If not for the proper context, the opportunity that is still out there for No. 24 Washington State might seem meaningless.
If the Cougars can win their final three games - beginning with Saturday night's home finale against Colorado - they would finish with 10 wins for the first time since 2003. And with a little help, Washington State could end up as co-champ of the Pac-12 North Division.
Those wouldn't be accomplishments to scoff at. Consider the Cougars opened the season with one of the more embarrassing losses in school history, falling to FCS Portland State at home.