5 storylines to watch when the Huskies host Washington State
Washington (4-7) wraps up its season by hosting rival Washington State (6-5) in the Apple Cup on Friday.
The game kicks off at 5 p.m. at Husky Stadium.
Here are five storylines to watch:
1. Does the streak end here or do the Huskies make it eight consecutive wins?
The Huskies have won seven consecutive Apple Cup games — four in Seattle and three in Pullman — dating back to the 2013 season.
The scores in those games have rarely been close. UW has won each of those meetings with WSU by double digits.
But, will the result turn in WSU’s favor this season?
UW’s season is set to end with this game, with the Huskies missing out on bowl eligibility for the first time since 2009. WSU, meanwhile, has secured bowl eligibility, and could win a Pac-12 North title with an Apple Cup victory and an Oregon State win over Oregon.
WSU is also currently favored in Friday’s contest, and heads to Seattle following a rout of Arizona last week in Pullman. UW has lost three straight games to Oregon, Arizona State and Colorado.
The Huskies lead the all-time series against the Cougars, 74-32-6, and beyond their seven consecutive Apple Cup wins, have also won 10 of the past 11 meetings.
2. What happens when one of the Pac-12’s top passing offenses meets the conference’s top passing defense?
WSU’s passing offense (261.1 yards per game) ranks second in the conference behind USC and the Cougars have thrown for more touchdowns (24) than any other Pac-12 team. They also rank fourth in yards per attempt (7.6) and yards per completion (12.2).
Cougars quarterback Jayden de Laura (193-of-310 passing, 2,506 yards, 23 TDs, nine INTs) leads the Pac-12 in passing yards per game (250.6) and passing touchdowns.
WSU also has two of the conference’s top three receivers in Calvin Jackson Jr. (57 catches, 887 yards, seven TDs) and Travell Harris (58 catches, 778 yards, nine TDs).
UW’s passing defense, though, allows a conference-best 134.1 yards per game, which also tops the FBS. The Huskies have allowed 5.18 yards per attempt and 8.83 per completion.
What will happen when they clash? In past games, the Huskies have handled WSU’s high-flying attack, but will that trend continue?
3. How will UW’s rushing defense fare against WSU’s backfield?
The Cougars have still favored the pass this season, but do turn to the run more often than in past seasons.
“I think the one thing they’re doing different and effectively is running the ball,” Huskies interim head coach Bob Gregory said this week. “And I expect them to run the ball against us since that’s been tough for us, especially in the second half of games. So, I expect those guys to run the ball.”
WSU ranks 10th in the Pac-12 in rushing offense (122.7 yards per game), but UW’s defense has allowed 192.2 yards per game on the ground, which is 11th in the conference.
If the Cougars do indeed lean on the run, expect to see plenty of Max Borghi in what will be his third Apple Cup appearance.
Borghi (138 carries, 751 yards, 10 TDs) ranks seventh in the Pac-12 in rushing, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt.
“I think the scheme helps them, certainly by spreading everything out and spreading the defense out, it creates lanes for him and he does a nice job in terms of he’s got a nice little speed cut and he does a great job of stiff arm,” Gregory said. “I think he’s underrated and the guy is doing a really nice job this year. We’ve seen him for a few years now, and I think this is the best year so far.”
4. What will be UW’s plan at quarterback?
The Huskies have played two quarterbacks each of their past two games against Arizona State and Colorado.
Second-year starter Dylan Morris (220-of-363 passing, 2,458 yards, 14 TDs, 12 INTs) has still played the majority of the series, but both five-star freshman Sam Huard and graduate transfer Patrick O’Brien have had some reps.
Asked Monday about the Huskies’ plan for the Apple Cup, Gregory said, “I’m not going to divulge … no injuries, no quarterback updates.”
Perhaps the biggest question is whether or not Huard, who joined the Huskies this spring after breaking the state’s career passing record at Kennedy Catholic High School and has played in three games, might appear again in the Apple Cup. Huard can play in one more game while still preserving his redshirt season.
He is 5-for-11 passing for 51 yards in his 35 offensive snaps this season. He has played five series across games against Arkansas State, Arizona and Arizona State.
5. Will the Huskies be without key playmakers again this week?
Speaking of injury updates, it remains unclear whether UW will be without several of its regulars again this week.
Tight end Cade Otton (28 catches, 250 yards, TD in eight games), who led the Huskies in receiving during the four-game 2020 season, left the Arizona State game two weeks ago on crutches, and missed last weekend’s game against Colorado.
UW was also without this season’s leading rusher in Sean McGrew (107 carries, 431 yards, eight TDs in seven games) and one of its top receivers in Terrell Bynum (26 catches, 436 yards, four TDs) in Boulder.
All-American outside linebacker Zion Tupuola-Fetui and defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele, who have also both started multiple games this season, also missed the Colorado game.
