Huskies Meet Lowly Osu With E Wide Open

A month ago, the Washington Huskies found themselves at a crossroads in their season after a crushing defeat at Notre Dame.

“I think you can look back now at the Notre Dame game as a pretty big landmark,” freshman quarterback Brock Huard said.

Since then, the No. 19 Huskies (6-2, 5-1 Pac-10) have won three straight league games. They’ll try to make it four when they entertain Oregon State (1-7, 1-5) today at Husky Stadium.

UW is a 23-point favorite to beat the Beavers for the ninth straight time and 19th in 20 games.

If the Huskies win the last three games on their schedule, they’ll win nine games for the first time since Don James’ last season in 1992. And that would put them in a position to get invited to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Losing 54-20 to Notre Dame woke up the Huskies, said Huard, who was knocked out of the game with a concussion.

“Everybody took a look at themselves afterward. We realized we had a long way to go,” Huard said.

“The Notre Dame game basically was a wake-up call to us,” linebacker Jason Chorak added. “It was like, ‘Hey, we really have to pick this up or we’re not going to be anyplace.”’

Since being embarrassed on national television by the Fighting Irish, Washington’s players have become better listeners, coach Jim Lambright said.

As a result, Lambright didn’t have to warn the Huskies about having a letdown this week against an opponent with only one victory.

“It’s pretty obvious where we’ve been this season and where we don’t need to return,” he said.

After surrendering 397 rushing yards to Notre Dame, UW’s defense has given up 101 yards on the ground in its last three games - against UCLA, Oregon and Southern California. The Trojans had minus-14 yards last Saturday in Los Angeles.

UW will be tested by Oregon State quarterback Tim Alexander, who had a career day against the Huskies in Corvallis last season. Washington won 26-16, but had to hang on after leading 17-3 at halftime as OSU rolled up 488 yards, including 348 on the ground. Alexander rushed for 196 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 140 yards.