Pac-12 Power Rankings: Washington schools seize control as Apple Cup looms over clustered conference
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Dominic Baciocco
Sports producer
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The Star’s panel of Michael Lev, Ryan Finley, Justin Spears and Dominic Baciocco takes its swing at the latest batch of power rankings. Baciocco compiles the votes and hashes out the weekly results below.
1. Washington State Cougars (8-1, 5-1; previous rank: 1)
Updated
Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew II (16) walks on the field after an NCAA college football game against California in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018.
Last week: Beat Cal, 19-13
This week: at Colorado, 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Gardner Minshew’s high hopes for a Heisman Trophy took a bit of a dip Saturday, when the Cougars scored a last-minute touchdown to knock off lowly Cal in Pullman. But Minshew threw for 334 yards and completed at least 35 passes for the sixth time in nine games. The grad transfer’s high volume in Mike Leach’s offense should be plenty to at least get him to New York at the end of the season. ESPN’s Heisman Watch has Minshew in fourth place, behind Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray and West Virginia’s Will Grier. The Washington State quarterback has completed 70.8 percent of his passes for 3,517 yards, both better figures than all three signal-callers presumably ahead of him in the Heisman race. Minshew’s quest for the sport’s highest honor — not to mention the College Football Playoff — lives on.
2. Washington Huskies (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12; previous rank: 4)
UpdatedLast week: Beat Stanford, 27-23
This week: Bye
Jake Browning’s production has dropped off significantly from his stellar sophomore campaign in 2016, making that 3,430-yard, 43-touchdown season the anomaly in an otherwise disappointing career. The Washington senior is on pace for career lows in completions and touchdowns, and a career high in interceptions. All things considered, the Huskies have to like their chances in the North Division after fending off Stanford last weekend. They get Oregon State at home after a bye week before taking on Washington State in the Apple Cup and presumptive division championship.
3. Stanford Cardinal (5-4, 3-3 Pac-12; previous rank: 3)
UpdatedLast week: Lost to Washington, 27-23
This week: vs. Oregon State, 7 p.m. Saturday
The Cardinal has lost four of its last five for the program’s worst stretch of football since 2008, when it finished 5-7 and missed out on the postseason. Stanford still owns the conference’s fifth-best scoring defense, but the 23.7 points allowed per game is its worst clip since 2009. Stanford closes its season with three of the lesser teams in the Pac-12, hosting Oregon State this weekend before hitting the road to Cal and UCLA. After a bitter defeat in the Pac-12 title game a year ago, David Shaw’s squad should take an 8-4 record to a 10th consecutive bowl game.
4 (tie). Utah Utes (6-3, 4-3 Pac-12; previous rank: 2)
UpdatedLast week: Lost to Arizona State, 38-20
This week: vs. Oregon, 3:30 p.m. Saturday
The Utes may not be this high for long. Utah will roll out redshirt freshman quarterback Jason Shelley for the rest of the season after Tyler Huntley broke his collarbone last weekend against ASU. Shelley, who was the No. 12 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2017, will make his first collegiate start against an Oregon team that ranks seventh in the nation in interceptions (13). Shelley and company still control their Pac-12 destiny with games against the Ducks and Colorado left on the docket.
4 (tie). Oregon Ducks (6-3, 3-3; previous rank: 5, tie)
UpdatedLast week: Beat UCLA, 42-21
This week: at Utah, 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Oregon’s win over UCLA couldn’t have come at a better time. Justin Herbert got back on track to the tune of 264 yards and a pair of touchdown passes while logging his best passer rating since Week 5. CJ Verdell and Tony Brooks-James combined for 163 rushing yards after Oregon running backs had just 108 yards combined over the previous two weeks. The Ducks will finish their regular season with winnable games against Utah, Arizona State and Oregon State.
6. USC Trojans (5-4, 4-3 Pac-12; previous rank: 5, tie)
UpdatedLast week: Beat Oregon State, 38-21
This week: vs. Cal, 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Trojans coach Clay Helton took over play-calling duties and fired his offensive line coach following back-to-back losses. The move worked well enough to get USC past Oregon State and back on track in the clustered South Division. Aca’Cedric Ware had another big day against the Beavers, averaging 12.1 yards per carry for 205 yards while doubling his season touchdown total with three trips to the end zone. A bowl game now seems inevitable as USC can set its sight on another Pac-12 championship with league games against Cal and UCLA left on the schedule.
7. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-4, 3-3; previous rank: 7)
UpdatedLast week: Beat No. 15 Utah, 38-20
This week: vs. UCLA, Noon Saturday
There’s no hiding from this Arizona State offense. Manny Wilkins, Eno Benjamin and N’Keal Harry have paced a potent attack for much of the season, each ranking in the top five of the conference in their respective yardage categories. Wilkins and Harry have connected for nine touchdowns, eighth most in the country. Benjamin’s 11 rushing touchdowns trail Oregon State’s Jermar Jefferson by one. ASU needs a win over UCLA, Oregon or Arizona to clinch bowl eligibility. It’ll happen sooner than later.
8. Arizona Wildcats (5-5, 4-3; previous rank: 8, tie)
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Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate (14) is impressed with teammate running back J.J. Taylor (21) after he juked and sped past Colorado linebacker Rick Gamboa (32) in the third quarter of their Pac-12 game at Arizona Stadium, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Last week: Beat Colorado, 42-34
This week: Bye
Arizona was 3-5 two weeks ago, entering its most difficult stretch of the season and barely holding onto bowl aspirations. All it did next was beat the No. 19 team by four touchdowns and upend a desperate and dangerous Buffaloes team. The Wildcats are playing their best football under first-year coach Kevin Sumlin, and quarterback Khalil Tate looks looks much better. Tate reinvented himself with career highs in passing yards and touchdowns to surge past an early deficit in the win over Colorado, while Sumlin again displayed what Arizona is capable of in Tate’s hands. The Wildcats must beat the nation’s top passing offense in Pullman if they hope to avoid a win-or-go-home Territorial Cup game that’s always a toss-up.
9. Cal Golden Bears (5-4, 2-4; previous rank: 10)
UpdatedLast week: Lost to No. 8 Washington State, 19-13
This week: at USC, 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Cal was a touchdown away from sweeping the Washington schools. It lost three straight games after appearing at No. 24 in the AP poll, but bounced back with wins over Oregon State and then-No. 15 Washington. Cal might not be favored in any of its remaining games — at USC, then home against Stanford and Colorado — but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Golden Bears win one of those matchups to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2015.
10. Colorado Buffaloes (5-4, 2-4; previous rank: 8, tie)
Updated
Arizona running back J.J. Taylor (21) can't get to the ball before Colorado defensive back Derrion Rakestraw (3) can make the catch for an interception in the fourth quarter of their Pac-12 game at Arizona Stadium, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Last week: Lost to Arizona, 42-34
This week: vs. Washington State, 1:30 p.m. Saturday
The Buffs are losers of four straight, with no end in sight. Leading receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. has missed the last three games with a toe injury and is still considered day-to-day. It was the Pac-12 South favorite just a short month ago, but Colorado has left everyone wondering how low it can go. We’re about to find out: CU hosts No. 8 Washington State and Utah before heading to Cal to close the year.
11. UCLA Bruins (2-7, 2-4; previous rank: 11)
UpdatedLast week: Lost to Oregon, 42-21
This week: at Arizona State, noon Saturday
Even a nostalgic trip to Eugene couldn’t revitalize Chip Kelly and the Bruins. The former Oregon coach was 26-2 at Autzen Stadium, but the Ducks did a good job of reminding Kelly just how far he has to go to replicate that success at UCLA. A good first step might be to establish a starting quarterback in the three weeks left on the season, though neither Dorian Thompson-Robinson nor Wilton Speight have done much to prove either one of them is the Bruins’ future.
12. Oregon State Beavers (2-7, 1-5; previous rank: 12)
UpdatedLast week: Lost to USC, 38-21
This week: vs. USC, 7 p.m. Saturday
Oregon State snapped its nearly two-years long winless drought in the Pac-12 last week, but consecutive conference wins weren’t meant to be. Jermar Jefferson was kept out of the end zone for the third straight week; OSU’s standout running back has eclipsed 60 yards just once during that stretch. The Beavers have to make room for the Pac-12’s freshman of the year if they hope to compete during a difficult closing stretch.
Dominic Baciocco
Sports producer
