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UCLA Football: UCLA vs. Washington State Early Analysis

By Michael Chavez

Nov 27, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach argues a call during the second quarter against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach argues a call during the second quarter against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 14, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) is pursued by Washington State Cougars linebacker Peyton Pelluer (47) and safety Shalom Luani (18) on a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:09 to play in a NCAA football game at Rose Bowl. Washington State defeated UCLA 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) is pursued by Washington State Cougars linebacker Peyton Pelluer (47) and safety Shalom Luani (18) on a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:09 to play in a NCAA football game at Rose Bowl. Washington State defeated UCLA 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2015 Record and Recap

Washington State Cougars, 9-4 overall, 6-3 PAC-12

A season opening loss to Portland State would be a major downer for any team in the PAC-12 but the Cougars bounced back with victories over both Rutgers and Wyoming. In their PAC-12 opener the next week the Cal Golden Bears were able to outlast the Cougars 34-28.

Oregon followed next week and it turned into a shootout that lasted into double overtime with the Cougars pulling out a win behind Falk’s 500 yards and five touchdowns passing. While one game doesn’t spark a dynasty and Oregon didn’t field the teams of old last season the victory was a major step for a program that had been down in the North for so many years.

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The Cougars took that win and parlayed it into wins over both Oregon State and Arizona. Stanford loomed large next but the Cougs played them tough and lost in a close 28-30 game. There are no moral victories in football but if there were that one would be at the top of their list.

Washington State reeled off three straight victories against ASU, UCLA and Colorado before facing in state rival Washington in the annual Apple Cup. A 10-45 loss against their rival would be their largest margin of defeat all season. That loss didn’t faze them though as they took care of a very talented Miami team that features a potential first round QB in Brad Kaaya.

That type of performance to round out the end of the season has to have a lot of people in Pullman, Washington feeling very confident about this upcoming season.

Next: 3 Key Players and Stats