As 11th-ranked Oregon prepares to take on Washington State this Saturday under the lights at Autzen Stadium, they do so knowing full well the recent history of the game that pits these tepid Pacific Northwest rivals.

For four years running, the Cougars have bested the Ducks, taking full advantage of an Oregon program that has been mostly in transition since Marcus Mariota’s departure from the program following the 2014 season.

In 2015, with quarterback Vernon Adams sidelined due to injury, the Cougars swaggered into Autzen Stadium and won an overtime thriller despite a 246-yard, two-touchdown effort on the ground from running back Royce Freeman.

In 2016, Washington State rolled over Oregon, 51-33, as Justin Herbert made his first ever appearance as a Duck coming on in relief of an inconsistent Dakota Prukop.

Two seasons ago, the Ducks fell once again to Washington State in Eugene, as Braxton Burmeister woefully quarterbacked the offense in his first collegiate start after Herbert was sidelined with a broken collarbone suffered the week before vs. Cal.

Last season perhaps represented Oregon’s best chance to end their slide to the Cougs. Yet, with ESPN College GameDay making its first ever appearance in Pullman, the Ducks seemed to be dealing with a lingering hangover in the aftermath of the previous week’s win over Washington. In the end, a spirited second half comeback fell short of overcoming an atrocious first half start in a 34-20 loss.

With Oregon motivated to reverse this unsatisfactory trend, WFOD addresses the most pressing questions facing the Ducks as they prepare to face Washington State Saturday night.

1. Can Oregon emotionally rally following last week’s big road win over Washington?

Though one could argue that last Saturday’s win over Washington didn’t quite carry with it the kind of emotional outpouring from the Ducks following last year’s win over the Huskies, it was still a charged up scene inside Husky Stadium in the aftermath of the Ducks’ 35-31 victory. Players and coaches celebrated with fans, players made mock snow angels on the Washington “W” at midfield, and just about every player within focus of a camera was seen hand gesturing the turning down of the Washington “W.” Some players, such as Ducks running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio, were even spotted with tears in their eyes as the win unofficially clinched the Pac-12 North division for Oregon.

The emotion was palpable, and while this team feels like one that is much better equipped to handle prosperity a year later, the question as to whether or not the Ducks have emotionally moved on since last week is one worth asking. Particularly with Washington State headed to town. The Ducks have been in this position with the Cougars before, as every player who was on this team last year remembers the calamity of errors that marred the first half for Oregon in Pullman. This year’s game being in Eugene matters, but the start of the game should be awfully telling as it relates to the head space of this team. If the Ducks just so happen to be stuck in the clouds, Washington State has the weapons and wherewithal to bring them tumbling back to earth.

2. Will Oregon’s pass defense rediscover its mojo?

Of all the things that went the Ducks’ way this past weekend in Seattle, the one thing the team seemingly left in Eugene was its suffocating pass defense. Though Oregon still remains atop the Pac-12 rankings in the category (178.6 yards/game) after Washington’s Jacob Eason shredded the Ducks to the tune of 289 yards and three touchdowns, completing 23-of-30 attempts, it was a stunning thing to see arguably the most dominant aspect of this team get manhandled by a quarterback – though talented – who has been pedestrian at best against Power 5 competition throughout his career.

Was it a one-game aberration? Oregon was certainly due an outlier performance given how stifling they’ve been the past several weeks, but perhaps not to that degree. Did Washington diagnose a weakness on film? If so, perhaps it gives Ducks defensive coordinator Andy Avalos a chance to address the schematic breakdowns. Whatever the reason, Avalos and company better hope they’ve shored up whatever issues plagued them against the Huskies, as the Cougars once again come to Eugene sporting the nation’s most prolific passing offense (440.7 yards/game).

3. Will Brenden Schooler’s absence be notable?

Considering the success Oregon had through the air with Schooler sidelined due to a foot injury at the beginning of the year, it’s hard to imagine that too much will change with that group following Schooler’s decision on Tuesday to transfer from the program. In fact, even after Schooler first returned to action three weeks ago vs. Cal, he played a minimal role in the passing game, notching just two catches for 44 yards.

Where Schooler will be missed the most is in the areas of perimeter and downfield blocking, as the senior was arguably the best receiver of the bunch in that capacity. Still though, the Ducks seemed to get along well enough without his services over the first month of the season that it wouldn’t figure to play a significant role moving forward. With Schooler now gone, look for Mycah Pittman (shoulder) and Juwan Johnson (calf) to see even more expanded roles within the offense, as both players – like Schooler – are fairly recent returnees to the lineup after suffering fall camp injuries of their own.

Top Photo: Oregon QB Justin Herbert (Photo: Devin Roux/Emerald)