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Analysis: What we learned from Washington State’s 33-20 loss to Cal

BERKELEY, Calif. — Sunday, the day after Washington State and Cal wrapped up at Memorial Stadium, the Pac-12 admitted officials flubbed a third-quarter hands-to-the-face call on a kickoff return that would’ve advanced the Cougars to the Golden Bears’ 33-yard line.

Instead, because referees incorrectly called a penalty on WSU, rather than Cal, Travell Harris’ big return was wiped out and the Cougars’ possession started at their own 8-yard line — a 57-yard difference.

It doesn’t provide much solace for a WSU team that was obviously more than a penalty or two away from shaking its Berkeley woes in a 33-20 loss, but it just goes to show the Cougars can’t seem to get through four quarters at Memorial Coliseum without a few bizarre, unordinary plot twists.