2013: Cougs replace BYU with...

WASHINGTON STATE HAS replaced BYU on the 2013 home schedule with a new opponent, and made adjustments for BYU's return trip to Pullman.

The Cougs will play Southern Utah in Pullman in 2013 instead of BYU, the SID said Thursday afternoon.

The WSU nonconference schedule for the 2013 season now consists of Auburn, Idaho and Southern Utah.

Further, the BYU return game to Pullman has been moved to the 2019 schedule, WSU said.

“At our request BYU has agreed to move our 2013 game to the 2019 season,” said WSU Director of Athletics Bill Moos. “This move will provide greater balance to our future schedules.”

Washington State played at BYU this season in the first part of a home-and-home series that was to see BYU come to Pullman in 2013. Instead, WSU opted out of that home game in order to schedule Southern Utah.

The trend in both the Pac-12 and throughout college football in recent years has been to schedule an easier nonconference slate, including FCS opponents. As one example, Oregon's nonconference schedule this season, all at home, featured Arkansas State, Fresno State and Tennessee Tech.

Future schedules:

2013:
Sept. 21 - Idaho in Pullman
TBA - at Auburn
TBA - Southern Utah in Pullman

2014:
August 30 - Wisconsin in Pullman
Sept. 6 - at Nevada

2015:
Sept. 5 - at Wisconsin
Sept. 12 - Wyoming in Pullman

2016:
Sept. 10 - at Boise State

2017:
Sept. 2 - Nevada in Pullman
Sept. 9 - Boise State in Pullman

2018:
Sept. 1 - at Wyoming
TBA - San Jose State in Pullman

2019:
TBA - BYU in Pullman