Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | YPA | QBR | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 10-24@ Washington | 16/25 | 142 | 0 | 2 | 5.7 | 68.2 | Season-high 142 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 7-34@ Kansas State | 9/20 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 | 13.2 | |
| Total | 25/45 | 207 | 0 | 2 | 4.5 | 40.7 |
#12
Caden Pinnick
Caden Pinnick has built a role at Washington State the hard way, one season at a time.
6′0″ · 192 lb · Loomis, CA · Del Oro HS
Returning to Washington State for 2026
The numbers
207
passing yards · 2026
2 INT · 4.6 per attempt
2 games into 2026 so far
The play that turned itSwung Washington State from 13% to 45% to win.Washington State at Washington · 24-10
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 quarterback for Washington State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
The full story, with sourcesBuzz vs Tape
Fans warmer than rivals
His own fans are far more bullish than the rival fanbase.
16.7own fans
-25rival fans
WSU has their starting quarterback in Caden Pinnick, formerly with UC Davis. Go Cougs!
Also worth knowing:
In Their Words
110 windows · 2026 fan posts
caden×113.5davis×46.5first×9.5
“Caden Pinnick QB 1 WSU has their starting quarterback in Caden Pinnick, formerly with UC Davis. Go Cougs!”
reddit/wsu · fan post, verbatim
Caden Pinnick
Filling the Shoesas of 2026-09-15
Caden Pinnick is a cornerstone for Washington State — measured against the line he joined.
207PASS YDS0PASS TD90RUSH YDS
Read the story so far
AI-generated narrative · may contain errors · not journalism · updated 2026-09-15
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Washington State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Washington State0-2HC: Kirby Moore · Run-heavy
Where this profile ranks vs the QB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: pass yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (7)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 104 YDS/g, 0.0 TD/g, 4.5 YPA, 1.0 INT/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Kirby Moore
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Washington State | 25 | 45 | 55.6% | 207 | 4.6 | 0 | 2 | 85.3 | 33 | -- | -- |
| Career | 25 | 45 | 55.6% | 207 | 4.6 | 0 | 2 | 85.3 | 33 | -- | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Washington State | 27 | 90 | 3.3 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 27 | 90 | 3.3 | 1 | -- |
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 2 · Kansas State · 3&9 · Q4 · EPA +2.84(11:48) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick pass complete short left to #1 D.Blood caught at KSTATE48, for 11 yards to the KSTATE47 (#21 J.Scott), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Washington · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA +2.52(10:20) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick rush middle for 11 yards gain to the WASH00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 10:15, 1ST DOWN #38 J.Stevens kick attempt good (H: #32 M.Dean, LS: #41 S.Bures)
- Week 2 · Kansas State · 4&1 · Q2 · EPA -2.44(09:31) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick rush middle for 0 yards to the KSTATE36 (#35 G.Powers), TURNOVER ON DOWNS
- Week 1 · Washington · 4&3 · Q4 · EPA +2.37(12:52) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick rush right for 4 yards gain to the WASH39 (#9 J.Manu), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Washington · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +2.24(14:59) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick rush right for 25 yards gain to the WSU50 (#7 A.McLaughlin; #9 J.Manu), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Kansas State · 2&10 · Q4 · EPA +2.20(05:50) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick rush left for 12 yards gain to the KSTATE49 (#44 W.Polk), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Kansas State · 2&10 · Q4 · EPA -2.08(05:05) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick sacked for loss of 8 yards to the WSU43 (#56 E.Hill)
- Week 2 · Kansas State · 3&5 · Q1 · EPA +2.08(04:41) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick pass complete short right to #8 B.Ganashamoorthy caught at WSU40, for 11 yards to the WSU41 (#21 J.Scott), 1ST DOWN, PENALTY KSTATE Roughing The Passer (#40 J.Bryant) 15 yards from WSU41 to KSTATE44, 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Kansas State · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA -1.87(01:29) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick sacked for loss of 4 yards to the WSU38 (#39 T.Bates). #77 N.Bakken injured on the play
- Week 2 · Kansas State · 2&14 · Q2 · EPA +1.81(00:58) Shotgun #12 C.Pinnick rush left for 13 yards gain to the KSTATE49, out of bounds at KSTATE49
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Washington State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Quarterback · Washington State
Returning around him
- 91% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
- Transfer portal: -13 net (28 in / 41 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Washington State · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #81 · 2026 recruiting class #128
Background
WASHINGTON STATE RS-SOPHOMORE (2026): Enrolled at WSU in January 2026 and will participate in spring practices. UC DAVIS RS-FRESHMAN (2025): 2025 Jerry Rice Award Finalist…FCS Football Central Freshman All-American…Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American…Big Sky Freshman of the Year…Big Sky All-C...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology