If you’re a college football fan there’s one question you’re always asking yourself before the season starts: ‘Is this the year my team will make a bowl game?’

For Cougar football fans asking themselves this question, the answer is ‘yes.’ Though the Cougars finished last season with a 3-9 record, this season is a fresh start for Head Coach Mike Leach and his staff.

Six wins is all it takes for the Cougars to become bowl eligible for the second time in three years. While the Cougars’ 2015 schedule does feature matchups against five teams ranked in the AP Top-25 poll, there are still six winnable games that could potentially make the Cougs bowl eligible.

Portland State

The Vikings traveled to Pullman last season to face the Cougars and were blown out by 38 points. Expect a similar outcome this season. Since this will be both teams’ first game of the season, the Vikings offense will still be looking to find a rhythm with their new quarterback. It will also be tough for the Vikings defense to stop a WSU offense that returns an entire starting offensive line from last season and a deep receiving core.

Wyoming

This will be another game where the Cougars will take care of business without too much trouble. The Cowboys won just one road game last season, and they will enter the game without Colby Kirkeggard, starting quarterback from last season. Behind Kirkeggard is redshirt senior Cameron Coffman, who sat out last season. The Cowboys also averaged 21.1 points per game last season, ranking No. 110 in the country. This means it will be tough for the Cowboys to keep up with a WSU offense that averaged 31.8 points a game last season.

California

The Cougars will be out for revenge in this one after falling to the Golden Bears by a point. Both teams seemed to be evenly matched on the offensive side of the ball, which means this game will come down to who can get the most stops on defense. The Golden Bears do lose their starting running back from last year in Daniel Lasco, who rushed for 1,115 yards on 210 carries. WSU has a veteran front seven that should be able to limit Cal’s rushing attack.

Oregon State

The Cougars were able to pull off the upset over the Beavers last year in Corvallis thanks to an impressive performance by WSU redshirt sophomore quarterback Luke Falk. OSU also loses its starting quarterback from last season, Sean Mannion who made up for the majority of the Beavers offense last season. He completed 282 of 453 passes for 3,164 yards. The Beavers also lose their starting running back from last season, Storm Barrs-Woods. The Beavers will have trouble keeping up with WSU’s offense in this one.

Colorado

The Buffaloes defense gave up 39 points a game last season, ranking No. 139 in the country. This will be another high scoring game for the Cougar offense. WSU has too much depth on both sides of the ball to lose this game.

Washington

Though the Huskies blew out the Cougars in Pullman last season, this year will be different. The Huskies lost their starting quarterback Cyler Miles along with one of their starting wide receivers, Kasen Williams. If you’ve followed the Apple Cup in the past, you know anything can happen in this game. Since it’s a rivalry game, both teams will bring their A-game regardless of where the teams are in the standings.