SEATTLE (AP) - Five weeks ago, the California Golden Bears were soaring in rarified air. They were No. 2 in the nation, their highest ranking in 56 years. They had realistic thoughts of playing in the BCS title game come January.

Now, four losses later, their air is as foul as their mood. They are so sick over their prospects for a middling, minor bowl that they won't even talk about them. And the Bears (6-4, 3-4 Pac-10) are defending quarterback Nate Longshore from a heap of criticism.

"I just think it's unfair to pile it all on Nate," coach Jeff Tedford said this week. "It's not right."

At least they aren't at Washington.

The Huskies (3-7, 1-6) have lost their program's supposed savior, dynamic quarterback Jake Locker, to a scary neck injury. They are also finishing their fifth consecutive season without a winning record.

They'd take what the Bears are pooh-poohing entering Saturday's game at Husky Stadium: The Huskies are reeling after being eliminated from consideration for any bowl last weekend by a heated, 29-23 loss at Oregon State.

"That was huge, to have that opportunity to go to a bowl go away, especially for the seniors. It was devastating, honestly," defensive tackle Jordan Reffett said.

Reffett is part of a UW senior class that will come and go without playing in a bowl game. The Huskies haven't played in the postseason since the 2002 Sun Bowl, the first bowl hiatus of five seasons for Washington since 1972-76. That was when there were only about a dozen bowls, instead of the current 32.

Washington leadership remains steadfast behind coach Tyrone Willingham, who is 10-23 at UW. He will become the first Huskies coach with three consecutive losing seasons when Washington finishes at Hawaii Dec. 1.

Both teams enter Saturday's game rallying around targeted quarterbacks.

Locker sprained his neck in a helmet-to-helmet hit while trying to run for a first down during the first half against the Beavers. He didn't put a helmet on again until Thursday and then only threw passes on the side. Willingham all but conceded that fifth-year senior Carl Bonnell will start against Cal, and it's conceivable that Locker may not return this season.

"I don't the same skill set as Jake," said Bonnell, who started the final five games of last season - including the Apple Cup upset win at Washington State - after Isaiah Stanback got hurt. "I don't run a 4.4 40 (yard dash), weigh 220 and can run people over."

Bonnell threw five interceptions last season at Berkeley, dooming Washington's push to upset the then-No.11 Bears. Cal won in overtime 31-24.

But last week Bonnell, playing for the first time since mop-up duty at the end of the opener at Syracuse Aug. 31, threw two touchdown passes and almost rallied the Huskies from a deep hole late before they lost to the Beavers.

"I stuck around this season for a reason, and it's finally come to pass," Bonnell said. "I finally have the opportunity to prove myself. I feel I haven't played up to my abilities yet. I possibly have three final opportunities to do that."

Longshore, who has practiced since missing Tuesday with flu-like symptoms, has three things working against him right now:

-A sore ankle with which Tedford said his passer has practiced and played with since the stunning home loss to Oregon State on Oct. 13 that started the Bears' dive.

-Underthrowing an open receiver for his second interception of the night after Cal drove into USC territory late in a 24-17 home loss to the Trojans last week - a defeat for which Longshore, who also lost a botched snap, accepted responsibility.

-And following Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers, recent first-round picks in the NFL, in leading Tedford's spread offense.

The offense oozes speed, from 1,169-yard rusher Justin Forsett to receivers and kick returners DeSean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins. But it also has an inconsistent trigger man trying to get them the ball.

"When I talked to Nate, I said I don't know a quarterback yet - be it Kyle Boller, be it Joey Harrington, be it Aaron Rodgers, whomever - there's a lot of first-round draft picks who have gone through tough times and have had to shoulder some criticism," Tedford said. "It does come with the territory.

"But it still doesn't mean that it's right to pile on a college quarterback. He's not getting paid a million dollars to play this game."