Pac 12 Power Rankings Week 3: Can Stanford run the table?

Sep 17, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) rushes against USC Trojans defensive back Marvell Tell III (7) during the first half of a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) rushes against USC Trojans defensive back Marvell Tell III (7) during the first half of a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) rushes against USC Trojans defensive back Marvell Tell III (7) during the first half of a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) rushes against USC Trojans defensive back Marvell Tell III (7) during the first half of a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The Pac-12 football week three power rankings are now out and my question to you is can Stanford run the table? I will be taking a look at each team and rank them based on performance and their previous ranking.

Pac-12 showed their strength overall in week three. They only lost two out of ten conference games played. The only inner conference game occurred when the Stanford Cardinals (2-0) defeated the USC Trojans (1-2). #22 Oregon (2-1) and Colorado (2-1) were the only teams that were the victims. However, those were close games and tough opponents.

On the positive side, the Pac-12 took care of business beating underwhelming teams and delivered one upset. California Golden Bears (2-1) pulled out the shocker against #11 Texas 50-43. Utah (3-0) dismantled San Jose State 34-17, while #8 Washington (3-0) breezed by Portland State 41-3. While Arizona (2-1) proved that Hawaii was no contest in their 47-28 victory.

In a closer game that should have been  Arizona State (2-1) defeated Texas-San Antonio 32-28. The Road Runners had a 28-15 lead going into the fourth quarter and lead all game up to that point. UCLA (2-1) defeated BYU 17-14 in the closest game of the day.

Oregon State (1-1) got their first victory of the season defeating Idaho State 37-7 and so did Washington State (1-2) as they closed off Idaho in brutal fashion 56-6. Now all teams in the Pac-12 have won at least one game.

Top 25 ranked games included:

  • USC vs. #7 Stanford
  • #11 Texas vs. California
  • Portland State vs. #8 Wahington
  • #22 Oregon vs. Nebraska

I will be using my week two article Pac 12 Football: Week Two Power Rankings as a springboard for my Week 3 Power Rankings article.