Coming into the 2018 season, the expectations for the Washington State Cougars were somewhat conservative. Mike Leach lost defensive coordinator Alex Grinch to Ohio State in the offseason and the Cougars star quarterback, Luke Falk, took his talents to the NFL. After a stunning and dominating upset of the Cougars last year, some Cal fans—including myself—had this years Washington State–Cal matchup as a winnable game for the Bears despite being on the road in early November.
Now with Washington State in the middle of a four-game winning streak, that confidence has all but disappeared.