Washington State safety Taylor Taliulu remembers the lean years, when the Cougars were barely a footnote in the Pac-12 standings.
Now No. 24 Washington State (7-2, 5-2 Pac-12) is the surprise team of the league and aiming for a prestige bowl game.
''It's honestly been a roller coaster,'' said Taliulu, a senior whose Washington State playing career has included three losing seasons before this campaign. ''Ever since my freshman year, it's like a total 360. All the hard work, I'm happy to see it paying off now.''
Washington State has secured its first winning season since 2003 and is ranked for the first time since 2006, and the winning is expected to continue.