Washington State football is one of the best teams in the Pac-12 North and last season was no fluke, and here’s why.
It is easy to forget Washington State finished second in the Pac-12 North in 2016. Washington State fans are quick to point out quarterback Luke Falk played at less than 100 percent in the Apple Cup loss in 2016. Yet, the Cougars lost by an overwhelming 45-17. Such a score seems to point to something larger than a banged-up quarterback.
Most pundits have the Cougars pegged for fourth or fifth in the Pac-12 overall (the North is stronger than the South division both historically and on paper for 2017). Washington and USC are the frontrunners, while Stanford, Oregon and Washington State are the prime challengers.
Simply based on last season’s results and the return of most of the starters from 2016, one could easily argue Washington State will finish 2017 as the third-best team in the Pac-12. Once again, Washington State’s 2016 season was no fluke.
There is reason to doubt Washington State. Mike Leach guided the program to its first bowl game in 10 years in 2013, only to regress to 3-9 the following season. The Cougars finished 2015 with a 9-4 record and 2016 with a 8-5 record, but both seasons were filled with blunders. In 2015, the team lost to Portland State. Last year, the team lost to Eastern Washington. That said, Washington State is 13-5 the last two seasons in the Pac-12 and finished second or third in the Pac-12 North.
Five things point to Washington State having another strong season in 2017. Not necessarily a Pac-12 champion season, but near the top.
Let’s take a closer look.