Pac-12 Power Rankings, Week 9: Conference is in carousel mode for top spot
The top of the Pac-12 is becoming more unpredictable each week, which means the Arizona Daily Star's power rankings are constantly changing.
With Washington, USC and Washington State carousel for the top spot in the conference, these next few weeks should be a treat for any football fan.
The voting panel: Michael Lev, Zack Rosenblatt and Justin Spears. Let's get started!
1. WASHINGTON (6-1, 3-1 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 2)
UpdatedLast week: Bye week
This week: vs. UCLA (12:30 p.m. on ESPN2)
Comment: Washington is a classic example of the bye week helping the team in areas other than recovering from injuries. It also helps the Huskies reclaim the top spot in the Arizona Daily Star Pac-12 power rankings. Washington is coming off a lost against Arizona State, but with how the state of Arizona has performed this season, are you surprise? Huskies only scored seven points, but they'll play a UCLA defense that struggles against the run. Have your day, Myles Gaskin.
2. STANFORD (6-2, 5-1 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 3)
Updated
Stanford cornerback Shawn Wilson (2) intercepts a Hail Mary pass on the last play of the game against Oregon State in an NCAA college football game, in Corvallis, Ore., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. Stanford won 15-14. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)
Last week: Won 49-7 vs. Oregon
This week: Won 15-14 vs. Oregon State
Comment: Stanford, man. The Cardinal were minutes away from being upset by the worst team in the Pac-12. Bryce Love was out with an ankle injury and it showed as Stanford only rushed for 81 yards the entire game. Stanford got away with one this week, but it will not win playing like that on the road against Washington State next week.
3. WASHINGTON STATE (7-1, 4-1 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 4)
UpdatedLast week: 28-0 win vs. Colorado
This week: vs. Arizona (6:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: The Cougars got their pride back from getting thumped by Cal by shutting out Colorado last week. Washington State now turns to Arizona, one of the biggest surprises of the conference this season. After spoiling Arizona's homecoming two seasons ago and winning last year's contest by 62 points, you would think Mike Leach and Co. will cruise in Tucson, right? Let the games begin.
4. USC (6-2, 4-2 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 1)
Updated
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Last week: 49-14 loss at Notre Dame
This week: at Arizona State (7:45 p.m. on ESPN)
Comment: If there's any team that wants to move on from last week, it's USC. Losing to Notre Dame that bad is uncharacteristic even when the Trojans were in the rebuilding stage under Lane Kiffin. USC's College Football Playoff is essentially nailed in the coffin and put to rest, but it can still win the conference at the end of the day.
5. ARIZONA STATE (4-3, 3-1 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 7)
UpdatedLast week: 30-10 win at Utah
This week: vs. USC (7:45 p.m. on ESPN)
Comment: The savior of Phoenix sports resides in Tempe. Much like the Arizona Wildcats, the Sun Devils have been one of the more pleasant surprised in the conference and it starts with quarterback Manny Wilkins who's only thrown three interceptions this season. As Wilkins goes, ASU goes and playing a late night kickoff against USC, maybe Pac-12 after dark will do its magic and provide us folks who stay up late, an incredible game.
6. ARIZONA (5-2, 3-1 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 6)
Updated
Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate runs past Cal linebacker Alex Funches, left, for a first-half touchdown Saturday.
Last week: 45-44 double-overtime win at Cal
This week: vs. Washington State (6:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: This week is crucial for the Wildcats and it doesn't help that Tony Fields II, Dereck Boles and Kylan Wilborn have injuries and are listed as probable. Khalil Tate has definitely been the man-of-the-hour for Arizona all season, but the Wildcats thrive off of their young defense and Rich Rodriguez will need Marcel Yates and his boys to be ready Saturday, because Washington State's offense is no joke.
7. (TIED) UCLA (4-3, 2-2 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 9)
Updated
In two appearances against Arizona, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen has passed for 634 yards with five touchdowns in two victories.
Last week: 31-14 win vs. Oregon
This week: at Washington (12:30 p.m. on ESPN2)
Comment: The Bruins bounced back from their loss to Arizona with a win over Tucson's favorite quarterback Braxton Burmeister and the Oregon Ducks, but UCLA is in trouble. If it loses to Washington Saturday, that's a pass for Jim Mora, but the following weeks will be a stretch if UCLA wants to make a bowl game. The Bruins moved up in this week's rankings, but it should be interesting to see how they do moving forward.
7. (TIED) CAL (4-4, 1-4 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 8)
Updated
California running back Patrick Laird (28) leaps over Arizona cornerback Jace Whittaker (17) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. Arizona won 45-44 in two overtimes. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Last week: 45-44 double overtime loss to Arizona
This week: at Colorado (11 a.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Justin Wilcox showed his bravery against the Wildcats last week by attempting the two-point conversion in double overtime, but Arizona came out on the better end. This week, will we see the Cal team that beat Washington State 37-3 or the team that lost to Arizona? Don't mess around on the road, Cal.
9. UTAH (4-3, 1-3 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 5)
UpdatedLast week: 30-10 loss to Arizona State
This week: at Oregon (2:45 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Utah was once a dark horse for the Pac-12 South title, but man have the Utes fallen off. Who's the quarterback, Troy Williams or Tyler Huntley? As the Utes continue to have quarterback woes, their record shows the struggle. Winning on Saturday is very possible, but Utah needs something positive moving forward.
10. OREGON (4-4, 1-4 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 10)
UpdatedLast week: 31-14 loss at UCLA
This week: vs. Utah (2:45 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Braxton Burmeister showed his age as a freshman quarterback the last couple of weeks. Willie Taggart needs Justin Herbert back under center if the Ducks want to make a bowl game, but playing a struggling Utah team at home will definitely help no matter who's the quarterback Saturday.
11. COLORADO (4-4, 1-4 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 11)
Updated
Arizona linebacker Tony Fields II, right, sacks Colorado quarterback Steven Montez in the first half of Saturday’s game. The Wildcats’ defense struggled to stop the Buffaloes offense but still emerged with a three-point win.
Last week: 28-0 loss to Washington State
This week: vs. Cal (11 a.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Colorado is the defending Pac-12 South champion? Doesn't look like it even with an all-conference caliber running back in Phillip Lindsay. The Buffaloes do play at home for an early morning kickoff so maybe they put it together this week.
12. OREGON STATE (1-7, 0-5 PAC-12; PREVIOUS RANK: 12)
Updated
Oregon State defensive end Paisa Savea before an NCAA college football game, in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)
Last week: 36-33 loss to Colorado
This week: 15-14 loss to Stanford
Comment: Oregon State lost to Stanford by the skin of its teeth and nearly shook up the entire conference. Doesn't get easier for the Beavers as they have three road games and a home matchup with a surging Arizona State team.
