With or without Washington State quarterback Luke Falk, the most intriguing matchup entering Friday’s Apple Cup will be how the Huskies’ Pac-12-leading defense fares against the nation’s most prolific passing offense.
Not to be forgotten, though, is the challenge facing Washington’s offense against Washington State’s improved defense.
The No. 20 Cougars (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12), under the director of first-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, rank sixth in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (27.4 points) after ranking 10th in scoring defense in each of Mike Leach’s first three seasons.
UW coach Chris Petersen said he was talking with Oregon State coach Gary Andersen before their game, and “one of the first things he said was that (WSU) defense is (as) physical as anybody they’ve played,” Petersen said.