BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — Washington State scored 20 unanswered points to close the game and defeated Utah State 34-21 on Monday afternoon at Albertsons Stadium. The Cougars, who led 14-0 at halftime, saw their advantage cut to 20-7 in the third quarter before securing the victory with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, including a 39-yard scoring pass to Landon Wright early in the final period. Utah State’s offense, which used three quarterbacks, was held scoreless until the third quarter. The Aggies’ late rally fell short as their season record dropped to 6-7. Washington State improved to 7-6, securing a winning season before an announced crowd of 17,031.

BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — In a game that defied pregame projections and swung on a dominant defensive start, Washington State secured a winning season by defeating Utah State 34-21 on Monday afternoon at Albertsons Stadium. The most important part of the game was its opening 40 minutes, where Washington State’s defense authored a commanding and ultimately decisive performance. The Cougars completely stifled the Utah State offense, building a 20-0 lead through three quarters and setting the tone for a victory that flipped the script on statistical expectations. Entering the contest, Washington State was a narrow favorite, but national projections leaned toward a higher-scoring affair favoring the Aggies. Instead, the Cougar defense, led by a relentless front and opportunistic secondary, rendered those forecasts irrelevant. Utah State’s offense, which rotated multiple quarterbacks, was held scoreless and generated little momentum until the game’s final stages. Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, the Culver City, California, native, efficiently directed the offense amid the defensive struggle. He completed 26 of 44 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns, adding 34 yards on 14 carries. His first scoring strike, a 41-yard connection with Mackenzie Alleyne late in the first quarter, capped an early drive and gave the Cougars a lead they would not relinquish. The Cougars extended their advantage to 14-0 just before halftime. Eckhaus engineered a 13-play, 53-yard drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown pass to linebacker Hudson Cedarland on a short flip with 4:43 remaining in the second quarter. Utah State’s offense, meanwhile, managed just 116 total yards in the first half and saw two promising drives end with interceptions by Cougar defenders Matthew Durrance and Trillion Sorrell. The defensive stranglehold continued after the break. Washington State opened the third quarter with a methodical drive that resulted in a 23-yard field goal from Jack Stevens. After forcing another quick Utah State punt, the Cougars marched again, settling for another Stevens field goal, this time from 25 yards, to push the lead to 20-0 with 7:31 left in the third. Utah State finally broke through on its ensuing possession. A 43-yard deep ball from Bryson Barnes to Brady Boyd set up the Aggies at the Washington State 17. Four plays later, Barnes scrambled left for a 2-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 20-7 with 2:27 left in the third quarter. The Aggies’ momentum was short-lived. Washington State responded emphatically on the first play of the fourth quarter. Eckhaus found Landon Wright deep over the middle for a 39-yard touchdown, restoring a three-score lead at 27-7. Utah State, showing resilience, answered with a 75-yard drive. Backup quarterback Jacob Conover, who relieved Barnes, found Boyd for a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it 27-14 with 10:09 remaining. Washington State effectively sealed the game with a clock-chewing, 79-yard touchdown drive. Backup quarterback Julian Dugger, who entered for a series, provided the exclamation point, breaking a 34-yard touchdown run on a designed keeper with 4:06 left to extend the Cougar lead to 34-14. Conover led a final, hurried Utah State touchdown drive, connecting with Javen Jacobs on a 26-yard pass with 1:48 to play for the final margin. The Aggies’ attempted onside kick was recovered by Washington State, allowing the Cougars to run out the clock. While Eckhaus orchestrated the offense, running back Maxwell Woods provided crucial balance, rushing for 117 yards on just nine carries. His 48-yard burst on the first play of the second half ignited Washington State’s first scoring drive of the third quarter. Joshua Meredith was Eckhaus’s top target, catching eight passes for 84 yards. For Utah State, the offensive struggles were widespread. Starter Bryson Barnes completed just 9 of 21 passes for 116 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions before being replaced. Jacob Conover provided a late spark, completing 5 of 7 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in relief. Brady Boyd was a bright spot with four catches for 99 yards and a score. Defensively, Utah State safety Brevin Hamblin recorded a game-high 12 tackles, while linebacker John Miller had nine tackles and a half-sack. For Washington State, linebacker Caleb Francl led the team with eight tackles, and the defensive unit collected three interceptions and multiple sacks. The victory improved Washington State’s record to 7-6, ensuring a winning season. Utah State fell to 6-7 with the loss. An announced crowd of 17,031 attended the Monday afternoon contest at the home of the Boise State Broncos, a neutral site for the Aggies’ final game of the season.

Two 6-6 Teams Clash in Boise Bowl Game BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — Two teams looking to secure a winning season will meet when Washington State faces Utah State in a postseason bowl game at Albertsons Stadium on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. Both the Cougars and Aggies enter with identical 6-6 records, making this contest a final opportunity to finish above .500. Washington State (6-6) arrives with momentum from a dominant 32-8 victory over Oregon State in its regular-season finale on Nov. 29. Quarterback Zevi Eckhaus orchestrated that win, accounting for 260 total yards and two touchdowns. The Cougars’ rushing attack, led by Angel Johnson and Kirby Vorhees, combined for 106 yards and two scores in that game. Washington State’s season has been marked by inconsistency, with notable wins over Louisiana Tech and Toledo but frustratingly close losses to James Madison, Virginia and Ole Miss. Utah State (6-6) is coming off a heartbreaking 25-24 loss to Boise State on Nov. 28. In that defeat, quarterback Bryson Barnes rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown, while versatile playmaker Javen Jacobs totaled 145 all-purpose yards and a score. The Aggies’ season pattern mirrors their opponent’s, featuring a three-game winning streak in November but also several lopsided non-conference defeats. The game will be played at a neutral site, Albertsons Stadium, which is the home field for Boise State and approximately 80 miles from Utah State’s campus in Logan. Despite Washington State being installed as a slight 1.5-point favorite by oddsmakers, the National Statistical game simulator projects a Utah State victory, 36-28. The over/under for total points is set at 49.5. The matchup pits Washington State’s recent balanced offensive surge against a Utah State team that has shown explosive potential but struggled with consistency. The outcome will hinge on which version of these .500 teams shows up in Boise.