Nearly three years since replacing Connor Halliday as the Cougars’ starting quarterback, redshirt senior Luke Falk’s legacy comes full circle when No. 5 USC rolls into Pullman on Friday.

Falk made his first career appearance as a redshirt freshman the last time WSU faced USC on Nov. 1, 2014 after Halliday went down with a broken tibia and fibula in an eventual 44-17 loss. At Monday’s news conference, redshirt senior lineman Cole Madison said Falk’s 346-yard, two-touchdown outing came as no surprise at the time.

“Watching on TV, you could tell that he didn’t come in as a backup,” Madison said. “He came in as a starter and wanted to win the game, and really brought that confidence to the field.”

103 career touchdown passes and 12,271 career passing yards later, Falk and company face the Trojans in Martin Stadium once again — and the stakes could not be more different.

Both teams enter Friday’s contest undefeated and ranked inside the top-20, worlds ahead of where WSU was at in 2014, en route to a 3-9 campaign.

The same can be said for Falk’s evolution as a quarterback.

“He’s becoming more of a vocal leader and he understands what it takes to win at this level now,” redshirt senior running back Jamal Morrow said of Falk’s development. “He’s trying to bring the younger guys along with us. He’s our leader, so we all look up to him.”

Madison added that Falk’s consistency in preparation and play on the field is a boost both to the offensive line and locker room culture.

“The kid is consistent 90 percent of the time and he picks up the players around him, and it’s a real joy to be around him in the locker room,” Madison said.

Falk sliced and diced Nevada’s secondary for 478 yards and five touchdowns in the Cougars’ 45-7 win on Saturday. Ironically, Falk’s second touchdown pass of the game and 100th of his career, a 13-yard shovel pass to redshirt sophomore running back James Williams late in the first quarter, moved him in front of former USC quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart for third all-time in Pac-12 history.

‘’I think that’s a great team thing,’’ he said of the accolade following Saturday’s game. ‘’It’s humbling.’’

WSU and USC kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and the game will air on ESPN.