OSU’s 2024 trip to the West Coast was a heartbreaker. They fell to Oregon in Autzen, in what was a final-possession game . 32-31, read the scoreline before the whistle was heard. On that last play, Will Howard wanted to move the ball a bit into the striking field goal distance to make it easier for the kicker. But amidst that, the last scramble ended as time bled out and the upset slipped away. The environment, the noise, the late-game management, everything mattered in that despair.

Now, OSU is faced with the same cross-country challenge in the form of Washington, with familiar variables of travel load, time issues, and a raucous crowd. Husky Stadium won’t mirror Autzen, but the challenges will be on the same lines. The crowd will try to hinder smooth communication and situational pois

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