Pac-12 Football: Stanford continues to rule out West
By Dana Becker
The Buffaloes, like California, are coming off a bye after three consecutive wins. They’ll open league play with UCLA, who also had extra time to prepare for the Friday night tilt.
Virginia Tech Travon McMillian had his best game with Colorado and has run for a team-high 290 yards with three touchdowns. Steven Montez has found his way in the passing attack with Laviska Sheunault Jr. and K.D. Nixon.
Montez is completing 73 percent of his throws for 855 yards with eight touchdowns. Of that, Shenault has 26 receptions covering 455 yards and three scores, as Nixon has 17 catches, 181 yards and a touchdown.
The Ducks were on the cusp of besting Stanford and likely taking over the top spot in the Pac-12 power rankings. Then, the ball bounced the other way and things collapsed in Eugene.
It was a very surprising turn of events, and one that Oregon will need to have short-term memories about if they want to get back into contention out west.
Justin Herbert, a likely top pick in the spring in the 2019 NFL Draft, has completed 72 of 114 for 1,186 yards with 13 touchdowns, but he also has five interceptions.
CJ Verdell, who had the costly fumble vs. the Cardinal, leads the team with 408 yards from scrimmage, as Tony Brooks-James has a team-high three rushing touchdowns.
The schedule-makers gave the Ducks not break, though, as they face California on the road with the Golden Bears coming off a bye.