A rivalry reborn
Washington State and Idaho have sealed a home‑and‑home agreement that will see the Cougars host the Vandals at Beasley Coliseum on November 27, with the return match slated for early in the 2027‑28 season at ICCU Arena. The deal revives the Battle of the Palouse, a rivalry that first sparked in 1906 and has since become the longest‑running continuous series in college basketball.
The pause was enforced by a Pac‑12 rule that barred teams from scheduling opponents ranked too low in the NCAA’s NET over a five‑year span. That restriction kept the series dormant until 2023, when the two programs revived the matchup for three straight seasons. WSU currently leads the all‑time ledger 168‑115, a testament to the Cougars’ historic dominance.
New faces, fresh ambitions
Both squads arrive with transformed rosters. The Cougars are entering their first season in the restructured Pac‑12 Conference, fielding an overhauled lineup that blends veteran leadership with promising newcomers. Meanwhile, Idaho, fresh off a Big Sky Tournament championship and their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 36 years, brings a surge of momentum and confidence.
The upcoming schedule also includes road tests for the Vandals: a December 23 showdown at Arizona State and a November 18 trip to Nevada. Idaho will host North Dakota State on December 8, adding another layer of non‑conference competition before the Palouse clash.
According to Alex Rosinski, the renewed series promises more than just bragging rights; it offers each program a chance to gauge early‑season form against a familiar foe, setting the tone for the remainder of the schedule.