Washington State Football: 5 reasons Cougs beat Washington in Week 13

All that stands between Washington State football and Pac-12 North primacy is the Apple Cup versus rival Washington. Here’s why the Cougars will win.

Two years ago, the Apple Cup came to Pullman for a winner-take-all showdown for the Pac-12 North title. The winner was set to head to Santa Clara for the conference championship game, while the loser would be left to wait and see where fate sent them bowling.

Washington won that game 45-17, overpowering Mike Leach’s team at the final hurdle of the 2016 regular season. It was the closest that Washington State came to the Pac-12 title since the conference expanded from 10 to 12 teams in 2011, and the opportunity slipped as Chris Petersen’s crew claimed the crown.

Now there is a second chance for both teams, as the annual state rivalry game features as the division championship for the second time in three seasons. The Washington schools dominated the Pac-12 North once again, and the showdown in the Palouse will determine the division title this year yet again.

Washington has owned the series for the past five years, but there are plenty of reasons why the Huskies winning streak will end this season. Here are five reasons why Washington State is going to emerge with their first Apple Cup win since 2012 on Black Friday in Pullman.