Associated Press

Washington State quarterback Mars Lobbestael covers is eyes as his left knee is examined on the sidelines during the second half of their NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Lobbestael hurt his knee in the fourth quarter and was taken out of the game as they lost to Oregon State 66-13.

SPOKANE, Wash. - What is shaping up as the worst season in Washington State's modern football history keeps getting worse. Starting quarterback Marshall Lobbestael tore knee ligaments in the game against Oregon State and will miss the rest of the season, the team said Monday.

There's no immediate word on who will start for WSU against No. 6 Southern Cal on Saturday, but former starter Kevin Lopina had recovered sufficiently from a broken bone in his back to practice on Sunday, coach Paul Wulff said.

"We think Kevin Lopina will be ready to go this week," Wulff said Sunday evening.

Southern Cal (4-1, 2-1 Pacific 10) was an early 42-point favorite even before the quarterback news.

Lobbestael, a freshman, began the season as the third-string quarterback but started the past three games after Lopina and Gary Rogers both suffered serious injuries against Portland State. Rogers is out for the season.

Lobbestael, known as "The Lobster," had played decently, but Washington State's thin offensive line failed to protect him. He was injured early in the fourth quarter of a 66-13 loss at Oregon State. Lobbestael had proven to be the most effective quarterback on the roster, throwing for 571 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions in five games.

Athletic trainer Bill Drake said Lobbestael tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He left the game and did not return.

"Lobbestael will not play again this season and his recovery is expected to take approximately nine months," the team said.

Freshman Dan Wagner finished the game at Oregon State. The Cougars (1-6, 0-4 Pacific-10) are trying to preserve the redshirt season of freshman quarterback J.T. Levenseller, but he may have to play if the carnage continues.

The quarterback situation is so thin that last week the Cougars conducted a campus-wide tryout for a student to quarterback the scout team, an event that made national news. Peter Rogers was picked for the job, which involves simulating that week's opponent in practices.

Lopina played in three games this season, completing 54 percent of his passes for 315 yards, with no touchdowns and five interceptions.

If he plays, he will be facing a Southern Cal defense that is allowing only 9.4 points per game, lowest in the nation.

It's been a tough season to be quarterback at WSU, primarily because of an offensive line that is smaller and weaker than most of its opponents, and suffering from numerous injuries, Wulff has said.

As a result, Washington State quarterbacks have been sacked 24 times. They've also been intercepted 13 times and hurried 19 times. Meanwhile, the running game is producing only 97 yards per game, providing little relief for the passer.

Quarterback is not the only problem for WSU. The Cougars are surrendering an average of 45.1 points per game, and 55.6 in Pac-10 games. Their 280-game scoring streak, which is second longest in the nation and dates back to 1984, could be in jeopardy.

Tight end Devin Frischknecht also underwent an MRI on Sunday for an ankle sprain and will likely miss the Southern Cal game. But starting running back Dwight Tardy is expected back after missing the OSU game with a knee injury.

Wulff is resisting pulling more redshirts because he is focused on the future.

"We're not going to burn any redshirt at this point, and we have some very capable players we are redshirting who could help us right now," Wulff said. "We are too far into the season to hurt the future of the program."