OREGON WON: No. 2 Oregon (5-0) overcame a sluggish first half to blow out Washington State (2-3), 51-26, in Seattle on Saturday night. A 23-19 lead at the break was a little too close for comfort for the Ducks, who put the pedal to the metal with 28 unanswered second-half points to win going away. Running back Kenjon Barner rushed for 195 yards and scored four total touchdowns, including an 80-yard fourth quarter burst, while quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for 169 yards and rushed for 56. It was the third time in five games that the Ducks scored at least 50 points and their 18th-straight outing with at least 30 points. The Oregon defense also came through, holding WSU to minus eight yards rushing. <player idref=iday threw for 348 yards and a touchdown for the Cougars, while star wide out Marquess Wilson caught 12 passes for 182 yards and a score.

WHEN OREGON WON: Up by just four points at the half, the Ducks came out in the third quarter and dominated in uncharacteristic fashion, draining 6:21 from the clock during an 18-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown run by De'Anthony Thomas. It was Oregon's longest drive of the year by far and it gave the Ducks a 30-19 cushion. On WSU's next possession, cornerback Avery Patterson stepped in front of a Halliday pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, the score was 37-19 and the route was on.

WHY OREGON WON: The Ducks controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, rushing for 300 yards and five touchdowns on offense while collecting seven sacks on defense. Oregon overcame a slow start and, by the third quarter, Duck running backs were running through holes you could drive a truck through. 

WHAT OREGON WON: The Ducks won their eighth straight and didn't get caught looking ahead to next week's game against Washington. With the impressive-looking score, Oregon is likely to stay at No. 2 when the new polls come out on Sunday.

WHAT WASHINGTON STATE LOST: A chance for an epic upset. The Cougars didn't really have trouble moving the ball, as they put up 402 yards and matched the Ducks in first downs with 25. For a good stretch of the first half, WSU actually had Oregon off balance, scoring 16 points in a span of nine minutes while forcing two Duck punts, an interception and a turnover on downs. But the Cougars lost control of events in the third quarter and never really threatened again. It's going to be a while before WSU has the horses to run with Oregon.