COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : AROUND THE NATION : Washington’s Clifford Out for Season

Washington inside linebacker James Clifford, who led the Pacific 10 in tackles as a sophomore, will miss this season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Clifford, who has not played this season, underwent surgery Wednesday at Evergreen Hospital in suburban Kirkland.

His knee injury was diagnosed first as a sprain. But arthroscopic surgery was done after he hurt his knee again in practice last Wednesday and the ligament damage was found.

Clifford can redshirt this season. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Clifford, from Seattle’s Ingraham High School, had 164 tackles in 12 games last season.

Oregon Coach Rich Brooks doesn’t think it’s at all far-fetched to expect his team to knock off No. 4 Brigham Young when the two football teams meet Saturday in Eugene, Ore.

“I’m not in awe of BYU,” Brooks said. “I don’t think our team is. It’s not like four or five years ago when we didn’t have the players to compete with these teams.”