
Washington State Cougars vs Washington Huskies (Apple Cup) - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cougars 10 3 101740
Huskies 0 7 0613

at Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA

  • Date: November 26th, 2021
  • Game time: 5:10 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 68,077
  • Referee: Michael Mothershed
  • TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust, Petros Padadakis

Sun Bowl
See also: 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team and Sun Bowl
Washington State Cougars vs Central Michigan Chippewas (Sun Bowl) - Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cougars 0 0 14721
Chippewas 13 8 0324

at Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX

Awards
Player 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
Name 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
Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
TeamPollPreWk
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
Legend
    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
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. "UPDATE: Arizona Bowl canceled for 2021". KOLD-TV. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via MSN.com.
  5. "2021 Washington State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  6. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 2" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  7. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 5" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  8. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 6" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  9. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 6" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  10. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 7" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  11. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 9" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  12. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 12" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  13. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 13" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  14. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 13" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  15. "Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 13" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
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