By Missy Grimes

PRESS CONFERENCE

https://youtu.be/5TtMjXFOAt8

SYRACUSE vs. WASHINGTON STATE
Game Details: 8 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. PST) | Friday, Dec. 27
Location: San Diego, Calif. | Snapdragon Stadium
Tickets: Click Here
Game Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Television: FOX
Radio:Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield
Game Program: Here
Twitter:@CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links:News | Roster | Schedule | Notes
Washington State Links:News | Roster | Schedule | Notes

ORANGE FACE WASHINGTON STATE IN DIRECTV HOLIDAY BOWL
• Syracuse makes its third-straight bowl appearance when it takes on Washington State in the 2024 DIRECTV Holiday Bowl.
• The game will air on FOX, with Gus Johnson (PxP), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Jenny Taft (reporter) on the call.
• Fans can secure their seats or get bowl information at Cuse.com/Bowl.

GOING BOWLING
• The 2024 DIRECTV Holiday Bowl marks Syracuse’s 29th bowl game appearance. The Orange have won four of their last six bowl games and have an all-time record of 16-11-1.
• From 1989-96, the Orange won seven-straight bowl games. The streak is the seventh-longest in college football postseason history. Florida State owns the record with 11-consecutive bowl-game
victories from 1985-96.
• Syracuse is 1-of-41 teams to play in bowl games in each of the last-three seasons (excludes Minnesota and San Jose State who received bowl invites with a 5-7 record in that span).

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
• Syracuse and Texas are tied for the most wins against bowl eligible teams, with eight heading into the postseason.
• Ten of the Orange’s 11 FBS opponents will play in bowl games this season. Syracuse’s opponents posted a combined record of 86-60 (.589) heading into bowl season.
• Syracuse has two victories over the current CFP top-25, a mark with ties for the fourth-most nationally.
• Syracuse posted three wins against AP top-25 teams at the time of their matchup this season for the first time since 1998.
• Two of the Orange’s non-conference victories came against teams that played in their respective conference championship game (Ohio, UNLV).

4 OVER 60
• Syracuse has four players with 60 receptions in a season for the first time in program history.
• The Orange are the only team in the nation to have three or more players with 60 or more catches in 2024.
• WR Trebor Pena has 79 receptions to lead the Orange. WR Jackson Meeks has 73, while TE Oronde Gadsden II has 69. RB LeQuint Allen Jr. reached 50 catches this season at Cal to join the group. He currently has 61.

SERIES HISTORY
• Syracuse and Washington State will play for the second time when they meet in the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl. Syracuse won the only previous meeting between the two schools, 52-25.
• The Orange hosted the Cougars in 1979. That game was played at then Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. as the Dome was being constructed.

A WIN WOULD … 
• Give the Orange 10 wins in a season for the first time since 2018 and just the third time since 2000.
• Make Fran Brown the second head coach in the modern era (post World War II) to record 10 wins in his first season as head coach, matching Paul Pasqualoni’s mark in 1991.
• Give Syracuse its 764th all-time victory (includes 11 wins from 2004-06 that were vacated by the NCAA). The Orange currently rank 21st on the FBS ledger of winningest programs. Syracuse is one of 34 FBS schools to have accumulated 700+ wins.

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HOLIDAY BOWL WEBSITE

https://holidaybowl.com/

WASHINGTON STATE GAME NOTES

https://wsucougars.com/documents/2024/12/19/WSU_24FB_Game_Notes_-_Bowl_Game_COMBINED.pdf

WASHINGTON STATE SET TO FACE SYRACUSE IN DIRECTV HOLIDAY BOWL
Washington State heads to San Diego for a matchup against No. 21 Syracuse in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl. Kickoff is set for Friday, December 27 at 5:05 p.m. on FOX.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State enters the Holiday Bowl with an 8-4 record, the most wins since 2018 and are playing in its eighth bowl in the last nine full seasons. The Cougars own the nation’s No. 12 scoring offense (36.8) while the defense is No. 16 in the country with 22 takeaways. Wide receiver Kyle Williams is second nationally with 13 receiving touchdowns.

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
• WSU is 8-4 for the most wins since 2018, is seeking first 9 win season since 2018 and 12th 9-win season all time
• WSU is headed to its 8th bowl in last nine full seasons and 19th bowl all time
• WSU owns 3 fourth-quarter comeback wins this season (San Jose State, at Fresno State, at San Diego State)
• WSU owns 11 100-yard rushing games this season, most since 2005 (11), owns 2 300-yard games (TTU, USU)
• WSU’s 22 defensive takeaways this season are No. 16 nationally, most by WSU since 2021 (29)
• WSU has returned 3 INT for touchdowns, the most since 2013 (4)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT (Player Notes Pages 10-12) (Player Bios Pages 58-85)
• WSU’s roster features 5 players from San Diego, also includes Defensive GA/former WSU LB Jihad Woods
K Ryan Harris, K Dean Janikowski, EDGE Jack Janikowski, WR Josh Meredith, EDGE Quinn Roff
• WR Kyle Williams is 3rd  nationally with 14 rec TD, 8 rec TD in last 4 gms, leads team with 60 rec, 1026 rec yds
• TE Cooper Mathers owns WSU single-season record 6 rec TD in 2024
• Edge Nusi Malani and OL Esa Pole were named to the 2024 Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List

HOLIDAY BOWL HISTORY
Washington State is making its fifth appearance in the Holiday Bowl, the most among the program’s 19 bowl appearances. WSU dropped a 38-36 decision to BYU in 1981, beat fifth-ranked Texas 28-20 in 2003 before falling to Minnesota 17-12 in 2016 and Michigan State 42-17 in 2017. WSU is 8-10 all-time in bowl games with the last win coming in 2018, 28-26 over Iowa State at the Alamo Bowl.

SYRACUSE SERIES HISTORY
Washington State is facing Syracuse for the second time in program history, previously meeting during the 1979 season. The Orange claimed a 52-25 victory in a game played at Rich Stadium, the home of the Buffalo Bills while the Carrier Dome was being built.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the 2003 season, ESPN College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The streak reached 318 at the SEC Championship. The first appearance came in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). Two flags – Ol’ Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason’s “No White Flags.” Appearance No. 217 was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon.

WILLIAMS NAMED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
Cougar wideout Kyle Williams was named to the 2024 Biletnikoff Award Watch List prior to the season, the award annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver. The senior from Inglewood, Calif. has caught 60 passes for 1,026 yards and 13 touchdowns.
• Williams had 2 TD rec (58, 59) in season-opening win over Portland State
• Williams only catch in the win over Texas Tech was a 21-yard TD
• Williams caught a career-high 3 TD in win over Utah State
• Williams had 9 catches for a career-high 181 yards and 3 TD at New Mexico
– Williams was first player in WSU history with back-to-back 3-TD rec games (USU, UNM)
– 4th 100-yard game of the season, 11th of his career and 6th as a Coug
– 141-Portland State, 138-San Jose State, 142-at Boise State, 181-at New Mexico
• Williams’ 13 rec TD are tied for 2nd-most in WSU single-season history, 3rd-most TD rec nationally
• Williams’ 19 career TD rec at WSU are tied for 7th-most WSU history
• 49 consecutive games catching a pass, tied for longest streak nationally (LaJohntay Webster, CU)
Owns a catch in all 49 career games (1st 25 games at UNLV (2020-22)
• 1st career 1,000-yard season and 1st by a Coug since 2019, enters Holiday Bowl with 1,026 rec yds
• Among active FBS players career stats;
– Tied for 5th in rec TD (28), 6th in rec ypg (70.1) and rec yards (3,437), 7th in rec (238)

RECORD BOOK WATCH
• Kicker Dean Janikowski’s 177 career made PAT are most in WSU history
• Cooper Mathers’ 6 receiving TD are the most by a Cougar TE in WSU single-season history
• Mathers’ 7 career receiving TD are 2nd-most by a Cougar TE in WSU history
– (8, Troy Bienemann, 2002-05)
• Janikowski’s four career 50+yard field goals are tied for 3rd-most in WSU history
• Janikowski’s 75.4 career field goal percentage (43-57) is the 4th-best FG% in WSU history
• Janikowski’s 306 career points are 4th-most points by a kicker in WSU history
• Janikowski’s 43 career made field goals are tied for 5th-most in WSU history
• Kyle Williams’ 13 receiving TD are tied for 2nd-most in WSU single-season history
• Williams’ 19 career receiving TD at WSU are tied for 7th-most in WSU history

DEAN JANIKOWSKI NAMED TO WUERFFEL TROPHY FINALIST, MORE THAN A KICK
Kicker Dean Janikowski was named to the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and a Wuerffel Trophy Finalist. Janikowski was one of three FBS finalists up for College Football’s premier award for community service and one of the most meaningful award in collegiate sports. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy is presented to one of the 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players elected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. This year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was selected from a record 178 nominees, representing players and coaches from colleges and universities across the country for their unwavering commitment to community service and their “good works” off the field. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy embodies Wuerffel’s commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who are inspired to serve others and make positive impacts on society. In the classroom, Janikowski was named to 2023 Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll with a 4.00 GPA while working towards his MBA and was a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist, give to the nation’s best scholar athlete.

Janikowski founded the Heather Janikowski Foundation in honor of his late mother, raising more than $150,000 to support cancer research and patients. Since arriving at WSU, he has launched the “More Than a Kick” and “Kicking Cancer” initiatives, encouraging donations for each field goal and extra point he makes. In addition to organizing fundraising events like the Do It For Her 5k and Monserrate Memorial Hike, Dean has donated to people in need and used his platform to support cancer patients in his community.

Janikowski appeared in all 12 games this season and served as the team’s primary field goal kicker, kicker on kickoffs and punter before recently giving up punting duties. Janikowski has connected on eight of 11 field goal attempts including a season-long 52 to send the game into overtime in the win over San Jose State. Janikowski has tallied 28 touchbacks on 55 kickoffs and averaged 42.7 yards-per-punt on 26 punts. The Fallbrook, Calif. native enters his final game with a WSU record 177 career PAT, tied for fifth in program history with 43 made field goals and fourth in school history with 306 career points.

POSTGAME NOTES – PORTLAND STATE WIN
• WSU’s 49 points in the first half were the most since 2018, scored 55 in first half against Arizona • WSU’s 70 points were the most since 1997 (77, SW Louisiana) and were tied for 6th-most in program history • WSU’s 224 rushing yards were the most since rushing for 229 against Northern Colorado week three last season • Five different players caught a TD, 3 rushed for a TD • Stephen Hall’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown was the longest in program history

POSTGAME NOTES – TEXAS TECH WIN
• WSU rushed for 301 yards, the most since rushing for 306 at Stanford in 2022 • WSU posted back-to-back games with 200-yards rushing for the first time since 2021 (223 vs. Arizona, 209 at Washington) •  WSU rushed for four touchdowns, the most since 2018 against Eastern Washington • WSU posted its first win over Texas Tech in program history; had last previous two meetings (1963, 1964) • WSU’s four takeaways (2 INT, 2 FUM) are the most since 2022 (4 INT, at Arizona)

POSTGAME NOTES – APPLE CUP WIN
• WSU defeated Washington 24-19 in front of 57,567 at Lumen Field in Seattle, WSU’s second Apple Cup win in last four seasons • The 2024 Apple Cup was the first Apple Cup played in September and earliest meeting in series history • WSU held Washington under 20 points for only the second time since the 1999 season (other being 13 points in 2021) • WSU improved to 6-7 all-time when playing at Lumen Field • Josh Meredith set career highs with seven catches and 111 receiving yards, had 2nd-career TD catch, a 16-yard fourth-quarter score, 1st career 100-yard game • Andrew Edson recorded a career-high seven tackles, all solo, with three TFL’s, to lead the WSU defense • Raam Stevenson recorded a sack for the second straight week

POSTGAME NOTES – SAN JOSE STATE DOUBLE OVERTIME WIN
• WSU improved to 4-0 for the second straight season, the first time starting 4-0 in consecutive seasons since 1906-07 • WSU played its first overtime game since 2017 (W, OT3, Boise State, 47-44), have won four straight overtime games • WSU entered the fourth quarter trailing by 14 and trailed by three with 1:26 remaining before hitting the game-tying 52-yard field goal as time expired and won in double-overtime for their first fourth quarter comeback win since 2021 (Stanford) • WSU recorded its second game this season with 600+yards of total offense, 627 (637, Portland State) • WSU’s 95 plays are tied for 10th-most in WSU single-game history • Cooper Mathers caught his 2nd and 3rd career touchdowns, first this season (at Cal, 2023), first WSU tight end with 2 rec TD since Jed Collins did so in 2006 against Oregon (1 rushing, 1 receiving) • Janikowski’s 52-yard field goal to end regulation was the 2nd-longest of his career (55, at Colorado State, 2023) and 4th of his career

POSTGAME NOTES – AT NO. 25 BOISE STATE
• Leo Pulalasi scored his 1st career touchdown, a 1-yard TD run in 4th quarter • Cooper Mathers caught his 3rd TD of the season, the most by a Cougar tight end since 2007 (Jed Collins, Devin Frischknecht)

POSTGAME NOTES – AT FRESNO STATE WIN
• WSU improved to 5-1 for the first time since 2018 • WSU recorded its second fourth-quarter comeback win this season (trailed San Jose State entering 4th) • WSU recorded its first fourth-quarter comeback win on the ROAD since 2018 at Stanford • WSU rushed for over 100 yards for the fifth time this season, had four 100-yards last season, six in 2022 • Carlos Hernandez made his season debut, caught one pass for nine yards

POSTGAME NOTES – HAWAII WIN
• WSU improved to 6-1 for the first time since 2018, has won five straight games at Gesa Field • WSU rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns, its sixth 100-yard game this season after recording four in 2023 • WSU recorded three takeaways to push season total to 14, recorded 15 all of last season • WSU recorded a season-high four sacks • WSU posted season-lows in points (10), total offense (300), rushing yards (104), held Hawaii to 0-8 on third downs • Carlos Hernandez caught a 32-yard touchdown, his first career TD catch

POSTGAME NOTES – AT SAN DIEGO STATE WIN
• WSU recorded its third fourth-quarter comeback win of the season (San Jose State, at Fresno State) • WSU rushed for 114 yards, their seventh 100-yard rushing game of the season, had four last season • WSU recorded eight tackles-for-loss and four sacks, both are season highs • WSU picked off a pass to record its 15th takeaway of the season, matching last season’s total • Carlos Hernandez made his first career start, caught a touchdown pass for the second straight game • Cooper Mathers caught his fifth touchdown of the season, setting a WSU single-season record for TD receptions by a tight end (4, Chris Leighton, 1987) • Kyle Thornton made his 21st career start, matched career-high with two tackles-for-loss • Keith Brown made a season-high six tackles

POSTGAME NOTES – UTAH STATE WIN
• WSU rushed for 303 yards, its eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season, the most since 2005 (11), second 300-yard game of the season (301, Texas Tech) • WSU recorded two takeaways (INT, FUM), pushing its season total to 17, passing last season’s total of 15 • Hunter Haines made his college debut, appeared on kickoff, made one tackle • Rod Tialavea started at left guard, Christian Hilborn did not start, snapping 34-game start streak • Kyle Williams caught a career-high three touchdowns • Kapena Gushiken picked off his second pass of the season (Texas Tech) • David Gusta recorded his first career sack

POSTGAME NOTES – AT NEW MEXICO
• WSU rushed for 172 yards, its ninth 100-yard rushing game this season, most since 2005 (11) • Carlos Hernandez caught his third touchdown of the season, third in last four games, had four catches for 67 yards • Cooper Mathers caught two passes for 71 yards including career-long 50 yarder • Kyle Thornton appeared in his 50th career game, made three tackles • Bryson Lamb matched a career-high with five tackles

POSTGAME NOTES – AT OREGON STATE
• WSU pushed its season takeaway total to 19, the most since 2022 (21) • Brock Dieu made his first career start at center, Christian Hilborn started at right guard • Carlos Hernandez caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season, has played in just six games • Kyle Thornton appeared in his 51st career game, tied for sixth-most in WSU history, recorded eight stops

POSTGAME NOTES – WYOMING
• WSU recorded three takeaways (INT, 2 FUM) to push season total to 22, the most since 2021 (29)
• WSU set season highs in sacks (6) and tackles-for-loss (11), the most in both categories since 2022 (Colorado State – 7, 12) • Trey Leckner started at tight end, his first career start • Kyle Thornton appeared in his 52nd career game, sixth-most in WSU history, made six tackles with two for loss including first sack of the season • Jamorri Colson picked off his first pass of the season, second of his career (Stanford, 2023) • Quinn Roff recorded his first sack of the season, 11th of his career and fifth career forced fumble

LEACH, PATTERSON INDUCTED INTO WSU HALL OF FAME
Former head coach Mike Leach and defensive end DeWayne Patterson were inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame the Friday night before the week two win over Texas Tech.

Mike Leach (football coach, 2012-19): Guided the Cougars to 55 victories in his eight seasons in Pullman, third-most in program history…was a two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year and 2018 AFCA National Coach of the Year…is the only coach to lead WSU to six bowl games and in 2018, led WSU to a school-record 11 victories, a win in the Alamo Bowl and a No. 10 final national ranking…WSU led the nation in passing in four of his eight seasons, top 9 in all eight years…in his 21 seasons, compiled a 158-107 (.596) record, guided his teams to 19 bowl games and set school records for bowl appearances at both Texas Tech (10) and Washington State (6)…passed away at the age of 61 in 2022.

DeWayne Patterson (Football, 1990-1994): One of the leaders of the Palouse Posse defense of the early 1990’s…finished his Cougar career with 154 tackles, and WSU records of 52.5 tackles-for-loss and 37.5 sacks, both of which remain school records following the 2024 season…senior year was named to Football News All-America First Team and Associated Press All-America Second Team…two-time All-Pac-10 Conference First Team selection…following WSU career, played three seasons in the Canadian Football League.

INTERIM TAG REMOVED, ANNE MCCOY TO LEAD WASHINGTON STATE ATHLETICS
WSU President Kirk Schulz removed the interim tag and named Anne McCoy as the WSU Director of Athletics, it was announced June 25. McCoy, who spent the previous three months as Interim Director of Athletics, officially becomes the 15th person to lead Cougar Athletics and the first woman to hold the position. McCoy is no stranger to WSU, serving a variety of roles on the senior administrative team since arriving in 2001 as associate director of athletics for internal operations. McCoy, who was hired by former Cougar Athletic Director Jim Sterk, has risen within the athletic department. Most recently, she served as senior deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator (SWA) before assuming the interim director of athletics title in March of this year. Throughout her time on WSU’s senior leadership team, McCoy has been actively involved with all facets of the department, having a role in all head coaching hires since her arrival, including all current head coaches. McCoy has played a role in each area of Cougar Athletics during her tenure and served in a supervisory capacity for every WSU sport. In the span of three months in the interim role, McCoy secured the hiring of WSU Men’s Basketball Head Coach David Riley, Head Swimming Coach Russ Whitaker and Head Women’s Golf Coach Kevin Tucker, extending the contract of Women’s Head Basketball Coach Kamie Ethridge, secured a home for baseball and women’s swimming through affiliate membership with the Mountain West Conference for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, and was involved with the Pac-12 Conference’ securing a media rights agreement with the CW Network and FOX for the 2024 football season.

WASHINGTON STATE ALUM CHRIS KING NAMED VOICE OF THE COUGS
WSU Athletics and Learfield’s Washington State Sports Properties named Washington State alumnus Chris King as the new “Voice of the Cougs” in August. King, from Marysville, Wash., takes over play-by-play duties for Cougar Football, Men’s Basketball and Baseball. King returns to Pullman – where he graduated from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication in 2009 – after gaining 13 years of Division I broadcasting experience in neighboring Idaho. After two years announcing women’s basketball at Boise State, King became the men’s basketball broadcaster for the Idaho Vandals in 2013 before adding football broadcasting duties in 2021. In addition to his time calling college football and basketball, King also has extensive baseball experience, broadcasting Minor League Baseball for the Tri-City Dust Devils from 2012-2021. Away from the radio booth he has worked in a communications role with the West Coast League since 2016, most recently as the league’s deputy commissioner. King has twice been honored as the Idaho Sportscaster of the Year (2017, 2023) by the National Sports Media Association for his work with the Vandals.

COUGS ADD JAMES MADISON TO COMPLETE 2025 SCHEDULE
Washington State added a road contest at James Madison University to complete its 2025 football schedule. The game at JMU is scheduled for Nov. 22, 2025, at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Va, marking the first meeting between the two programs. The 2025 schedule features contests against five autonomous five programs, a home-and-home series against Oregon State, first-time meetings against five opponents, opponents representing 10 different conferences and an Apple Cup matchup in Pullman. “We are thrilled to finalize our full football schedule for next season,” said WSU Director of Athletics Anne McCoy. “The 2025 season includes contests against new opponents playing in Gesa Field, a September Apple Cup matchup in Pullman, as well as challenging road games against SEC and ACC opponents in Mississippi and Virginia. It’s a schedule our fans will be excited for.”

COUGS, BEAVS TO MEET TWICE IN 2025
Washington State added a road contest at Oregon State to its 2025 football schedule. The matchup has the Cougars and Beavers facing off in a home-and-home series during the 2025 campaign. The two teams will first meet Nov. 1, 2025 in Corvallis, followed by a previously scheduled contest at Gesa Field, Nov. 29, 2025. In the 108-game history of the rivalry, dating back to the first meeting in 1903, WSU leads the series 57-48-3. The 2025 schedule marks just the second time in series history the teams have met twice in the same season. In 1945, WSU won both contests, a 33-0 victory in Pullman Oct. 6 followed by a 13-6 win in Corvallis Nov. 17.

WASHINGTON STATE ADDS OLE MISS TO 2025 SCHEDULE
Washington State added the University of Mississippi to its 2025 football schedule. The contract is solely for the 2025 season. The game marks the first meeting between the two programs. The last Southeastern Conference school WSU has faced was at Auburn to open the 2013 season.

WSU, UW AGREE TO FIVE-YEAR CONTINUATION OF APPLE CUP
Washington State and Washington agreed in principle to a five-year continuation of the storied Apple Cup football series through at least 2028. This year’s matchup took place week three at Lumen Field in Seattle, with the following four games alternating between the school’s campuses: 2025 (Pullman), 2026 (Seattle), 2027 (Pullman) and 2028 (Seattle). The 2025 Boeing Apple Cup on September 20, 2025 at Gesa Field in Pullman.
 

COURTESY WASHINGTON STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS