AD Chun jumps from Wash St. to Washington
-
Pete Thamel, ESPN
The University of Washington has hired Pat Chun, the athletic director at rival Washington State, as the school’s new athletic director on Tuesday.
It is a six-year deal, sources told ESPN.
“Pat has a track record of success and a wealth of experience — from 15 years in the Big Ten and service on national groups guiding the future of college sports, to securing community support and a commitment to the well-being of student-athletes,” University of Washington president Ana Mari Cauce said in a statement. “He knows our state, is highly respected in national athletics circles and has an eye for talent. I’m so happy he’ll be joining us to lead UW Athletics into the future.”
The hiring of Chun, who brings both a familiar face and strong Big Ten ties, marks a swift response to the sudden departure last week of Troy Dannen to become Nebraska’s athletic director after only six months on the job at Washington.
Chun has led Washington State since January 2018, and his duties there included being selected to serve on the College Football Playoff committee and helping manage the university’s future in the aftermath of mass departures from the Pac-12.
He will begin his new role on Wednesday.
“It is truly an honor for my family and I to join the University of Washington family, and I look forward to doing my part to help elevate the athletics program and the university,” Chun said in a statement. “… Our transition to the Big Ten is a critical step in our journey and great things lie ahead for the Huskies!”
His experience in the Big Ten proved appealing to the Washington brass, with the university entering the conference for the 2024-25 school year. Chun’s expected hire marks the rare occasion of the hiring of a rival school’s athletic director, although the extenuating circumstances of the Pac-12’s recent flurry of departures make this move less jarring.
Chun worked for 15 years at Ohio State, where his responsibilities included everything from managing all facets of external relations to serving as the administrative liaison with the football program. That time gave him a window into the ways of the Big Ten, as he spent significant time in both fundraising and football, which will be two linchpins of his tenure in Seattle.
His ability to lead an athletic department during financial challenges was valued, as Washington faces significant stadium debt. The school also must find ways to be competitive in the Big Ten while only receiving half of the television revenue — along with Oregon — of its peers through 2029-30.
Chun’s time at Washington State included the successful hire of men’s basketball coach Kyle Smith, who left this week for the head-coaching job at Stanford after leading the Cougars to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008. That job is currently open.
Chun also hired Kamie Ethridge as women’s basketball coach, and she led WSU to the Pac-12 tournament title in 2023 and three straight NCAA tournament bids — both firsts in school history.
Chun’s tenure included promoting Jake Dickert from assistant coach to head football coach, a move that’s resulted in two bowl appearances — one as an interim — and a 15-16 overall record that includes two wins over Wisconsin.
When Chun was hired at Washington State, he became the first Asian American athletic director to lead a Power 5 school. Chun came to Washington State from Florida Atlantic, where his tenure included the hiring of Lane Kiffin as football coach.
The latest AP poll is out.
With a trio of ranked matchups around the sport, there was bound to be some movement after Week 3.
The Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets got the biggest wins of the weekend. UGA took down the rival Tennessee Volunteers in a wild, back-and-forth game. The Jackets, meanwhile, got the week started with an upset of the then-No. 12 Clemson Tigers.
In one of the three ranked matchups Saturday, the Miami Hurricanes ended the South Florida Bulls‘ early-season run. USF had beaten ranked opponents (Boise State, Florida) in each of the first two weeks. The Canes, however, overpowered the Bulls to stay undefeated.
What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.
Stats courtesy of ESPN Research.
All times Eastern
Previous ranking: 1
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Ohio 37-9
Stat to know: Ohio State has allowed just 16 points this season, its fewest through three games since 1975.
What’s next: Sept. 27 at Washington
Previous ranking: 2
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Villanova 52-6
Stat to know: Penn State allowed a passing touchdown on the final play of the game to prevent consecutive shutout wins for the first time since 1996.
What’s next: Sept. 27 at Oregon, 7:30 p.m., NBC
Previous ranking: 3
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Florida 20-10
Stat to know: LSU has held each of its first three opponents to 10 or fewer points for the first time since 2007.
What’s next: Saturday vs. SE Louisiana, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 5
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated USF 49-12
Stat to know: Miami won by 37 points, its largest win against an AP-ranked opponent since 2001, when the Canes beat No. 12 Washington by 58 points.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Florida, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 6
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Tennessee 44-41 (OT)
Stat to know: Georgia has won the past nine meetings in this series and is 14-2 since 2010 (Tennessee won in 2015 & ’16). This nine-game winning streak is tied for the longest by either team in this series, matching a nine-game streak by Tennessee from 1989 to 1999.
What’s next: Sept. 27 vs. Alabama, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 4
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Northwestern 34-14
Stat to know: With a 20-point win, Oregon has outscored its opponents by 132 points this season. That’s the fifth-largest point differential through three games in a season in program history, trailing 2010 (+176), 2013 (+157), 1910 (+154), and 1916 (+150).
What’s next: Saturday vs. Oregon State, 3 p.m.
Previous ranking: 10
2025 record: 2-0
Week 3 result: Idle
What’s next: Saturday vs. Kent State, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Previous ranking: 7
2025 record: 2-1
Week 3 result: Defeated UTEP 27-10
Stat to know: Arch Manning threw 10 straight incompletions (including his interception) at one point during the second quarter. That’s the longest streak of incompletions by a Texas player in at least 20 years.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Sam Houston, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 9
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Western Michigan 38-0
Stat to know: This was Illinois’ first shutout win against an FBS opponent since 2000 (Iowa).
What’s next: Saturday at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBC
Previous ranking: 16
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Notre Dame 41-40
Stat to know: The win over Notre Dame was A&M’s first nonconference road win against an AP top-10 team since 1979.
What’s next: Sept. 27 vs. Auburn
Previous ranking: 13
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Temple 42-3
Stat to know: Oklahoma has allowed 19 points this season, the second fewest through its first three games since 1990.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Auburn, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 14
2025 record: 4-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Arkansas State 24-16
Stat to know: Rocco Becht had his 11th career game with a passing and rushing score, the most among Big 12 quarterbacks over the past three seasons.
What’s next: Sept. 27 vs. Arizona
Previous ranking: 17
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Arkansas 41-35
Stat to know: Ole Miss has won three straight games against Arkansas for the first time since 1990-93.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Tulane, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 19
2025 record: 2-1
Week 3 result: Defeated Wisconsin 38-14
Stat to know: Kalen DeBoer is 9-0 at home as Alabama coach, the longest win streak by a Tide coach to begin their tenure since Xen Scott from 1919 to 1921 (17 straight).
What’s next: Sept. 27 at Georgia, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 15
2025 record: 2-1
Week 3 result: Lost to Georgia 44-41 (OT)
Stat to know: Joey Aguilar is the first SEC player with at least four passing scores and a rushing TD in his conference debut in the past 20 seasons.
What’s next: Saturday vs. UAB, 12:45 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 20
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Wyoming 31-6
Stat to know: Utah has now started its season 3-0 in three consecutive years.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Texas Tech, noon, Fox
Previous ranking: 21
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Oregon State 45-14
Stat to know: This is the first time the team has scored at least 45 points in each of its first three games since 2016.
What’s next: Saturday at Utah, noon, Fox
Previous ranking: NR
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Clemson 24-21
Stat to know: Aidan Birr‘s 55-yard, winning field goal is the longest winning field goal in program history.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Temple, 4:30 p.m., The CW
Previous ranking: 22
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Indiana State 73-0
Stat to know: Indiana’s 73-0 win was the third-largest victory and second-largest shutout in program history. Two of the Hoosiers’ three biggest wins have come under Curt Cignetti.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Illinois, 7:30 p.m., NBC
Previous ranking: NR
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated South Carolina 31-7
Stat to know: This is Vanderbilt’s first 3-0 start to the season since 2017
What’s next: Saturday vs. Georgia State, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
Previous ranking: 23
2025 record: 2-1
Week 3 result: Defeated Central Michigan 63-3
Stat to know: The 60-point victory over CMU is the largest by the program against an in-state opponent since 1922, when the Wolverines beat Michigan State 63-0.
What’s next: Saturday at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., CBS
Previous ranking: 24
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated South Alabama 31-15
Stat to know: Auburn is off to its second 3-0 start in three seasons under coach Hugh Freeze (2023). The Tigers finished that season 6-7.
What’s next: Saturday at Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Previous ranking: 25
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Louisiana 52-10
Stat to know: Ahmad Hardy is the first FBS player with a 200-yard rushing game this season. It’s his fifth-straight 100-yard rushing game dating to last season (played for UL Monroe last season).
What’s next: Saturday vs. South Carolina, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 8
2025 record: 0-2
Week 3 result: Lost to Texas A&M 41-40
Stat to know: Notre Dame is starting the season 0-2 for the third time in the past 15 years.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Purdue, 3:30 p.m., NBC
Previous ranking: NR
2025 record: 3-0
Week 3 result: Defeated Purdue 33-17
Stat to know: USC has won its last four games against Purdue.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Michigan State, 11 p.m., Fox
Virginia Tech has fired coach Brent Pry, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday. Pry is set to be owed more than $6 million in his buyout.
The move comes a day after a 45-26 home loss to Old Dominion in which the Hokies were booed loudly while heading to the locker room for halftime.
Saturday’s loss dropped Virginia Tech to 0-3 on the season and 16-24 through four seasons under Pry.
The hot-seat talk bubbled up around Pry in November last season, and if the Hokies had lost to Virginia to end the season, a change may have been made at that point. But Virginia Tech defeated Virginia, and Pry’s second consecutive 6-6 regular season landed him in a bowl game.
But as the offseason included personnel changes, the talk around Pry’s status didn’t fade. He entered Year 4 with a new defensive coordinator — Sam Siefkes, a former linebackers coach with the Arizona Cardinals — and a staff that included former longtime Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster as an adviser/analyst.
It did not work in the early going. Though the Hokies played hard in a season-opening loss to South Carolina, they were pushed around by another SEC team, Vanderbilt, in Virginia Tech’s home opener a week later. The Commodores scored 34 consecutive points to close out a 44-20 win in which they trailed by 10 points at halftime.
That loss, however, proved to be just an opening act to Saturday’s stunning loss to in-state foe Old Dominion.
“Clearly, it starts with me,” Pry said after the loss to the Monarchs. “Coaches, players, everybody is accountable here. We’ve got to get back to the basics and find a way to be closer to the team we can be.”
Virginia Tech will host Wofford on Saturday before beginning ACC play the following week at NC State.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment11 months agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024