Stanford vs. Washington could be elimination game

Stanford-washington was supposed to decide the Pac-12 North. Instead, both teams are unranked and one game behind division leader Washington State in the loss column heading into their matchup Saturday in Seattle.

Stanford (5-3, 3-2) lost three of its last four games, including two straight at home, while Washington (6-3, 4-2) has lost two of three after a setback at Cal on Saturday.

“I think what people see this week is two very good football teams that haven’t quite had the season that they wanted, but this should be an exciting football game,” Cardinal coach David Shaw said.

Here are three things that will determine which teams maintains a slim hope of winning the division title, and which team furthers its slide:

NEW OFFENSE? Despite a 41-38 loss, Stanford had its best offensive game of the season last Saturday against Washington State, and the Cardinal did it mostly by relying on the pass.

K.J. Costello had 34 completions — the most for a Stanford quarterback in 24 years — on 43 attempts, with 323 yards and four touchdowns. JJ Arcega-whiteside had 10 catches for 111 yards and two scores (his 11 touchdowns are second nationally), junior tight end Kaden Smith had a career-best nine receptions for 112 yards, and senior Trenton Irwin had a career-best eight catches for 80 yards.

With a banged-up running back corps (including star Bryce Love, who has been battling an ankle injury had had only six carries against Washington State) and an offensive line that is much better at pass Washington wide receiver John Ross jumps high with Washington wide receiver Andre Baccellia as Ross celebrates his 19 yard touchdown on a pass from Jake Browning in a game against Stanford in 2016.

protection than run blocking, the Cardinal are second in the Pac-12 in pass offense and second-to-last in rush offense.

That might be surprising enough for a team that usually has a run-first approach, but the Cardinal threw in another wrinkle against the Cougars by hurrying to the line early in the play clock. That allowed Costello and the linemen to recognize coverages and switch to more effective plays if necessary.

WASHINGTON DEFENSE

Having success against the Cougars

at Stanford Stadium is one thing. Doing it against the Huskies in Seattle will be more challenging.

“Different environment,” Shaw said. “It’s going to be rainy, it’s going to be a little cold, it’s going to be loud.”

Washington is also first in the conference in scoring defense (15.2) and second in total defense, rush defense and pass defense. The linchpin is linebacker Ben Burr-kervin of Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton. He is second in the country with 13.6 tackles per game. Even in the upset loss to Cal, the Huskies’ defense only allowed two field goals (the other Bears score came on an interception return).

Part of that success has been the lack of big plays by opponents. Washington’s defense has allowed only five plays of 30 or more yards and one play of 40-plus yards, leading the nation in both categories.

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

Pac-12 teams are only 17-15 (.531) at home in conference play, but the Huskies are 2-0 in Pac-12 games and 4-0 overall at Husky Stadium, with wins against Colorado, Arizona State, and 35-7 over thenno. 20 BYU.

“It’s one of the few places I’ve been where it’s not just loud in your ears, you feel the noise in your body,” Shaw said. “You feel your chest shake when it gets really loud, which is awesome. You can’t hear anything, there’s energy, there’s passion, and it should be a lot of fun.”

Washington beat Stanford 44-6 in the Cardinal’s last visit in 2016. The Cardinal has been in two tough road environments this season — it fell behind 24-7 at halftime against Oregon before coming back to win, and it lost 38-17 at Notre Dame.

NOTES: Stanford is 42-42-4 all-time against Washington. … The Cardinal is 5-0 when forcing at least one turnover, and 0-3 when not forcing a turnover. … The Huskies were ranked in 41 straight AP Top 25 polls before this week. They lead all other teams in receiving votes. … Washington quarterback Jake Browning is one victory shy of matching the Pac12 career record of 36 wins by a starting quarterback, which is shared by Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (2012-14) and Stanford’s Kevin Hogan (2012-15).