This one just felt really perfunctory when it was over.

Was there ever a moment, after OSU's first touchdown, when the outcome ever really seemed in doubt. Not really from this corner.

And we come to find later that a lot of what seemed like some new changes to the defense were mostly illness and injury related. Josh Gage is hurt, so that's why the linebacking corps is different, and Senio Kelemete was sick all week, so that's why Johnie Kirton started at defensive tackle.

The Huskies actually did some good things at times --- they punted just once, and they didn't really get completely run over by Jacquizz Rodgers, who had 94 yards on 20 carries.

But OSU made a couple of big plays to get a comfortable edge --- James Rodgers scoring three TDs on two long runs and one screen pass --- then just seemed to do what was necessary from there to make sure it never got dangerous.

UW coach Tyrone Willingham said that "we knew the Rodgers brothers would be difficult to handle. I think for a period of time we handled one, and then, all of a sudden, let the other one add to their yardage. It was a difficult game and a difficult time.''

The loss will undoubtedly add to the speculation about Willingham, and seems to make it even more of a foregone conclusion that he will be gone eventually, when and how being the only questions remaining.

Willingham, though, kept a stiff upper lip afterward.

"We have another game to play,'' he said. "There are still games on the schedule. If you're a competitor, you find a way to rise up and play your next ball game and meet your next challenge. If you're not a competitor, then you wither. It becomes too heavy for you and you don't find a way to fight.''

Willingham seemed to let the frustration through at one point, however, when he was asked if this was getting old. "Yes,'' he said somewhat icily before pausing and then going on to the next question.

In terms of rehashing it, this is another one where the ultimate answer is that OSU was simply better.

UW's offensive strategy was to try a lot of deep throws because OSU plays so aggressively in the secondary. It worked at times for some yards, but the Huskies couldn't do anything consistently well enough to turn those yards into a lot of points.

Defensively, the Huskies wanted to keep the Beavers contained in the middle. They did that, but couldn't stop a few big plays from James Rodgers on the perimeter.

So now it's 0-6 and eight straight losses dating to last season, tying the end of 2004 and beginning of 2005 season for the longest losing streak since the 1969 team went 0-9 to start the year.

The players mostly said what you'd expect afterward --- that they won't quit and will find a way to keep coming back. And at least the opponent next week, Notre Dame, will get their attention.

On to the grades:

QUARTERBACK --- Ronnie Fouch was under pressure all night and let it get to him at times, with three interceptions and a fumble, the kind of performance that shouldn't be unexpected of a redshirt freshman making his second start. The plan called for him to take a lot of shots deep and he threw a few, though ultimately not enough. But you're seeing how his lack of mobility compared to Jake Locker is impacting things --- OSU would never have consistently teed off on Locker like that. GRADE: C.

RUNNING BACK --- Terrance Dailey showed why the coaches have been raving about him, and if he can stay healthy, he may be the starting TB the rest of the season. His 102 yards make him the first 100-yard rusher of the season. And his 59-yard run showed that he had learned a lesson from earlier in the game,n when he seemed to juke a little too much at times --- something he said later coaches told him he had to fix. But the Huskies also need a complement to get the tough yards, as that fourth-quarter goalline stand indicated. GRADE: B.

RECEIVERS --- It was nice to have D'Andre Goodwin back as he did a good job of making plays on a few high and deep throws. Devin Aguilar also had a nice day and Jordan Polk and Jermaine Kearse a few good catches. Overall, another day where the future looks bright at this spot. But for now, this group still isn't experienced enough yet to win a game by itself against a team as good as the Beavers. GRADE: B.

OFFENSIVE LINE --- The Huskies were hoping for an improved effort from this group, but once again it seemed underwhelming. Fouch was sacked just once but got hit and hurried a lot. And the lack of a consistent running game seemed due more to a lack of blocking up front than the backs. And with no real depth now, any more injuries will be a killer. GRADE: C-minus.

DEFENSIVE LINE --- The effort seemed there, and as mentioned, the Huskies didn't really get gashed inside all day, as seemed possible heading into it. But again there were no sacks and not a lot of pressure on Lyle Moevao, and the Beavers ran well enough when they had to. GRADE: C-minus.

LINEBACKERS --- We'll have to wait to see what the coaches thought of the new-look. But while there was some solid play here --- Mason Foster had two-and-half tackles for a loss --- it obviously wasn't good enough. Trenton Tuiasosopo took blame for being out of position on the screen pass that turned into a TD, and even when the LBs blitzed they couldn't seem to get to the QB. GRADE: C.

DEFENSIVE BACKS --- Didn't seem like a great effort in this area as Moevao was 18-22, with one pass dropped and another simply thrown past a wide-open receiver. And there were a few not great angles taken on a couple of the long runs. Opponents are now an astonishing 116-160 passing against UW this year with just two interceptions. GRADE: D.

SPECIAL TEAMS --- Two missed field goals were the main culprit in this area, with nothing else really outstanding good or bad. Most notably, UW did have its first two positive punt returns today with Aguilar getting 23 yards on two attempts. GRADE: C.

COACHING --- The offensive game plan made some sense given the way OSU plays defense, And the effort actually seemed to be there most of the time. But delay of game on the first play tipped off a day when the Huskies were simply outclassed and outmanned in just about every area. After four years, that's simply not good enough. And ultimately, that's where the major responsibility for this rests. GRADE: D.