Huskies’ Petersen not looking at rankings
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Washington coach Chris Petersen is happy to let others do the politicking and lobbying when it comes to the College Football Playoff.
He believes what the fourth-ranked Huskies do on the field will speak loud enough. Washington has its final chance to state its case tonight in the Pac-12 championship game against No. 9 Colorado.
“I have confidence that the powers that be will get these things right,” Petersen said. “I felt that way when I was at Boise and they usually did. We’ll see how this plays out.”
Things are looking good for the Huskies (11-1, No. 4 CFP) after they moved up a spot in the playoff rankings this week. One more win and they will likely make the semifinals in Petersen’s third season at the helm. Washington had not reached double figures in wins for a season in the 13 years before Petersen’s arrival.
But Petersen has built Washington into a power just like he did at Boise State when he led the Broncos to seven straight double-digit win seasons and two BCS bowl games.
“I expected to be good from the second we got here,” he said. “I think that’s what players expect, I think that’s what coaches expect, and when it’s not like that, you’re frustrated as all get-out and trying to figure out why it’s not right. With that being said, we all know it takes some time to develop a program and how you’re going to do things.”
Mike MacIntyre had a much tougher turnaround task with the Buffaloes (10-2, No. 8 CFP). Colorado was 25-61 in seven seasons before MacIntyre arrived from San Jose State.
“I just think a lot of people on the outside didn’t expect us to be here,” quarterback Sefo Liufau said. “They want UW for playoff implications or anything like that. Basically the most important thing is what we want in the locker room and we want to win.”
WESTERN MICHIGAN: Although coach P.J. Fleck won’t say much publicly about the playoff rankings — the Broncos are No. 17 this week — he and his team have had high hopes since January.
“We set incredibly high expectations and pressure on our players,” Fleck said. “We showed them exactly what they could do this week, on a screen, and said, ‘If you want this, here’s what you’re going to have to do, and it’s going to be harder than you’ve ever imagined from January to August — let alone August through December.’ ”
The Broncos are taking a 12-0 record into tonight’s MAC championship game against Ohio.
Fleck’s success has turned him into a popular name for open jobs as this season draws to a close. There is now a major opening at Oregon, and Fleck’s name has also come up in speculation about the Purdue job.
INDIANA: Indiana coach Kevin Wilson abruptly resigned Thursday, less than a week after the Hoosiers became bowl-eligible for the second straight season.
Athletic director Fred Glass said defensive coordinator Tom Allen would be the permanent replacement, effective immediately.
Glass said the decision was made because of “philosophical differences.”
Indiana (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) is waiting to find out which bowl game it will play in.
Wilson went 26-47 in six seasons in his first college head coaching job.
WYOMING: The Cowboys, who host San Diego State on Saturday for the MWC title, last played a home December game in 1902 when the Cowboys beat a Cheyenne high school team 18-0.
Saturday’s forecast calls for temperatures in the 20s with winds gusting up to 30 mph.
SMU: Coach Chad Morris was given a contract extension through the 2023 season. There was speculation about the 47-year-old Morris becoming Baylor’s new coach when the Mustangs (5-7, 3-5 AAC) played their season finale last weekend.
CENTRAL FLORIDA: Coach Scott Frost says he isn’t a candidate for the Oregon coaching job and is committed to staying at UCF.