Washington State and Colorado are in sole possession of first place in their respective divisions in the Pac-12. This will be the first time since 2002 that both schools will finish a season with winning records. On Saturday at 3:30 p.m., they will meet in Boulder, Colorado, in a possible preview of the Pac-12 championship game.

The Cougars started 0-2, which included a loss to FCS Eastern Washington, but they have won eight consecutive games. That’s their longest win streak in one season since 1930 (they started that year 9-0). They are also 7-0 in conference play for the first time.

The Buffaloes have won four consecutive games; Colorado hasn’t had a five-game winning streak since 2002. The Buffaloes have six conference wins this season, more than they had in their first five seasons in the Pac-12 combined (five).

Quite the climb

How far have these programs come? Consider this: These teams had two of the worst records over the previous 10 seasons among current Power 5 schools.

ESPN Stats & Information

Matchup to watch: Cougars’ offense against Buffaloes’ defense

Expect a showdown between Washington State's offense and Colorado's defense, as both units rank among the best in the FBS on their respective sides of the line of scrimmage.

Strong on their side The FBS ranks of Washington State's offense and Colorado's defense this season WSU

offense Colorado

defense TD pct. 2nd 8th PPG 8th T-9th YPG T-9th 12th

Washington State quarterback Luke Falk’s 73.9 completion rate leads the FBS, perhaps largely as a result of his propensity to throw short passes. He has averaged 6.3 air yards per attempt this season, the shortest downfield distance by any Power 5 quarterback.

Falk spreads the wealth around: The Cougars have an FBS-high eight players with at least 20 receptions this year.

Not surprisingly, the Cougars are passing the ball on the highest percentage of plays in the FBS -- 66 percent -- but that’s on pace to be the lowest rate in five seasons under Mike Leach. They passed on at least 75 percent of their plays in the previous four seasons.

Leach is sprinkling running into the offense, too. The Cougars’ 22 rushing touchdowns are their most in one season since 1997.

Colorado has the seventh-best defensive efficiency in the FBS. One key is passing defense. The Buffaloes are allowing the second-fewest yards per pass attempt in the FBS (5.5), behind Ohio State.

Last season, the Buffaloes allowed a field goal or a touchdown on 87 percent of opponents’ red-zone drives, tied for 94th in the FBS. This season, they have allowed the second-lowest rate of red-zone scoring in the FBS (66 percent), behind Michigan (65 percent).

Football Power Index projection

ESPN’s Football Power Index projects the Buffaloes at 59 percent likely to win.