Locker's last chance to get to bowl game

PULLMAN (AP) - Fair or not, today's 103rd edition of the Apple Cup (4 p.m., VS, KXLY 920) is to many a referendum on the career of Jake Locker at Washington.

He could be lauded as the quarterback who helped rescue Washington from the depths of the lowest moments in program history and got the Huskies back to the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade.

Or, he'll be remembered as the talented quarterback who had the misfortune of playing for the Huskies when the program was in its darkest time and in consecutive years failed to get that all-important sixth win that would help return Washington to respectability.

Seems like a lot riding on a rivalry game between two teams with a combined seven victories.

"It's awesome. Couldn't ask for more," Locker said. "Got one game left, and you're playing for the opportunity to make it to a bowl game - something for me and everybody on this team has never got to experience. It's really cool. I think it's going to be a great atmosphere."

When Washington (5-6, 4-4 Pac-10) and Washington State (2-9, 1-7) meet on what's expected to be a below-freezing day on the Palouse, the Huskies will be playing in a season-ending game that could propel them to a bowl game for the first time since 2002.