Clemson coach Dabo Swinney respects improved Wake Forest
October 6, 2017
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson coach Dabo Swinney isn't taking a Wake Forest football team that is on the rise for granted. He doesn't want his players to either.
Swinney said the second-ranked Tigers (5-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) will get everything they can handle against Wake Forest (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday, especially after the Demon Deacons took Florida State to the wire a week ago before falling 26-19.
''They've got great energy and great toughness,'' Swinney said. ''And I just want to make sure everyone understands the type of team that's rolling in her this week. We need to wake up, show up and be ready to go.''
Swinney's never lost to Wake Forest - and perhaps owes them a huge ''Thank you!'' for getting him the Clemson job. It was the Demon Deacons last win in the series, 12-7 in 2008, that led to coach Tommy Bowden being let go and then athletic director Terry Don Phillips elevating the personable receivers coach to the head office.
Since then, Swinney is 8-0 against the Deacons and has won three ACC titles and a national championship.
Maybe part of Swinney's message stems from their home game against Boston College two weeks back. The Tigers, coming off a victory at Louisville, played a midday contest with the Eagles and were off their game for the first three quarters. Clemson eventually scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win 34-7. Swinney worries the Tigers might not be overcome a slow start this time.
''That's what it takes every single week, putting your best foot forward in consistency or performance,'' Swinney said.
Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson wondered if this might be the year to catch the Tigers with so many NFL players like quarterback Deshaun Watson, receiver Mike Williams and tailback Wayne Gallman gone this season.
''Somehow, someway, they lose all these really good players and then come back and are just as good, if not better,'' Clawson said. ''Right now, they are probably playing better overall football now than when we played them a year ago.''
The same might be said for Wake Forest, which is looking to start 5-1 for the first time since it won the ACC title in 2006.
''I think it might be shocking to other people, but it's not shocking to us,'' Demon Deacons offensive lineman Phil Haynes said.
---
Some other things to watch when Wake Forest visits No. 2 Clemson:
O'DANIEL'S RUN: Senior linebacker Dorian O'Daniel is cramming years of potential into his fifth season. O'Daniel has had two ''pick six'' touchdowns this season at Louisville on Sept. 16 and at Virginia Tech last Saturday night. He also recovered a fumble, had a sack and made 14 tackles in the win over the Hokies.
WAKE UP CALL? A look at the stat sheet from last week and it would be easy to think the Demon Deacons had beaten Florida State instead of losing for the first time this year. Wake Forest outgained the Seminoles by 100 yards and registered 17 tackles for loss, one shy of the school record.
MAKING A MARK: Clemson has certainly made an impact on the college football rankings. There are a total of six losses among the top 17 teams in this week's Top 25 and the Tigers have accounted for three of them with wins over No. 12 Auburn, No. 16 Virginia Tech and No. 17 Louisville.
WHAT A KICK! Wake Forest kicker Mike Weaver is 10-of-10 on field goals this season. His 48 points (he also has hit 18 of 20 extra points) leads the team and ACC kickers in scoring.
CLEMSON D: The Tigers defense has been stout so far this season, fourth in the country in scoring allowed (10.8 points a game) and seventh nationally in overall yards (250 per game). Both marks are better than the Tigers' 2014 defense which featured current Atlanta Falcons Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett and ended the season as college football's No. 1 group.
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LSU can make tumultuous week better or worse against Florida
October 6, 2017
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) LSU's tumultuous week is about to take a turn - for better or worse.
The Tigers had one of the more chaotic stretches in recent program history, including a stunning home loss to Troy, two players-only meetings and another involving the athletic director, the head coach and both coordinators.
How LSU responds will be determined Saturday at No. 21 Florida (3-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference). Anything short of a victory could push the Tigers (3-2, 0-1) toward more drama and maybe even some difficult decisions down the road.
''I know people are not happy, but we have to make sure that we take the criticism and we have to understand that LSU is a premier football program and we've got to make sure when things like this happen we have to bounce back,'' LSU defensive end Christian LaCouture said. ''We can't focus on this last game.''
The Tigers might want to draw from last year, though.
Florida escaped Tiger Stadium with a 16-10 victory last November thanks to a goal-line stand in the final seconds. Star running back Leonard Fournette watched from the sideline as teammate Derrius Guice was stuffed short of the end zone on a botched fourth-down play.
The Gators clinched the SEC East and celebrated wildly on the field, in the locker room and during the trip home. It capped six weeks of angst stemming from the game's postponement and relocation from Gainesville to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, because of Hurricane Matthew. The Tigers suggested Florida was hoping to cancel the game or avoid playing it on the road.
It created a tense atmosphere and plenty of motivation for the Gators.
A year later, the Tigers seemingly have more at stake.
Two weeks after a 30-point drubbing at Mississippi State - LSU's most lopsided setback in series history - the Tigers lost to a non-conference opponent at home for the first time since 2000.
Embattled coach Ed Orgeron was clearly the focal point of all the heat. Orgeron held a meeting with team leaders, who then had the first of two players-only sessions. Athletic director Joe Alleva also met with Orgeron, offensive coordinator Matt Canada and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to iron out differences. Orgeron got involved with the offense during the 24-21 loss to Troy and wanted to simplify Canada's scheme by reducing pre-snap motions.
Alleva ''wanted to know what was going on, what we could do better,'' said Orgeron, who's in his first season after serving as interim coach in 2016. ''Let's all get on the same page. It was a very positive meeting.''
Florida, which has endured its own issues this season, kept track from afar.
''They're just trying to set the Gators up, right?'' coach Jim McElwain said. ''Anytime there's a transition, you go through a learning curve. These guys will be coming in here crazed, nuts, ready to go to prove all the naysayers or whatever you want to do, but that's why you play.''
---
Here are some other things to know about LSU and Florida:
GETTING HEALTHY: LSU expects to have several key players back this week, including Guice, defensive end Rashard Lawrence and nose tackle Ed Alexander. Senior right tackle Toby Weathersby, who also did not play last week, is questionable.
FRANKS RETURNS: Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks, who was once committed to LSU, regains his starting job this week following a season-ending injury to Luke Del Rio. Franks started the first three games of the season, but was benched in two of those.
LINE ITEMS: LSU's offensive line has been a glaring weak spot the past three games and faces a tough test at Florida. Against Troy, the Tigers started two freshmen - right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Saahdiq Charles - on the offensive line for the first time since 1986.
CLEVELAND OUT: Florida will be without big-play receiver Tyrie Cleveland because of a high-ankle sprain to his right foot. Cleveland leads the team in every receiving category, recording 15 catches, 326 yards and two touchdowns.
RECORD WATCH: The Gators can break an NCAA record Saturday by scoring in their 366th consecutive game. Florida is currently tied with Michigan, which set the mark between 1984 and 2014. The Gators haven't been shut out since a 16-0 loss to Auburn on Oct. 29, 1988.
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Georgia LB Patrick arrested on marijuana charges
October 6, 2017
Georgia linebacker Natrez Patrick was arrested by police late Thursday night on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge.
The 20-year-old Patrick, a junior from Atlanta, was arrested in Athens, Ga., and charged with misdemeanor possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and prohibited stopping, standing or parking, according to Athens-Clarke County Jail records. He was booked at 11:37 p.m. and released on $1,500 bond early Friday morning.
The 6-foot-3, 234-pound Patrick had a previous run-in with police. He was suspended one game in 2015 during his freshman season after being arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges.
Patrick has started every game for the Bulldogs this season and is tied for third on the team with 17 tackles.
The No. 5 Bulldogs (5-0) play at Vanderbilt (3-2) on Saturday afternoon.
The school thus far has not made an announcement about Patrick's status for the game. The university's student-athlete handbook calls for a four-game suspension for football players who incur a second marijuana violation, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
*********************************
Deep coaching ties in Washington-Cal
October 6, 2017
SEATTLE (AP) California coach Justin Wilcox is on his own little reunion tour through the Pac-12 Conference.
Seeing old faces is the least of Wilcox's concerns at this point, with California having lost two straight and facing another major challenge on Saturday at No. 6 Washington.
Last week, Wilcox returned to his alma mater Oregon and watched the Ducks hand the Golden Bears a 45-24 setback. Now it's a trip north to Seattle and a matchup with his former employer - in multiple ways. Wilcox served as the defensive coordinator for Washington coach Chris Petersen for four seasons at Boise State. Wilcox was also the defensive coordinator at Washington for two years when Steve Sarkisian was the head coach.
''I just think he's a good football coach,'' Petersen said of Wilcox. ''I've known that for a long time, whether he's running the defense or a whole team. He knows how to coach the guys, get them going.''
Petersen and Wilcox were brief in their comments about each other this week. They're dealing with their own team issues.
Washington (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) would like to end a string of sluggish starts. A year ago, Washington dominated most of its opponents early and cruised to victories. This year has been more of a struggle in the first half, highlighted by holding just a 7-0 lead at halftime last week at lowly Oregon State. The Huskies erupted for 35-point second half against the Beavers, but the slow starts are a concern for Petersen.
''We're going to address it. We'll talk to our guys,'' Petersen said. ''How do you fix the turnover situation when it's not going in your favor? It's the same thing - you practice on it, move things up in practice and get it going a little bit more. It's not because they are not trying, so you're always trying to be creative as coaches to fix every single problem that you have.''
California (3-2, 0-2) opened with three straight wins, but the Bears have since lost to Southern California and Oregon.
''We've got to execute more consistently. We've played well in spurts,'' Wilcox said. ''We just have to play better. It's a matter of doing the same thing over and over and over and executing at a high level more than sometimes.''
Here's what else to watch as the Bears and Huskies meet for the 98th time:
RUNNING DOWN A DREAM: Washington discovered its run game, which lagged through the first three weeks of the season.
Myles Gaskin is coming off consecutive 100-yard games after rushing for 113 yards on 15 carries last week against the Beavers. Lavon Coleman returned after missing the win over Colorado to add 70 yards against the Beavers. The Huskies are averaging nearly 5.9 yards per carry the past two weeks. Stopping the run remains a weakness for California. The Bears are giving up nearly 175 yards per game on the ground.
HOMECOMING: It will be a major homecoming for two of Cal's most important players. Quarterback Ross Bowers is from nearby Bothell, Washington, and linebacker Devante Downs is from Mountlake Terrace, Washington. Bowers had a great start to the season but has been prone to mistakes the last couple of weeks as the competition improved. Bowers threw four interceptions against USC and was sacked against Oregon seven times.
Downs leads the Pac-12 in tackles, averaging 10.8 per game.
''It's cool to see my family and friends, but it's just another week,'' Downs said.
TURN IT OVER: California forced nine turnovers in the first three games and won the turnover battle in each game. Not surprisingly, the Bears started 3-0. During the two-game losing streak, the Bears have committed eight turnovers in the two losses.
FULL MOON FEVER: Washington is getting a little tired of late kickoffs, but there's not much relief soon. The Huskies will play consecutive games that kickoff at 7:45 p.m. PT. They've yet to play a game that started earlier than 5 p.m. local time. Petersen complained this week that the late starts are impacting the Huskies exposure.
Wilcox, too, wasn't a fan of the late start. The Bears already have a late kickoff scheduled for next Friday when they host Washington State.
''They tell us when the games are. If it was up to us, we wouldn't choose 7:45 p.m. But it's not up to us,'' he said.
**************************
No. 9 Badgers looking to continue dominance over Nebraska
October 6, 2017
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) No. 9 Wisconsin has won four straight and five of six against Nebraska, and the Badgers enter the game Saturday night as the biggest favorite of any visiting team at Memorial Stadium in 43 years.
Badgers coach Paul Chryst isn't that impressed.
''History doesn't matter to the players,'' he said. ''The thing that matters most is the type of team you're playing and the atmosphere you're playing in. We know it's going to be a great atmosphere. It's an historic stadium and a team that's playing well now. We have to put our focus and energy on being as prepared as possible.''
Sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West will be at stake when Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) and Nebraska (3-2, 2-0) meet with members of the Cornhuskers' 1997 national championship team on hand as part of its 20-year reunion.
The Huskers have beaten conference lightweights Rutgers and Illinois since their stunning home loss to Northern Illinois. Now they enter a crucial stretch, with back-to-back home games against Wisconsin and No. 10 Ohio State and a trip to improved Purdue.
''I think everything goes up in terms of intensity,'' quarterback Tanner Lee said. ''You're heightened level of focus, your preparation, everything needs to take a step up when you're playing a team like Wisconsin, or any team that is ranked as high as they are and has won games like they have. It's going to take an all-out effort and is something we're looking forward to.''
Nebraska has won 20 straight night games at home since 2008. But the Huskers are listed as 11-point underdogs. According to Omaha World-Herald research, Nebraska hasn't been that big an underdog at home since Oklahoma was a 14-point favorite in 1974.
Wisconsin has won nine of 10 true road games in three seasons under Chryst, including a 23-21 win on a field goal with 4 seconds left in its last trip to Lincoln in 2015.
Some things to know:
---
OLD FRIENDS FACE OFF
Nebraska coach Mike Riley will go against one of his best coaching friends in Chryst. Riley hired Chryst as an assistant with San Antonio of the old World League of American Football in 1991. Chryst, 51, later was Riley's offensive coordinator at Oregon State and tight ends coach with the San Diego Chargers.
''I won't say I taught him,'' said Riley, 64. ''Paul and I did a lot of work together strategically, conceptually on football for many years. It was a great mutual educational experience in football working with him.''
FREEDOM TROPHY
Wisconsin is 3-0 against Nebraska since the teams started playing for the Freedom Trophy in 2014. The Badgers have won 14 of their last 15 trophy games since 2010, going 7-0 against Minnesota and 4-1 against Iowa.
''We want to keep all three trophies in our locker room,'' linebacker Garret Dooley said. ''That's part of our goals. So everyone has to come out with their heads on fire and go out and play the kind of football we're used to.''
INJURY UPDATE
Wisconsin TE Troy Fumagalli (leg) and DE Isaiahh Loudermilk (leg) are questionable. Nebraska CB Chris Jones (knee) practiced in pads this week for the first time since getting hurt in July and has been cleared to play in the game. S Joshua Kalu (hamstring) and OLB Marcus Newby (hamstring) are expected to play.
IMPROVING DEFENSE
Nebraska's defense has improved since allowing 42 points in the first half of the loss at Oregon on Sept. 9. Opponents have returned three interceptions for touchdowns since then, but the defense has allowed just 23 points in the past 14 quarters. The Huskers held both Rutgers and Illinois under 200 yards of total offense.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
Wisconsin's eight sacks against Northwestern last week were its most in a game since 2001.
''The numbers are great, but our D-line and linebackers pride themselves on getting to the quarterback,'' linebacker T.J. Edwards said. ''I'd love if we could do that every game, but it's going to be tough as the games go on.''
The Badgers are allowing just 247 yards a game to rank fourth nationally in total defense. Since going to the 3-4 defense in 2013, the Badgers have allowed just 16.4 points a game. Only Alabama (14.6) has given up fewer points over that span.
October 6, 2017
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson coach Dabo Swinney isn't taking a Wake Forest football team that is on the rise for granted. He doesn't want his players to either.
Swinney said the second-ranked Tigers (5-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) will get everything they can handle against Wake Forest (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday, especially after the Demon Deacons took Florida State to the wire a week ago before falling 26-19.
''They've got great energy and great toughness,'' Swinney said. ''And I just want to make sure everyone understands the type of team that's rolling in her this week. We need to wake up, show up and be ready to go.''
Swinney's never lost to Wake Forest - and perhaps owes them a huge ''Thank you!'' for getting him the Clemson job. It was the Demon Deacons last win in the series, 12-7 in 2008, that led to coach Tommy Bowden being let go and then athletic director Terry Don Phillips elevating the personable receivers coach to the head office.
Since then, Swinney is 8-0 against the Deacons and has won three ACC titles and a national championship.
Maybe part of Swinney's message stems from their home game against Boston College two weeks back. The Tigers, coming off a victory at Louisville, played a midday contest with the Eagles and were off their game for the first three quarters. Clemson eventually scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win 34-7. Swinney worries the Tigers might not be overcome a slow start this time.
''That's what it takes every single week, putting your best foot forward in consistency or performance,'' Swinney said.
Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson wondered if this might be the year to catch the Tigers with so many NFL players like quarterback Deshaun Watson, receiver Mike Williams and tailback Wayne Gallman gone this season.
''Somehow, someway, they lose all these really good players and then come back and are just as good, if not better,'' Clawson said. ''Right now, they are probably playing better overall football now than when we played them a year ago.''
The same might be said for Wake Forest, which is looking to start 5-1 for the first time since it won the ACC title in 2006.
''I think it might be shocking to other people, but it's not shocking to us,'' Demon Deacons offensive lineman Phil Haynes said.
---
Some other things to watch when Wake Forest visits No. 2 Clemson:
O'DANIEL'S RUN: Senior linebacker Dorian O'Daniel is cramming years of potential into his fifth season. O'Daniel has had two ''pick six'' touchdowns this season at Louisville on Sept. 16 and at Virginia Tech last Saturday night. He also recovered a fumble, had a sack and made 14 tackles in the win over the Hokies.
WAKE UP CALL? A look at the stat sheet from last week and it would be easy to think the Demon Deacons had beaten Florida State instead of losing for the first time this year. Wake Forest outgained the Seminoles by 100 yards and registered 17 tackles for loss, one shy of the school record.
MAKING A MARK: Clemson has certainly made an impact on the college football rankings. There are a total of six losses among the top 17 teams in this week's Top 25 and the Tigers have accounted for three of them with wins over No. 12 Auburn, No. 16 Virginia Tech and No. 17 Louisville.
WHAT A KICK! Wake Forest kicker Mike Weaver is 10-of-10 on field goals this season. His 48 points (he also has hit 18 of 20 extra points) leads the team and ACC kickers in scoring.
CLEMSON D: The Tigers defense has been stout so far this season, fourth in the country in scoring allowed (10.8 points a game) and seventh nationally in overall yards (250 per game). Both marks are better than the Tigers' 2014 defense which featured current Atlanta Falcons Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett and ended the season as college football's No. 1 group.
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LSU can make tumultuous week better or worse against Florida
October 6, 2017
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) LSU's tumultuous week is about to take a turn - for better or worse.
The Tigers had one of the more chaotic stretches in recent program history, including a stunning home loss to Troy, two players-only meetings and another involving the athletic director, the head coach and both coordinators.
How LSU responds will be determined Saturday at No. 21 Florida (3-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference). Anything short of a victory could push the Tigers (3-2, 0-1) toward more drama and maybe even some difficult decisions down the road.
''I know people are not happy, but we have to make sure that we take the criticism and we have to understand that LSU is a premier football program and we've got to make sure when things like this happen we have to bounce back,'' LSU defensive end Christian LaCouture said. ''We can't focus on this last game.''
The Tigers might want to draw from last year, though.
Florida escaped Tiger Stadium with a 16-10 victory last November thanks to a goal-line stand in the final seconds. Star running back Leonard Fournette watched from the sideline as teammate Derrius Guice was stuffed short of the end zone on a botched fourth-down play.
The Gators clinched the SEC East and celebrated wildly on the field, in the locker room and during the trip home. It capped six weeks of angst stemming from the game's postponement and relocation from Gainesville to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, because of Hurricane Matthew. The Tigers suggested Florida was hoping to cancel the game or avoid playing it on the road.
It created a tense atmosphere and plenty of motivation for the Gators.
A year later, the Tigers seemingly have more at stake.
Two weeks after a 30-point drubbing at Mississippi State - LSU's most lopsided setback in series history - the Tigers lost to a non-conference opponent at home for the first time since 2000.
Embattled coach Ed Orgeron was clearly the focal point of all the heat. Orgeron held a meeting with team leaders, who then had the first of two players-only sessions. Athletic director Joe Alleva also met with Orgeron, offensive coordinator Matt Canada and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to iron out differences. Orgeron got involved with the offense during the 24-21 loss to Troy and wanted to simplify Canada's scheme by reducing pre-snap motions.
Alleva ''wanted to know what was going on, what we could do better,'' said Orgeron, who's in his first season after serving as interim coach in 2016. ''Let's all get on the same page. It was a very positive meeting.''
Florida, which has endured its own issues this season, kept track from afar.
''They're just trying to set the Gators up, right?'' coach Jim McElwain said. ''Anytime there's a transition, you go through a learning curve. These guys will be coming in here crazed, nuts, ready to go to prove all the naysayers or whatever you want to do, but that's why you play.''
---
Here are some other things to know about LSU and Florida:
GETTING HEALTHY: LSU expects to have several key players back this week, including Guice, defensive end Rashard Lawrence and nose tackle Ed Alexander. Senior right tackle Toby Weathersby, who also did not play last week, is questionable.
FRANKS RETURNS: Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks, who was once committed to LSU, regains his starting job this week following a season-ending injury to Luke Del Rio. Franks started the first three games of the season, but was benched in two of those.
LINE ITEMS: LSU's offensive line has been a glaring weak spot the past three games and faces a tough test at Florida. Against Troy, the Tigers started two freshmen - right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Saahdiq Charles - on the offensive line for the first time since 1986.
CLEVELAND OUT: Florida will be without big-play receiver Tyrie Cleveland because of a high-ankle sprain to his right foot. Cleveland leads the team in every receiving category, recording 15 catches, 326 yards and two touchdowns.
RECORD WATCH: The Gators can break an NCAA record Saturday by scoring in their 366th consecutive game. Florida is currently tied with Michigan, which set the mark between 1984 and 2014. The Gators haven't been shut out since a 16-0 loss to Auburn on Oct. 29, 1988.
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Georgia LB Patrick arrested on marijuana charges
October 6, 2017
Georgia linebacker Natrez Patrick was arrested by police late Thursday night on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge.
The 20-year-old Patrick, a junior from Atlanta, was arrested in Athens, Ga., and charged with misdemeanor possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and prohibited stopping, standing or parking, according to Athens-Clarke County Jail records. He was booked at 11:37 p.m. and released on $1,500 bond early Friday morning.
The 6-foot-3, 234-pound Patrick had a previous run-in with police. He was suspended one game in 2015 during his freshman season after being arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges.
Patrick has started every game for the Bulldogs this season and is tied for third on the team with 17 tackles.
The No. 5 Bulldogs (5-0) play at Vanderbilt (3-2) on Saturday afternoon.
The school thus far has not made an announcement about Patrick's status for the game. The university's student-athlete handbook calls for a four-game suspension for football players who incur a second marijuana violation, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
*********************************
Deep coaching ties in Washington-Cal
October 6, 2017
SEATTLE (AP) California coach Justin Wilcox is on his own little reunion tour through the Pac-12 Conference.
Seeing old faces is the least of Wilcox's concerns at this point, with California having lost two straight and facing another major challenge on Saturday at No. 6 Washington.
Last week, Wilcox returned to his alma mater Oregon and watched the Ducks hand the Golden Bears a 45-24 setback. Now it's a trip north to Seattle and a matchup with his former employer - in multiple ways. Wilcox served as the defensive coordinator for Washington coach Chris Petersen for four seasons at Boise State. Wilcox was also the defensive coordinator at Washington for two years when Steve Sarkisian was the head coach.
''I just think he's a good football coach,'' Petersen said of Wilcox. ''I've known that for a long time, whether he's running the defense or a whole team. He knows how to coach the guys, get them going.''
Petersen and Wilcox were brief in their comments about each other this week. They're dealing with their own team issues.
Washington (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) would like to end a string of sluggish starts. A year ago, Washington dominated most of its opponents early and cruised to victories. This year has been more of a struggle in the first half, highlighted by holding just a 7-0 lead at halftime last week at lowly Oregon State. The Huskies erupted for 35-point second half against the Beavers, but the slow starts are a concern for Petersen.
''We're going to address it. We'll talk to our guys,'' Petersen said. ''How do you fix the turnover situation when it's not going in your favor? It's the same thing - you practice on it, move things up in practice and get it going a little bit more. It's not because they are not trying, so you're always trying to be creative as coaches to fix every single problem that you have.''
California (3-2, 0-2) opened with three straight wins, but the Bears have since lost to Southern California and Oregon.
''We've got to execute more consistently. We've played well in spurts,'' Wilcox said. ''We just have to play better. It's a matter of doing the same thing over and over and over and executing at a high level more than sometimes.''
Here's what else to watch as the Bears and Huskies meet for the 98th time:
RUNNING DOWN A DREAM: Washington discovered its run game, which lagged through the first three weeks of the season.
Myles Gaskin is coming off consecutive 100-yard games after rushing for 113 yards on 15 carries last week against the Beavers. Lavon Coleman returned after missing the win over Colorado to add 70 yards against the Beavers. The Huskies are averaging nearly 5.9 yards per carry the past two weeks. Stopping the run remains a weakness for California. The Bears are giving up nearly 175 yards per game on the ground.
HOMECOMING: It will be a major homecoming for two of Cal's most important players. Quarterback Ross Bowers is from nearby Bothell, Washington, and linebacker Devante Downs is from Mountlake Terrace, Washington. Bowers had a great start to the season but has been prone to mistakes the last couple of weeks as the competition improved. Bowers threw four interceptions against USC and was sacked against Oregon seven times.
Downs leads the Pac-12 in tackles, averaging 10.8 per game.
''It's cool to see my family and friends, but it's just another week,'' Downs said.
TURN IT OVER: California forced nine turnovers in the first three games and won the turnover battle in each game. Not surprisingly, the Bears started 3-0. During the two-game losing streak, the Bears have committed eight turnovers in the two losses.
FULL MOON FEVER: Washington is getting a little tired of late kickoffs, but there's not much relief soon. The Huskies will play consecutive games that kickoff at 7:45 p.m. PT. They've yet to play a game that started earlier than 5 p.m. local time. Petersen complained this week that the late starts are impacting the Huskies exposure.
Wilcox, too, wasn't a fan of the late start. The Bears already have a late kickoff scheduled for next Friday when they host Washington State.
''They tell us when the games are. If it was up to us, we wouldn't choose 7:45 p.m. But it's not up to us,'' he said.
**************************
No. 9 Badgers looking to continue dominance over Nebraska
October 6, 2017
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) No. 9 Wisconsin has won four straight and five of six against Nebraska, and the Badgers enter the game Saturday night as the biggest favorite of any visiting team at Memorial Stadium in 43 years.
Badgers coach Paul Chryst isn't that impressed.
''History doesn't matter to the players,'' he said. ''The thing that matters most is the type of team you're playing and the atmosphere you're playing in. We know it's going to be a great atmosphere. It's an historic stadium and a team that's playing well now. We have to put our focus and energy on being as prepared as possible.''
Sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West will be at stake when Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) and Nebraska (3-2, 2-0) meet with members of the Cornhuskers' 1997 national championship team on hand as part of its 20-year reunion.
The Huskers have beaten conference lightweights Rutgers and Illinois since their stunning home loss to Northern Illinois. Now they enter a crucial stretch, with back-to-back home games against Wisconsin and No. 10 Ohio State and a trip to improved Purdue.
''I think everything goes up in terms of intensity,'' quarterback Tanner Lee said. ''You're heightened level of focus, your preparation, everything needs to take a step up when you're playing a team like Wisconsin, or any team that is ranked as high as they are and has won games like they have. It's going to take an all-out effort and is something we're looking forward to.''
Nebraska has won 20 straight night games at home since 2008. But the Huskers are listed as 11-point underdogs. According to Omaha World-Herald research, Nebraska hasn't been that big an underdog at home since Oklahoma was a 14-point favorite in 1974.
Wisconsin has won nine of 10 true road games in three seasons under Chryst, including a 23-21 win on a field goal with 4 seconds left in its last trip to Lincoln in 2015.
Some things to know:
---
OLD FRIENDS FACE OFF
Nebraska coach Mike Riley will go against one of his best coaching friends in Chryst. Riley hired Chryst as an assistant with San Antonio of the old World League of American Football in 1991. Chryst, 51, later was Riley's offensive coordinator at Oregon State and tight ends coach with the San Diego Chargers.
''I won't say I taught him,'' said Riley, 64. ''Paul and I did a lot of work together strategically, conceptually on football for many years. It was a great mutual educational experience in football working with him.''
FREEDOM TROPHY
Wisconsin is 3-0 against Nebraska since the teams started playing for the Freedom Trophy in 2014. The Badgers have won 14 of their last 15 trophy games since 2010, going 7-0 against Minnesota and 4-1 against Iowa.
''We want to keep all three trophies in our locker room,'' linebacker Garret Dooley said. ''That's part of our goals. So everyone has to come out with their heads on fire and go out and play the kind of football we're used to.''
INJURY UPDATE
Wisconsin TE Troy Fumagalli (leg) and DE Isaiahh Loudermilk (leg) are questionable. Nebraska CB Chris Jones (knee) practiced in pads this week for the first time since getting hurt in July and has been cleared to play in the game. S Joshua Kalu (hamstring) and OLB Marcus Newby (hamstring) are expected to play.
IMPROVING DEFENSE
Nebraska's defense has improved since allowing 42 points in the first half of the loss at Oregon on Sept. 9. Opponents have returned three interceptions for touchdowns since then, but the defense has allowed just 23 points in the past 14 quarters. The Huskers held both Rutgers and Illinois under 200 yards of total offense.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
Wisconsin's eight sacks against Northwestern last week were its most in a game since 2001.
''The numbers are great, but our D-line and linebackers pride themselves on getting to the quarterback,'' linebacker T.J. Edwards said. ''I'd love if we could do that every game, but it's going to be tough as the games go on.''
The Badgers are allowing just 247 yards a game to rank fourth nationally in total defense. Since going to the 3-4 defense in 2013, the Badgers have allowed just 16.4 points a game. Only Alabama (14.6) has given up fewer points over that span.
