1997 Washington State Cougars football team
The 1997 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their ninth season under head coach Mike Price, the Cougars went 10–1 in the regular season (7–1 in Pac-10), won the conference championship, lost to #1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl, and outscored their opponents 483 to 296. They played their home games on campus at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, and were ninth in the final rankings. The team's statistical  leaders included Ryan Leaf with 3,968 passing yards, Michael Black with 1,181 rushing yards, and Chris Jackson with 1,005 receiving yards. The Rose Bowl appearance was the first for Washington State in 67 years; the next was five years later. Leaf decided to forgo his remaining season of eligibility (1998) and entered the 1998 NFL Draft, where he was the second overall selection. NFL Draft. Four Cougars were selected in the 1998 NFL Draft; quarterback Ryan Leaf was taken second overall.