Two games remain for the WSU Cougars, and that means two more chances for the team to clinch a spot in a bowl game.

Immediately facing the Cougars is a matchup against the Utah Utes at home in Martin Stadium, where WSU has not beaten a Pac-12 team this season. Despite the excitement of a potential bowl game, the Cougars aren’t looking beyond that game against Utah.

“It gives you a little extra energy but just around the program, we’re trying not to talk about that,” senior Elliott Bosch said. “Our main goal this year has been to focus on the task at hand, one week at a time and win the one game you have that Saturday.”

The Utes enter the game on a four-game losing streak dating back to Oct. 19. Utah has not won a game since a 27-21 upset of Stanford at home.

Unlike some of the opponents the Cougars have faced this season, the Utes are prone to turnovers. Quarterback Travis Wilson has 16 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions, while his backup Adam Schulz has two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Schulz will start on Saturday, though, because Wilson’s season has been declared over. Wilson suffered a concussion against Arizona State on Nov. 9. Further testing revealed a pre-existing neurological condition. Wilson did not make the trip to Eugene to play in the Utes’ loss to the Ducks last week.

No matter which quarterback runs the offense for the Utes, the receivers available will remain the same. Junior Dres Anderson and senior Sean Fitzgerald are both accustomed to taking the ball into the end zone. Anderson leads the team with six receiving touchdowns and Fitzgerald is close behind with five scoring catches. 

“They have a lot of motion, they make you hurt yourself,” safety Deone Bucannon said. “They want you to get your eyes off of what they’re really doing.” 

The Cougars’ run defense will not get a break in this one, either. Along with Wilson, who leads the team in rushing touchdowns despite being the quarterback, the Utes employ multiple backs who can score. 

“It’s not like it’s just one guy or two guys like we’ve been going against,” Bucannon said. “Everybody’s a good player. Each and every time somebody else steps in, it’s going to be fresh legs, and they’re going to be a good player who will get the yards.”

Bubba Poole is the most-used running back in the offense, leading the team in carries and in yards. He has two touchdowns and almost 600 rushing yards on the season. 

The Cougars will counter with their usual crew of players and once again, the offensive line will be tested in this matchup. Trevor Reilly and Jacoby Hale have both shown they can get after the quarterback, meaning that the offensive line’s blocking will be integral for the Cougars’ success in this game.

Reilly has 8.5 sacks thus far and Hale has 6.5. The screen passes that the Cougars use in place of running plays could get called more because of the pass rush, even though the running game improved against Arizona last week.

This week’s game will begin at 12:30 p.m. For those at home for Thanksgiving break, the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.