GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The top two offensive teams in the Pac-12 — Washington State and Oregon — meet in Pullman, Wash., on Saturday. The Cougars average 485.5 yards per game while the Ducks are at 482.8. The difference in the game could be Washington State’s credible defense — led by senior LB Peyton Pelluer — which ranks No. 2 in the conference allowing only 313.7 yards a game. Oregon is tied for sixth allowing 361.8 yards a game. The Cougars top the conference allowing only 165.5 passing yards a game while Oregon QB Justin Herbert is second in the league (behind Washington State’s Gardner Minshew II) with 268.8 passing yards a game. How effective Herbert is against Washington State’s secondary will be significant.
DRAFT SLANT
–FS Jalen Thompson, junior, recorded his fifth career fumble recovery in the win over Oregon State two weeks ago. Thompson is rated by NFLDraftScout.com as the No. 3 free safety eligible for the 2019 draft.
ROSTER REPORT:
–DE Nnamdi Oguayo, a former starter who’s been the primary backup to Logan Tago this year, missed his second game of the season two weeks ago at Oregon State due to an undisclosed lower body injury. His status for Saturday’s game against Oregon is undetermined.
–LB Derek Moore is out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury. He is questionable to return against Oregon this week.
–WR Rodrick Fisher, a true freshman, was purposely held out of the Oregon State after playing in the previous four games. Washington State coach Mike Leach and his assistants are assessing whether to redshirt Fisher. A new NCAA rule allows for a player to play four games in a season without losing his redshirt status.