While some might shy away from the big moment, the Cougar football team has learned to embrace it.

In a season filled with both come-from-behind wins as well as games falling just short of victory in the last few minutes, the Cougars are starting to get used to the lights shinning brightest in the fourth quarter.

This weekend, Washington State showed once again the composure and poise late in games that has led it to a 7-3 record this season.

Although the Cougars are thankful and excited to be winning games with key late-game drives, they also realize the importance of putting together a complete game and improving on both sides of the ball.

“All these games shouldn’t come down to these last drives,” redshirt sophomore linebacker Peyton Pelluer said in a press conference Monday. “We have yet to put together a full game and we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot at key times on all sides of the ball. I love these scary wins, but it should never come down to that, and I’m thankful nonetheless.”

With the win, the Cougars earned a spot in the top 25 polls for the first time in Head Coach Mike Leach’s tenure at WSU, an accomplishment they are excited about, but not 100 percent satisfied with. Leach made it clear to his team that the mindset doesn’t change regardless of the fact that his squad is ranked.

“It’s just something we have to avoid the noise on,” Leach said. “Just focus on the next practice and the next play.”

This same mindset was reiterated by his players.

“Right now these rankings mean nothing; the only ranking that counts is the one at the end,” Pelluer said. “It’s something we’re proud of, but like I said, that last ranking at the end of the year is the one that counts.”

The Cougars are avoiding getting caught up in the rankings and are focused on the task at hand: finishing out the season while keeping the number in the loss column the same.

Senior safety Taylor Taliulu spoke Monday about the program’s turnaround this year.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” Taliulu said. “From my freshman year until now it’s kind of like a total 360. I’m just blessed and happy to see the guys and all the hard work we’ve put in, I’m happy to see it pay off now.”

Although it can be easy for upperclassmen, such as Taliulu, who have had to face scrutiny and criticism during their time at WSU for not reaching the expectations of the Cougar faithful, the goal is consistent throughout the whole team: don’t get caught up in the rankings and continue to win ball games.

“We just have to keep winning games to make that dream really come true and to do what we came here to do,” Taliulu said.

Looking to win their third game in-a-row, the Cougars will take on Colorado at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in Martin Stadium. Coach Leach had a few words for students heading into the weekend.

“They need to remember that Thanksgiving break starts on Sunday, so they need to be here, have a big night of it Friday, and then all day Saturday, and of course there will be a great game,” Leach said. “Stick around on Sunday, and then go and enjoy Thanksgiving in Seattle.”