Pac-12 Power Ratings

The wild college football weekend started Friday night with Syracuse knocking off No. 2 Clemson and, of course, the Bears' upset of Washington State. It continued through Saturday night with favorites falling all over the country.

Besides WSU, the Pac 12 saw Washington lose to Arizona State and USC barely survive Utah. All of his has led to a major shuffle in the Pac-12 power rankings, but don't fill out the form in ink. Last week reminded us that we don't know how little we know.

This week's power rankings.

1. USC (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12)

With the brilliant Sam Darnold on the beam, the Trojans held off the Utes and moved back into the top as the Washington schools both lost. 

SC takes a break from conference play this week for its annual meeting with Notre Dame. In case you are wondering why the Trojans go to South Bend in October in odd numbered years but the Irish come west at season's end in even numbered years, it's because of weather. In the 40s and 50s, Notre Dame was USC's "Big Game". UCLA was considered a minor program, not worthy of USC's emotional involvment. SC-Notre Dame was the last on the schedule. But in 1959 the game was played in an ice storm in Indiana, and USC vowed never again to go east that close to winter. USC has visited Notre Dame in October ever since.

2. Stanford (5-2, 3-1)

The Cardinal, winners of four straight, essenrially have two weeks off -- a bye then a game at Oregon State. Assuming Bryce Love is healthy Stanford, with its opportunistic defense, looks perfectly capable of handling the Washington schools in November and winning the North.

That probably would give them another shot at USC in the championship game.

3. Utah (4-2, 1-2)

The Utes two losses were by a total of four points to the two teams above them. They look capable of running the table from here, even without Oregon State on their schedule.

Plaudits to Kyle Whittingham for attempting the two-point conversion against USC. It didn't work, but taking the tie there would have been lame, and probably futile with Darnold on the other sideline.

4. Washington (6-1, 3-1)

Maybe the Huskies weren't as good as we thought. A soft schedule can breed false hopes. The offense dissolved in the desert against what looked like an outmanned ASU defense.

UW has a week off to figure out what went wrong.

5. Cal (4-3, 1-3)

OK, this is something of a hometown call. So what. The Bears are entitled to a huge leap after their biggest upset in years. They took control of WSU almost from the opening and never let up.

They face a totally different challenge in Arizona this week, but Justin Wilcox and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter seem capable of anything.

6. Washington State (6-1, 3-1)
 
Still licking their wounds from Friday night, the Cougs go back home to face a Colorado team that barely beat Oregon State.

They also have to deal with the rumor that head coach Mike Leach is headed for Nebraska. Bill Moos, the AD who hired Leach, announced over the weekend he is leaving Pullman for Lincoln.

7. Arizona (4-2, 3-1)

What a difference a quarterback can make, even one who runs more than he passes. Khalil Tate has become an almost unstoppable force with 557 rushing yards in two weeks.

Coach Rich Rodriguez said he had might have given Tate some playing time against Colorado two weeks ago anyway, but where would the 'Cats be if Brandon Dawkins stayed healthy and Tate stayed on the bench?

8. Arizona State (3-3, 2-1)

Most teams play better at home than on the road, but the Sun Devils take it to an extreme. They upset No. 6 Washington last week and earlier they knocked off No. 24 Oregon.

If they can put up a good win on the road, say this week at Utah, they might be called contenders.

9. UCLA (3-3, 1-2)

The Bruins still have the most prolific passing attack (399.7 yards per game) in the conference and second in the country. 

Why can't they win more? The answer starts with the letter 'D'. If Jim Mora can't figure out how to stop a wounded Oregon offense this week, he probably will be looking for work in December.    

10. Oregon (4-3, 1-3)

The Ducks' depth at quarterback isn't the strength it seemed. There has been a major drop off since Justin Herbert was injured.

If they can't move the ball against UCLA this week, there is little hope.

11.  Colorado (4-3, 1-3)

The Buffaloes needed a touchdown in the final minutes to beat lowly Oregon State. Most unimpressive.

 With a relatively difficult schedule remaining, the Buffs probably need to beat WSU this week to keep their bowl hopes alive.

12. Oregon State (1-6, 0-4)

The one constant, and barring a major upset the Beavers are likely to remain down here all season. 

If Mike Riley is fired at Nebraska could he come back for a third go-round in Corvallis?