Washington State depending on high-powered offense to earn second straight bowl bid

FILE -This July 23, 2014, file photo, shows Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday posing for a photo at the 2014 Pac-12 NCAA college football media days in Los Angeles. Washington State rode the arm of quarterback Halliday to its first bowl game in a decade last year, and Cougar fans can expect more of the same this season. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - This July 23, 2014, file photo, shows Washington State head coach Mike Leach taking questions at the 2014 Pac-12 NCAA college football media days in Los Angeles Wednesday, July 23, 2014. Washington State rode the arm of quarterback Connor Halliday to its first bowl game in a decade last year, and Cougar fans can expect more of the same this season. ``Clearly he's one of the best quarterbacks in the entire nation,'' coach Leach said. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) (The Associated Press)

SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington State rode the arm of quarterback Connor Halliday to its first bowl game in a decade last year, and Cougar fans can expect more of the same this season.

Halliday, a senior, led the nation's fourth-best pass attack last season. He set school single-season records with 714 pass attempts, 449 completions, and 4,597 passing yards. He tied the school record with 34 touchdown passes.

The Cougars went 6-6 in the regular season and earned a trip to the New Mexico Bowl. They gave up a late lead to Colorado State in the bowl game to finish 6-7 in coach Mike Leach's second season at the helm.