WSU football Head Coach Mike Leach did not spend much time talking about the Cougars’ high ranking at a football news conference Monday, though just days ago the team (6-0, 3-0) broke into the Associated Press’ top-10.

Instead, Leach addressed topics that ranged from a 64-team college football playoff scenario to his favorite Tom Petty songs.

Specifically, he spent almost a third of the news conference arguing that there should be an expanded playoff in college football. He noted that all the way down to high school football, every other league or classification has something like this.

Leach satirically ripped the NCAA for its postseason structure.

“How can we possibly have a playoff format in college football?” Leach asked.

Other topics Leach covered Monday included the spotlight that comes with being a top-10 team in the country.

“I think any exposure helps you … more recruits talking to you,” Leach said. “Occasionally, somebody that blew you off will say ‘Hey buddy, remember me?’ ”

Leach is not taking Friday’s matchup with University of California (3-3, 0-3) lightly. He appraised the Golden Bears highly.

“They’re an explosive team, a little like us in the standpoint of trying to be consistent,” he said. “They play well on defense, they’re good against the run and they’re hard to throw against.”

WSU plays its second away game of the season with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at California Memorial Stadium.

Reporting by Tyler Shuey