They didn't get a bowl, their stated preseason goal.

But at least the Huskies got a cup -- the Apple Cup, which goes to the winner of the season-ending Washington-Washington State game.

And while winning it meant in practical terms only that the Huskies were 5-7 instead of 4-8, players and coaches felt it could have big meaning in terms of where the program goes now.

"You always want to finish the year with success," Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said. "It carries over into the winter."

It'll be a longer winter than the Huskies would have liked, as a six-game losing streak marred a 4-1 start and kept them home.

But in the end, Washington also finished with three more wins than its 2-9 record of 2005, which Willingham termed improvement and "a step in the right direction."

The Huskies appeared to be headed for a big leap when they won four of their first five games. The only loss was a competitive game at Oklahoma, and the stretch included a home victory over UCLA and a win at Arizona.

But then came a loss at USC that went down to the last play, followed by a loss the next week to Oregon State in which quarterback Isaiah Stanback was knocked out for the season with a foot injury. Then came consecutive overtime losses to Cal and Arizona State.

"That just took the wind out of our sails," junior defensive end Greyson Gunheim said of the brutal month of October.

The Huskies couldn't recover, and they were blown out at Oregon and suffered a shocking home loss to previously winless Stanford that knocked them out of bowl contention.

But just when many were beginning to question the direction of the program in Willingham's second year, the Huskies rallied to beat the Cougars and win the Apple Cup.

"This is huge," Washington quarterback Carl Bonnell said of beating the Cougars, Washington's first win over its archrival since 2003. "For the next nine months until August when we report to camp, this is what's going to drive us through all those offseason workouts. We'll have this feeling to reach back on."

GAME OF THE YEAR: The Huskies saved their best for last, turning in five big plays to beat Washington State 35-32 in front of a raucous crowd in Pullman. Washington trailed twice early but each time struck back with big plays to tie the game at halftime. The Huskies then used three more big plays to win it. In all, Washington had a TD run of 77 yards, TD catches of 69 and 64 yards, a blocked punt for a touchdown, and a kickoff return of 87 yards that led to another score.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: He only played seven games, but senior QB Isaiah Stanback was as valuable to the Huskies as any passer in the nation -- as evidenced by the team's drop-off once he suffered a season-ending foot injury. Stanback threw for 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions while completing 53.4 percent of his passes. He also ran for 350 yards and four touchdowns.

FAST FORWARD: The Huskies will return 11 starters, six on defense and five on offense, from the lineup that started the Apple Cup. The key question on offense will be at quarterback. Junior Carl Bonnell took over once Stanback was injured and led the Huskies to a stirring win in the Apple Cup. But he will receive a stiff challenge from freshman Jake Locker, who redshirted this season and is widely viewed as the future of the program. The most significant other hole is at guard, where both starters graduate and where no one else saw any significant time this season. Defensively, Washington loses two of its four starters in the secondary and two starting linebackers. But the Huskies developed some decent depth on the front seven, and every member of the front four returns, so Washington could be stout in the interior. The big questions will be replacing SS C.J. Wallace and CB Dashon Goldson.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We didn't get what we wanted (a bowl game), we wanted to win, but I think there's still some positive signs. I've said all along I'm not into moral victories, but still I think you have to acknowledge some of the things this team has done." -- Washington coach Tyrone Willingham on the season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2007: QB Jake Locker -- The Huskies redshirted him this season as a true freshman after several weeks of debate following the injury to Isaiah Stanback. With the struggles of the other quarterbacks this year after Stanback was injured, conventional wisdom in Seattle is that Locker wins the starting job next fall.

RB J.R. Hasty -- He had to sit out this season for academic reasons but could emerge as the starter next year with Louis Rankin, the only experienced returner coming back, struggling this year.

PRO PROSPECTS: QB Isaiah Stanback -- Stanback's foot injury means he won't be able to participate in pre-draft workouts, which undoubtedly will impact his draft status. But he'll be an intriguing late-round prospect as an athlete, if nothing else, and if his health situation becomes clearer, he could get a shot.

CB Dashon Goldson -- His production was spotty as a collegian but he has solid measurables (6-foot-2, 205 pounds and good speed) and played only one year at cornerback after moving from safety. He could shoot up the charts during workouts and probably will be worth a shot on the second day.

LB Scott White -- He had a hot start to the season but tailed off late. He may have to go the free agent route unless he shows well in workouts.

ROSTER REPORT: The Huskies were ensnared in controversy when Washington coach Tyrone Willingham announced that four players who had been listed as fourth-year juniors would be treated as seniors and not invited back next year. Two will leave holes that the Huskies will have to replace -- K Michael Braunstein and S Chris Hemphill, who became a starter due to injury late in the year and was a key reserve throughout. Otherwise, the Huskies appear to enter the offseason in decent shape. No players who figure to be key next year suffered injuries late in the year that would affect them long-term. One of the keys will be whether RB J.R. Hasty can get eligible. He was ineligible this year but practiced with the team. Coaches said he was doing well on his academics. He would be a redshirt sophomore next year if all goes as planned.