WSU football travels to Corvallis, Oregon on Saturday for a Pac-12 North showdown with the Oregon State University Beavers.

The Beavers (2-5, 1-3) have struggled this season, but have shown that even when hampered by extensive injuries they can be a dangerous team.

Oregon State has proven their prowess in multiple games, including a shootout win over the University of California, Berkeley and putting a scare in No. 17 University of Utah Utes in a 14-19 loss.

“Oregon State is a good football team,” redshirt junior running back Jamal Morrow said. “They’ve shown in the past that they play teams really tough and we have to be prepared for that.”

WSU (5-2, 4-0) has played much better on paper in conference play this season. The Cougars are tied for first with No. 4 University of Washington in the North Division of the Pac-12, and are undefeated in conference play. The Cougs were the last team left out of the AP top-25 in last Sunday’s poll (84 votes).

On offense, WSU averages 134 more yards per game than the Beavers. The bulk of the Cougar offense goes through the air, averaging 366 passing yards per game. That number alone is more than Oregon State’s 347 total yards average.

At this point in the season, redshirt junior quarterback Luke Falk has cemented his place among the passing elites of the country with an FBS leading 253 completed passes and a top completion percentage to match.

Part of Falk’s success can be attributed to the talented WSU receivers. Senior receivers River Cracraft and Gabe Marks are the first pair of wide receivers to have 200 or more catches playing at the same time on the same team for their career at WSU.

Marks leads the way with 48 catches, including seven touchdowns, which puts him second in the Pac-12. Cracraft is averaging 12.4 yards per catch on 38 receptions.

Marks currently sits just 19 catches behind Colorado’s Nelson Spruce (2012-2015) in the Pac-12 record books for career receptions.

Falk was hobbling around with an apparent injury towards the end of the Cougars previous game against Arizona State. He is currently listed as ‘probable’ for Saturday’s contest in Corvallis, but redshirt senior receiver Gabe Marks expects Falk to be in the game.

“I’m not really impressed [by Falk’s toughness] anymore,” Marks said. “I was impressed initially but he’s been doing it for such a long time that I’m not really impressed anymore. I expect him to be out there.”

Falk will most likely play, but injuries will be a major factor in the game for the Beavers. Of the 15 injured players on the Oregon State sideline, six are confirmed to be out for Saturday’s matchup, and three are doubtful to play.

OSU redshirt junior transfer quarterback Darell Garretson will be out with an ankle injury, junior outside linebacker Titus Failauga is doubtful with a leg injury, and team interceptions leader, senior cornerback Treston Decoud, is questionable to play with an unspecified injury.

Injuries or not, the Cougars must be prepared to face one of the hungriest and most aggressive teams they’ve played all season.

When WSU arrives in Corvallis, they will be greeted by an Oregon State team that is coming off a 41-17 rout of a loss at Washington, and at this time do not have another team better than .500 on the season. The Cougars are the last premier, non-rivalry opponent the Beavers have left on the schedule.

Despite the Beavers’ struggles, WSU sounds as poised as ever. Often when successful teams get upset late in the season it has a lot to do with mindset, and Marks made it clear that if they overlook Oregon State and don’t focus on what’s ahead, it could be a dangerous game.

“Knowing that (no team comes in expecting to lose) and knowing that they’ve got explosive guys on their team, it wouldn’t be smart to take them lightly,” Marks said.

The Cougars kickoff against Oregon State at 7:45 p.m. in Corvallis. The game will air on ESPN2.