Washington State's keys to victory against Kansas State | 2-minute drill

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Sep. 11—Washington State at Kansas State

Saturday, 9 a.m. (11 a.m. local time)Line: K-State favored by 17 1/2

TV: TNT/HBO Max Radio: 920-AM

Key matchupWSU edges vs K-State OL: Washington State's edge rusher duo of Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk, who combined for nine quarterback pressures in last weekend's Apple Cup, might be licking their chops. They'll get a chance to match up with K-State left tackle Ryan Howard, who played his first career college game in a lopsided win last weekend, and right tackle Gus Hawkins, who played in seven games last season before going down with an injury. How that duo fares against McLain and Zunk will likely go a long way in determining how Saturday's game unfolds. The Cougars played exceptionally well in the Apple Cup, but they didn't produce a turnover, which they will likely have to do to pull an upset on the Wildcats. There's lots of ways that could happen, but the likeliest formulas involve some combination of WSU's defensive front, including linemen like Kaden Beatty, Paul Hutson III and Jirah Leaupepetele — the last of whom laid the foundation for WSU's goal-line stop against UW.

If that group can generate significant pressure on Kansas State senior quarterback Avery Johnson and force a turnover, the visitors might have a chance. If not, things could get away from them.

How the Cougs win …

A potential WSU win would probably involve some combination of the Cougars' defense creating multiple turnovers and their offense kicking into gear. Quarterback Caden Pinnick and that group helped make things interesting in the fourth quarter of last week's game in Seattle, but overall, it was mostly a slog for the Cougs: Three turnovers, two missed field goals and a grisly 0-for-11 on third down.

If the Cougars want to earn a win this Saturday, they will have to improve in all those departments. Pinnick and WSU offensive coordinator Matt Miller can't spend half the game trying something that isn't working — last weekend it was running up the middle — and they have to be quicker to make adjustments on the fly. In the Apple Cup, Pinnick was at his best rolling out of the pocket, which could be the case again in Manhattan.

Complicating things for Washington State is the likely absence of top receiver Tony Freeman, who is nursing a knee injury he suffered in the first quarter of the Apple Cup. He also handles punt and kick return duties, which didn't go well for the Cougars' replacements, who mishandled one punt and one kickoff each.

How the Wildcats win …

Kansas State can earn this win by shutting down WSU's offense, which gets another stiff challenge, especially along its offensive line. In the Apple Cup, the Cougars' front five yielded one sack on 13 pressures, which isn't a promising way to head into Saturday's game, no matter how imposing the Huskies' defense was. This time, the Cougs' offensive line will have to hold off pass rushers like Wendell Gregory, Darien Whitaker and Jordan Allen, who combined for one sack and nine total pressures in an easy win over FCS Nicholls last weekend.

The spotlight will be on WSU's tackles, Ashton Tripp and Johnny Lester, but the Cougars' interior could be vulnerable as well. Left guard Kyle Martin finished with a Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of just 8.7 last week, which could make him a target. If he and his group can't protect Pinnick and the Cougs' offense struggles to get going, it could be a long day for WSU.

Key stat: 38

In last Sunday's Apple Cup, WSU's running back trio of Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods and Leo Pulalasi combined for just 38 rushing yards. Pinnick spearheaded his team's ground attack with 61 rushing yards, but to swing an upset on Saturday, the Cougs will have to get more from a RB group that entered this season with sky-high expectations.

Biggest questionCan the WSU defense generate a turnover? For WSU, the clearest path to an upset involves a turnover or two from its defense, which could make things much easier on its offense. In terms of extenuating circumstances, the deck is stacked against the Cougars: The game will kick off at 9 a.m. on their body clocks, they're on a short week and they're headed into a second straight raucous environment.

To overcome those conditions, WSU needs its defense to come away with an interception or fumble recovery.

QuotableWSU tight end Jack Pedersen on the team's short week: "It all just happens a little bit quicker. The 9 a.m. kick I don't think will be an issue. I mean, we're playing football, right? So you should be excited no matter what."

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