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1 After weeks of slogging through a seemingly never-ending schedule, the Cougars have one more game before back-to-back bye weeks. If they play as if they are looking forward to the bye instead of the team in front of them, however, their 10th loss of the season is certain. The Beavers are coming off a last-second, 17-14 defeat at UCLA, and any chance of them overlooking WSU disappeared when Kai Forbath’s 51-yard field goal split the Rose Bowl uprights. Oregon State needs to defeat the Cougars to keep its bowl hopes alive.

2 Though Washington State’s run defense has improved as the season has worn on, mainly on the strength of personnel changes, today’s challenge is to corral Jacquizz Rodgers, whom WSU coach Paul Wulff calls the best pure running back in the Pac-10. The 5-foot-7 Rodgers is averaging 100 yards a game this year, many of those coming when the play is seemingly stopped. The Cougars may have to try to contain him without their leading tackler. Freshman Deone Bucannon (73 tackles, including 58 solo) is still listed as the starter at safety, but he practiced sparingly this week after suffering a thigh bruise on Monday.

3 Where has the big play gone? Since Jeff Tuel hit Marquess Wilson in stride for a 74-yard touchdown pass against Stanford’s reserves, the Cougars have not connected deep downfield. Wilson had one catch against ASU that ended up covering 47 yards and another sprawling, stumbling 25-yard hookup against California, but the Cougars have misfired more than a handful of times in the last two games. Part of it is on the offensive line, as Tuel has been under pressure. Part of it is on Tuel, who was off his game last week. And part of it is on the receivers, who dropped at least five passes against the Bears.

4 Since receiver James Rodgers went down with a left knee injury early in the season, the Beavers’ offense has changed. Quarterback Ryan Katz, a first-year starter, has relied more on Markus Wheaton on the outside and H-back Joe Halahuni in the middle. One aspect of the Beavers’ offense hasn’t changed, however. Other than an inexplicable game in Seattle – Katz threw three interceptions in a loss to the Huskies – the Beavers have taken care of the ball. Their four turnovers (all picks) are the fewest in the nation. Jacquizz Rodgers has one fumble on the 857 touches of his OSU career and the Beavers have 12 turnovers in their last 20 games.