The WSU Cougars will not be playing on New Year’s Day despite an 11-2 season that saw them challenge for the Pac-12 North crown.
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Washington State (10-2) is ranked 13th in the final College Football Playoff poll, leaving the Cougs one spot away from playing in one of the New Year’s Six bowl games on Jan. 1. It was the same ranking WSU in the previous poll, a five-spot drop following a loss in the Apple Cup.
WSU had a strong possibility of playing in one of those games had it won the Apple Cup to clinch the Pac-12 North over rival Washington (10-3) and earn a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game against Utah, but the Washington loss coupled with a previous loss to USC and lack of any ranked non-conference opponents ultimately prevented the Cougars from getting a spot in one of the six marquee bowl games.