3 things to watch

1

The unexpected hero: If there’s any game on the calendar that seems predisposed to creating a star out of a nobody, it’s the Apple Cup. Last year it was Trandon Harvey, a wideout who had endured a largely disappointing Cougars career before catching a game-winning touchdown in the last two minutes to clinch the game and a place in the rivalry’s lore. Who could it be this year?

2

Nothing to lose: The biggest question mark coming into this game is on the visiting sideline, where a bowl game is no longer possible for the Huskies this season. But what kind of effort will Washington bring to Martin Stadium? Will it merely be a foil as WSU attempts to seal a bowl bid, or will it relish the spoiler role and take this game down to the wire?

History suggests the latter is more likely, but with controversy over players’ scholarships hanging over the team, it’s a tough call as to how the Huskies will respond this evening.

3

Doba’s day: This game could end up defining WSU head coach Bill Doba’s career, because a return to bowl prominence would be a major boost while a late-season collapse capped off by an Apple Cup defeat would be a major blow.

Doba’s in-game coaching has been better this season than it was last year, but it’ll be interesting to see how he chooses to manage this game. Doba could try and play this one close to the vest, hoping to win a low-scoring defensive struggle. Or he could open things up, hoping that some of his best playmakers come up big in this final game of the regular season.