Theo Lawson

Washington State is unbeaten through three games for the first time since 2005 and

Together, Tavares Martin Jr. and Isaiah Johnson-Mack caught 19 passes, accumulated 273 receiving yards and scored five touchdowns on Saturday night, giving life to Washington State’s vertical passing game in a 52-23 win over Oregon State.

Time and time again, Luke Falk has made the Oregon State Beavers pay simply because once a year they’ve decided it was a swell idea to share the same field on the same day as the prolific Washington State quarterback.

Robert Lewis’ senior season was cut short because of an undisclosed leg injury, but Washington State fans will still see his No. 15 streaking across the field on gameday this year.

The Washington State Cougars will pay tribute to Freeman High School by wearing bone stickers on their helmets during today’s Pac-12 Conference opener against Oregon State.

Theo Lawson’s keys to a possible WSU victory over Oregon State on Saturday.

How long has it been since Oregon State won a football game outside of Corvallis city limits? Well, here’s a hint: Mike Riley was still calling the shots and Sean Mannion was still throwing the passes. Riley now enters his third year at the University of Nebraska and Mannion embarks on a third season in the National Football League. Mhmm, it’s been THAT long.

Last week’s triple-overtime win over Boise State – Washington State came back from 21 in the fourth quarter to stun the Broncos, if you happened to be off the grid – churned the heart more than the heart is meant to be churned. The season is only two weeks old, but already the Cougars could probably use one of those low-key afternoon games against a lesser opponent to iron out the kinks and reset before things ramp up again.

Tyler Hilinski put on his Superman cape to lead Washington State past Boise State on national television last Saturday. But it certainly wasn’t the first time one of the Hilinski brothers did something extraordinary on a football field.

The text messages were flowing in from family members and friends in every corner of the country – from Massachusetts, where it was almost 3 in the morning, to nearby Coeur d’Alene. Kym Hilinski’s midle son, Tyler, was leading Washington State to an improbable victory over Boise State.

A full transcript from Wednesday's Washington State football live chat with Spokesman-Review beat writer Theo Lawson.

Washington State inside linebackers coach Ken Wilson talks about the defensive effort against Boise State and looks ahead to Oregon State.

WSU offensive line coach Clay McGuire talks about the play of his group against Boise State and the improvements that need to be made before the Oregon State game.

Washington State linebackers coach Roy Manning talks about the Boise State game and stopping Oregon State running back Ryan Nall.

At first glance, Jake Luton looks every bit the Pac-12 starting quarterback he’s become. Standing 6-7 and weighing 234 pounds, he measures up just right – more than just right, actually.

Theo Lawson’s picks for Week 3 of the Pac-12 football season.

Washington State coach Mike Leach talks about Tuesday’s practice and what he sees on film from Oregon State.

WSU wide receiver Kyle Sweet reflects on the Boise State game and talks about what the offense can do to improve before Oregon State.

Cougar safety Jalen Thompson talks about fans rushing the field and the defensive effort against Boise State.

WSU linebacker Peyton Pelluer talks about the Boise State game, the challenge of Oregon State’s running game and winning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.

The Pac-12 Conference has chosen not to levy a fine against Washington State for the field rush that followed Saturday’s triple-overtime win at Martin Stadium, though some fans are under the impression that the school did get popped for $25,000 – and a number of them are willing to help cover the alleged “fine.”

Xavier Crawford and Dwayne Williams were both injured in OSU’s 48-14 loss to Minnesota and both will be shelved when the Beavers come to Pullman this Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. Pac-12 opener against the Cougars, the school announced on Tuesday.

Four Pac-12 teams entered the season with a national ranking and a fifth, UCLA, joined the party this week debuting at No. 25. Utah (101 votes), Colorado (66) and Oregon (61) are all receiving votes, meaning a whopping eight teams could crack the AP list this season.

PULLMAN – It was supposed to be a badge of honor to play on Washington State’s offensive line this season. Some pundits have considered the group the best in the Pac-12 Conference and one Bleacher Report scribe went so far to the peg the unit as the most talented in college football. But according to the Mike Leach scale, the offensive line wouldn’t even qualify as the best position group on this Cougars team, and right now it wouldn’t be such a stretch to call it the worst.