The key to this game will be finding out if last week's run defense was a mirage or a true resurgence. It's hard to believe that we stand much of a chance of stopping Jacquizz Rodgers after what OSU did to USC's front seven, but as Building the Dam said, that had a little bit of a "perfect storm" feel to it.
Even if we are able to contain Rodgers, as Utah did last week, we'll be selling out to do it. That will leave us to get beat by the arm of Lyle Moevao, and after what Kevin Craft did to our soft coverage last week, I have a hard time believing things won't get even uglier against the Pac-10's top passer.
Offensively, the key will be the line. OSU's defense is very aggressive, and plays better at home than on the road. The Cougs have weapons of offense, but they rarely have an opportunity to shine. Can the offensive line, which is starting the same unit for the third week in a row (FINALLY), open some holes and give Lobbestael some time? Or will it give up a couple of early sacks or tackles for loss and let the crowd get into it? If we can get the latter, we've got a fighting chance to score some points today.
Can we beat OSU? Who knows -- stranger things have happened. I wouldn't bet on it, but that's what they said about Stanford and USC last year ...
When the Cougs have the ball ...
| WSU | OSU | |||
| Pos. | Name (* = Redshirt) | Pos. | Name (* = Redshirt) | |
| X | Jeshua Anderson (So.) | LE | Victor Butler (Sr.) | |
| F | Brandon Gibson (Sr.) | LT | Stephen Paea (So.) | |
| LT | Vaughn Lesuma (Sr.) | RT | Pernnell Booth (Sr.) | |
| LG | Andrew Roxas (So.) | RE | Slade Norris (Sr.) | |
| C | Kenny Alfred (Jr.*) | SLB | Keaton Kristick (Jr.) | |
| RG | Brian Danaher (So.*) | MLB | Bryant Cornell (Sr.) | |
| RT | Micah Hannam (So.*) | WLB | Keith Pankey (So.) | |
| TE | Devin Frischknecht (Sr.) | LCB | Keenan Lewis (Sr.) | |
| Z | Daniel Blackledge (So) | S | Al Afalava (Sr.) | |
| QB | Marshall Lobbestael (Fr.*) | S | Greg Laybourn (Sr.) | |
| RB | Chantz Staden (Jr.) | RCB | Brandon Hughes (Sr.) |
When OSU has the ball ...
| OSU | WSU | |||
| Pos. | Name (* = Redshirt) | Pos. | Name (* = Redshirt) | |
| SE | Sammie Stroughter (Sr.) | LE | Kevin Kooyman (Jr.) | |
| SB | Shane Morales (Sr.) | LT | A'i Ahmu (Sr.) | |
| LT | Andy Levitre (Sr.) | RT | Matt Eichelberger (Sr.*) | |
| LG | Adam Speer (Sr.) | RE | Matt Mullenix (Sr.*) | |
| C | Alex Linnenkohl (So.) | WLB | Louis Bland (Fr.) | |
| RG | Gregg Peat (Jr.) | MLB | Greg Trent (Sr.) | |
| RT | Mike Remmers (Fr.*) | SLB | Myron Beck (So.*) | |
| TE | Howard Croom (Jr.) | LCB | Romeo Pellum (So.) | |
| H-B | John Reese (Jr.) | SS | Alfonso Jackson (Sr.) | |
| QB | Lyle Moevao (Jr.) | FS | Xavier Hicks (Jr.*) | |
| TB | Jacquizz Rodgers (Fr.) | RCB | Tyrone Justin (Fr.*) |