Have we caught our collective breaths yet following Oregon’s heart-stopping 30-27 overtime victory over Washington last Saturday?

If not, you have some catching up to do, as there is no time for fatigue and emotional hangover with perhaps the most difficult road test of the season on the immediate horizon for head coach Mario Cristobal and the 12th-ranked Ducks.

This week, that test comes in the form of the Washington State Cougars, the nation’s newly minted 25th-ranked team which enters the weekend sporting a 5-1 overall record. The Cougars only blemish this season comes courtesy of USC, who narrowly defeated Washington State, 39-36, nearly one month ago in Los Angeles.

For Oregon, there’s a laundry list of legitimate factors that will need to be overcome (for proof, simply peruse this week’s “Items of note” section) in order to escape Pullman with a win and continue the march towards a prospective Pac-12 North title. Adding to the potential danger of this week’s game for Oregon is the fact the Ducks will be without stud true freshman left tackle Penei Sewell, who is expected to miss the next six weeks with a high ankle sprain suffered last weekend versus Washington.

With the stakes raising with each passing week, Saturday’s contest in Pullman is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal games on the remaining schedule for both teams as they vie for a potential berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

To prepare for the week ahead, WFOD provides you with your Washington State primer…

Washington State Cougars

2018 record: 5-1 overall, 2-1 in conference
Last game: 56-37 win at Oregon State
Ranking: 25th in AP Poll/23rd in Coaches’ Poll
All-time record vs. Oregon: 39-48-7
When and where to watch: Saturday, Oct. 20 at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific), FOX

Items of note:

• Oregon will face its fourth consecutive ranked opponent Saturday at no. 25 Washington State. It marks the first time since 1986 that the Ducks will play four straight ranked teams.
• ESPN’s College GameDay will make its first ever appearance in Pullman this Saturday. Oregon is 14-9 all-time when they’ve played with College GameDay on hand.
• After enjoying a bye last weekend, the Cougars come into Saturday’s game well rested and prepared to meet the challenge the Ducks pose. If there’s good news for Oregon, it’s that the Cougars are just 3-9 under head coach Mike Leach when coming off a bye.
• Washington State has won 15 of their last 16 games inside Martin Stadium, which includes their current 10-game home winning streak. The Cougars have a 2-1 record versus ranked opponents over that span.
• The Cougars have won each of the past three meetings versus Oregon

Five Washington State names you should know:

5. Easop Winston (WR)

Washington State never has a shortage of dynamic, game-changing wide receivers at their disposal and this year is no different, as Easop Winston has quickly emerged as one of Gardner Minshew’s top targets. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, it’s hard to qualify the former JUCO product as a matchup problem. However, his big play ability certainly makes him one of the more feared weapons in head coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, as evidenced by his 89-yard touchdown reception against Utah earlier this season. Coming into Saturday’s game, Winston ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in touchdown receptions (5) and ninth in receiving yards (426) despite only 29 receptions this season.

4. Peyton Pelluer (LB)

With his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather having all played at Washington State, there’s no question that Peyton Pelluer is a Cougar legacy through and through. Granted a sixth year of eligibility prior to the 2018 season, Pelluer is not only the longest-tenured Cougar on the roster, but he’s also arguably the defense’s most important player. As a sophomore and junior, Pelluer started all 26 games at linebacker for Washington State, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors before an injury cut his redshirt senior season short after only three games. This season, however, Pelluer has returned to his old ways. Through six games, the Sammamish (Wash.) native ranks tied for eighth in the conference in total tackles (50) – including three straight double-digit tackle games coming into Saturday’s game – and is the Pac-12 leader among all linebackers in quarterback hurries (9).

3. James Williams (RB)

By design, Washington State under Leach has never had a significant presence in the running game. That’s the case once again this season, as the Cougars rank 128th out of 130 teams in rushing offense (71.8 yards per game). Yet, that doesn’t mean they are without a tremendously effective offensive weapon at the running back position. In junior James Williams, Washington State has perhaps the most underrated skilled position player in the entire conference. Though his 260 rushing yards thus far this season won’t be blowing anyone away, his 32 receptions leads all running backs nationally. Perhaps even more impressive is the eight touchdowns he’s already accounted for, which ranks tied for fourth in the Pac-12. Standing 6-feet and 205 pounds, Williams is powerfully built and has a true knack for shedding would-be tacklers. On team with an impressive arsenal of offensive weaponry, Williams may be the player that is most difficult for opposing defenses to account for.

2. Tay Martin (WR)

Between Easop Winston, James Williams, Dezmon Patmon, Jamire Calvin, and Kyle Sweet, the Cougars are well stocked with pass catching threats. But the player who is quickly proving to be the best of the bunch is 6-foot-3, 185-pound sophomore Tay Martin. After appearing in 13 games as a true freshman in 2017, Martin showed glimpses of his alluring potential, snagging 31 passes for 366 yards and six touchdowns. Martin’s touchdown mark that season tied a single-season Wazzu freshman record. A year older and a year wiser, Martin has already eclipsed his freshman totals through six games. In fact, the Houma (La.) native currently ranks third in the Pac-12 in receptions (40) and is tied for second in touchdown catches with six. Given the Cougars’ offensive philosophy, it’s unlikely that Oregon will be able to ground WSU’s potent aerial attack, but limiting the big play potential of a guy like Martin is critical to achieving defensive success in this game.

1. Gardner Minshew (QB)

Minshew’s Mississippi mustache might have been the feature that initially grabbed the attention of his teammates, but it’s his play of late that has them hopeful that he can lead the Cougars to incredible heights in his first and only season in Pullman. The path Minshew has taken to get to Washington State is perhaps just as notable as his stellar play through the first half of the season. After walking on at Troy as a true freshman, Minshew left the program six months in before transferring to Northwest Mississippi Community College where he led NWCC to a junior college national championship as a freshman. Minshew then transferred to East Carolina, where in two seasons with the Pirates, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound signal-caller completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 3,487 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions – modest numbers for a player who arrived in Pullman this offseason as a grad transfer. Minshew’s swan song, however, has been anything but modest. At the controls of the high-powered Cougar offense, Minshew has been pressing all the right buttons, currently leading the nation in passing yards (2,422) and passing yards per game (403.7) while leading the conference in touchdown passes (19).