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Back in the polls, Washington State hosts Arizona

Oct 31, 2006 - 9:00 PM Arizona (3-5) at No. 25 Washington St (6-3), 5:00 pm EST

PULLMAN, Washington (Ticker) - All of Washington State's losses this season have come to ranked teams. Now the Cougars are back in the rankings themselves.

Making their first appearance in the polls since the end of the 2003 season, Washington State hosts Arizona on Saturday in a Pac-10 Conference matchup.

The Cougars (6-3, 4-2 Pac-10) have won three of their last four games and are coming off a 37-15 victory over UCLA. Washington State opened the season with a loss at No. 6 Auburn and have conference losses to No. 9 Southern California and 10th-ranked California.

Junior quarterback Alex Brink makes the Cougars go. Washington State is ranked in the top 20 nationally in passing and total offense, and Brink is 22nd in the country in total offense.

Brink was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Bruins, as he threw for a season-high 405 yards and three touchdowns.

While Brink has the Cougar offense playing at a high level, the Wildcats are struggling to find any rhythm with theirs. Arizona is near the bottom in a number of offensive categories, ranking 115th in rushing offense and total offense and 114th in scoring offense out of 119 Division I-A teams.

The Wildcats (3-5, 1-4), who are coming off a bye, have lost four of their last five games, including a 17-10 setback against Oregon State on October 21.

Arizona has scored 20 or more points only twice this season and has been held to 10 points or fewer five times.

Arizona leads the series, 20-13, but Washington State has won the last four meetings.