CORVALLIS - It's often said the scoreboard doesn't lie, so it's hard to deny Washington State's one-sided 56-37 win Saturday night over Oregon State in Reser Stadium.
But if you view the Beavers as a team that hasn't beaten an FBS team since 2016 and on the wrong end of many blowouts the past two years, there are reasons to be encouraged.
This was a highly-competitive game for three quarters. The Beavers (1-5, 0-3 Pac-12) had a lead in a game for the first time since Sept. 8 against Southern Utah. Oregon State's offense rolled up 498 yards against a defensive unit ranked among the nation's top 10 statistically.