Recapping the best and worst of Week Five in the Pac-12 …
Team of the week: StanfordCredit the Cardinal for creating opportunities and for taking advantage of those presented, on a yellow and green crusted platter, by Oregon. Stanford could have wilted after the Ducks reeled off 17 consecutive points. It could have fizzled after facing a second-and-19 on the final drive. Tanner McKee could have remained on the sideline for more than one play after getting pummeled by Oregon’s pass rush. Instead, the Cardinal produced a launch-point victory for its season and derailed Oregon’s playoff drive. And this week, Stanford can play the spoiler again with a Friday night affair at Arizona State.
Game of the week: Stanford 31, Oregon 24 (OT)For the fifth time in 20 years, Stanford toppled the Ducks when they were ranked in the top 10. The latest upset came courtesy of a game-tying, 87-yard drive in the final minute that featured two legitimate penalties on the Ducks (targeting and roughing the passer) and one highly questionable defensive holding in the end zone that gave Stanford an untimed down. But the Ducks played poorly enough for long enough to put themselves in a vulnerable position. Maybe this loss will shake them from the post-Ohio State slumber.
Oregon's Travis Dye (26) walks off the field after losing to Stanford in overtime Saturday. The Cardinal continued its tradition of knocking off highly-ranked Ducks teams.
Statement of the week: Arizona State
The Sun Devils are a mystery no more after dominating UCLA in the second half of a 42-23 win at the Rose Bowl. They shut down the Bruins’ ground game and unleashed a series of big plays against UCLA’s hyper-aggressive defense. In so doing, ASU established itself as the team to beat in the South. At least until next week.
Salvation of the season: Washington State
The Cougars used a stout defensive effort to defeat Cal 21-6 in Berkeley and keep their postseason hopes alive. Had they lost, and dropped to 1-4, the bowl math would have turned exceedingly difficult. But at 2-3, the Cougars have a path to the postseason and absolutely no other controversies or distractions that could possibly derail their recovery. Err …
Player of the week: ASU receiver Ricky Pearsall
Let’s first acknowledge that USC wideout Drake London was stupendous at Colorado and has been the best player in the conference all season — offense, defense, anywhere. But in our view, USC would have handled the Buffaloes without a superior performance by London. We selected Pearsall because of two huge plays (touchdown catches of 65 and 54 yards) in a close game that will impact the South race.
Absence of the week: Oregon playcaller Joe Moorhead
The Ducks announced prior to the game that their offensive coordinator wasn’t available due to an illness unrelated to COVID. And his absence was noticeable — the Ducks were not in sync offensively. An excuse for the loss? Nope. One of several contributing factors? Undoubtedly.
Absence of the season: Washington tailback Sean McGrew
We remain a bit baffled by the decision to keep McGrew on the bench for the first two games, but this much is clear: The Huskies would have beaten Montana if McGrew had played a significant role.
Absence of the decade: Cal
The Bears ended the 2010s with a three-game winning streak, a bowl victory and loads of momentum under coach Justin Wilcox. Then COVID hit, Berkeley insanity followed, and the Bears haven’t been the same since. Sure, there are issues with personnel, and we’re not sold on the coaching staff as currently composed. But Cal simply hasn’t regained its pre-pandemic mojo.
Running back Christopher Brooks (34) and the Cal offense had nowhere to turn against Washington State on Saturday.
Response of the week: Oregon State
A 17-10 lead turned into a 24-17 deficit after Washington scored two touchdowns in 17 seconds. But the Beavers didn’t buckle. They answered with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that tied the game and shifted the momentum. Four of the six plays, and 58 of the 75 yards, were on the ground.
Risky call of the week: Washington coach Jimmy Lake
We had no problem with Lake’s decision to attempt a fourth-and-1 conversion at his own 46 with four minutes remaining in a tie game. But the call itself was a blunder: The full-yard distance was too great for a sneak, especially with a quarterback who’s only 6-foot and 200 pounds. UW should have used a power back in that situation, or tried something creative with Morris.
Bad decision of the week: Colorado coach Karl Dorrell
The usually mild-mannered coach was out of line when he pushed a camera held by a credentialed journalist while jogging off the field — the CBS4 cameraman was simply doing his job and not blocking Dorrell’s path. After the game, Colorado AD Rick George apologized on social media on Dorrell’s behalf. And on Sunday morning, Dorrell himself issued a statement.
Bad image of the week: Stanford-Oregon
For reasons unclear at this moment, ABC’s transmission of the thriller at Stanford Stadium looked like something out of the 1970s — so bad that Twitter chimed in and the website Awful Announcing addressed it. We have reached out to the Pac-12 for an explanation and will pass along any response. But because it was an issue specific to ABC, the conference office might be in the dark, as well.
Predictable result of the week: USC
Stop us if you spot a trend with the results of the Trojans’ five games:
Beat San Jose State 30-7
Lost to Stanford 42-28
beat Washington State 45-14
Lost to Oregon State 45-27
Beat Colorado 37-14
Game of this week: Utah at USC
One of the best series in the conference resumes in Los Angeles with a primetime broadcast on FOX. It’s Utah’s first game since the death of defensive back Aaron Lowe and a chance for the Utes to thrust themselves into the South race. Meanwhile, USC is an ongoing curiosity. And we should note the Friday night game (Stanford at ASU) carries significant stakes given the victories by each team this weekend.
