Pac-12 football power rankings: The good, the bad and the ugly
- Updated
The Star sports staff rates the conference's teams 1-12 heading into the 11th weekend of 2016.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Pac-12 this season can be split into three categories: The good, the bad and the ugly.
The good?
Well, of course, there’s Washington at the top and in the North; Colorado behind them in the South; with competitors in Washington State, Utah, USC and, to a lesser extent, Stanford.
The bad?
That would be Arizona State and California leading the mediocre pack, on the edge of bowl eligibility, followed by the fledgling Oregon and the improving Oregon State.
The ugly?
There are two levels.
There’s Ugly A in UCLA, one of the worst Bruins teams in years without its star quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Then, of course, there’s Ugly B, here in the Old Pueblo, the Arizona Wildcats in the midst of one of the all-time bad seasons in program history.
Now that we have that out of the way, as always, here are your Pac-12 Power Rankings as voted by the Star’s triumvirate of Michael Lev, Zack Rosenblatt and Jon Gold. Rosenblatt is the commenter this week.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated California 66-27
This week: Against No. 20 USC (5:30 p.m., Fox)
Comment: The Huskies rose to the No. 4 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings, which I’m pretty sure means nothing right now. Perhaps Washington’s most important remaining regular season game (maybe outside of the Apple Cup) is this weekend, and as long as the Huskies win out, the Pac-12 will have a playoff representative.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated UCLA 20-10
This week: at Arizona (8 p.m., FS1)
Comment: They just keep on going. Mike MacIntyre is my pick for coach of the year, the only real challenger being, probably, Chris Petersen. The Buffaloes are legitimately good in all three phases, and strangely their trip to Tucson this weekend might be the easiest win on their schedule. Though, Arizona long has beat at least one team it’s not supposed to each season, and usually at home, and there’s always a chance the streaking Buffs look past the reeling Wildcats. That’s the best Arizona can hope for at this point.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated Arizona 69-7
This week: Against California (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: Let’s just pretend that Arizona game didn’t happen. Not much, really, to take away from that game from the Cougars perspective anyway (the Wildcats are simply outmatched by Wazzu). But, as he did last year, Mike Leach has his squad rolling, and it’s been somewhat overlooked that, if they keep winning and can pull an upset in the Apple Cup, the Cougars could throw a wrench in the Huskies college football playoff plans.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Bye
This week: at Arizona State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m., FS1)
Comment: Utah and Colorado, it seems, will be in a battle to the end for the South title. This week, both teams are in the state of Arizona, and neither should be particularly challenged.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated Oregon 45-20
This week: at No. 4 Washington (5:30 p.m., Fox)
Comment: After starting 1-3, the Trojans are on a 5-game winning streak, perhaps saving Nice Guy Clay Helton’s job. He’ll secure it further if USC can upset — yes, 2016, y’all — Washington on Saturday. The Trojans have the talent to pull it off, too, though a lot has to happen for USC to pull out the South title in the end.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Defeated Oregon State 26-15
This week: at Oregon (2 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: There’s a decent chance Stanford ends the non-bowl season with a 9-3 record, and on a five-game winning streak, but that’s more a result of their easy schedule to close out the year. Stanford won its last two against Arizona and Oregon State, with Oregon, California and, yes, Rice at the end. When all is said and done, this season will still be viewed as a disappointment for the Cardinal, regardless.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Bye
This week: Against No. 15 Utah (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.)
Comment: After Stanford, the Pac-12 is….bleh. As Lev put it, the only reason ASU is ranked ahead of these other teams is “because they didn’t play” last week.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost 66-27 against Washington
This week: At No. 23 Washington State (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: It’s been quite the up-and-down season for the Golden Bears, but a saving grace has been quarterback Davis Webb, a likely future NFL draft pick. He struggled against Washington (three interceptions) but has thrown for 30 touchdowns and a 62.6 completion percentage on the year.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost 45-20 to USC
This week: Against Stanford (2 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Remember when people used to care about this game? It’s one of the least exciting match-ups this weeks. Also, what the heck happened to (ex?) star running back Royce Freeman? The junior was considered a possible Heisman candidate, but has only mustered 136 total rushing yards on 53 carries in Oregon’s last four games.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to Stanford 26-15
This week: at UCLA (7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: The Beavers aren’t quite there yet, but they’ve shown signs of improvement. This will be a slow build, as it was for Colorado after the last few years. I’d expect leaps in progress next season.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to Colorado 20-10
This week: against Oregon State (7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: I don’t think anyone could have predicted that it’s unlikely, this late in the season, that the Bruins will make a bowl game. Or that UCLA might be the second-worst team in the conference, or at least battling for that title with Oregon State. I would say maybe Jim Mora’s seat is getting warm, but I’m just now sure Bruins fans care enough to bring the outcry that would lead to a coaching change in the near future. The loss of Josh Rosen doesn’t help.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Last week: Lost to Washington State 69-7
This week: against Colorado (8 p.m., FS1)
Comment: What’s left to say?
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
The Pac-12 this season can be split into three categories: The good, the bad and the ugly.
The good?
Well, of course, there’s Washington at the top and in the North; Colorado behind them in the South; with competitors in Washington State, Utah, USC and, to a lesser extent, Stanford.
The bad?
That would be Arizona State and California leading the mediocre pack, on the edge of bowl eligibility, followed by the fledgling Oregon and the improving Oregon State.
The ugly?
There are two levels.
There’s Ugly A in UCLA, one of the worst Bruins teams in years without its star quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Then, of course, there’s Ugly B, here in the Old Pueblo, the Arizona Wildcats in the midst of one of the all-time bad seasons in program history.
Now that we have that out of the way, as always, here are your Pac-12 Power Rankings as voted by the Star’s triumvirate of Michael Lev, Zack Rosenblatt and Jon Gold. Rosenblatt is the commenter this week.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Defeated California 66-27
This week: Against No. 20 USC (5:30 p.m., Fox)
Comment: The Huskies rose to the No. 4 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings, which I’m pretty sure means nothing right now. Perhaps Washington’s most important remaining regular season game (maybe outside of the Apple Cup) is this weekend, and as long as the Huskies win out, the Pac-12 will have a playoff representative.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Defeated UCLA 20-10
This week: at Arizona (8 p.m., FS1)
Comment: They just keep on going. Mike MacIntyre is my pick for coach of the year, the only real challenger being, probably, Chris Petersen. The Buffaloes are legitimately good in all three phases, and strangely their trip to Tucson this weekend might be the easiest win on their schedule. Though, Arizona long has beat at least one team it’s not supposed to each season, and usually at home, and there’s always a chance the streaking Buffs look past the reeling Wildcats. That’s the best Arizona can hope for at this point.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Defeated Arizona 69-7
This week: Against California (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: Let’s just pretend that Arizona game didn’t happen. Not much, really, to take away from that game from the Cougars perspective anyway (the Wildcats are simply outmatched by Wazzu). But, as he did last year, Mike Leach has his squad rolling, and it’s been somewhat overlooked that, if they keep winning and can pull an upset in the Apple Cup, the Cougars could throw a wrench in the Huskies college football playoff plans.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Bye
This week: at Arizona State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m., FS1)
Comment: Utah and Colorado, it seems, will be in a battle to the end for the South title. This week, both teams are in the state of Arizona, and neither should be particularly challenged.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Defeated Oregon 45-20
This week: at No. 4 Washington (5:30 p.m., Fox)
Comment: After starting 1-3, the Trojans are on a 5-game winning streak, perhaps saving Nice Guy Clay Helton’s job. He’ll secure it further if USC can upset — yes, 2016, y’all — Washington on Saturday. The Trojans have the talent to pull it off, too, though a lot has to happen for USC to pull out the South title in the end.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Defeated Oregon State 26-15
This week: at Oregon (2 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: There’s a decent chance Stanford ends the non-bowl season with a 9-3 record, and on a five-game winning streak, but that’s more a result of their easy schedule to close out the year. Stanford won its last two against Arizona and Oregon State, with Oregon, California and, yes, Rice at the end. When all is said and done, this season will still be viewed as a disappointment for the Cardinal, regardless.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Bye
This week: Against No. 15 Utah (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.)
Comment: After Stanford, the Pac-12 is….bleh. As Lev put it, the only reason ASU is ranked ahead of these other teams is “because they didn’t play” last week.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Lost 66-27 against Washington
This week: At No. 23 Washington State (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Comment: It’s been quite the up-and-down season for the Golden Bears, but a saving grace has been quarterback Davis Webb, a likely future NFL draft pick. He struggled against Washington (three interceptions) but has thrown for 30 touchdowns and a 62.6 completion percentage on the year.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Lost 45-20 to USC
This week: Against Stanford (2 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Remember when people used to care about this game? It’s one of the least exciting match-ups this weeks. Also, what the heck happened to (ex?) star running back Royce Freeman? The junior was considered a possible Heisman candidate, but has only mustered 136 total rushing yards on 53 carries in Oregon’s last four games.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Lost to Stanford 26-15
This week: at UCLA (7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: The Beavers aren’t quite there yet, but they’ve shown signs of improvement. This will be a slow build, as it was for Colorado after the last few years. I’d expect leaps in progress next season.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Last week: Lost to Colorado 20-10
This week: against Oregon State (7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: I don’t think anyone could have predicted that it’s unlikely, this late in the season, that the Bruins will make a bowl game. Or that UCLA might be the second-worst team in the conference, or at least battling for that title with Oregon State. I would say maybe Jim Mora’s seat is getting warm, but I’m just now sure Bruins fans care enough to bring the outcry that would lead to a coaching change in the near future. The loss of Josh Rosen doesn’t help.
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson 🌵 (@this_is_tucson) • Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
This Tucson chef has been named a semifinalist for prestigious James Beard Award 🎉
-
A saber tooth tiger fossil, gemstone paintings, and more: Here's the low-down on 4 Tucson gem shows! 💎
-
Check out these 23 exciting Tucson events, January 30 - February 1! ✨
-
Horchata lattes and breakfast burritos: Tucson's Barista del Barrio opens 2nd location
-
Sparkle City: Gem shows season has started — here's what to know
-
27 exciting events to check out this weekend, January 16-18 💎
-
Community determined to regroup after loss of Tucson Pride