With the Oregon State game safely in the win column, the Washington Huskies can safely turn their attention to the No. 8 Washington State Cougars, who are enjoying their highest ranking in the College Football Playoff era and will play the Dawgs for the right to represent the Pac-12 North in the conference championship game in this week’s Apple Cup. Adam Jude writes that this year’s scenario — in which a win could propel the Cougars into serious Playoff berth discussion — is eerily similar to the one Washington faced in 2016.
Matt Calkins cautions Huskies fans not to be lulled into a false sense of security based on the blowout outcomes of the last handful of Apple Cups, saying that this year’s edition of the Cougars is a different beast with likely Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Gardner Minshew at quarterback:
Just when you think [Minshew’s] stock can’t get higher, it spikes another 50 stories high.