PULLMAN — Washington State has reached its first major pivot point of the Kirby Moore era.
After a 1-4 start and a 26-6 home loss to Fresno State, Moore is taking over offensive play-calling as the Cougars head into Friday’s road game at Utah State. It is an immediate attempt to reset an offense that has struggled to stay on the field, run the football or finish drives against FBS opponents.
Moore did not try to separate himself from the problems after Saturday’s loss.
“As the leader of this program, it hasn’t been good enough,” Moore said.
The Cougars managed 182 total yards against Fresno State and did not score an offensive touchdown. Moore pointed to the line of scrimmage, five sacks allowed and an offense that repeatedly created difficult third-down situations. Eleven of WSU’s 14 third downs were third-and-long or worse.
That is the central issue entering Logan: Washington State has to make its offense manageable again. Moore said the Cougars need to stay on schedule, get first downs and give their running backs more opportunities. WSU’s backs had only five carries in the second half Saturday as the offense failed to sustain possessions.
The change puts Moore back in a role he held before becoming Washington State’s head coach. He called plays as Missouri’s offensive coordinator from 2023 through 2025 and previously handled play-calling duties at Fresno State.
Moore said the adjustment will allow him to spend his time on the offensive side of the ball while still maintaining communication with defensive coordinator Jesse Bray and the rest of the staff.
“I can’t wait to go to practice today,” Moore said. “We’re gonna put the best plan moving forward for Friday.”
Offensive coordinator Matt Miller remains on the staff and, according to Moore, will stay heavily involved in the offensive process. Moore emphasized the approach will remain collaborative, while Miller can devote more attention to the quarterbacks and receivers.
The goal is not necessarily a wholesale new offense in four days. Moore said the staff is reviewing calls it has carried but not used, along with matchup opportunities Utah State may present. But the bigger focus is execution — timing, protection, communication and avoiding plays that turn a manageable situation into a damaging one.
The play-calling change comes with uncertainty at quarterback.
Caden Pinnick has started, but Moore said every quarterback will receive reps this week. Redshirt sophomore Julian Dugger and redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman are also in the mix, and Moore did not rule out using multiple quarterbacks Friday.
The evaluation, he said, starts with operation: identifying protections, handling motions and understanding when to take a checkdown instead of forcing a throw.
“We can’t make a bad play worse,” Moore said.
That places added pressure on practice in a shortened week. Moore’s message was clear: Friday’s starter, and potentially the rest of the lineup, will be determined by who practices best.
Inside the locker room, the consistent theme has been unity.
Senior tight end Jack Pederson said the offense has to “play 11 as one” and avoid letting frustration become finger-pointing. Senior offensive tackle Ashton Tripp called the change a reflection of how the offense has performed and said the group must do more — whether that means extra meetings, walkthroughs or individual work.
The defense, meanwhile, is trying to support rather than separate itself from an offense that has put it on the field for long stretches. Linebacker Isaiah Hung said the Cougars cannot become an offense-versus-defense team.
“We know as a team we’ve got to come together and be the Cougs because we’re a team,” Hung said.
That mindset will be tested quickly. Utah State enters Friday with a veteran coach in Bronco Mendenhall and an offense Moore described as creative, featuring a mobile quarterback and RPO elements. The Aggies have also faced a demanding schedule, including trips to Washington, Utah and Boise State.
Washington State does have encouraging pieces to build around. Its defense held Fresno State under 150 rushing yards and has continued to create takeaway opportunities. Kicker Jack Stevens also responded to recent adversity by making a career-long 50-yard field goal Saturday.
But the Cougars’ season hinges on whether the offense can provide enough support. A new voice will now make the calls, but Moore’s first week as play-caller will be judged by familiar necessities: fewer negative plays, more manageable downs, a functional run game, and touchdowns.
For a team searching for a response, Friday is more than the next game. It is the first test of a new direction.
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