PULLMAN — Luke Falk threw five touchdown passes, including three to River Cracraft, and No. 23 Washington State beat California 56-21 on Saturday night for its eighth consecutive victory.
The surging Cougars (8-2, 7-0 Pac-12, No. 23 CFP) have their longest winning streak since 1930 and are on a surprising quest for a Pac-12 championship.
Davis Webb threw for 425 yards and three touchdowns for Cal (4-6, 2-5), which has lost three straight games and is struggling to keep its bowl hopes alive.
Cracraft caught nine passes for 87 yards before leaving midway through the third quarter with a leg injury.
Falk completed 36 of 50 passes for 373 yards with one interception. The former walk-on broke a team record with his 23rd game of at least 300 passing yards.
The Cougars produced 654 yards of total offense in the game.
California’s high-flying offense piled up 525 yards but struggled to get into the end zone. Demetris Robertson had a pair of touchdown receptions for the Golden Bears.
California had won 10 of the past 11 games between the teams and had not lost in Pullman since 2002.
Washington State receiver Gabe Marks caught seven passes to give him 295 career receptions, breaking the Pac-12 record of 294 held by Colorado’s Nelson Spruce.
THE TAKEAWAY
California: The Golden Bears are struggling to qualify for a bowl game, having lost four of their past five games. They are giving up more than 44 points per game, worst in the Pac-12.
Washington State: The Cougars control their own destiny and can clinch the Pac-12 North by winning their final two regular-season games — against No. 16 Colorado and No. 4 Washington.
UP NEXT
Washington State travels to No. 16 Colorado next Saturday.
