This past weekend, I found myself back in Seattle for the 10th straight year, hosting A Night with Cougar Athletics. While every year has its own unique vibe, this one stood out - it was truly unlike any of the previous 9.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the Y-Option Podcast, presented by our founding partner, 76. We're thrilled to welcome new Washington State head football coach Jimmy Rogers, who joins the show to share his coaching philosophy, stories from his Arizona upbringing, and why he believes the Cougs have a real shot at the College Football Playoff.

Coach Rogers and I sat on stage in front of 400 loyal Cougs, where he echoed a powerful message shared earlier in the evening by Athletics Director Anne McCoy and new university president Dr. Elizabeth Cantwell - this is the Next Chapter for Washington State.

No longer just the underdog with a chip on its shoulder, WSU is now a face of the new Pac-12. Alongside Oregon State, Pullman is stepping boldly into this next era - guided by a clear vision and the leadership of Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould. The message? The Cougs can win and will lead in a conference that’s bold, aggressive, intentional, and open-minded.

I think Cougs everywhere will love hearing from Coach Rogers. He’s already instilled his culture and leadership style into the program. And yes, while the team will feature nearly 70 new faces when the season kicks off, don’t sleep on this squad. Washington State has a chance to make serious noise in this final transitional year before the Pac-12 returns to a full conference slate in 2026.

🎧 In This Episode Jim Thornby and I kick things off with:

* A deep dive into the 2025 Cougs

* Cam Rising’s impact at Utah

* A fresh take on NIL

* Who needs to join Trump & Saban regarding college football governance

🎉 72 Episodes of Season 1 – Thank You!This episode marks our 72nd podcast of Season 1, a milestone we’re incredibly proud of. It’s been a season filled with late-night edits, production calls, and newsletters like this one. And we couldn’t have done it without your support.

As we head into a brief offseason to regroup, we’d love to hear from you. Take 30 seconds to fill out our 2025 Listener Survey - tell us what you loved, what you want more of, and how we can continue to grow together.

🙏 Special ThanksTo our brilliant editor, Victor Ren—you are a STAR. Thank you for sharing your time and talent. Here’s to many more West LA brunches!

Much love and stay steady,Yogi

This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby & edited by Victor Ren.

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.y-option.com/subscribe