Pac-12 Football Power Rankings, Week 13: Washington takes top spot

A tough season finally came to an end for Jonathan Smith and Oregon State, as the Beavers dropped the Civil War with Oregon this past Saturday, 55-15. The loss was the fourth straight and sixth in seven league games.

While there were a few bright spots such as a 41-34 overtime victory over Colorado and the emergence of running back Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State finished with a league-low 199 points scored in conference games.

Jefferson will be the focal point to rebuilding the offense in the offseason, as the California native ran for 1,380 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He had seven games with at least 100 yards, including 238-yard and 254-yard performances in September. However, Jefferson failed to find the end zone in any of the final six games he played in.

What was once a turnaround season, quickly went the other way for Colorado this year. The Buffaloes, who were 5-0 after five weeks, finished with five wins, losing each of their last seven games.

Colorado ended up winning just two league games vs. UCLA and Arizona State in the first two weeks, as they had no answer for the likes of Washington State, Washington or even USC. Steven Montez threw for just over 2,800 yards with 19 touchdowns, Travon McMillian reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark and Laviska Shenault Jr. was a surprise, catching 86 passes for 1,011 yards.

All that, though, led to the firing of Mike MacIntyre, who was named the national coach of the year after the 2016 season. A few former Pac-12 names have been floated around as replacements including Mark Helfrich and Jeff Tedford.

Chip Kelly‘s return to college coaching was a tough one, as UCLA went just 3-9 this year. That included, though, a key win over USC to earn city bragging rights and a third conference victory.

The future, though, looks bright for the Bruins. Joshua Kelley ran for over 1,200 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, but UCLA will need better production out of its quarterbacks. Wilton Speight graduates and freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,311 yards with seven touchdowns.

Thompson-Robinson saw noticeable action in just two of the final five games. UCLA also lost four games by nine points or less, a sure sign of a team on the cusp of a turnaround.

Kevin Sumlin almost had Arizona headed for the postseason, but a 41-40 loss to Arizona State kept the Wildcats from reaching six wins – as did a 2-4 closing stretch to the year.

Sumlin’s abilities to get Arizona to that level next year will rest largely on the decision of Khalil Tate, as there have been rumors of a potential transfer for the junior. Tate was incredible last year, racking up several big games with his legs. He was limited in that regard this season, but did manage to throw for 2,530 yards with 26 touchdowns despite missing almost two full games.

Sophomore J.J. Taylor should have an even bigger role after running for 1,434 yards with six touchdowns including five games with over 100 yards. He also rushed for 284 yards vs. Oregon State and 212 vs. Oregon.