Previewing the 2014 season for the Washington State Cougars:

2013 record: 6-7, 4-5 Pac-12, lost to Colorado State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, 48-45

Senior QB Connor Halliday will lead the Cougars this season, starting off Aug. 28 against Rutgers. AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Final grade for 2013: B

Key returnees: QB Connor Halliday, WR Gabe Marks, WR Vince Mayle, WR River Cracraft, DL Xavier Cooper

Key losses: S Deone Bucannon, OLB Justin Sagote, C Elliott Bosch, OL John Fullington, K Andrew Furney

Projected win percentage (ESPN.com Stats & Information): .425

Chances to win the conference (ESPN.com Stats & Information): 0.1 percent

Instant impact newcomer: CB Marcellus Pippins

Most important game: Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Washington

Biggest question mark: The offense will put up numbers because of Mike Leach, but can the defense make big stops ... or at least enough stops?

Best-case scenario: 8-4

Worst-case scenario: 4-8 with just one conference win

Over-under win total (Bovada): 5.5

Upset special: Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Oregon. The Ducks have to come into Pullman, Washington, and it's just early enough in the season that if Marcus Mariota hasn't gained enough chemistry with his young receivers, the Cougars could put a notch on the Ducks' record.

They said it: On whether Leach would rather bear hunt with Washington coach Chris Petersen or Utah coach Kyle Whittingham: “What I'm thinking is we get a large bag and we stick in Coach Petersen, Coach Whittingham, and we shake that bag up really high and really hard. That will be a tough guy to walk out of the bag, I think.”