David Riley Era Begins as Cougar Men Host Vikings

Pullman, Wash. - The David Riley era of Washington State football begins Saturday when the Cougars play host to the Portland State Vikings at Martin Stadium.

Riley, who was hired in December after four seasons at Northern Colorado, has brought a new energy and enthusiasm to the Cougar program. He's also implemented a new offensive scheme that is expected to be more up-tempo and pass-happy than the one run by previous coach Nick Rolovich.

The Cougars are coming off a 7-6 season in which they finished fourth in the Pac-12 North. They return 10 starters on offense and eight on defense, including All-American linebacker Jahad Woods.

The Vikings are coming off a 5-6 season in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). They return 16 starters, including quarterback Davis Alexander, who threw for 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.

The Cougars are a heavy favorite in the game, but Riley is not taking the Vikings lightly. "They're a well-coached team with a lot of talent," Riley said. "We're going to have to play our best game to beat them."

The game will be televised on Pac-12 Network and will start at 2:30 p.m. PT.