WSU Athletics enhancing football weekend experience

Washington State University Athletics is supercharging the weekend experience for Cougar fans and their families, offering a slate of events, amenities, and attractions for those traveling to Pullman this fall.

The 2025-26 football season kicks off this weekend with the next chapter of the WSU-University of Idaho rivalry, otherwise known as The Battle of the Palouse. The occasion presents fans with a new way to stay in Pullman, Camping with the Cougs, with fans able to purchase camping spots on Moonberry Track as well as the turf field on Grimes near the Lightly Student Services Building.

Camping spots are still available and can be purchased online. The Friday prior to the game, WSU Athletics is also hosting a movie night on Gesa Field, with limited concessions available.

This weekend also marks the return of First Down Fridays, a partnership between WSU, the Downtown Pullman Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pullman. The new First Down Friday Street Fairs will feature music, local vendors, a beer garden, and family-friendly fun in the newly renovated Downtown Pullman. A Battle of the Palouse Cornhole Tournament is also taking place this Friday, with the winning team receiving four tickets to Saturday's game against the Vandals.

Additional First Down Friday Street Fairs are planned for Sept. 19, Oct. 24 and Nov. 14, with more information available online.

Prior to each home football game, the Cougar Collective is also hosting Friday Happy Hour Socials from 3-6 p.m. The first two events will take place at the WSU Baseball Complex patio, with visitors having the chance to meet with fellow athletics fans, hear from WSU coaches and student athletes, and bid on auction items like signed memorabilia. The location of subsequent events will be publicized ahead of time.

Fans will also need to take note of changes to pre-game tailgating events on the WSU Pullman campus. WSU Athletics is launching Kickoff at the CUB, a tailgate event that begins three hours prior to kickoff and will include refreshments for purchase as well as appearances from the Cougar Marching Band. Hollingbery Fieldhouse, which was previously open to the public ahead of games, will now be used for private events for corporate partners of Cougar Athletics. Rogers Field will continue to host Cougville two hours prior to kickoff and during halftime.

Cougar Prowl, which gives fans the chance to gather and rally with the team as it travels to GESA Field, will begin two hours and 40 minutes prior to kickoff, beginning at the Taylor Sports Complex. The team will then travel through the RV1 parking lot, past the Cougar Pride Statue, and into the stadium via the Northeast entrance.

New for this year and beginning with the camping event this week, WSU Athletics is launching six themed weekends. The subsequent events are listed below:

• Sept. 6 - Homecoming / WAZZU Game
• Sept. 20 - Apple Cup / Stripe the Stadium
• Oct. 25 - Family Weekend
• Nov. 15 - Military and Native American Appreciation
• Nov. 29 - Senior Day

Homecoming Weekend opens with a concert from country music artist Wyatt Flores at Rogers Field, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased via the WSU events website.

Fans will also have the chance to participate in Sunrise Yoga on Gesa Field the mornings of each of the first three home games, weather permitting.

Military and Native American Appreciation weekend will include a Tailgate Trot 5K and 10K race across Pullman and the WSU campus. Volleyball and basketball fans will also have the chance to cheer WSU student athletes on this weekend. Friday will feature he Cougar Women's basketball team hosting Stanford, with the men's team slated to tip-off against the University of Washington. Cougar Volleyball will host Seattle University for a noontime match inside Bohler Gym.