STANFORD WON: Safety Ed Reynolds' fourth quarter interception return for a touchdown off a Jeff Tuel pass provided a sluggish No. 19 Stanford team (6-2) with just enough points to hold off scrappy Washington State (2-6), 24-17, in Palo Alto. The Stanford offense couldn't get anything going all day, getting just 256 yards and 13 first downs against one of the worst defenses in the Pac-12. Outside of a 70-yard touchdown pass from Josh Nunes to Jamal-Rashad Patterson, the Cardinal were mostly ineffective. Nunes had just 136 passing yards while the normally-rugged Stanford ground game managed just 120 yards. Tuel threw for 401 yards and two touchdowns, but the Cougars were held to negative 16 yards on the ground.
WHEN STANFORD WON: It wasn't until Reynolds' interception return that Stanford created enough breathing room between it and WSU to put the game away. It was a good thing that Reynolds came through since Tuel cut the lead to 24-17 with six minutes left and led another late drive that ended on the Stanford 27 yard line. Without that pick, the Cougars might've pulled the upset.
WHY STANFORD WON: Despite outgaining and out-first-downing the Cardinal, WSU just couldn't convert yards into points. The Cougars punted five times and turned the ball over on downs one other time. The Stanford defense was its usual stout self against the run and, while it bent againt the pass, it did not break.
WHAT STANFORD WON: The Cardinal kept their hopes alive in the Pac-12 north division and can capture the conference title if they win out.
WHAT WSU LOST: It was a chance for Mike Leach to get his signature win as WSU's head coach. An upset of a ranked team would've given the program its first conference win of the year and some momentum heading into the Utah game next week.
