Pac-12 Hotline: On Saturday's LA showdown, TV ratings, tiebreaker scenarios and fake injuries

Six need-to-knows for Week 12 in the Pac-12 …

1. Number to beat

Will the most anticipated USC-UCLA game in years become the most-watched Pac-12 game of the season?

The bar is high. The latest TV ratings revealed that Washington’s pulsating victory at Oregon drew 3.63 million viewers — more than any conference game in 2022.

Here’s the list of seven intra-conference affairs that have cleared the 2 million-viewer mark, according to SportsMediaWatch:

1. Washington-Oregon: 3.63 million

2. UCLA-Oregon: 3.34 million

3. USC-Stanford: 2.96 million

4. USC-Utah: 2.74 million

5. Utah-UCLA: 2.65 million

6. Oregon-WSU: 2.27 million

7. Cal-USC: 2.04 million

(Oregon’s season-opening loss to Georgia drew 6.2 million viewers.)

We give the L.A. showdown a better-than-average chance of beating the viewership number posted by Washington and Oregon.

The last time both USC and UCLA had first-class seasons, in 2014, their matchup drew 4.85 million viewers.

2. Faux-injury alert

When Oregon’s Kris Hutson grabbed his leg and hit the turf in the final seconds Saturday evening, it looked extremely suspicious — like the receiver was feigning an injury to stop the clock and give the Ducks a chance to get organized on their final, desperate drive.

Hutson left little doubt about his intentions this week, saying the move was “part of the gameplan.”

The Pac-12 should be on alert for more of the same (from all teams) in these final weeks.

Bogus injuries — those designed to stop the clock or halt the opponent’s momentum — are a point of emphasis across the FBS this season.

According to the NCAA’s football code: “Feigning an injury for any reason is unethical. An injured player must be given full protection under the rules, but feigning injury is dishonest, unsportsmanlike and contrary to the spirit of the rules. Such tactics cannot be tolerated among sportsmen of integrity.”

The Pac-12 has the option to send any concerning situations to the NCAA’s national officiating office for a review.

3. Tiebreaker matters

Five teams remain in the race for a berth in the Pac-12 championship game — a race that is unlikely to be resolved this weekend.

Here’s what we know, per the conference office:

USC clinches a berth with a victory over UCLA

UCLA is eliminated with a loss to USC

Washington is eliminated with a loss to Colorado

If USC and Colorado win, the title matchup would be USC against the Oregon-Utah winner

As a reminder, head-to-head results are not used to break ties if any of the teams have not played each other. In that situation, the process moves to 1) winning percentage against common conference opponents and 2) record against the next-highest-placed common opponent in the standings.

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Once a team gains the advantage, the process starts over with head-to-head results as the No. 1 tiebreaker (if the remaining tied teams have played each other).

Additionally, there is the potential for a five-team tie if the following scenarios unfolds:

UCLA beats USC and Cal;

Washington beats Colorado and WSU;

Oregon beats Utah and loses to OSU;

Utah loses to Oregon and beats Colorado.

4. CFP update

The Pac-12 placed six teams in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, more than any other conference and its highest total since the 2016 season.

The breakdown by conference:

Pac-12: 6

SEC: 5

ACC: 4

Big Ten: 3

Big 12: 3

5. Scoreboard watching

For USC, the Pac-12’s only remaining playoff contender, four games across the country are of particular importance this week.

The Trojans need:

Baylor to beat TCU, so the Big 12 cannot produce an undefeated champion.

Illinois to beat Michigan, so the Wolverines cannot finish as a one-loss Big Ten runner-up.

South Carolina to beat Tennessee, so the Volunteers cannot finish as a one-loss SEC runner-up.

Miami to beat Clemson, so the Tigers cannot finish as a one-loss ACC champion.

However, we should note that if the Trojans finish with three consecutive wins over ranked opponents (UCLA, Notre Dame and their opponent in the Pac-12 title game), they would be extremely well-positioned for a playoff berth.

6. Notes and nuggets

Arizona (4-6) must beat Washington State to remain on track for a bowl berth. The Cougars have won the past two matchups by a combined 67 points.

USC leads the nation in turnover margin at plus-1.7 per game and has committed just three giveaways in 10 games.

UCLA tailback Zach Charbonnet is averaging 143.1 rushing yards per game. If that mark holds, it would constitute the highest per-game average in the Pac-12 (for a full season) since Stanford’s Bryce Love (162.9 ypg) in 2017.

Arizona State is facing a ranked opponent (Oregon State) for the sixth time this season. The Sun Devils are 1-4, with a victory over Washington.

With a victory over Colorado, Washington would clinch a 7-0 home record for the second time this century (the other: 2017).

Stanford hasn’t lost in Berkeley since the 2008 season.