Pac-12 football power rankings: Washington still rules, Stanford drops
- Updated
The Star sports staff rates the conference's teams 1-12 heading into the seventh weekend of 2016.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Welcome back to another edition of Pac-12 Power Rankings, where it’s pretty much Washington and everybody else.
The Huskies — who barely beat the Arizona Wildcats a few weeks ago, you’ll recall — appear to be the class of the conference. Is anyone else even close?
If they win out, they’re a shoo-in for the College Football Playoff. If they lose once, they still might get in.
Of course, you can’t assume anything in this sport, so we’ll see what happens over the next seven weeks.
As always, these rankings are voted on by the Star’s three-man panel of Jon Gold, Michael Lev and Zack Rosenblatt. Lev has the comments this week. Check ’em out.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated Oregon 70-21
This week: Bye
Comment: I wasn’t a fan of Chris Petersen barring his players from talking to the media last week; when you make significant changes to the routine, it can have a negative psychological effect. But who am I to criticize Petersen right now? He’s got it going, big-time, at a place where you can sustain success. One can only imagine how satisfying it must have felt for the Huskies to not only snap their 12-game skid against the Ducks but to put up 70 points in the process. And to think, Arizona was a two-point conversion away from beating this team (if Rich Rodriguez had gone for it, that is).
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated Arizona 36-23
This week: at Oregon State (1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: I’m just going to write this entire section about Utes punter Mitch Wishnowsky, who might be the greatest punter in the history of tackle football. Wishnowsky leads the NCAA with a 50.5-yard average, and he has dropped half of his booming punts inside the 20-yard line. He was the undisputed MVP of the Arizona-Utah game Saturday night, time and again flipping the field and pinning the Wildcats deep. I’ve never seen a better punting performance in person. Memo to the UA coaching staff: If you want to solve your punting problems, hop on the next flight to Melbourne.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to Washington State 42-16
This week: at Notre Dame (4:30 p.m., NBC)
Comment: Apparently, the loss to Washington wasn’t a blip. Considered a top-10 team — nationally — until that defeat, Stanford has been outscored 86-22 the past two weeks by UW and Washington State. That is not a typo. What the heck happened to this well-oiled machine? The cornerbacks are hurt. Christian McCaffrey is hurt. Everyone’s egos are hurt. The only possible good news: Notre Dame might be in even worse shape.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated Stanford 42-16
This week: vs. UCLA (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: The Cougars beat the you-know-what out of Stanford — on the road — and all they got was a lousy third-place tie with … Stanford. Two thoughts on that: (1) WSU is still experiencing the aftershocks of its dreadful start; and (2) Zack is uncoachable. (He was the only voter who still had the Cardinal ahead of the Cougars.) QB Luke Falk continues to impress, completing a league-high 74.1 percent of his passes. WSU might represent the biggest obstacle in Washington’s playoff path.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to USC 21-17
This week: vs. Arizona State (5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: I’m not ready to jump off the Buffaloes bandwagon, even if others are. Colorado easily could have beaten USC. Its only losses are at ’SC and at Michigan (which just beat Rutgers 78-0 — so glad to have you in my Big Ten, Scarlet Scrubs). One semi-important issue to sort out is the quarterback situation. If senior Sefo Liufau (ankle) is well enough to play, he should play. Even if he’s 85 percent, he should play. Steven Montez has performed well in relief. He’s the future. But Liufau is the soul of this squad.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated Colorado 21-17
This week: at Arizona (12:30 p.m., Fox)
Comment: After a miserable start, the Trojans are playing better. They might be too high-profile to dub as sleepers, but I’m going to do it anyway. The problem is, they lost at Utah, which means the Utes have the tiebreaker in the Pac-12 South. Every remaining game on USC’s schedule — aside from Washington in Seattle on Nov. 12 — is winnable. That obviously includes this week’s game at Arizona, which feels a lot like a trap game. If they can avoid falling into that trap, the Trojans can make a real run.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated UCLA 23-20
This week: at Colorado (5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Worst 5-1 team in the nation? It kinda feels that way. But hey, credit where it’s due: Unlike their rivals to the south, the Sun Devils have found a way to win some close games despite their own injury issues. The statistical oddity of this team thus far is that ASU ranks first in the conference in run defense (89.3 ypg) — and last in pass defense (404.3). The Sun Devils have allowed 9.0 yards per pass attempt and 19 passing touchdowns. It’ll be hard to sustain success if that continues.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to Arizona State 23-20
This week: at Washington State (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: There’s no shortage of candidates for most disappointing team in the Pac-12 to date. My personal vote goes to the Bruins, whom I picked to win the conference. Despite a wealth of returning talent at quarterback and on defense, UCLA is .500. And now that quarterback, Josh Rosen, might be out because of an injured shoulder. Incredibly, UCLA ended up with minus-1 rushing yard against Arizona State. The Bruins are averaging a meager 99.2 rushing yards per game and an unfathomably low 2.9 yards per carry. No one else in the league averages less than 140 and 4.1.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to Oregon State 47-44 (OT)
This week: Bye
Comment: Amazing offense. Crummy defense. Rinse, repeat. Sure, Cal’s D rose to the occasion against Utah a couple weeks back. But the Golden Bears predictably reverted to form last week. Less expectedly, Davis Webb passed for only 113 yards — on 44 attempts. That’s Christian Hackenberg-in-the-preseason bad. At least the upcoming Cal-Oregon game on Friday, Oct. 21, will be fun to watch — unless you like defense. I’m setting the over-under at infinity (and taking the over).
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated Cal 47-44 (OT)
This week: vs. Utah (1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: A victory and a pardon from the Pac-12 Power Rankings basement. Aside from those overly orange uniforms, Saturday was a good day in Corvallis. The Beavers hadn’t won a conference game since 2014. They rushed for 474 yards against Cal. You can be sure Utah won’t let that happen. So can OT hero Darell Garretson beat the Utes with his arm? I wouldn’t bet on it. But OSU at least appears to have evolved from pushover to competitive. That’s progress.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to Utah 36-23
This week: vs. USC (12:30 p.m., Fox)
Comment: I’m around the Wildcats almost every day and don’t know what to make of them yet. They were one play (or one average Anu Solomon performance) from beating BYU, which just crushed Michigan State in East Lansing. They could have beaten Washington. On the flip side, the UA’s only victories have come against FCS Grambling and Hawaii at home. (Neither team has lost since, for what it’s worth.) I don’t share the belief of some that Arizona won’t win another game; RichRod is too wily a coach to let that happen. But if the UA doesn’t upset USC this week, I can’t see the Cats qualifying for a bowl berth.
- Michael Lev Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to Washington 70-21
This week: Bye
Comment: Did someone accidentally clip off the “State” after “Oregon”? Nope. This is the correct Oregon school, plummeting to unprecedented depths. Mark Helfrich had hoped hiring Brady Hoke would improve the defense. Instead, the Ducks are worse on that side of the ball, surrendering 41.8 points per game and an astonishing 522.3 yards per game. Only two teams allow more: Texas State and Rice. And you thought the 2015 Arizona D was bad.
Welcome back to another edition of Pac-12 Power Rankings, where it’s pretty much Washington and everybody else.
The Huskies — who barely beat the Arizona Wildcats a few weeks ago, you’ll recall — appear to be the class of the conference. Is anyone else even close?
If they win out, they’re a shoo-in for the College Football Playoff. If they lose once, they still might get in.
Of course, you can’t assume anything in this sport, so we’ll see what happens over the next seven weeks.
As always, these rankings are voted on by the Star’s three-man panel of Jon Gold, Michael Lev and Zack Rosenblatt. Lev has the comments this week. Check ’em out.
Last week: Defeated Oregon 70-21
This week: Bye
Comment: I wasn’t a fan of Chris Petersen barring his players from talking to the media last week; when you make significant changes to the routine, it can have a negative psychological effect. But who am I to criticize Petersen right now? He’s got it going, big-time, at a place where you can sustain success. One can only imagine how satisfying it must have felt for the Huskies to not only snap their 12-game skid against the Ducks but to put up 70 points in the process. And to think, Arizona was a two-point conversion away from beating this team (if Rich Rodriguez had gone for it, that is).
Last week: Defeated Arizona 36-23
This week: at Oregon State (1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: I’m just going to write this entire section about Utes punter Mitch Wishnowsky, who might be the greatest punter in the history of tackle football. Wishnowsky leads the NCAA with a 50.5-yard average, and he has dropped half of his booming punts inside the 20-yard line. He was the undisputed MVP of the Arizona-Utah game Saturday night, time and again flipping the field and pinning the Wildcats deep. I’ve never seen a better punting performance in person. Memo to the UA coaching staff: If you want to solve your punting problems, hop on the next flight to Melbourne.
Last week: Lost to Washington State 42-16
This week: at Notre Dame (4:30 p.m., NBC)
Comment: Apparently, the loss to Washington wasn’t a blip. Considered a top-10 team — nationally — until that defeat, Stanford has been outscored 86-22 the past two weeks by UW and Washington State. That is not a typo. What the heck happened to this well-oiled machine? The cornerbacks are hurt. Christian McCaffrey is hurt. Everyone’s egos are hurt. The only possible good news: Notre Dame might be in even worse shape.
Last week: Defeated Stanford 42-16
This week: vs. UCLA (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: The Cougars beat the you-know-what out of Stanford — on the road — and all they got was a lousy third-place tie with … Stanford. Two thoughts on that: (1) WSU is still experiencing the aftershocks of its dreadful start; and (2) Zack is uncoachable. (He was the only voter who still had the Cardinal ahead of the Cougars.) QB Luke Falk continues to impress, completing a league-high 74.1 percent of his passes. WSU might represent the biggest obstacle in Washington’s playoff path.
Last week: Lost to USC 21-17
This week: vs. Arizona State (5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: I’m not ready to jump off the Buffaloes bandwagon, even if others are. Colorado easily could have beaten USC. Its only losses are at ’SC and at Michigan (which just beat Rutgers 78-0 — so glad to have you in my Big Ten, Scarlet Scrubs). One semi-important issue to sort out is the quarterback situation. If senior Sefo Liufau (ankle) is well enough to play, he should play. Even if he’s 85 percent, he should play. Steven Montez has performed well in relief. He’s the future. But Liufau is the soul of this squad.
Last week: Defeated Colorado 21-17
This week: at Arizona (12:30 p.m., Fox)
Comment: After a miserable start, the Trojans are playing better. They might be too high-profile to dub as sleepers, but I’m going to do it anyway. The problem is, they lost at Utah, which means the Utes have the tiebreaker in the Pac-12 South. Every remaining game on USC’s schedule — aside from Washington in Seattle on Nov. 12 — is winnable. That obviously includes this week’s game at Arizona, which feels a lot like a trap game. If they can avoid falling into that trap, the Trojans can make a real run.
Last week: Defeated UCLA 23-20
This week: at Colorado (5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Worst 5-1 team in the nation? It kinda feels that way. But hey, credit where it’s due: Unlike their rivals to the south, the Sun Devils have found a way to win some close games despite their own injury issues. The statistical oddity of this team thus far is that ASU ranks first in the conference in run defense (89.3 ypg) — and last in pass defense (404.3). The Sun Devils have allowed 9.0 yards per pass attempt and 19 passing touchdowns. It’ll be hard to sustain success if that continues.
Last week: Lost to Arizona State 23-20
This week: at Washington State (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: There’s no shortage of candidates for most disappointing team in the Pac-12 to date. My personal vote goes to the Bruins, whom I picked to win the conference. Despite a wealth of returning talent at quarterback and on defense, UCLA is .500. And now that quarterback, Josh Rosen, might be out because of an injured shoulder. Incredibly, UCLA ended up with minus-1 rushing yard against Arizona State. The Bruins are averaging a meager 99.2 rushing yards per game and an unfathomably low 2.9 yards per carry. No one else in the league averages less than 140 and 4.1.
Last week: Lost to Oregon State 47-44 (OT)
This week: Bye
Comment: Amazing offense. Crummy defense. Rinse, repeat. Sure, Cal’s D rose to the occasion against Utah a couple weeks back. But the Golden Bears predictably reverted to form last week. Less expectedly, Davis Webb passed for only 113 yards — on 44 attempts. That’s Christian Hackenberg-in-the-preseason bad. At least the upcoming Cal-Oregon game on Friday, Oct. 21, will be fun to watch — unless you like defense. I’m setting the over-under at infinity (and taking the over).
Last week: Defeated Cal 47-44 (OT)
This week: vs. Utah (1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: A victory and a pardon from the Pac-12 Power Rankings basement. Aside from those overly orange uniforms, Saturday was a good day in Corvallis. The Beavers hadn’t won a conference game since 2014. They rushed for 474 yards against Cal. You can be sure Utah won’t let that happen. So can OT hero Darell Garretson beat the Utes with his arm? I wouldn’t bet on it. But OSU at least appears to have evolved from pushover to competitive. That’s progress.
Last week: Lost to Utah 36-23
This week: vs. USC (12:30 p.m., Fox)
Comment: I’m around the Wildcats almost every day and don’t know what to make of them yet. They were one play (or one average Anu Solomon performance) from beating BYU, which just crushed Michigan State in East Lansing. They could have beaten Washington. On the flip side, the UA’s only victories have come against FCS Grambling and Hawaii at home. (Neither team has lost since, for what it’s worth.) I don’t share the belief of some that Arizona won’t win another game; RichRod is too wily a coach to let that happen. But if the UA doesn’t upset USC this week, I can’t see the Cats qualifying for a bowl berth.
Last week: Lost to Washington 70-21
This week: Bye
Comment: Did someone accidentally clip off the “State” after “Oregon”? Nope. This is the correct Oregon school, plummeting to unprecedented depths. Mark Helfrich had hoped hiring Brady Hoke would improve the defense. Instead, the Ducks are worse on that side of the ball, surrendering 41.8 points per game and an astonishing 522.3 yards per game. Only two teams allow more: Texas State and Rice. And you thought the 2015 Arizona D was bad.
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