Washington State’s 2023 football schedule has been released, and it features a strong chance to open the year 4-0.

The Cougars open the 2023 campaign on the road at Colorado State. It’s a return trip after WSU posted a 38-7 victory over the Rams last season in Pullman. WSU’s home opener will be the following week when Wisconsin comes to town (Sept. 9). The Cougars defeated the Badgers last season in Madison, 17-14, picking up their first win in the three-game series. The Badgers will become the first Big Ten team to come to Pullman for a game since 1998.

WSU opens Pac-12 play on Sept. 23 when Oregon State comes to town. The Cougars have won eight of the last nine meetings, including the last four played in Pullman.

A bye week follows that game. Washington State hasn’t opened a season 4-0 since 2017. That could be in play.

After the bye week, the Cougars prepare for eight games in eight weeks. First up is UCLA on Oct. 7. It’ll be the first meeting in Los Angeles since 2015.

The Cougars return to Pullman for their lone home game in the month of October when they host Arizona on Oct. 14.

The only back-to-back road games of the season begin the following week as the Cougars travel to Oregon (Oct. 21) and Arizona State (Oct. 28). After last season’s late collapse at home to Oregon, the Cougs will be looking for some payback in Eugene.

Wazzu closes out the 2023 regular season by traveling to Seattle for a meeting with Washington in the annual Apple Cup game on Saturday, Nov. 25. The last time these two teams played in Seattle, the Cougars came away with a 40-13 victory.

Here’s the full schedule:

  • Sept. 2: at Colorado State
  • Sept. 9: vs. Wisconsin
  • Sept. 16: vs. Northern Colorado
  • Sept. 23: vs. Oregon State
  • Sept. 30: BYE
  • Oct. 7: at UCLA
  • Oct. 14: vs. Arizona
  • Oct. 21: at Oregon
  • Oct. 28: at Arizona State
  • Nov. 4: vs. Stanford
  • Nov. 11: at Cal
  • Nov. 17 (Fri.): vs. Colorado
  • Nov. 25: at Washington