See Dwight Jaynes Sunday morning column
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Look for Xavier Coleman's Viking Player Diary at OregonLive.com on Monday

Immediately following the Vikings landmark football victory over Washington State on Saturday afternoon in the Palouse, the question was pondered, "is it the biggest win in school history?" The answer? A resounding, "Maybe!"

Portland State beat the Cougars, 24-17, in the Palouse in come-from-behind fashion, outscoring WSU 24-7 in the second half. It was an epic victory and just the third in PSU history over a Football Bowl Subdivision program. All three of those wins can make a claim as best ever. One could even make a case for a regular-season ending win over Cal State Northridge in 2000 (49-22) that vaulted the PSU program to its first-ever NCAA I FCS playoff appearance.

Not to take anything away from Portland State's NCAA II national-ranked and contending programs from 1986-95, this evaluation comes from PSU's 20 years as an NCAA I FCS program.

On Sept. 9, 2000, Portland State traveled to Honolulu to take on a strong University of Hawai'i program led by, coincidentally, former Viking great June Jones. The Vikings, under the guidance of Tim Walsh, came away with a 45-20 victory - the first ever by PSU over an FBS school. That win came in the middle of the night east coast time and after midnight on the west coast. Though it got a lot of recognition, it probably never received its due. The Warriors were coming off a 9-4 season and an Oahu Bowl win over Oregon State. Alas they had a down season that year (3-9) in the middle of five great bowl-appearance seasons.

By the end of the year, PSU was 8-3 (following that win over Cal State Northridge) and on its way to the NCAA playoffs.

Six years later, the Vikings opened its 2006 campaign at the University of New Mexico and came away 17-6 winners over the Lobos. Walsh's Vikings stymied the New Mexico offense, holding it without a touchdown. PSU went on to have the top defense in the Big Sky that season as well as the league's Defensive Player of the Year in Adam Hayward. PSU went 7-4, and tied for second in the Big Sky at 6-2. The Lobos went on to a 6-6 record and a bowl game.

That brings us to yesterday's upset at a soggy and cold Martin Stadium in Pullman. It marked the first win ever by a PSU team over a Pac-12 program or any "prestige" conference, in 15 tries. Portland State's comeback from a 10-0 halftime deficit was exciting and inspiring to the Viking faithful. 

One thing is certain, in an age of instant social media and nationally-televised games (PSU's win over Hawaii was televised only in the Portland area, New Mexico was not televised), the Viking win will be the most viewed, remembered and discussed. It gives Portland State a landmark win that can easily be referenced and will not soon be forgotten. In that regard, it is the biggest win in school history.

In the end, the win over Wazzu is just one game and one win in an 11-game season. The Viking team will need to make that victory stand up as it begins Big Sky Conference play this Saturday at Idaho State, and down the road in home games against teams the likes of Montana State (Oct. 17) and Montana (Oct. 31).

Big win? Yes. Exciting season ahead? We certainly hope so.