Oregon State ended its nine-year losing streak to the Washington in Corvallis last season.
Coming off a bye week and the first road victory of the 2022 season Washington return to Husky Stadium hoping to make Jonathan Smith’s first top 25 appearance brief.
The Beavers (6-2, 3-2) enter week 10 ranked No. 24 in the latest Associated Press poll. It’s the first time OSU has been ranked since 2013 when the Beavers entered the season No. 25, but lost to Eastern Washington 49-46 in week one at home.
In the last three games Oregon State has beaten its opponent by an average of 16 points and are one of just two schools in the Pac-12 to win three or more games entering week 10.
Though the Beavers come into the matchup with momentum UW has a chance to start a late season run.
By The Numbers
Despite having this past weekend off Michael Penix Jr. remains the leader in passing yards (2,934) and yards per game (366.8).
In week four OSU held Caleb Williams to 180 yards – the fewest he’s thrown in any game this season – and just 16 completions, one more than he threw against Washington State in week six.
Thought the Trojans won both of those games each were decided by a touchdown or less, which means UW has no margin for error if it wants to come away with a win against OSU Friday night.
One way for the Huskies to do that is lean on their lone defensive strength: stoping the run.
Washington ranks second in the conference in rushing yards per game (110.38) just above Oregon State (120.25) with both yet to allow 1,000 yards total on the ground this season.
Of the two the Beavers are closer – 962 yards to the Huskies’ 883 – and they’ve allowed an even dozen rushing touchdowns, the most of any of the four schools yet to hit 1,000 yards allowed.
The main question heading into this week is whether redshirt sophomore Chance Nolan can clear concussion protocol and return as the starting quarterback, or if third-year freshman Ben Gulbranson will continue to lead Oregon State’s offense.
Nolan completed just two of seven pass attempts and threw two picks against Utah in week five before leaving the game due to injury.
The Beavers fell 42-16 to the Utes on the road on Oct. 1. It’ll be a little over a month since Jonathan Smith’s team lost by the time the two kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Friday night.
Only time will tell how much OSU has improved over the past three games, and if UW has shorted up its pass defense during the bye week.
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