For the first time since 2003, the Washington State Cougars have finished the season ranked and in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll, coming in right at No. 10 in the final ballot.
The Cougs improved to 11-2 in the Alamo Bowl, defeating the Iowa St. Cyclones 28-26, and that — combined with a couple of losses in front of them — was enough to propel them up two spots.
Although WSU had been ranked during each of the past four seasons under Mike Leach, this is the first time the Cougars have finished in the top 25 in his tenure.