COUGARS WELCOME NO. 19 WISCONSIN TO GESA FIELD SATURDAY ON ABC 
Washington State opens its home slate with a Saturday afternoon matchup against No. 19 Wisconsin. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. on ABC, WSU's first home game on ABC since a 28-25 Apple Cup win in 2004.

WASHINGTON STATE TO HONOR COACH MIKE LEACH 
Washington State is planning to recognize former head coach Mike Leach prior to and throughout Saturday's game after Leach passed away last December. Leach coached at WSU (2012-19) and led the Cougars to a 55-47 record including six bowl games highlighted by a school-record 11-2 record in 2018, winning the Alamo Bowl.

SERIES HISTORY
Washington State trails the all-time series with Wisconsin 2-1 but posted a 17-14 win over the No. 19 Badgers in Madison week two last season. Wisconsin won the previous two meetings in 1976 and 2007 with both played in Madison. Saturday's matchup will be WSU's first home game against a nonconference power 5 opponent since beating Illinois 20-13 to open the 1998 season.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE 
Washington State opened the season with a 50-24 victory at Colorado State last Saturday. The Cougars recorded 556 yards of total offense as quarterback Cameron Ward went 37-of-49 for 451 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 40 yards and one touchdown. Wideout Lincoln Victor set career-highs with 11 catches for 168 yards and his first career 100-yard game. The WSU defense held CSU to 37 rushing yards and picked off two passes as safety Jaden Hicks returned the first interception 37 yards for a touchdown. Head coach Jake Dickert has guided WSU to back-to-back bowl games and is in his second full season leading the Cougars.

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
• WSU is hosting a home game on ABC for the 1st time since a 28-25 Apple Cup win in 2004
• WSU has reached a bowl game in the last seven full seasons, 2nd-longest bowl streak in the Pac-12
• 17 players made their WSU debuts week 1 including true freshman DL Ansel Din-Mbuh, WR Carlos Hernandez

INDIVIDUAL (Player Notes Pages 10-17)
• Jake Dickert is the first Cougar head coach to win his first 2 season-openers since Bill Doba (2003-04)
• QB Cameron Ward was All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention last season (3,231 pass yds, 23 pass TD, 5 rush TD)
• Ward enters week 2 leading the country in total offense per game (491.0), 451 pass yards, 40 rush yards
• EDGE Ron Stone Jr. is a 2x All-Pac-12 selection, 44 games played, 20.5 career TFL, 11 career sacks
• EDGE Brennan Jackson was Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, 12 TFL, 6 sacks, 3x All-Pac-12 Conference
• S Jaden Hicks was named to the Freshman All-America Third Team, led Pac-12 freshmen in tackles (76) 
• RB Nakia Watson was named to Doak Walker Award Watch List, 769 rush yds, 9 rush TD, 13 total TD in 2022
• P Nick Haberer was named to Ray Guy Award Watch List, 3rd in Pac-12 with 42.4 ypp, 22 inside 20 in 2022
• OL Fa'alili Fa'amoe, OL Ma'ake Fifita, OL Esa Pole, WR Lincoln Victor; Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List
• K Dean Janikowski's career-long 55-yard FG at CSU was longest since 2017, 3rd-longest in country this season

SIX NAMED 2023 TEAM CAPTAINS 
WSU voted six players as team captains for the 2023 season; OL Konner Gomness, EDGE Brennan Jackson, CB Chau Smith-Wade, EDGE Ron Stone Jr., WR Lincoln Victor and QB Cameron Ward.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the middle of the 2003 season, ESPN College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The streak reached 288 after appearing week one in Charlotte. The first appearance came in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). Two flags – Ol' Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set by dozens of friends and alumni. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason's "No White Flags." Appearance No. 217 was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon. 

2022 COUGARS WON IN MADISON, MADE 7TH STRAIGHT BOWL
Washington State opened last season with three-straight wins, including a victory at No. 19 Wisconsin, and captured three of its final four games to reach the Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl, its seventh-straight bowl appearance, the second-longest current bowl streak in the Pac-12 Conference. WSU, who went 7-6 including a 4-5 mark in Pac-12 play, finished in the top four of numerous Pac-12 defensive categories, including second in Red Zone defense and tackles-for-loss, third in scoring defense and turnovers gained, and fourth in sacks. WSU also led the Pac-12 in Red Zone offense. In 2022, WSU had 10 All-Pac-12 players, including honorable mention quarterback Cameron Ward and second-team selection EDGE Ron Stone Jr. while safety Jaden Hicks garnered third-Team Freshman All-America honors. 

CAMERON WARD IMPRESSES IN 2023 OPENER AT COLORADO STATE
Quarterback Cameron Ward opened 2023 going 37-of-49 for a WSU career-high 451 yards along with three touchdown passes (3, 12, 25) and a one-yard rushing touchdown in the 50-24 win at Colorado State. Ward enters week two seventh in the NCAA with 451 passing yards/game and leading the NCAA with 491 yards of total offense/game.
- Ward's 451 passing yards were the most in a season opener since Connor Halliday (532, 2014) and the most in a season-opening win in program history
- Ward is the 1st Cougar QB to start consecutive season-openers since Luke Falk (2015-17) 
- Ward is the first Cougar starting QB to win back-to-back season openers since Jason Gesser (2001-02)
- Ward recorded his 6th game as a Coug with a rushing TD and pass TD

HICKS OPENS 2023 WITH BIG NIGHT AT CSU
Redshirt-sophomore safety Jaden Hicks opened 2023 with a big night in the 50-24 win at Colorado State, returning an interception 37 yards for a touchdown to go along with seven tackles, a shared sack and two pass breakups. Following the week one win at CSU, Hicks earned the best safety grade in the Pac-12 and fourth-best in the country. Last season, the Las Vegas native earned Freshman All-America honors after leading all Pac-12 Conference freshmen defenders with 76 tackles, one interception and six pass breakups. 

LINCOLN VICTOR'S CAREER NIGHT AT CSU
Senior wide receiver Lincoln Victor opened the 2023 campaign with a career night, setting career-highs with 11 catches for 168 yards in the win at Colorado State. The West Camas, Wash. native and Hawaii transfer two seasons ago had eight of his catches go for first downs, the most by any Pac-12 receiver week one.

17 MAKE THEIR COUGAR DEBUTS
17 Cougars made their debuts in the 50-24 season-opening win at Colorado State last weekend.
- 2 true freshman made their collegiate debuts; DL Ansel Din-Mbuh, WR Carlos Hernandez
- 2 redshirt-freshmen made their collegiate debuts; LB Buddah Al-Uqdah, S Reece Sylvester
- 5 started in their WSU debuts; NICKEL Kapena Gushiken, WR Josh Kelly, LT Esa Pole, 
MIKE Devin Richardson, WR Kyle Williams
- JUCO NICKEL Kapena Gushiken started in his WSU debut, made 5 tackles and 1 pass breakup
- Fresno State transfer WR Josh Kelly caught 7 passes for 97 yards, 25-yard TD rec
- JUCO LT Esa Pole started in his WSU debut
- Texas transfer LB Devin Richardson made team-high 11 tackles
- UNLV transfer WR Kyle Williams caught 4 passes for 31 yards, 3-yard TD rec

SEVEN NAMED PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12
Seven Cougars were named to Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference Teams, the conference office announced Tuesday. Four players were named to the second team in EDGES Ron Stone Jr and Brennan Jackson, defensive back Chau Smith-Wade and punter Nick Haberer. Defensive back Jaden Hicks, kicker Dean Janikowski and running back Nakia Watson were each named honorable mention.  

COUGAR DEFENSE LED THE WAY in 2022
- WSU was second in the Pac-12 with 80 tackles-for-loss, third in scoring (22.9), fourth with 33 sacks
- WSU tied for third in the Pac-12 with 21 takeaways, 12 interceptions and 9 fumble recoveries
- Jaden Hicks led Pac-12 freshmen in tackles (76), named to Freshman All-America Third Team
- WSU held USC quarterback Caleb Williams to 15-of-29 passing and 188 yds, season lows

15 COUGS ENTER 2023 WITH DEGREES
Joshua Erling, LB    Accounting and Finance
Konner Gomness, OL    Social Sciences
Isaiah Hamilton, WR    Psychology (San Jose State)
Brennan Jackson, EDGE    Business Administration
Chris Jackson, DB    Social Science
Dean Janikowski, K    Digital Technology & Culture
Sam Lockett III, DB    Social Sciences
Ahmad McCullough, LB    Communications (Maryland)
Christy Nkanu, OL    Marketing (Southern Utah)
Devin Richardson, LB    Physical Culture and Sports (Texas)
Simon Samarzich, LS    Sport Management
Ron Stone Jr., EDGE    Public Relations
Dominic Tatum, DB    Interdisciplinary Studies (Utah State)
Kyle Thornton, LB    Economic Sciences
Nakia Watson, RB    Social Sciences

NEW COACHES
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR / QUARTERBACKS
Ben Arbuckle arrives in Pullman having spent the past two seasons at Western Kentucky, serving as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the 2022 season. In his first season in that role, Arbuckle took the Hilltoppers to great heights as the team finished sixth in total offense (497.3 ypg) and 15th in scoring (36.4 ppg), while quarterback Austin Reed led the nation in passing yards (4,746) and was third in passing touchdowns (40). 

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR / LINEBACKERS
Jeff Schmedding returns to the Pacific Northwest having spent the past two seasons at Auburn, most recently serving as defensive coordinator. In 2022, Schmedding oversaw the development of All-SEC First Team edge rusher Derick Hall, who totaled 60 tackles, 12 TFL's and seven sacks. In his first season at Auburn (2021), the Tigers ranked 29th in rushing defense and 17th in tackles-for-loss. Schmedding spent the previous two seasons at Boise State as the defensive coordinator where in his first season leading the defense saw the Broncos claim the Mountain West Championship and finish in the top 25 nationally in team sacks (37) and scoring defense (20.6 ppg). 
 
WIDE RECEIVERS
Nick Edwards arrives in Pullman having spent the 2022 season as an offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons, working alongside the offensive coordinator with gameplan duties. Edwards joined Atlanta's staff after spending two seasons (2020-21) as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Cal Poly. Prior to his time at Cal Poly, Edwards spent three seasons (2017-19) as the wide receivers and running backs coach at Cal and three seasons (2014-16) at his alma mater, Eastern Washington, as the wide receivers coach where he coached future NFL wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Kendrick Bourne. 

EDGES
Frank Maile (MY-lay) joins Dickert's staff having spent the past two seasons at Boise State where he served as the Broncos' assistant head coach and defensive line coach. During the 2022 season, the Bronco defense led the way to a 10-4 overall record, including a victory over North Texas in the Frisco Bowl. The Broncos finished ninth nationally in total defense and 16th in scoring defense.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
Ben Iannacchione is no stranger to Dickert as the two worked together when both were on Craig Bohl's staff at Wyoming during the 2018-19 seasons. Iannacchione comes to Pullman having spent the 2022 season as the head strength and conditioning coach at Akron. A former standout offensive lineman who played collegiately at Boise State, Iannacchione arrived at Akron after spending the 2021 campaign at Pitt after prior stops on the football staffs at Kansas (2020), Wyoming (2018-19), LSU (2011-15, 2016-17) and Youngstown State (2015).

COUGAR FOOTBALL BROADCAST TEAM
Matt Chazanow is in his ninth season as the play-by-play voice for Cougar football, men's basketball and baseball broadcasts. Joining Chazanow for his sixth season will be former Cougar quarterback Alex Brink who is the only WSU quarterback to win three Apple Cups and was later a seventh-round draft pick by the Houston Texans. Returning for her 12th season as the sideline reporter is Jessamyn McIntyre.

DAIYAN HENLEY DRAFTED BY CHARGERS
Linebacker Daiyan Henley was selected in the third round by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2023 NFL Draft. Henley, taken as the No. 22nd pick in the round and No. 85 overall, was the second Cougar defensive player drafted in as many years after cornerback Jaylen Watson was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round last season. Henley was the first Cougar linebacker drafted since Raonall Smith went to Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2002 draft. Henley transferred to Washington State prior to the 2022 season after four seasons at Nevada and in his only season with the Cougars earned All-American second-team honors from College Football News and was WSU's first Butkus Award Finalist in program history. Henley was also named to the All-Pac-12 Conference First Team as a linebacker and to the All-Pac-12 second team as an all-purpose/special teams player, WSU's first all-conference first-team linebacker since Will Derting in 2003. Henley was second in the Pac-12 with a team-high 106 tackles, fifth in the league with 12 tackles-for-loss and paced the team with six special teams tackles.