Preview: Cougars to take on No. 14 Utah, QB Rising

PULLMAN – Both No. 14 Utah and Washington State are coming off of bye weeks ahead of their Thursday night matchup in Pullman, something that allowed extra time for players and coaches on what would have been a short week.

“We started last Wednesday, had a great practice in the snow on Saturday, and now we’re ready to go,” WSU head coach Jake Dickert said at a press conference Monday.

Before the bye, the Utes defeated then-No. 7 USC in a 43-42 comeback win where quarterback Cameron Rising had a one-yard rushing touchdown to take the lead in the final minute. Rising, a two-year starter, is a dual-threat at the position with 1,855 yards and 15 touchdowns as a passer and 308 yards and six touchdowns as a runner. Against the Trojans, he threw for 415 yards and two touchdowns, adding 60 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

“This guy does it all,” Dickert said. “If they need to run him 20 times, he’ll do that and he’ll do it physically. If he needs to throw it 40 times, he’ll do it. If they need to (run a) play-action pass and run the ball, I think he can do that as well.”

WSU linebacker Daiyan Henley noted the physicality of Rising, who, as a runner, rarely avoids hits.

“One thing that stands out is they have a tough quarterback,” Henley said at a press conference. “He takes the hits, he rolls with the punches and he delivers the ball well.”

Joining Rising in the backfield is running back Tavion Thomas who has rushed for 414 yards and five scores this season. As a team, Utah is fourth in the conference in average rushing yards per game (192.4)

“I think Utah is known for running the ball, I think they want to run the ball,” Dickert said. “That’s where it starts with, but I think they’re capable, as they’ve proven last game beating USC, that they can throw the ball with the best of them too.”

Tight end Dalton Kincaid leads the Utes in receptions, yards and touchdowns this season and has already surpassed his 2021 season totals in receptions and yards. Utah lost their starting tight end Brant Kuithe after he was injured in the Utes’ Week 4 win over Arizona State, which Dickert said allows the defensive unit to focus more on Kincaid given his talents.

“It’s amazing, because at the end of the day (Kuithe) was even better, and Kuithe is not playing anymore,” he said. “I think it allows you to focus a little more on Kincaid and where he’s at and what he’s doing. But, to flex out and be a mismatch for a corner, come back into the box and have the ability to kick out a d-end – heck, they might hand him the ball, I’ve seen Utah do that over the last three years.”

The offensive line for Utah has only given up five sacks this season, something that the Cougar defensive line will have to change if they hope to force Rising into troublesome situations.

“Just being able to recognize the certain looks that they give us and being able to capitalize on that,” edge rusher Ron Stone Jr. said at a press conference. “If they have a good tell, or we assume that in this set this is what they like to do. Trusting our (defensive coordinator) to put us in the right situation, call the right play and ultimately let us have a better opportunity to get there.”

Dickert described the Utah defense as “pure aggressiveness” in their play style, which shows in its 350.1 yards allowed per game, the fewest in the conference. Their pass defense also leads the Pac-12, allowing only 208.1 pass yards per game.

“Utah is the king of the conference until someone knocks them off,” Dickert said. “And that’s how we approach it, that’s how every team should approach it, and they’ve earned that through hard work, development and how physical they are at the point of attack.”

Going against a physical defense will be a challenge for the Cougar offense, who have struggled with overcoming negative plays that stall drives throughout the season.

“We have some momentum, and then we cannot overcome negative plays within a series,” Dickert said. “And that’s been the story of the three-and-outs, and that’s been the story of not sustaining drives.”

Kickoff between the 5-2 Utes and 4-3 Cougars is at 7 p.m. on Gesa Field.

“To have the defending Pac-12 champions come into our place, what an opportunity to show who we are as Cougs,” Dickert said. “My question is, ‘Why not show up?”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.