The Associated Press released their midseason All-Americans list, and it was good news for a pair of Cougar lineman. Offensive guard/Continent Cody O’Connell and defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa were both named first-team midseason All-Americans.

Of course, the All-American honor is nothing new for O’Connell. The offensive lineman was named unanimous All-American last season and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. This season, however, the Cougar offensive line hasn’t exactly been stellar. The team has allowed more than 4.5 sacks per game this season.

On the other hand, Mata’afa has been tearing it up this season. The junior has a total of 6.5 total sacks this season (the most in the Pac-12) including 5 solo sacks.

As Theo Lawson of the Spokesman Review points out, both CBS Sports and ESPN also awarded the same honor to the pair earlier this week.

As for the rest of the Pac-12, Dante Pettis was the only Washington player honored (as an all-purpose player). Stanford running back Bryce Love and Utah kicker Matt Gay were the only other players from the conference to make the cut.

You can view the full list of All-Americans here.

Football

Saban understands Leach’s ‘pathetic front-runners’ comment - The Washington Post
Alabama coach Nick Saban totally gets where Washington State’s Mike Leach was coming from.

Washington State leading receiver Tavares Martin Jr. suspended for Saturday’s game vs. Colorado | The Spokesman-Review
Bad news has come in waves for fans of the Washington State football team the last five days.

Former Washington State slot receiver River Cracraft inks NFL deal with Denver Broncos | The Spokesman-Review
The player wearing No. 19 for the Denver Broncos this Sunday should look familiar to Washington State fans.

Former Washington State slot receiver River Cracraft inks NFL deal with Denver Broncos | The Spokesman-Review
The player wearing No. 19 for the Denver Broncos this Sunday should look familiar to Washington State fans.

Pac-12 football: Washington schools share each other’s misery after falling out of top 10 - The Salt Lake Tribune
Cal gave up 28 second-half points to Oregon’s reserve quarterbacks, before forcing seven turnovers — including five interceptions of Logan’s Luke Falk — in a 37-3 win over WSU.

Bottom 10 -- Washington Huskies, Washington State Cougars slip up
The would-be playoff participant Huskies fell at Arizona State the day after the Cougars lost at Cal and the day before the Cougars lost their athletic director to Nebraska.

Soccer

Final Homestand for Soccer Brings #2 UCLA and #6 USC to Town | Washington State University Athletics
The Cougs play their final two home games of the season this weekend.