Pac-12 Football Power Rankings, Week 11: Mike Leach, Wazzu in front
By Dana Becker
Since a pair of wins over California and Arizona in October, UCLA has dropped three in a row. The latest was the closest of the bunch, as Arizona State held on for a 31-28 triumph at home.
It hasn’t been all bad for Chip Kelly in his debut season with the Bruins. Joshua Kelley has looked strong at running back in his junior year, and the offense has scored 28 and 21 points in the last two weeks.
UCLA will try to salvage its season with wins over USC and Stanford to close things out this month.
Jermar Jefferson surpassed the 100-yard mark for the sixth time this year as Oregon State fell to Stanford. That’s about the lone bright spot going right now for first-year head coach Jonathan Smith.
A former Beaver starting quarterback who played with Chad Johnson in the orange and black has watched as his team is now just 2-8 and 1-6 in the Pac-12. Oregon State hasn’t won since a late October overtime victory at Colorado, with the other win coming vs. Southern Utah in September.
And the finish to the season will be a difficult one, as the Beavers head to Washington before closing things out at home vs. Oregon.
Back at the start of October, Colorado was viewed as a potential party crasher to the College Football Playoffs. Flash-forward five weeks and the Buffaloes are in turmoil.
Rumors of a coaching change are swirling as Colorado has lost its last five games, including three defeats by double digits. They also fell in overtime to Oregon State, and are coming off a 31-7 besting at the hands of Washington State.
The Buffaloes could play spoiler, though, as they welcome Utah for the final conference game of the season for the Utes this week. Colorado also heads to California to close out the year, needing one more win to secure bowl eligibility.
With wins over Washington State and Arizona State, and a little help, Kevin Sumlin could have Arizona playing for the Pac-12 title by the end of the month. The Wildcats have scored back-to-back victories over Oregon and Colorado, posting a combined 86 points in the wins.
Sumlin also was given an extra week to prepare for this Saturday’s showdown with Washington State on the road thanks to a bye. Khalil Tate looks as healthy as ever, throwing for 350 yards in the win over the Buffaloes.
Utah still controls the South division thanks to a 42-10 victory over Arizona between those two teams, but the Utes are banged up and have one league game remaining.