Oregon State is ranked for the first time since 2013, and this week is easily the biggest singular game of Jonathan Smith’s tenure in his fifth year at the helm for the Beavs.

Washington is enjoying a successful (though imperfect) Year One turnaround under Kalen DeBoer, and they also have a chance to remain in the running for a Pac-12 Championship appearance.

Which team has more on the line on Friday night?

On today’s episode of Locked On Pac-12, Spencer McLaughlin is joined by Carter Bahns of BeaverBlitz.com to give a full breakdown of the game of the week in the Pac-12.

One element that makes this matchup so fascinating is the battle of strengths vs strengths and weaknesses vs weaknesses that will take place between these two teams.

How can Oregon State slow down Washington’s high-powered, pass-first offense with their secondary which has played at a very high level this year?

That’s a classic battle of “best on best,” while the Beaver offense against an iffy (at times) Washington defense poses the opposite challenge for both teams.

All in all, it figures to be the biggest game of the week and the most important either team has played in several years.

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—More from Spencer McLaughlin—

• McLaughlin: Sooners Looking to Make a Splash in SEC

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• McLaughlin: Pac-12 Loss of Autonomous Status a Problem?

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• McLaughlin: Colorado Transfer Exodus Cause for Concern?

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• McLaughlin: Where Will Ex-ASU QB Jaden Rashada Land?

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• McLaughlin: Oregon State Making Future Big 12 Moves?

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• McLaughlin: Colorado at Epicenter of Transfer Portal

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• McLaughlin: Does Ohio State Now Have QB Questions?

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• McLaughlin: UW, Others Poised to Make Big Portal Moves?

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• McLaughlin: Scouting Kalen DeBoer’s First Spring Game

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• McLaughlin: Should ACC Move on from FSU and Clemson?

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• McLaughlin: Has the Portal Destroyed Player Loyalty?

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• McLaughlin: Could ACC Fallout Lead to a New Conference?

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• McLaughlin: Would Big Ten and SEC Go for Super League?

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• McLaughlin: NFL-Style Super League Good for CFB?

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• McLaughlin: Pac-12 Rebuild Should Wait for ACC Fallout

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