Pac 12 Power Rankings Week 8: Oregon, USC, Arizona State Rise, Stanford Falls

Saturday Blitz Pac 12 Power Rankings Week 8

Yes, we know they lost to Arizona and both teams only have 1 loss. But Oregon is back on track after blowing out Washington over the weekend, and it was enough for us to vault them back to the top spot. We still can’t put them at the top of all Pac-12 teams based on our Top 25 criteria, but power rankings are who is playing best at that specific time. Can anybody argue that Oregon is likely the best team in the Pac-12 and right now? No.

Marcus Mariota continues to be incredibly efficient, and he has now moved his numbers to 19 touchdowns and 0 interceptions on the year with a 70 percent completion rate. That’s ridiculous. When you add in that he has 289 rushing yards and another 5 touchdowns, his numbers make him look like he’s clearly the best player in the game. For right now, only at this specific moment, we are willing to chalk that Arizona loss up as a fluke.

And with only one ranked team, Utah, on the slate for the rest of the year, the Ducks have a great chance to reach 11-1. And then they could have a rematch with Arizona in the Pac-12 title game, unless of course the Wildcats lose somewhere else, at which point the Ducks would be solidified as the team above them if they keep winning. Still, Oregon has to be careful. Stanford could still get the best of them, and Cal and Oregon State are dangerous.

But for right now, they belong at the top of our Pac 12 Power Rankings.