Pac-12 Notes – Washington Week

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Pac-12 Notes – Washington Week

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November 20th – Game Day!

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Utah ends Oregon’s College Football Playoff hopes with a 38-7 rout

From ESPN … Britain Covey returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, giving Utah 14 points in 27 seconds and a 28-0 lead, and the No. 24 Utes ended No. 4 Oregon’s College Football Playoff hopes with a 38-7 victory Saturday night.

Tavion Thomas ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns to help the Utes (8-3, 7-1 Pac-12) wrap up a share of the Pac-12 South title and a spot in the conference championship game. Utah has won four in a row.

Thomas has run for a Utah-record 17 touchdowns this season. The previous mark was 15, shared by Zack Moss and John White IV.

Cameron Rising threw for 178 yards. His top target, Brant Kuithe, piled up 118 yards on five catches for just the second 100-yard game of his career. Covey had 191 all-purpose yards.

Anthony Brown threw for 231 yards and a touchdown for Oregon (9-2, 6-2 Pac-12, No. 3 CFP). Oregon rushed for 63 yards and had 294 yards of offense.

… Continue reading story here …

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UCLA mauls USC, 62-33

From ESPN … Dorian Thompson-Robinson romped through the Coliseum end zone during the second quarter and looked up to see a young fan in Southern California gear holding out a UCLA hat and a pen.

On a day when the Bruins quarterback seized just about every opportunity, he celebrated his touchdown with an impromptu autograph.

“When you see a kid just handing you a hat and a pen, you’ve just got to,” Thompson-Robinson said. “Second nature is to just grab it. I was glad to make that kid’s day.”

Now that’s a signature win for the fourth-year quarterback and his Bruins, who are emphatically on top again in Los Angeles’ crosstown showdown.

Thompson-Robinson passed for 349 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for two more scores, and UCLA reclaimed the Victory Bell with a 62-33 victory over USC on Saturday.

Kazmeir Allen made two TD catches and returned a kickoff 100 yards for another score in the highest-scoring performance ever by the Bruins (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) in 91 editions of the city rivalry game.

Kyle Philips also caught two TD passes as UCLA beat the Trojans for the first time since 2018 and won at the Coliseum for just the second time since 1997. The Bruins’ 62 points tied the record for the most ever allowed in USC’s storied football history.

“It means everything,” Thompson-Robinson said. “They had our tails the last two times we played, and to really hang it up on them this time and get that win out on their turf means something special.”

The Bruins romped with a wealth of big offensive plays — including 11 that went more than 20 yards, a record under coach Chip Kelly — mostly created by Thompson-Robinson, who beat the Trojans as a starter for the first time in his four-year UCLA career with an afternoon of brilliance.

Thompson-Robinson capped the victory with another cathartic moment on his second TD run with 3:47 to play. He gracefully hurdled a USC tackler on the way in, much to his teammates’ utter delight.

“We should have expected it, ‘cause he’s always trying to hurdle someone, you know?” Philips said. “But then he actually cleared the guy. The whole sideline went insane just ’cause it finally happened. We’ve been waiting for it to happen. He’s been trying so long.”

Thompson-Robinson rebounded from throwing interceptions on his first two passes to go 16 for 22. He has just five 300-yard passing games in his up-and-down career, but three were against USC.

… Continue reading story here …

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Washington State bowl-eligible after 44-18 thumping of Arizona

From ESPN … Max Borghi rushed for a career-high 139 yards and two touchdowns in the last home game of his career, Travell Harris and Calvin Jackson Jr. each had two touchdown receptions, and Washington State became bowl eligible with a 44-18 win over Arizona on Friday night.

A season filled with drama at Washington State (6-5, 5-3 Pac-12) surrounding former head coach Nick Rolovich — fired last month for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine — will likely end with a bowl trip for the Cougars.

Borghi ran for touchdowns of 26 and 2 yards on a foggy night on the Palouse where the field at times was obscured and snow flurries fell through the air. His previous career-high of 128 yards came in the 2019 season opener against New Mexico State.

“That was classic Max Borghi,” Washington State interim coach Jake Dickert said. “Our fans will remember Max and obviously he’s gonna be a hall of famer here one day, so it was exciting to put a stamp on his career like that.”

Arizona has allowed 173 yards per game on the ground this season, but the Cougars surpassed that total with ease.

“They ran the ball extremely well on us tonight which I don’t think we expected,” Arizona coach Jedd Fisch said.

Washington State quarterback Jayden de Laura was 13 of 22 for 259 yards passing. De Laura hit Harris for an 8-yard touchdown in the second quarter and a 30-yarder in the third quarter that gave Washington State a 37-7 lead. De Laura also hit Jackson on a 43-yard TD late in the first half less than a minute after Arizona had scored to pull within 14-7. Jackson added the capper with a 78-yard TD reception from de Laura in the fourth quarter.

… Continue reading story here …

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November 18th

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Pac-12 questions: Can WSU put up 69 points v. Arizona (for the third straight time?)/Incentive for Kyle Whittingham to retire?

From the San Jose Mercury News …

It hasn’t been an optimal year for quarterback play in the Pac-12 … That state of affairs is partly responsible for tepid production. Five of the 10 lowest-scoring teams in the Power Five (points per game) reside in the Pac-12: Cal, Washington, Colorado, Stanford and Arizona.

— If recent history is any indication, expect a barrage of touchdowns Friday night when Arizona visits Washington State. The winning team has scored at least 45 points in five consecutive matchups:

2014: Arizona 59, WSU 37
2015: WSU 45, Arizona 42
2016: WSU 69, Arizona 7
2017: Arizona 58, WSU 37
2018: WSU 69, Arizona 28

That’s right: The Cougars have whacked Arizona around for 69 points in each the past two meetings in Pullman.

— Kyle Whittingham is one victory away from setting Utah’s record for career coaching victories. He’s currently tied with Ike Armstrong (141 wins). Armstrong needed a quarter century to set his mark. Whittingham has done it in 17 seasons.

… Continue reading story here …

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November 17th

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Candidates for Washington job include three (count ’em, three) current Pac-12 coaches

From Chris Vannini at The Athletic … After a brutal week in what has been a rough season, Jimmy Lake’s tenure as Washington’s head coach is finished. Lake was fired on Sunday, a day after the Huskies lost to Arizona State in a game the coach missed while serving a suspension.

Washington is 4-6 this season. The Huskies opened with a loss to Montana, an FCS team, and the offense has been anemic. Heading into the Week 10 game against Oregon, Lake said Oregon wasn’t a recruiting rival of UW, saying the Huskies recruit more against “academic prowess” schools like Notre Dame, USC and Stanford. (The Athletic’s Christian Caple showed why the numbers don’t even back that up.)

During the 26-16 loss to Oregon, Lake struck linebacker Ruperake Fuavai’s helmet while in the process of trying to break up a tussle. After the game, Lake said he was only working to get players apart. An investigation resulted in a one-game suspension, and now he won’t return to the Washington sideline at all.

Lake is out after just 14 games and a 7-6 record. UW went 3-1 last year and technically won the Pac-12 North, but the Huskies couldn’t play in the Pac-12 championship game due to COVID-19 issues. Oregon instead played in the game and beat USC for the conference crown. Lake had been promoted when head coach Chris Petersen stepped down late in the 2019 season. He had turned down jobs elsewhere so he could succeed Petersen one day.

His tenure has unraveled just 10 games into his second season. Now, Washington needs a new coach. So how good is the job? What names could get in the mix?

Cal head coach Justin Wilcox might leap at this job, given the bureaucratic challenges that come at Cal, including COVID-19 protocols that have hampered the Golden Bears. Wilcox was Washington’s defensive coordinator from 2012 to ’13 and directed Boise State’s defense when the Broncos broke onto the scene in the 2000s. But would UW be interested? Wilcox is just 24-27 at Cal, including 4-9 over the past two years with a struggling offense, just like Washington has had.

What about pulling from rival Oregon? Offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead is expected to receive a lot of interest in this cycle, as the Ducks are ranked in the top five and continue to win despite a rash of injuries. The Ducks are No. 21 nationally in scoring offense and No. 29 in yards per play despite losing star running back C.J. Verdell for the season. Moorhead went 14-12 as Mississippi State’s head coach from 2018 to ’19 and 38-13 at Fordham in the FCS from 2012 to ’15.

… Read full story here …

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From the San Jose Mercury News … The Jimmy Lake era, which spanned 713 days, one pandemic, a division title, an on-field incident, an infinite number of three-and-outs, a suspension and so many baffling decisions, is over.

At some point in the next six weeks, Washington will hire the 30th head coach in program history.

Let’s dig into various aspects of the process and examine a list of names that make sense for UW to pursue.

Jonathan Smith: We have no idea if Smith would leave his alma mater, Oregon State, after just four seasons, but Washington would be remiss if it didn’t make a back-channel inquiry. No introductions would be necessary given that Smith was UW’s offensive coordinator during the 2016 playoff run. (The offense hasn’t been the same since his departure.) Smith’s temperament and coaching style are a match for Washington’s culture and recruiting base. His evaluation skills are superb, and he beat Oregon last season with one-third the talent. One potential snag: Could the Pasadena native be holding out for a gig closer to home?

Justin Wilcox: Now in his fifth season at Cal, Wilcox has worked for Tedford (in Berkeley) and Petersen (in Boise) and for Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst, one of the most respected coaches in the game. He also ran Washington’s defense during the Steve Sarkisian era. He had Cal poised to ascend in the North when COVID hit — and it hit the Bears harder than any other program. Wilcox is a vastly better coach than his record indicates, and we presume both Petersen and Tedford would vouch for him. (Given his background on the defensive side, he would need a detailed plan for fixing UW’s offense.) Fans of the other Pac-12 teams have no idea how difficult it is to win consistently at Cal. And after his latest frustrations over COVID protocols, perhaps Wilcox would be ready to leave.

… Continue reading story here …

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From Bruce Feldman at The Athletic … Jimmy Lake is out after less than two seasons in charge of Washington football. The end of tumultuous run of the former Huskies defensive coordinator comes at a time when there is already a ton of good head coaching vacancies out there, including in the Pac-12.

Word is, after all the frustration of Washington leadership with how Lake handled several situations and his messaging rubbing many people inside the program the wrong way, expect the school to focus on a more settled, more buttoned-up approach. Expect athletic director Jen Cohen and Washington brass to look at several coaches on the West Coast outside the Pac-12 footprint but this will be a national search, and there are some candidates from the Big 12 to watch as well.

California’s Justin Wilcox is in an interesting situation. The 45-year-old is 24-27 at Cal and has been dealing with some mind-numbing challenges coaching there for all sorts of issues off the field. How much more will Wilcox want to deal with there? We hear he has some supporters going to bat for him to return to Seattle, where he was once a defensive coordinator for the Huskies. One potential snag is that Wilcox has had some listless offenses at Cal, and convincing Washington leadership that he will be able to get things sparked on that side of the ball could be a big hurdle.

There is one potential wild card Washington might target: UCLA’s Chip Kelly. He’s been in a kind of awkward situation in Westwood. There’s been plenty of buzz over the past month how the Bruins might be tempted to make a change if he can’t finish strong, or at least push for Kelly to get rid of his defensive coordinator, Jerry Azzinaro. It’s been a very slow build for Kelly, who arrived four years ago with scholarship numbers in the 50s and paltry numbers in the O-line room. Kelly arrived with sky-high expectations after a fantastic 46-7 run at Oregon.

… Continue reading story here …

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Report: Michigan State to make Mel Tucker the third-highest paid college coach

… Not bad for a coach with an all-time record of 16-13 … Think Mel would kick back $5 million or so to CU as a finder’s fee? That would more than double CU’s assistant salary pool – imagine who Dorrell could hire with twice as much pool money to work with? Dare to dream …  

From CBS Sports … Michigan State’s administration is preparing a historic 10-year, $95 million contract for coach Mel Tucker that will make him the highest-paid Black coach in sports, according to the Detroit Free Press. With the coaching carousel beginning earlier than ever thanks to the Early Signing Period, Tucker’s name has come up in connection to top vacant college football jobs around the country. Most notably is LSU, where he was an assistant under Nick Saban in 2000.

The expected extension is a massive show of force for a program hoping to remain on the national stage, however. Tucker’s proposed extension would trail only Saban and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney in yearly income.

In his second season since taking over for Mark Dantonio, Tucker has led the No. 7 Spartans to a 9-1 record, including a win over rival No. 6 Michigan. Tucker is the first coach in Michigan State history to beat Michigan in each of his first two seasons. Among the highlights of Tucker’s brief time in East Lansing, transfer running back Kenneth Walker III has become a Heisman candidate while the Spartans ranks in the top 20 in rush defense.

The contract matches the lucrative extension Texas A&M paid Jimbo Fisher in September, which is similarly expected to keep Fisher from being a feasible candidate for LSU. If Tucker signs the contract, his salary would pass other notable Black coaches, including Mike Tomlin for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics. Rivers previously led all Black athletic coaches at $8 million a year.

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Wilner Pac-12 picks: “Colorado wins again”

From the San Jose Mercury News … The team that won in Columbus is an underdog in Salt Lake City.

The two-time defending conference champions are expected to lose to the no-time defending conference champions.

The team that consistently raises its play to the heights required is projected to fall short in the biggest game of the Pac-12 season.

Look what we have here: The Ducks are a three-point dog Saturday afternoon at Utah.

The line makes two slivers of sense. The Utes always play well in the thin air and relentless din of Rice-Eccles Stadium. Also, they’re 6-1 since handing quarterback Cam Rising the keys to the attack.

We believe those advantages will hold up about as well as a running back trying to block Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The Ducks cover.

The Ducks win.

To the picks …

Last week: 3-1-1
Season: 33-31-2
Five-star special: 5-7

Washington (-6.5) at Colorado
Kickoff: 12 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks
Comment: Can’t help but think of the last time UW went to Boulder, and the lethargic performance that followed. (A week later, Chris Petersen stepped down.) Is there much reason to believe the Huskies will produce a better showing? Meanwhile, the Buffaloes have shown life on offense and will play with energy in the final home game for their seniors. Pick: Colorado

UCLA (-3) at USC
Kickoff: 1 p.m. on FOX
Comment: Feels like a month since USC was last on the field (reality: two weeks). The Trojans will start promising freshman quarterback Jaxson Dart, whose mobility provides the erratic, Drake London-less offense with an added dimension. UCLA’s plan is no secret: Own the line of scrimmage and run the ball until USC’s 99th-ranked rushing defense proves it can stop Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown. Pick: UCLA

Five-star special: Oregon. The Ducks and the points is a combination we refuse to turn down, at least until there’s evidence we should.

Straight-up winners: Washington State, Colorado, UCLA, Stanford, Oregon and Arizona State

… Read full story here …

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November 16th

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CU rejoins CBS Bottom 25

From CBS Sports …Saturday was an incredible day for The Bottom 25. Not only did UNLV pick up its second straight win like I predicted, but The Bottom 25’s Power Five powerhouse Kansas picked up a huge win over Texas. It was the second win for the Jayhawks over the Longhorns in the past five seasons.

I feel like I’ve become a Kansas football fan by osmosis. I’ve spent so much time paying attention to the program over the years due to this column that it was probably inevitable. I mean, part of the reason I began writing The Bottom 25 was that, as an Illinois football fan, I know the pain of rooting for a program that can never seem to get its act together. I know what it’s like to get excited for a game every Saturday and trick yourself into believing this will be the one where we shock the world, only to be reminded time and time again that it’s not. There’s a chance it never will be.

Then you come back again next week and do it all over again. You keep doing it because even though it isn’t likely, every once in a while, Kansas beats Texas and it all becomes worth it.

Power Five schools in the Bottom 25 … 

Colorado … No. 25 … The Buffaloes return to The Bottom 25 following a brief hiatus. They left after beating Oregon State a couple of weeks ago, but after taking a 20-7 lead over UCLA in the final minute of the first half, the Bruins outscored them 37-0 the rest of the way. They’ll try to escape again with a win over Washington this week. (Last Week: Not Ranked)

Duke … No. 21 … Way back in September, Duke beat Kansas 52-33 to improve to 3-1 on the season. Things were looking somewhat promising for the Blue Devils, but then ACC play started. It’s been six straight losses since with a 48-17 loss against Virginia Tech that was so bad the other team fired its coach afterward. The Blue Devils have a short turnaround this week, as they’ll host Louisville on Thursday night. (NR)

Indiana … No. 16 … Listen, there aren’t many positive ways to spin this one. It’s been a nightmare season for Indiana coming off its best in decades, and I don’t know that it gets a lot lower than losing to Rutgers 38-3 at home. I mean, Kansas over Texas was a much bigger story, but this loss was worse. The Hoosiers hope to bounce back against Minnesota. (21)

Arizona … No. 11 … This is a feisty team! It’s dealt with a lot of injuries, but the Wildcats show up every single week and play hard. They lost to Washington by five, USC by seven, beat Cal and then hung with Utah in a 38-29 loss. They’ll play hard again this week at Washington State, and who knows? Maybe they’ll even get a win. (12)

Vanderbilt … No. 10 … Senior Day didn’t go as well as hoped, as the Commodores lost their final home game of the season 34-17 to Kentucky. This week they’ll be on the road to face Ole Miss. (10)

Kansas … No. 6 … I guess wins against Texas don’t carry as much weight as they used to! Or I guess the other nine games Kansas played this season still count. Whatever, who cares? Kansas beat Texas! And it might not have destroyed its Bottom 25 title hopes in the process! Would that be the low point for the Longhorns? Losing to the eventual Bottom 25 champ? Anyway, the Jayhawks look to start a winning streak on the road against a TCU team that just got smacked around by Oklahoma State. (2)

… Read full story here …

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November 15th 

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Washington replacement candidates include Pac-12 coaches

From CBS Sports … That escalated quickly, didn’t it? Washington coach Jimmy Lake went from winning the Pac-12 North in 2020 (playing only four games) to being out of a job less than a year later.

Lake served a one-game suspension after laying hands on a player last week. Athletic director Jen Cohen then pulled the trigger Sunday.

Washington is among college football’s biggest of sleeping giants with budgetary resources and a base willing to spend to win again. Patriarch coach Don James won a split national championship in 1991.

UW is a living example of Pac-12 frustration. It is the last Pac-12 team to appear in the College Football Playoff. Since that appearance in 2016, the Huskies are 35-19, having lost Chris Petersen and basically their way.

It’s doubtful the retired Petersen is interested in recreating what he built at Montlake in six seasons. As such, these are the top coaching candidates to fill the vacancy at Washington.

Joe Moorhead, Oregon offensive coordinator: This isn’t Alabama hiring Auburn’s offensive coordinator. The Oregon-Washington rivalry doesn’t run that deep. This is Washington trying to stabilize himself. Moorhead has put together a Broyles Award-level season guiding the Ducks offense through injuries and his own absence due to major surgery. Moorhead’s calling card is an ability to adjust to the personnel around him. Check out how he has managed quarterback Anthony Brown.

Jay Norvell, Nevada coach: There might be tug of war between Washington and Washington State for Nevada’s coach. I had him on the hot list at Wazzu after the Nick Rolovich firing. Norvell has strong offensive and plenty of experience in the NFL (six years) and Power Five (22 years). The development of QB Carson Strong is a selling point. Lord knows, Washington could use offense.

Jeff Grimes, Baylor offensive coordinator: Grimes has put together back-to-back spectacular years at BYU and Baylor. In his last year at BYU in 2020, he coached Zach Wilson, who threw for 3,700 yards and only three interceptions. The Cougars were third nationally in scoring and No. 1 in yards per play. This season at Baylor, Grimes has taken a former linebacker Gerry Bohanon and made him a legit run-pass threat. Abram Smith is a 1,000-yard rusher. Grimes called an amazing game in Saturday’s upset of Oklahoma.

Brent Brennan, San Jose State coach: The shine wore off a little bit this season after winning the Mountain West in 2020 as the Spartans have regressed to 5-6. But Brennan no doubt will be attractive because of the San Jose State turnaround and a career spent entirely in the West. Brennan was a graduate assistant for Rick Neuheisel in 1999.

Jonathan Smith, Oregon State coach: Smith is a loyal Beaver and seems committed to the turnaround at his alma mater. But Washington is set up to win with the right coach. It has more resources than Oregon State, and if Smith wants to jump to the next level, this is his chance. As long as Cohen can sell a coach with a 15-26 record.

… Read full story here …

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November 14th 

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Washington fires head coach Jimmy Lake: “This change is necessary for a variety of reasons”

From ESPN … Washington has fired football coach Jimmy Lake in his second season, the school announced Sunday.

“Making a head coaching change in any sport is difficult, recognizing that the decision impacts coaches, staff, student-athletes and their families,” Washington athletic director Jen Cohen said in a statement. “However, as the steward of UW Athletics, I must always act in the best interests of our student-athletes, our department and our university. No one wanted Jimmy to succeed more than I when I hired him in 2019, but ultimately, this change is necessary for a variety of reasons, both on the field and off. I am grateful for Jimmy’s service to Washington, and we wish him the very best of luck moving forward.”

Lake’s firing comes on the heels of his serving a one-game suspension without pay on Saturday following a sideline incident on Nov. 6 in which he appeared to strike redshirt freshman linebacker Ruperake Fuavai during a 26-16 loss to Oregon.

On Saturday, the Seattle Times, citing five anonymous players, reported Lake faced another allegation that he was physical with a player during halftime in a game against Arizona in 2019.

It is unclear what role the two altercations played in Lake’s dismissal, but according to the school, Washington will honor the terms of his contract. He is owed roughly $9.9 million, pending any offsets from future earnings.

Lake had been viewed as a rising star in the coaching industry for years prior to being named Chris Petersen’s replacement in December 2019. Lake served on Petersen’s staff since 2012 at Boise State and was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2016.

Lake coached only 13 games at Washington before his suspension and eventual dismissal, and finishes his tenure with an overall record of 7-6.

Lake, 44, inherited one of the best programs in the Pac-12 from Petersen — something he played a role in building — but after going 3-1 in last year’s condensed season, the Huskies (4-6) have taken a significant step back in 2021.

They opened the year with a 13-7 loss to FCS Montana, have fielded one of the worst offenses in the Pac-12 and need to win their final two games (at Colorado; vs. Washington State) to reach bowl eligibility. Washington hasn’t failed to qualify for a bowl since 2009.

Despite his previous reputation as one of the best recruiters in the country, recruiting has been dismal under Lake’s watch. The Huskies are not ranked in the top 40 of ESPN’s recruiting class rankings and are ranked No. 54 nationally by 247 Sports.

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Buffs open as a 7.0-point underdog to Washington 

From VegasInsider.com

Pac-12 lines …

• Arizona at Washington State … Washington State a 14.5-point favorite … Friday, 7:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks
• Washington at Colorado … Washington is a 7.0-point road favorite … Saturday, 1:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks
• UCLA at USC … UCLA is a 3.0-point road favorite … Saturday, 2:00 p.m., MT, Fox
• California at Stanford … California is a 4.0-point road favorite … Saturday, 5:00 p.m., MT,
• No. 3 Oregon at No. 24 Utah … Utah is a 2.5-point favorite … Saturday, 5:30 p.m., MT, ABC
• Arizona State at Oregon State … Arizona State at 3.5-point road favorite … Saturday, 8:30 p.m., MT, ESPN

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Sound familiar? Washington blows early two-score lead before falling to Arizona State, 35-30

From ESPN … With rain pouring and several season goals slipping away, Arizona State put it in low gear Saturday night with a 20-play, 81-yard drive that consumed more than 9 minutes and almost all of problem-plagued Washington’s resolve.

By the time the drive was over the Sun Devils had reversed the momentum and erased a 14-point deficit against a team reeling from off-the-field problems.

“I was so tired. I was looking at the D lineman look at me and I was acting like I wasn’t tired,” guard LaDarius Henderson said as he mimicked his fierce face. “But you’ve got to fight, you’ve got to finish.”

The Sun Devils (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) did just that as Jayden Daniels capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 24-21 midway through the fourth quarter. Rachaad White rushed for 184 yards and two scores and completed the comeback with a 10-yard touchdown run with 1:11 left. Merlin Robinson put the game away with a pick-6 with 37 seconds left.

Arizona State remains one game back in the Pac-12 South with two games to go, and will be relying on White to continue to carry the load.

“(Coaches and teammates) look me in my eye and they understand where we’re at at this point point in the season and what is going on,” White said. “So, honestly, it felt great for me because I want to step up my game. They need me to be there for them and I need them to be there for me.”

Arizona State coach Herm Edwards said the team regained its footing while holding off USC for a 31-16 win last week after losing two in a row. It was a game that also was decided in the fourth quarter.

“It says something about the team in the fourth quarter and having to do that two in a row,” Edwards said. “It says a lot. I think last week’s game was a game that they found their swagger again, playing at home against USC and it’s a 17-16 game in the fourth quarter. And they didn’t blink.”

Unfortunately for UW, the same was true this week. The Huskies (4-6, 3-4) must win out to gain bowl eligibility and avoid their first losing season since 2009.

The Huskies turned turmoil into motivation as they jumped to a 14-0 lead without suspended head coach Jimmy Lake and behind new offensive coordinator Junior Adams, the wide receivers coach who was replacing the fired John Donovan. But many of the problems that have plagued Washington this season re-emerged as mistakes proved costly.

… Continue reading story here …

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This post, about the Washington game, from the 2021 Season, is filed under Article.
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