The Couch GM Podcast

Owen Eshelman made his first career start at Oregon State and the Cougs finally looked alive on offense: 289 passing yards, 136 rushing yards, three total touchdowns, and 30 points, WSU's most against an FBS team all year. They still lost 48-30. Now No. 21 Boise State comes to Pullman for Homecoming.

CouGreat defensive end Mkristo Bruce joins us in The Recap to grade his own keys from last week, talk through his excitement for WSU's newest QB, and throw on the tinfoil hat for a conspiracy or two.

Then B.J. Rains of Bronco Nation News joins the Weekly Preview to tell us what Boise brings to the Palouse, and why this one is a reunion: Kirby Moore played at Boise, Matt Miller played and coached there, and the WSU GM spent 27 years in Boise.

We also split the Coug of the Week between Eshelman and Branden Ganashamoorthy, go around the whole league in Traversing the Pac, and break down Boise State -13.5 (DraftKings) in Betting for the Week.

No. 21 Boise State at WSU, Saturday, Oct. 24, 3:00 PT on USA Network.

Cougs on the Couch is presented by Ben Cowboy Realtor.

Washington State led Utah State 16-3 at halftime in Logan and lost 17-16. Seven second-half drives, five punts, two lost fumbles, zero points. The Cougs are 1-5. Then on Monday, Kirby Moore made the call: redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman replaces Caden Pinnick at quarterback and makes his first career start Saturday at Oregon State.

Dylan and I break down how we got here in The Recap. Pinnick’s season, an offense that hasn’t scored a third-quarter point against an FBS team, Moore’s first game calling plays, and what this quarterback change says about him as a head coach. Then Chad Doing of Rip City Radio 620, a Coug himself, joins us in the Weekly Preview to talk about his road from Prairie High and Pullman into Portland radio, and what WSU is walking into against an Oregon State team that leads the country in passing and just hung 66 on San Diego State.

We also go around the whole league in Traversing the Pac, hand out the Coug of the Week, and break down a betting line that has moved four to five points toward the Beavers since it opened.

WSU at Oregon State, Saturday, Oct. 17, 3:00 PT on USA Network.

Cougs on the Couch is presented by Ben Cowboy Realtor.

Six points. 182 yards. Boos at Martin Stadium. Fresno State beat Washington State 26-6 on Saturday night, and the Cougs are 1-4 for the first time since 2010. By Monday, Kirby Moore had taken the play-calling away from Matt Miller and said every quarterback will get reps this week.

Former WSU quarterback Luke Falk joins us in The Recap to break down Caden Pinnick, the QB question and what Moore calling plays could change. Falk grew up in Logan, which is exactly where the Cougs are headed Friday night. Then Jason Walker of Cache Valley Daily, co-host of the Full Court Press on 106.9 The Fan, gives us the Utah State side in the Weekly Preview.

We also go around the whole league in Traversing the Pac, hand out the Coug of the Week, look at a betting line that has moved four points since it opened, and get to your mailbag question: fire the OC, bench Pinnick, or both? WSU at Utah State, Friday, Oct. 9, 6:00 PT on The CW.

Cougs on the Couch is presented by Ben Cowboy Realtor.

Washington State led Arizona 14-0 after one quarter and then scored nothing in the third. The Cougs fall to 1-3, and now the part of the season that actually counts starts. Fresno State comes to Pullman on Saturday for the Pac-12 opener, the Bulldogs' first trip to Martin Stadium since 1994, and Kirby Moore lines up across from the program where he spent six seasons and called the plays in a bowl win over WSU.

Mkristo Bruce joins us in The Recap to break down a pass rush that finally showed up, and Al Scott of Fresno Sports Magazine gives us the Fresno side in the Weekly Preview.

We go around the whole league in Traversing the Pac, hand out the Coug of the Week, and get into a betting card that moved our way overnight.

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THE RECAP IS PRESENTED BY FORTRESS MEGA, LLC

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THE COUG OF THE WEEK IS PRESENTED BY PADDOCK SPIRITS CO

Award-winning canned cocktails, made in Pullman, Washington, by Cougs.

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21+. Please enjoy responsibly.

TRAVERSING THE PAC IS PRESENTED BY CONNOR WEBB, ENVOY MORTGAGE

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Kirby Moore finally has his first win at Washington State. The Cougs beat Duquesne 48-7, ran for 316 yards behind a reshuffled offensive line, got two 100-yard backs and returned two punts for touchdowns 2:27 apart in the fourth quarter. It was only 14-7 at halftime, so we break down what changed, hand out the Coug of the Week, and go around the whole Pac-12 in Traversing the Pac.

Then it's Arizona week. Arizona Daily Star beat writer Justin Spears joins us to preview the Wildcats and Noah Fifita, who just broke Arizona's career passing record, before Saturday's 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff on CBS.

Cougs on the Couch is presented by Ben Cowboy Realtor.

Caden Pinnick stood at the podium in Manhattan and gave the shortest postgame availability of his career. "We just lost. Next question." Two days later he walked it back himself, and what he said Monday was a lot more interesting than what he didn't say Saturday.

Sam Taylor of the Lewiston Tribune covers this team for a living, and he joins us to take both pressers apart. What the room actually felt like, why the frustration was aimed at more than the scoreboard, and whether a quarterback owning it on a Monday changes anything on a Saturday. Then Zachary Weiss brings us the other side of this week's matchup, because Duquesne is coming to Pullman and almost nobody around here knows anything about them.

Washington State is 0-2 for the first time since 2016, dead last in the country in scoring and total offense, and hosting an FCS opponent in Kirby Moore's first game at Gesa Field. We get into all of it.

THIS WEEK'S GUESTS

Sam Taylor covers Washington State, LC State and prep sports for the Lewiston Tribune and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Murrow College made. X: @Sam_C_Taylor His work: lmtribune.com/writers/sam-taylor

Zachary Weiss covers Duquesne for Pittsburgh Sports Now, A10 Talk and Pitt Sports News. X: @ZacharyMWeiss

DUQUESNE AT WASHINGTON STATE Saturday, September 19 12:30 p.m. PT on USA Network Gesa Field at Martin Stadium, Pullman

BEN THE COWBOY REALTOR, PRESENTING SPONSOR Presenting sponsor of Cougs on the Couch and of the Weekly Preview segment. Ben Nikolas, real estate broker licensed in Washington and Oregon, with MacDonald RE Group at Premiere Property Group, LLC. Buying or selling in WA or OR, Ben is your guy. Email: [email protected] Phone: 503-201-1934 Instagram: @ben_cowboyrealtor Website: https://bennikolas.premierepropertygroup.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ben_cowboyrealtor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSxsYfFM3cdxV9AOOSm0k5w

THE RECAP IS PRESENTED BY FORTRESS MEGA Jon Erickson, Pullman High and Wazzu grad, and a financial planner who does it differently. Near retirement and want less stress and more free time? Start the conversation at FortressMega.com. Jon Erickson is an investment adviser representative. This is a paid endorsement. Nothing in this episode is investment advice or a recommendation, and it does not reflect the experience of any client.

COUG OF THE WEEK IS PRESENTED BY PADDOCK SPIRITS CO Award-winning canned cocktails made in Pullman, Washington, by Cougs. Best in Class for vodka-based ready-to-drinks at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. paddockspiritsco.com 21+. Please enjoy responsibly.

TRAVERSING THE PAC IS PRESENTED BY CONNOR WEBB AT ENVOY MORTGAGE Licensed in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Arizona. Wherever this conference takes you, I can do your loan there. LenderConnorWebb.com [email protected] 360-713-2995 Envoy Mortgage, NMLS #1529504.

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Washington State lost the 118th Apple Cup 24-10, and the two halves of the team went in opposite directions. The defense held No. 17 Washington to 10 points through three quarters. The offense did not convert a single third down.

Now the Cougs go to Manhattan for the first meeting ever between Washington State and Kansas State, against a team that just hung 71 on an FCS opponent and is missing three left tackles. Wyatt Wheeler, who covers the Wildcats for the USA TODAY Network and the Topeka Capital-Journal, joins us to explain what K-State actually is.

THE GAME Washington State at Kansas State · Saturday, September 12 · 9:00 a.m. Pacific · TNT and HBO Max · Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS

THIS WEEK'S GUEST Wyatt Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and the Topeka Capital-Journal, out of Manhattan, Kansas. X: https://x.com/WyattWheeler_ Topeka Capital-Journal: https://www.cjonline.com

Washington State opens the 2026 season on a Sunday afternoon at Husky Stadium, on NBC, as a three-touchdown underdog with a quarterback making his first start as a Coug. We're joined by Christian Caple of On Montlake to find out what Washington actually looks like from the inside.

THE GAME Washington State at Washington · Sunday, September 6 · 1:00 p.m. Pacific · NBC · Husky Stadium, Seattle

THIS WEEK'S GUEST Christian Caple runs On Montlake, the independent Washington football site and newsletter, and co-hosts Say Who, Say Pod with Danny O'Neil.

On Montlake: https://onmontlake.com

X: https://x.com/ChristianCaple

═══════════════════════════════

THE 2026 FOUNDING SPONSORS

This episode includes paid promotion. Cougs on the Couch is made possible by three Coug-connected businesses. Please go give them your business.

■ BEN COWBOY REALTOR — PRESENTING SPONSOR Presenting sponsor of Cougs on the Couch and of the Weekly Preview segment. Ben Nikolas, Cowboy Realtor. Real estate broker licensed in Washington and Oregon, with MacDonald RE Group at Premiere Property Group, LLC. Buying or selling in WA or OR, Ben is your guy.

Website: https://bennikolas.premierepropertygroup.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_cowboyrealtor

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSxsYfFM3cdxV9AOOSm0k5w

■ FORTRESS MEGA, LLC — SEGMENT SPONSOR Presenting sponsor of The Recap.

Jon R. Erickson, CFP®, CEBS®.

Pullman High and Washington State grad, and a financial planner who runs a family-style practice.

If you're near retirement and you want less stress and more free time, start the conversation.

Website: https://fortressmega.com

Email: [email protected]

Office: (425) 646-6000

Investment Advisory Services offered through Regal Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Fortress Mega, LLC is independent of Regal investment Advisors. Registrations with the SEC does not imply any level of skill or training.

■ PADDOCK SPIRITS CO — SEGMENT SPONSOR Presenting sponsor of The Coug of the Week.

Award-winning canned cocktails made in Pullman, Washington, by Cougs. Seven-times-distilled premium vodka, real fruit, natural flavors, perfectly mixed and always ready to drink.

Best in Class for vodka-based ready-to-drinks at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Website: https://paddockspiritsco.com

21+. Please enjoy responsibly.

Washington State has a starting quarterback. Caden Pinnick, the UC Davis transfer who won Big Sky Freshman of the Year last season, got the job Monday afternoon over Julian Dugger and Owen Eshelman, and he'll make his first start September 6 at Husky Stadium. One year to the day before that, he walked into the same building wearing UC Davis blue and threw for 50 yards in a 70-10 loss. We break down where he came from, the four days in January that landed him in Pullman, and what fall camp actually decided.

Then there's the part nobody at either school wants to talk about. The Cougar Marching Band isn't traveling to Seattle for the Apple Cup. The reported reason is where they'd be seated at Husky Stadium. Washington says the decision belongs to WSU. WSU's band director answered a student reporter with two words: "No comment." Band members were told not to discuss it. We get into what that silence says about a rivalry that has already lost five Apple Cups this year across other sports.

Erik Coleman joins us on the Couch. Coleman was a first-team All-Pac-10 safety at Washington State, led the Pac-10 in interceptions in 2003, and forced the fumble that flipped the Holiday Bowl against No. 5 Texas. He played nine NFL seasons with the Jets, Falcons and Lions, and he's now USA Network's Pac-12 studio analyst for the conference's first season. That means he has to say what he actually thinks about this league on national television every week. We asked him to do it here first, including a prediction on the Apple Cup he can't take back.

We've also got our sit-down with Ben the Cowboy Realtor, and we're proud to announce that Ben is the presenting sponsor of Cougs on the Couch for the 2026 season. Ben's a Real estate agent serving Washington & Oregon, and he's the kind of Coug-owned business this show was built to support. If you're buying or selling in the PNW, reach out to him at 503-201-1934 or find him at @BenCowboyRealtor . Tell him the Couch sent you.

Cougs on the Couch is collab-posted with The Couch GM. Subscribing to Cougs on the Couch directly is what grows this show, so if you get anything out of this one, hit subscribe.

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0:00 Intro/ Caden Pinnick QB 1/ WSU Band

24:02- Ben The Cowboy/ WAZZU Realtor

34:35- Erik Coleman

Two of Washington State's newest defenders join the show, and neither one took a normal road to Pullman.

DJ Warner was the No. 67 recruit in the country coming out of Desert Edge in Arizona. He went to Kansas with his cousin and a high school teammate, spent a year at SMU, and is now learning a brand new position: he played on the edge his first two years and Trent Bray has him at off-ball linebacker. Bray says he's night and day from where he was in the spring, and he looks like a starter.

Linus Zunk grew up in Berlin playing club basketball, picked up football as a teenager because the practice field happened to be close to his house, and showed up at a Georgia prep school as a junior with zero college offers. Four years and 36 games at Vanderbilt later, including the best season in that program's history, he's a 6-6 edge rusher spending his last year of eligibility on the Palouse.

We get into the Berlin-to-the-SEC path, why you leave a program right after it wins 10 games for the first time ever, what it actually feels like to drop into coverage after two years of rushing the passer, and what this defense has to do differently after finishing 41st in the country in sacks last season. The Apple Cup is 19 days out.

If you're new here, hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a Cougs on the Couch episode this season. New shows every week through the fall. Follow us on Instagram for clips, graphics and mailbag questions, and drop a comment with what you want us to ask the next guest.

Go Cougs.

Connect with Connor/ The Couch GM- https://lenderconnorwebb.com

My Mortgage Lending website- https://www.envoymortgage.com/connor-...

My equipment list- https://www.amazon.com/shop/thecouchgm

My Mortgage Lending website- https://www.envoymortgage.com/connor-...

Livestream across channels using StreamYard- https://streamyard.com/?fpr=connor-35

Connor Webb- Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS #1529504

Envoy Mortgage NMLS #6666

www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org