Jacob Thorpe

PULLMAN – Just a few days before the Apple Cup to determine the Pac-12 North champion, junior cornerback Darren Gardenhire announced that he will transfer to a different school. Gardenhire reportedly refused to take a drug test, though coach Chris Petersen told reporters that his departure is due to a “difference in philosophy.” Gardenhire announced he was leaving in a post on Instagram.

PULLMAN – A Pac-12 championship game berth will be on the line when Washington State hosts Washington in the Apple Cup on Friday, and it appears more and more likely that the Huskies will be playing for a playoff spot as well. UW rose one spot to No. 5 in the college football playoff rankings after beating Arizona State on Saturday, and WSU fell one spot to No. 23 after losing to No. 9 Colorado. If the Huskies win the Apple Cup and Pac-12 championship game, they are certain to make the four-team playoff according to Danny Kanell and David Pollack, two hosts of ESPN’s show in which the rankings are revealed each week.

Washington State football coach Mike Leach has resisted all attempts to turn the Apple Cup into anything more than an ordinary matchup between two teams, both of whom will try their best on Friday.

It is a good thing so many Pac-12 schools held their rivalry games a week early. That allows us to focus on the important ones this week, where three Pac-12 schools can each lock up a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game by beating their rivals.

Game notes for No. 23 Washington State vs. No. 6 Washington.

Mike Leach was the only Cougar to give a press conference on Monday.

The Washington State Cougars dropped in the Associated Press Top-25 and Coaches Poll after their 38-24 loss at Colorado on Saturday, but remain ranked No. 23 in both rankings.