Pac-12 Power Rankings: Huskies, Ducks resume rivalry with high stakes
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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 Huskies (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12; previous rank: 1)
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Senior running back Myles Gaskin is hitting his stride once again for the Washington Huskies.
Last week: Beat UCLA, 31-24
This week: at No. 17 Oregon, 12:30 p.m. Saturday
By now everyone knows how dangerous Myles Gaskin can be with the ball. The Huskies senior rushed for 116 yards last week, his second-best performance of the season. He found the end zone twice, including the go-ahead score with less than seven minutes left. Washington probably played down to its opponent a bit, but the Huskies are still the clear favorite in the Pac-12. Jake Browning scored his third rushing touchdown of the season, and the quarterback’s 49 rushing yards were his most in more than a year.
2. Colorado Buffaloes (5-0, 2-0; previous rank: 4)
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Laviska Shenault Jr. leads the conference in receiving yards at the season's midway point.
Last week: Beat Arizona State, 28-21
This week: at USC, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Mike MacIntyre’s Buffaloes passed their biggest test of the season to date when they knocked off the Sun Devils last week. It gets more difficult this week in Los Angeles, where Steven Montez and Laviska Shenault Jr. will need to keep their strong connection going. The Buffs’ top combo has connected for more yards through the air (708) than any other in the conference, and Shenault’s six touchdowns are second to only JJ Arcega-Whiteside of Stanford. Montez has been one of the more accurate and efficient passers this season, completing more than 75 percent of his passes and boasting an impressive 11:2 TD/INT ratio.
3. Oregon Ducks (4-1, 1-1; previous rank: 3)
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Oregon wide receiver Dillon Mitchell (13) and the Ducks hope to get back to their winning ways against division foe Washington.
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. No. 7 Washington, 12:30 p.m. Saturday
The Pacific Northwest rivalry takes center stage this week when No. 17 Oregon plays host to No. 7 Washington. The Ducks hosted the No. 7 team (then Stanford) just a short three weeks ago, and squandered a 24-7 halftime lead for their only loss so far. This week, Justin Herbert will put the Pac-12’s top offense (45.6 points/game) to the test against one of the country’s elite defenses. Herbert may need to replicate that first half against Stanford, when Oregon scored all four times it had the ball, for the Ducks to top the Huskies and take their place atop the North Division. Keep in mind the rivalry’s swings of dominance over the years: Oregon won 12 straight from 2004-15 (including seven wins at Autzen Stadium), before Washington took the last two by a combined score of 108-24.
4. Stanford Cardinal (4-2, 2-1 Pac-12; previous rank: 2)
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Bryce Love has failed to repeat his gaudy yardage totals from a season ago while he battles a lingering ankle injury.
Last week: Lost to Utah, 40-21
This week: Bye
Stanford’s first loss of the season came as a surprise, as the Cardinal hadn’t lost to an unranked opponent at home since October 2016. But it was the second loss in as many weeks for David Shaw and company, who now head into a bye week searching for answers. The Cardinal allowed 78 points in its two losses after allowing 54 points in the first four games combined. Perhaps the most telling sign of Stanford’s struggles is the fact that it has allowed the first score in five of six games. The offense, meanwhile, has failed to find steady production in the absence of Bryce Love. Once a Heisman favorite, Love missed his second game this season with a lingering ankle injury. Thankfully for the Cardinal, he’ll have some time to get right with the team off this week. Stanford will be in Tempe next Thursday.
5. Washington State Cougars (5-1, 2-1; previous rank: 6)
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Quarterback Gardner Minshew has helped Washington State coach Mike Leach, above, turn heads this season.
Last week: Beat Oregon State 56-37
This week: Bye
Mike Leach’s Cougars have been a revelation of sorts. Picked to finish fifth in the North Division, Washington State is in prime position at the midway point to make a run at the conference’s top teams. The Cougars have done it behind grad transfer Gardner Minshew, whose 2,422 passing yards are 811 more than the next best quarterback. Minshew’s 19 touchdowns lead the conference, and his 19:4 TD/INT ratio almost seems too good to be true. The offensive line has allowed just five sacks this year, while Minshew and the Cougars continue to take care of the ball while moving it downfield with ease. A bye will allow Leach to focus on a big Oregon matchup looming next week.
6. Utah Utes (3-2, 1-2 Pac-12; previous rank: 7)
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Utah's Zack Moss has paced the Utes' offensive efforts this season.
Last week: Beat No. 14 Stanford, 40-21
This week: vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. Friday
Utah took a commanding halftime lead at Stanford thanks to coach Kyle Whittingham’s gutty play-calling and a pair of Zack Moss touchdown runs. Moss cashed in on a 35-yard run on fourth-and-2 late in the first half, and the Utes never looked back. The running back now has four 100-yard games this season and has scored in each contest. Arizona has struggled to slow down opposing running backs this year, so expect Utah to run early and often Friday night.
7. USC Trojans (3-2, 2-1 Pac-12; previous rank: 5)
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Running back Aca'Cedric Ware has two 100-yard games so far this season. He had only one all of last year.
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. No. 19 Colorado, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Before handling Arizona two weeks ago, USC hadn’t led at halftime since Week 1 against UNLV. That could spell trouble against a Colorado team that’s hardly trailed at all this year. Senior running back Aca’Cedric Ware has been a lone bright spot on offense, but the Trojans have done a lousy job putting the ball in his hands. It'll be interesting to see how quarterback JT Daniels responds to a week off, but it would behoove the Trojans to get Ware hot early. A loss this week could put a huge dent in the Trojans’ chances of repeating as Pac-12 champions, so expect USC to come out with a bit more energy Saturday night.
8 (tie). Arizona State Sun Devils (3-3, 1-2; previous rank: 8)
UpdatedLast week: Lost to No. 21 Colorado, 28-21
This week: Bye
Herm Edwards’ first five games in Tempe can be considered a success after his team was picked to finish dead last in the South Division. The schedule doesn’t get much easier for the Sun Devils, who play Stanford, USC and Utah in consecutive weeks out of the bye. Eno Benjamin has emerged as a major rushing threat. Manny Wilkins has been as impressive as any quarterback in the Pac-12, but an added dimension with Benjamin is what will keep the Sun Devils competitive.
8 (tie). Arizona Wildcats (3-3, 2-1; previous rank: 10)
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Colin Schooler and the UA defense looked to be keying in on some the early-season struggles when they forced four turnovers against Cal.
Last week: Beat Cal 24-17
This week: at Utah, 7 p.m. Friday
Arizona and ASU are in a similar position at the midway point, but the Wildcats own a slight edge in conference play — for now. At 2-1 in the Pac-12, Arizona is still in prime position to make a run to Santa Clara for the title game. I might sound as crazy as I feel for writing that, because the Wildcats certainly haven’t looked the part. Arizona’s defense stepped up in a big way to help hold off Cal last week, with four total takeaways, two interceptions in the fourth quarter and two for scores. Khalil Tate’s offense was scoreless after the first quarter, but it didn’t matter last weekend. It’s difficult to deny Arizona’s current status in the Pac-12, but a win Friday would help Kevin Sumlin establish his Wildcats as contenders.
10. Cal Golden Bears (3-2, 0-2; previous rank: 9)
UpdatedLast week: Lost to Arizona 24-17
This week: vs. UCLA, 4 p.m. Saturday
Brandon McIlwain’s days as Cal’s starter and lone quarterback should be short-lived. Justin Wilcox stuck with the sophomore in Tucson, only to watch as the QB was intercepted three times and Cal fell short of its first Pac-12 win. The wait should end sooner than later, with UCLA visiting Berkeley this week.
11. UCLA Bruins (0-5, 0-2; previous rank: 11)
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Chip Kelley will still be looking for his first win at UCLA when the Bruins host Cal this week.
Last week: Lost to No. 10 Washington 31-24
This week: at Cal, 4 p.m. Saturday
UCLA’s best chance so far at picking up its first win under Chip Kelly came against Washington — who would have thought? A more realistic opportunity comes this week at Cal. But the Bruins are a dismal 1-8 in Berkeley since 2000, and won’t be the favorite in any game this year.
12. Oregon State Beavers (1-5, 0-3; previous rank: 12)
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Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson is on pace to lead his conference in rushing as a freshman, a rare feat in the Pac-12.
Last week: Lost to Washington State, 56-37
This week: Bye
Jermar Jefferson rushed for 138 rushing yards in a loss to Wazzu, giving him four 100-plus-yard performances. Jefferson is on pace for 1,730 yards and 24 touchdowns, and is in line to become the first freshman to lead the Pac-12 in rushing since Washington’s Corey Dillon in 1996.
Dominic Baciocco
Sports producer
