That's honestly kind of an underwhelming place to commit in my opinion, but I hope he finds what he's looking for there I guess.

Kirby Moore will be a very good coach for WSU. My concern is Pinnick going to a school that seems to loose leadership/coaching every single year. If he wants to be highlighted or go to the next level, stability seems important.

I mean... Do we know that? This is Moore's first HC gig right?

You are correct. I more just mean that I think for a school getting a new HC this seems like a good one.

Following the Cam Ward playbook. FCS —->WSU —>Miami—>NFL

I suppose. I guess I just don't think of Washington State as a pinnacle of NIL or getting guys to the NFL at a super high rate. Certainly better than Davis, but I guess I wasn't really sure what he was looking for. For an FBS team he can probably find playtime I suppose

I think that pipeline is easier said than done

no doubt!

I am happy for him. I used to work with a Washington State Alum. Remember they lost the chip to Tom Brady’s Wolverines.

Washington State provides some cash and probably a good shot at QB1. I believe they have 3 underclassman QB's presently. Their previous starter was a transfer from Bryant who just graduated.

they’re all back as well

I wonder what kind of cash he got from them?

2026 WSU Schedule

Looks light

Washington State has 30 players outbound in the transfer portal, including 3 QBs Jimmy Rogers was there for one year,

They will be in an expanded conference this year.

A quick search says WSU football has $1M, but the goal is to get to $10 Million. That's a massive jump, I don't see how, unless they're including conference monies.

Montana state already getting gutted by the portal: https://x.com/i/status/2008716104743764445

Washington State and Oregon State played TWICE this year?

yup, interim basis until the MWC schools join the "PAC".

If Pinnick doesn't mind living in Pullman I won't lie and acknowledge it's a step up if he's getting six figures at least and a reasonable chance to start next year. I imagine it's something akin to starting at Boise or Fresno in terms of profile, resources, facilities, etc.

On the flip side, if it comes out that his actual compensation wasn't that great (compared to say the offers after another year of FCS development) and he doesn't get to be a starter, I can see this being a gamble that doesn't pay off.

kind of funny when I saw 1-1 conference record in a conference of 2. Technically co-champions?

I appreciated coach’s honesty that the program was trying to help find Wrighster and Rasor a place to get snaps. The comment about Caden though “him and his team of people and his agent decided it was better for him to move on” - not sure who his “team” is but it didn’t sound flattering. There’s fiduciary guidance and there’s non-fiduciary grifting. I think the current setup allows the latter to masquerade as the former. I wouldn’t be surprised if 10 years from now we see a crop of cashed out crashed out dudes who earned too much too fast and blew all of it with help from greedy family members and agents.

The comment about Caden though “him and his team of people and his agent decided it was better for him to move on” - not sure who his “team” is — fugawe09

In his Instagram post about entering the portal, in the bottom right, it noted Red Envelope Sports. Looks like they specialize in getting kids NIL money.

Tom Brady’s group. They specialize in shopping guys who are not yet in the portal, enticing them into the portal with inflated estimates and then skimming 20% or more off the top.

Washington State football NIL is in the $5m range. Kirby is in the $2m range as HC. The new TV contract won’t cover those two line items let alone the full football budget.

I 100% agree. Moving to WSU is a bad move in my opinion. He just left one of the best QB developers in the league to maybe play in D1. I wish him well, but bad move long term.

Its a head-scratcher, to be sure! I don't think the money is much more than we were offering, and the quality of the Pac-whatever is not a great jump. As you point out, will his QB skills improve there as much as he would here with (at least) another year.

I don't know if the rumors of Vargas' visits are legit (i trust nothing/nobody in this NIL arena), but if he's getting high level P4 interest, its surprising/disappointing that Pinnack is settled for WSU.

Not a head scratcher if he gets paid (check), gets to play and progresses the way he hopes he will (these two are TBD).

Only thing I can see with Wazzu - is the notion they rebuild the Pac 12 to it's full potential, they've got a lot of the best mid-tier West Coast teams now lined up to reopen the conference in 2026 -- for what it's worth Cam Ward went there before he went to Miami...so it has been a stepping stone location before for the Power 4.

New Pac Conference:
Oregon State
Washington State
Boise State
Colorado State
Fresno State
San Diego State
Texas State
Utah State
Gonzaga (non-football)

Right now Washington State is still building their schedule for 2026 and 2027. They're playing teams like UW, Kansas State, Kansas, Arizona -- and looks like they've got some FCS matchups with Duquesne and Idaho as well.

Kirby Moore has been named the Head Coach there in the offseason -- he's lead a very prolific offense in Missouri the past few seasons. Moore's a NW guy, born and raised in Prosser, WA and played at Boise State, alongside his brother Kellen - who is the current Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints . He has coached at Washington, Fresno State and Missouri.

Pinnick's getting a good situation there - a lot of growth potential for Years 2 and 3.
https://www.lmtribune.com/sports/wsu-finds-a-qb-signs-a-receiver-from-sec-21203596

First-year Washington State coach Kirby Moore may have found his quarterback to continue the Cougars’ coveted QB tradition.

WSU added former UC Davis QB Caden Pinnick, the 2025 Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year, through the transfer portal, the program announced Tuesday.

WSU also signed wide receiver Tank Hawkins from Florida and safety Jack Bal from Arizona State, and officially announced six additions to Moore’s coaching staff.

As a redshirt freshman this past season, Pinnick completed 70% of his passes for 3,206 yards with 32 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He also showed a knack for creating plays with his legs, racking up 437 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 125 attempts.

The Loomis, Calif., native earned All-American honors in addition to his freshman of the year recognition.

Hawkins played sparingly through two seasons with the Gators of the SEC.

He made 10 catches for 100 yards, with a long of 36, during his true freshman season before reeling in just two catches for 16 yards last year.

However, Hawkins posted a 4.25 40-yard dash time out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Bal played in just three games over the past three years for the Sun Devils and is the fifth defensive transfer WSU has signed this offseason. — The Lewiston Tribune

So, from what I've gathered by all the searchers on the board, we've got 5 offers out there?

RB Jaden Green - Lehigh (Bethlehem, PA, went to Serra)
DB Brian Dukes Jr. - Cal Poly (orig. from San Diego area)
RB Cade Searcy - East Central University (Ada, OK, Searcy is from a town north of Dallas/FW)
TE Cyrus Ellison - South Carolina State (Orangeburg, SC)
K Tyler Haley - Grossmont College (E. of San Diego)

so far that's what I've been able to hunt down. I'm sure there are and will be more