Petersen steps down after best few year run at UW in decades.

Helton was rumored out but now suddenly that changes to may stay.

USC doesn’t want to be in bidding war this year, doesn’t want to have to pay enough to cover any Petersen buyout, and does not want to pay to buy out Helton.

USC makes handshake deal with Petersen to relinquish coaching — getting him out of any buyout requirement because he’ll sign new admin deal. He gets a year to rest. And USC has no obligation to CP just nonenforceable understanding.

Meanwhile, Helton currently has deal through 2023 but how much is guaranteed vs option and how much buyout are not clear.

SC gets a back to the wall year with Helton and maybe he turns corner, plus they get a year or more to deviously think about whether they can fire for cause and get out of any buyout. Even if he stays any buyout will be much less. Meanwhile they give him nudge to go look for another job with their blessing before he’s tarnished by being fired.

All pure speculation but I won’t be shocked if CP is USC’s coach in ‘21, ‘22, or ‘23.