Wednesday Dots: High Five

Survival is one step on the path to living. Star Wars - The Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 3

UW has survived a bit of a scare in their last game (actually, two games). But that win over Stanford still put them one step closer to their goals.

Football Dots

• The first CFP rankings were released last evening. UW is 5th.

• There is a UW Dawg Pound article on UW’s ranking here. 247Sports has their review and analysis of the teams in the rankings here. CBS Sports has their listing of the CFP ranking along with Jerry Palm’s analysis. The CFP chairman talks about why UW was not in the top 4-and the reason shouldn’t surprise Husky fans: their closer-than-expected wins over Arizona State and Stanford. But, as Mike Vorel points out, UW is at least ranked above Oregon-because winning matters. And the Huskies will move up if they keep winning. That’s because the depth of the Pac-12 could help UW and Oregon-or it could hurt if they lose. Christian Caple ($) has his 10 thoughts on Washington’s #5 ranking.
• A different kind of look at Polk’s long TD catch against Stanford. And you can see that the ball traveled over 50 yards in the air. 20.8 mph was the fastest that Reel Analytics recorded in a game last weekend.

• Dan Raley has a history of why USC has been one of UW’s most hated rivals, although DeBoer is understandably down-playing the history between the teams.
• Michael Penix with an update on his health.

• Tony Castricone points out something rare about the meeting between UW and USC this weekend. (And hopefully UW evens the series!)

• UW’s Edefuan Ulofoshio is the highest graded LB in the Pac-12 according to Pro Football Focus.

• UW points out that it has gotten a lot of great players over the years from California (“California pipeline”).

UW Athletics Dots

• Celebrating the UW’s Women’s Pac-12 Cross Country Championship.

• Sharing is caring for the UW Men’s Basketball team.

• Some notable performances by UW softball players on Team USA.