ESPN College Football

No. 5 Stanford hosts No. 15 Washington on Saturday. History scholars are not welcome.

Two years ago, Stanford ran all over Washington -- setting a school record with 446 rushing yards in a 65-21 win. That game was, for all intents and purposes, the beginning of Washington’s 2011 defensive downfall that crested with an Alamo Bowl embarrassment against Baylor.

Last year, in a rapid change of fortunes, it was Washington’s defense that rose to the occasion and held Stanford’s offense to 170 total yards, zero offensive touchdowns and just 65 rushing yards in a 17-13 win. The Cardinal were coming off of a then-shocking 21-14 win over No. 2 USC. That game might have been, for all intents and purposes, the beginning of the end of the Lane Kiffin era. But that's another story for another day.

So what does the recent history between these two teams mean? Squat. Diddly-squat, to be exact. This is a very different Washington defense than the one that rolled over two year ago. Just as Stanford’s offense is completely different than the one that struggled to move the ball last year in Seattle.

“We’re definitely a new football team,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said. “From two years ago we’ve made some pretty significant changes on the defensive side of the football from the staff standpoint. And I think offensively we’ve made some significant changes in scheme and style of play that has changed us dramatically over a two-year period.”

Indeed, Washington’s defense under Justin Wilcox has improved dramatically over the last season and a half. Through four games this season the Huskies are allowing fewer than 11 points per game. Offensively, the new up-tempo scheme is producing almost 600 yards per game, and the Huskies average nearly 40 points per contest.

Though the feeling of last season's loss still lingers for some Stanford players, it won’t be a factor in Saturday’s matchup.

“Disappointment,” said Stanford defensive back Alex Carter in talking about last season's meeting. “I know we felt like we had really given up an opportunity for our team to make a statement. For us, I think we just realize that last year was last year. It happened. This year we’re a different team with a different mentality. We’re just focused on this game.”

As for finding little tricks and intricacies from last season's game? Stanford coach David Shaw said don’t count on it.

“I never take the previous year’s game too seriously,” he said. “We look at them from a schematic and personnel standpoint. They have a lot of film from this year. We go back and watch a lot of schematic things, but what actually happens in games, there’s never a carry over. Last year when we played them, we didn’t think we were going to go in there and rush for 300 yards cause we knew they were a more sound, physical, athletic defense. We knew it was going to be tough sledding, just like it was, and just like we believe this year is going to be tough sledding also.”

So far, things have gone according to plan for both teams. The Huskies (4-0 overall, 1-0 Pac-12) have successfully negotiated a nonconference slate that included a win over Boise State and road win against Illinois. And despite the weather last week, they handled Arizona 31-13.

Stanford (4-0, 2-0) has looked explosive offensively, averaging more than 41 points per game. Quarterback Kevin Hogan ranks fifth nationally in QBR and the offense -- while still run-based -- has become more wide receiver-centric in the passing attack.

“They’ve changed some,” Sarkisian said. "Two years ago Andrew Luck was the quarterback and they were doing their thing with Andrew. They've worked themselves into Kevin Hogan and they have a lot of variety. Defensively it’s a lot of the same faces, just more mature. They pose a great deal of challenges for us.”

Pac-12 reporter Kevin Gemmell takes a look at some of the storylines in the conference this week.

ESPN.com's Kevin Gemmell discusses one good thing in the Pac-12: the conference has five teams ranked in the top 25 and four in the top 15.

So who deserves a helmet sticker for a job well done?

Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State: Cooks was the best player on the field in Corvallis, decisively winning his battle with Colorado WR Paul Richardson in the Beavers' 44-17 victory. Cooks caught nine passes for 168 yards (18.7 yards per catch) with two touchdowns. He also rushed five times for 47 yards.

Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State: Cooks was brilliant, but Mannion was also stellar, throwing six touchdown passes, a new team record. He completed 27 of 52 passes for 414 yards with an interception in the blowout win. That pick, by the way, bounced off the chest of his receiver, so it shouldn't count against him.

Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington: Sankey set a school record with 40 carries in the Huskies' 31-13 win over Arizona. He gained 161 tough yards and scored a TD.

Taylor Kelly, QB, Arizona State: Kelly completed 23 of 34 passes for 351 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the Sun Devils' 62-41 win over USC. He also rushed for 79 yards on just four carries -- 19.8 yards per pop.

Alden Darby, S, Arizona State: Darby had two interceptions against USC, including one he returned 46 yards for a touchdown. He also forced and recovered a fumble and tied for second on the Sun Devils with seven total tackles

Bralon Addison, PR, Oregon: Addison returned two punts for touchdowns against California, the first for 75 yards and the second for 67 yards.

Devon Cajuste, WR, Stanford: The big receiver was the star of the Cardinal's new downfield passing game. He caught four passes for 115 yards in their 55-17 win over Washington State, including touchdowns of 57 and 33 yards.

SEATTLE -- Regardless of the weather, Washington running back Bishop Sankey is going to get his touches. He knows it; opposing defenses know it. It's fact.

Put the Huskies in a constant rain, throw in a gusting wind, and it's all Sankey, all the time. That was the case on Saturday as the junior ran for 161 yards on a school-record 40 carries to lift No. 16 Washington (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) past previously unbeaten Arizona (3-1, 01), 31-13.

"You play the hand that you're dealt, and those were the conditions we had and [Sankey] was awesome," Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He didn't change, his focus was there, his body language didn't change from his first carry to his last one."

The 40 carries breaks the record (38) Corey Dillon set in the Apple Cup against Washington State in 1996, and if Washington hadn't pulled away in the fourth, Sarkisian would have kept calling Sankey's number. That would have been fine by Sankey, who said fatigue was not a factor.

"You just had to dig deep, and that's something that we preach here is mental toughness," said Sankey, the nation's No. 2 leading rusher coming in. "That's what I was trying to do for the team."

It didn't hurt that he was coming off what, by his standards, amounted to a game off last week against Idaho State. That four-carry, 77-yard performance was no accident, Sarkisian said. Keeping his workhorse fresh for the Pac-12 opener was part of the grand plan.

"That's why he had four carries last week and 40 tonight," he said. "We knew coming into the game that both were going to go fast."

The win brings Washington to 4-0 for the first time since 2001. That year the Huskies, as the No. 10-ranked team, lost the next week on the road at No. 7 UCLA and finished 8-4, which included a loss to Texas in the Holiday Bowl.

They'll face a similar challenge next week on the road at No. 5 Stanford.

After scheduling itself to a 3-0 record with games against Northern Arizona, UNLV and Texas-San Antonio, Arizona remained as much of a mystery as a 3-0 team could be. Coming into Saturday's game on the banks of Lake Washington, Arizona had the opportunity to prove its legitimacy. Instead, the Wildcats showed they have a lot to get cleaned up.

Offensively, it took time for Arizona to adjust to the step up in competition.

In the first quarter, the Wildcats finished with more plays (16) than total yards (11) and didn't complete a pass or register a first down. Their first eight possessions of the game netted no points -- not factoring in Washington's safety on a botched Arizona punt -- and just 75 yards.

"That's why you play in the Pac-12, because you have bigger, faster, athletes," Arizona quarterback B.J. Denker said. "But I don't think it was anything we couldn't handle. Our offensive line was fine. Ka'Deem [Carey] ran the ball well. When I got hit, it wasn't like my whole body broke. It hurt like every other hit. These guys weren't superhuman out there."

It wasn't until they were pressed for time did the Wildcats find any semblance of an offense. Given the ball at their own 14 with 2 minutes, 43 seconds left in the first half, the Wildcats marched 84 yards in 14 plays, and Carey scored from three yards out to make it 11-6.

It was the first touchdown Washington had allowed in the first half this year.

The Wildcats answered Washington's 95-yard touchdown drive to open the second half with a 72-yard one of their own, but after cutting the deficit to 18-13, Arizona couldn't keep pace.

"It would have been nice when we got the momentum going to get a stop on defense or anther big play on offense to get the lead," Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. "We never really made them face any adversity. You have to give them credit for that."

Carey, who led the nation in rushing a year ago, finished with 132 yards on 30 carries.

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No. 16 Washington improved to 4-0 on the season with a 31-13 victory over Arizona.

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Pretty much every team plays true freshmen. But how much of an impact are those freshmen having on the game? Through four weeks, some have made immediate impacts. Others have seen some mop-up time. Across the ESPN blogosphere this morning, we’re looking at the five teams in each conference who have had freshmen make the greatest impacts on their team.

1. California: The quarterback is the most important position, and anytime you have a true freshman playing quarterback, it’s going to have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. So far, quarterback Jared Goff has risen to the occasion, even if it hasn’t translated into wins for the Bears. He leads the country in total offense. He’s completing 61 percent of his passes (103-of-168) and has seven touchdowns to four interceptions. Goff is one of seven true freshmen who have seen time for the Bears. Running back Khalfani Muhammad is tied for second on the team with 21 carries (97 yards, one touchdown).

2. UCLA: The Bruins have played 16 true freshmen so far, which, as of last week, was second in the country only to Texas A&M. Linebacker Myles Jack has had the biggest impact with 14 tackles, including two for a loss and a team-high four pass breakups. They are also getting good production from Eddie Vanderdoes, who had two tackles for a loss against New Mexico State, and offensive lineman Alex Redmond has started all three games at guard.

3. USC: The Trojans have gotten impact performances on both sides of the ball from their freshmen. Seven have seen the field for the Trojans. Safety Su’a Cravens has been as advertised so far with 18 tackles, half a tackle for a loss, and an interception. With Silas Redd out, running back Justin Davis has supplemented Tre Madden nicely. In four games, Davis has rushed for 189 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 47.2 yards per game and a team-high 5.9 yards per carry.

4. Washington State: The Cougars have gotten quality -- not necessary quantity -- out of their true freshmen. They have only played four. But two of them are getting quality playing time and making significant contributions. Cornerback Daquawn Brown made his first career start against USC and posted a team high 11 tackles while breaking up two passes. He also had an interception against Southern Utah. Wide receiver River Cracraft is fourth on the team with 10 catches for 111 yards.

5. Colorado: The Buffs aren’t going as young as they did last year, but they are still getting production from their rookies. And they have found something special in linebacker Addison Gillam. Through two games he’s the Buffs leading tackler with 20 stops -- including a sack, two tackles for a loss and five stops on third down. He also blocked a punt. Defensive end Jimmie Gilbert should also continue to see time. In 64 snaps he has three tackles and a sack.

Honorable mentions

These guys have been impactful, but chances are their teams would still have had success if they weren’t on the field based on quality of competition and/or depth at a position. But their contributions shouldn’t be overlooked.

• Oregon TE John Mundt: Five catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
• Oregon RB Thomas Tyner: 12 carries for 80 yards and three touchdowns.
• Arizona LB Scooby Wright: 13 tackles, three for a loss.
• Oregon State KR Victor Bolden: 19 returns, 365 yards, 19.2 average.
• Utah LS Chase Dominguez: Haven’t heard his name before? Good. You shouldn’t. He’s a long snapper.
• Arizona State K Zane Gonzalez: Has converted 4 of 7 field goals with a long of 40 and is 3-4 inside 40 yards. 13 of 13 on PATs.
• Washington KR John Ross: Six kick returns for 112 yards (18.7 average). Three punt returns for 16 yards (5.3 average).

Keith Price threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 17 Washington past Idaho State.