WSU improves to No. 23 in polls after Arizona blowout

PULLMAN – Washington State moved up two spots in both the Associated Press and coaches polls following Saturday’s 69-7 beatdown of Arizona, ranking No. 23 in both.

The more important College Football Playoff rankings will be released Tuesday.

WSU (7-2, 6-0 Pac-12) was ranked in back-to-back weeks last year as well, achieving an AP ranking of No. 20 heading into the Apple Cup. Prior to 2015, WSU had been ranked just once (No. 25 in 2006) since the 2003 season.

The Cougars have already matched their six-game Pac-12 win total from last season, when WSU finished 9-4 overall.

Washington (9-0, 6-0) held steady at No. 4 in both polls. Because both teams are 6-0, either UW or WSU is guaranteed to represent the Pac-12 North in the conference championship game for the first time.

It is likely that UW, ranked No. 5 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings last week, will enter the top four thanks to No. 4 Texas A&M’s loss to Mississippi State this weekend. However, it is possible that No. 6 Ohio State will leapfrog UW after beating No. 10 Nebraska 62-3.

The top four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings will play a two-game playoff for the national championship at the end of the season. The Huskies beat Cal 66-27 on the road on Saturday night.