| Year: | 1973 |
| Team: | Washington State Cougars |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Pacific-8 Conference |
| Short Conf: | Pac-8 |
| Record: | 5–6 |
| Conf Record: | 4–3 |
| Head Coach: | Jim Sweeney |
| Hc Year: | 6th |
| Off Coach: | Joe Tiller |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Ray Braun |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Captain: | Greg Craighead |
| Captain2: | Tom Poe |
| Stadium: | Martin Stadium, Joe Albi Stadium |
The 1973 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. In their sixth season under head coach Jim Sweeney, the Cougars compiled a 5–6 record (4–3 in Pac-8, fourth), and were outscored 290 to 250.[1] [2]
The team's statistical leaders included Chuck Peck with 1,023 passing yards, Andrew Jones with 1,059 rushing yards, and Tim Krause with 384 receiving yards.[3]
The Cougars won their last four games, all in conference, which included a sweep of the three Northwest teams; the season concluded with a second consecutive win in the Apple Cup over Washington, this time a 52–26 rout on the road in Seattle.
See also: Apple Cup.
See main article: 1973 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team. Three Washington State players were named to the All-Pac-8 team: senior linebacker Tom Poe, junior guard Steve Ostermann, and junior center Geoff Reece.[10] [11] Ostermann was a repeat selection; he and Reece returned to the first team the next year.[12]
Three Cougars were selected in the 1974 NFL draft
| Robin Sinclair | DB | 6 | 152 | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Ken Grandberry | RB | 8 | 190 | Chicago Bears | |
| Tom Wickert | G | 9 | 212 | Miami Dolphins |