| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Washington State Cougars |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Pac–12 Conference |
| Division: | North Division |
| Short Conf: | Pac-12 |
| Coachrank: | 10 |
| Aprank: | 10 |
| Record: | 11–2 |
| Conf Record: | 7–2 |
| Hc Year: | 7th |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Champion: | Pac-12 North Division co-champion Alamo Bowl champion |
| Bowl Result: | W 28–26 vs. Iowa State |
The 2018 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team played their home games in Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington. They were led by 7th-year head coach Mike Leach and were members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference.[1]
The 2018 season was one of the greatest in Washington State history. The Cougars won a school record-tying ten games, the first time they had won that many in the regular season since the Rose Bowl year of 2002. They also surged as high as seventh in major polling and went into the Apple Cup with a chance to clinch the Pac-12 North title and a shot at the Rose Bowl, but lost 28–15 to rival Washington in the snow in Pullman, a sixth consecutive loss to the Huskies. The Cougars were invited to the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio to play the Iowa State Cyclones. They won 28–26 for a school record 11th win.
Mike Leach's air raid offense was led by grad transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew, who led FBS in passing completions and attempts, and finished second in passing yards.[2] Minshew was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and was the recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He and offensive tackle Andre Dillard were named first-team all-conference. Redshirt freshman offensive tackle Abraham Lucas was named to several national all-freshman teams, and was joined on the all-conference second-team by defensive end Logan Tago. Mike Leach was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the second time of his career.
Listed in the order that they were released
| Rimington Trophy[3] | Frederick Mauigoa | C | JR | |
| Chuck Bednarik Award[4] | Jalen Thompson | S | JR | |
| Wuerffel Trophy[5] | Peyton Pelluer | LB | SR | |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[6] | Gardner Minshew | QB | SR | |
| Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award[7] | Gardner Minshew | QB | SR |
The 2018 Pac-12 media days were held July 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. Mike Leach (HC), Kyle Sweet (WR/P) & Jalen Thompson (S) represented Washington State at this event. The Pac-12 media poll was released with the Cougars predicted to finish in fifth place at Pac-12 North division.[8]
| Media poll (North) | |||
| 1 | Washington | 249 (40) | |
| 2 | Stanford | 198 (2) | |
| 3 | Oregon | 178 (2) | |
| 4 | California | 108 | |
| 5 | Washington State | 98 | |
| 6 | Oregon State | 45 | |
Conference opponents not played this season: Arizona State, UCLA
See also: 2018 Wyoming Cowboys football team.
See also: 2018 San Jose State Spartans football team.
See also: 2018 Eastern Washington Eagles football team.
See also: 2018 USC Trojans football team.
See also: 2018 Utah Utes football team.
See also: 2018 Oregon State Beavers football team.
See also: 2018 Oregon Ducks football team.
See also: 2018 Stanford Cardinal football team.
See also: 2018 California Golden Bears football team.
See also: 2018 Colorado Buffaloes football team.
See also: 2018 Arizona Wildcats football team.
See also: 2018 Washington Huskies football team and Apple Cup.
See also: 2018 Iowa State Cyclones football team and 2018 Alamo Bowl.
| Gardner Minshew | Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week[9] | September 17, 2018 |
| Travell Harris | Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week[10] | September 17, 2018 |
| Jahad Woods | Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week[11] | November 19, 2018 |
Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year: Gardner Minshew II
Pac-12 Coach of the Year: Mike Leach[12]
See also: 2019 NFL draft.
Washington State had two players selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.[13]
| OT | 1 | 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| QB | 6 | 178 | Jacksonville Jaguars |