College football 2.0: Watch WSU’s QB transfer out and cheer UW in a D-list bowl game

I’ve ripped the state of college football all year long so why stop now as we enter the last weekend of the regular (irregular?) season.

It’s highly appropriate that this new abnormal enters the final stretch with so many stupid things going on, consistent with the rest of the season. College basketball has March Madness; college football has November Nonsense.

With all of the changes in conferences caused by money grabs across the country, college football reminds me of an aging actor who gets a facelift and goes too far with the Botox, trading appealing for appalling, thinking he looks better when he doesn’t.

In the first example of what’s gone so terribly wrong, the Huskies have exchanged playing in the national championship game last year to being thankful to qualify for a low-rent bowl game this year. Expectations have changed so much with the Washington program that I heard KJR-FM’s Dave “Softy” Mahler devote an entire 20-minute segment the other day to wondering if the Huskies can beat the 19 1/2-point spread against top-ranked Oregon on Saturday. Not whether they can beat the Ducks; can they lose by 19 points or fewer?

This disparity between the two teams was largely caused by Kalen DeBoer’s departure to Alabama a few days after the Dawgs played Michigan in the title game. DeBoer was no doubt intrigued with being the head coach of the best program in the nation, but look at him now - Crimson Tide fans are already calling for his dismissal because Alabama has lost three games this year.

New U Dub coach Jedd Fisch was left in charge to clean up the Montlake mess, and it’s not his fault that Washington has experienced an uncharacteristically sad season. With so much turnover in the coaching staff and personnel along with playing in a new conference, the Big Ten, the Dawgs have been fortunate to scratch out six wins.

Making it to a bowl game used to be considered a sign of success for a program but not anymore. Unless it’s part of the College Football Playoff, a bowl game only exists for ESPN or another network to make money.

Coaches will say the bowl game is important because it gives the team more practices, contending that it’s beneficial for team building toward the future.

Come on, how many players truly want to have more practices during the holiday season to prepare for a meaningless bowl game? And how many will opt out of the game anyway, not wanting to risk injury, fearing damage to their NFL draft status or attractiveness to other teams once they enter the transfer portal?

If the players don’t care about a bowl game, why should we? The only matchup I’d actually get fired up for would be one featuring the Dawgs against the Cougs in a rematch of September’s game at Lumen Field won by Washington State, 19-14.

I’m told that can’t happen because bowls have conference ties and commitments, but I’d say B.S. to that - nobody follows rules in college football anymore, so what if another one gets broken?

We also see November Nonsense in Pullman. Two weeks ago Washington State was a fringe contender for a College Football Playoff spot, but after losses to New Mexico and Oregon State, the Cougs look like the worst 8-3 team ever.

Everyone seems to think that defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding should be fired - everyone aside from head coach Jake Dickert, who feels otherwise.

Truth is, without quarterback John Mateer and a soft schedule, Washington State could be 3-8 instead of 8-3, and in Schmedding’s defense, he’s dealing with a shortage of overall talent.

Mateer’s name has been in the headlines all year long because he’s a touchdown-producing machine, but that’s about to change. You’ll still see his name prominently featured, but for different reasons - will Johnny Football stay in Pullman or will he go to a bigger program where the dollar signs dwarf what the Cougs can pay him?

Mateer is rumored to already have a million-dollar offer and is bound to get more. Imagine being Dickert or any coach anywhere really, finding an obscure player like Mateer when he wasn’t considered a highly regarded recruit. Then to coach him up and develop him into a top-tier player only to see him leave and display his newfound gifts with another program

It’s one and done and no fun for anyone in college football now, and do I blame a kid for chasing the cash? No, but it makes me truly appreciate someone like WSU defensive end David Gusta, who said on Jason Puckett’s podcast at PuckSports.com that he will turn down more lucrative offers he’s received to stay in Pullman. Gusta talked about loyalty and culture at Washington State, appreciating intangibles that are more important to him.

December promises to be another month of chaos with complaints from the 13th team being left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff and further news of players opting out of bowl games and getting illegal NIL offers as the transfer portal bursts at the seams while alums are asked to donate more money than ever before.

Sign me up for none of the above.

Jim Moore has covered Washington’s sports scene from every angle for multiple news outlets. He appears Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. on Jason Puckett’s podcast at PuckSports.com. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) @cougsgo.

This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 10:10 AM.