Pac-12 football power rankings: Washington takes top spot in Week 6
- Updated
The Star sports staff rates the conference's teams 1-12 heading into the sixth weekend of 2016.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
As always, three Star sports staffers — Michael Lev, Zack Rosenblatt and yours truly — rate the conference’s teams 1-12. We compile and tabulate those votes to form each week’s power rankings.
Here’s the latest version (with comments by Jon Gold):
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 44-6 over Stanford
This week: at Oregon (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., FOX)
Comment: No. 1 with a bullet, and it's a long fall from the top. What Chris Petersen has done at Washington has been nothing short of remarkable, taking a cast of Steve Sarkisian characters and turning them into a bona fide national title contender. There may not have been a better win in college football this year than the Huskies' throttling of Stanford.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 44-6 loss to Washington
This week: vs. Washington State (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: David Shaw, bad news bud: Kevin Hogan ain't walking through that door. Neither, apparently, is the Christian McCaffrey from last year. McCaffrey was stuffed by the Huskies worse than he's been stuffed since Week 2 of last season, and the Heisman hopeful is watching his hardware dreams slip by the wayside. The Cardinal is a consensus No. 2 in these rankings, but far from the top.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 47-6 win over Oregon State
This week: at USC (Saturday, 1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Ok, so this one is a bit of a shock. Mike McIntyre turned around a nothing San Jose State program, so to see him do it at Colorado, a place that once contended for national championships, is perhaps less of a surprise. Still, the Buffaloes are clicking, and climbing.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 28-23 loss to Cal
This week: vs. Arizona (Saturday, 7 p.m., FS1)
Comment: Despite the Utes' rough week against the Bears, the three voters here all agreed on this ranking. Utah has built up a reputation as a tough out, but the Utes will have to make easy work of Arizona to stay here.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 45-24 win over Arizona
This week: at Arizona State (Saturday, 7:30 p.m, ESPN2)
Comment: The Bruins' big win over the Wildcats breathed some air into what was beginning to become a boring offense, even with one of the nation's top quarterbacks in Josh Rosen. The UCLA ground game showed some life in the second half, but it will have to look miles better during the next stretch.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 41-20 win over ASU
This week: vs. No. 21 Colorado (Saturday, 1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Maybe we were a bit hasty in writing the Trojans off? Look, a win over Arizona State isn't going to bring down the goalposts, but it was a solid win, and that's all USC needed after a bad start.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 28-23 win over Utah
This week: at Oregon State (Saturday, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: What a good win for the Bears, but there was some discrepancy about just how good of a win. Zack Rosenblatt had the Bears all the way up at No. 5 while Michael Lev put them at 8.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 41-20 loss to USC
This week: vs. UCLA (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2)
Comment: Again, more internal discord among the selection committee. Someone bust out the bare knuckles (my bet's on Lev): Lev, the savvy vet, gives a bit more credence to the Sun Devils 4-1 start, even though they were pasted by USC. Rosenblatt, the young upstart, has ASU at No. 9. I'll split the difference.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 51-33 win over Oregon
This week: at No. 15 Stanford (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: The Cougars absolutely smoked Oregon, perhaps revealing more about the Ducks than they did about themselves. But hell, they'll take it. Mike Leach still can't seem to solve these guys week in, week out, so how are opposing teams supposed to?
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 51-33 loss to Washington State
This week: vs. No. 5 Washington (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., FOX)
Comment: Can we legally change it from Mark Helfrich to Mark Helprich, because someone's gotta give the Ducks some CPR, stat. We're talking code blue, here, for a once-dominant offense. No team has fallen quicker from grace than Oregon, which contended for titles as recently as two years ago.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 45-24 loss to UCLA
This week: at No. 24 Utah (Saturday, 7 p.m., FS1)
Comment: Can anyone spare a leg? A foot? A toe? They'll take a toe. The Wildcats would take just about anything, and anybody, at this point. They might have to pluck a fan from the stands just to play running back next week.
- Jon Gold Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: 47-6 loss to Colorado
This week: vs. Cal (Saturday, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: What really is there to say? Gary Andersen is in over his head.
As always, three Star sports staffers — Michael Lev, Zack Rosenblatt and yours truly — rate the conference’s teams 1-12. We compile and tabulate those votes to form each week’s power rankings.
Here’s the latest version (with comments by Jon Gold):
Last week: 44-6 over Stanford
This week: at Oregon (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., FOX)
Comment: No. 1 with a bullet, and it's a long fall from the top. What Chris Petersen has done at Washington has been nothing short of remarkable, taking a cast of Steve Sarkisian characters and turning them into a bona fide national title contender. There may not have been a better win in college football this year than the Huskies' throttling of Stanford.
Last week: 44-6 loss to Washington
This week: vs. Washington State (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: David Shaw, bad news bud: Kevin Hogan ain't walking through that door. Neither, apparently, is the Christian McCaffrey from last year. McCaffrey was stuffed by the Huskies worse than he's been stuffed since Week 2 of last season, and the Heisman hopeful is watching his hardware dreams slip by the wayside. The Cardinal is a consensus No. 2 in these rankings, but far from the top.
Last week: 47-6 win over Oregon State
This week: at USC (Saturday, 1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Ok, so this one is a bit of a shock. Mike McIntyre turned around a nothing San Jose State program, so to see him do it at Colorado, a place that once contended for national championships, is perhaps less of a surprise. Still, the Buffaloes are clicking, and climbing.
Last week: 28-23 loss to Cal
This week: vs. Arizona (Saturday, 7 p.m., FS1)
Comment: Despite the Utes' rough week against the Bears, the three voters here all agreed on this ranking. Utah has built up a reputation as a tough out, but the Utes will have to make easy work of Arizona to stay here.
Last week: 45-24 win over Arizona
This week: at Arizona State (Saturday, 7:30 p.m, ESPN2)
Comment: The Bruins' big win over the Wildcats breathed some air into what was beginning to become a boring offense, even with one of the nation's top quarterbacks in Josh Rosen. The UCLA ground game showed some life in the second half, but it will have to look miles better during the next stretch.
Last week: 41-20 win over ASU
This week: vs. No. 21 Colorado (Saturday, 1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Maybe we were a bit hasty in writing the Trojans off? Look, a win over Arizona State isn't going to bring down the goalposts, but it was a solid win, and that's all USC needed after a bad start.
Last week: 28-23 win over Utah
This week: at Oregon State (Saturday, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: What a good win for the Bears, but there was some discrepancy about just how good of a win. Zack Rosenblatt had the Bears all the way up at No. 5 while Michael Lev put them at 8.
Last week: 41-20 loss to USC
This week: vs. UCLA (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2)
Comment: Again, more internal discord among the selection committee. Someone bust out the bare knuckles (my bet's on Lev): Lev, the savvy vet, gives a bit more credence to the Sun Devils 4-1 start, even though they were pasted by USC. Rosenblatt, the young upstart, has ASU at No. 9. I'll split the difference.
Last week: 51-33 win over Oregon
This week: at No. 15 Stanford (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: The Cougars absolutely smoked Oregon, perhaps revealing more about the Ducks than they did about themselves. But hell, they'll take it. Mike Leach still can't seem to solve these guys week in, week out, so how are opposing teams supposed to?
Last week: 51-33 loss to Washington State
This week: vs. No. 5 Washington (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., FOX)
Comment: Can we legally change it from Mark Helfrich to Mark Helprich, because someone's gotta give the Ducks some CPR, stat. We're talking code blue, here, for a once-dominant offense. No team has fallen quicker from grace than Oregon, which contended for titles as recently as two years ago.
Last week: 45-24 loss to UCLA
This week: at No. 24 Utah (Saturday, 7 p.m., FS1)
Comment: Can anyone spare a leg? A foot? A toe? They'll take a toe. The Wildcats would take just about anything, and anybody, at this point. They might have to pluck a fan from the stands just to play running back next week.
Last week: 47-6 loss to Colorado
This week: vs. Cal (Saturday, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: What really is there to say? Gary Andersen is in over his head.
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson 🌵 (@this_is_tucson) • Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
Over 40 free events happening in Tucson this December! ⛄
-
Save the date! Here's the ultimate list of Tucson holiday events 🎄
-
More than 40 fun events in Tucson, December 12-14! ❄️✨
-
20 gifts under $20 from Tucson shops! 🎄🎁
-
Cafe Maggie suddenly closes doors on Tucson's North Fourth Avenue
-
A giant guide to gifts made by Tucson makers and small businesses
-
17 festive holiday markets that support Tucson artisans
-
A large list of fun and festive events in December! 🎄❄️
-
Satisfy your pozole craving at these 9 local places!
-
Get fresh bread and flaky, buttery croissants at the MSA Annex's new micro-bakery 🥖