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Pac-12 Football Power Rankings, Week 4: Is USC a pretender?

By Kyle Grondin

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Devon Williams #2 of the USC Trojans reacts before the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Devon Williams #2 of the USC Trojans reacts before the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 07: Marcel Dancy #23 of the California Golden Bears scores a 20 yard touchdown run against the Washington Huskies in the third quarter during their game at Husky Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 07: Marcel Dancy #23 of the California Golden Bears scores a 20 yard touchdown run against the Washington Huskies in the third quarter during their game at Husky Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Hawaii had looked like a team worthy of Pac-12 status, after beating both Arizona and Oregon State. Washington went ahead and put that talk to rest, beating them down 52-20.

The Huskies, and in particular Jacob Eason, needed to respond in a big way after losing to Cal, and they did just that, as he threw for three touchdowns and only seven incompletions.

I don’t blame the Huskies for losing to Cal, it was a weird game with a delay that favors defenses. It just leaves them with no margin for error from here on out.

The Golden Bears didn’t make it look pretty, but they continue to find ways to win.

I said two weeks ago that Cal’s defense will keep them in any game, and that’s held true through Week 3. Cal knocked off Washington on the road in the weird weather delay game, and then stopped North Texas and a very good quarterback in Mason Fine.

Cal ranks in the top 25 in yards per play defensively, and they continue to make the stops needed for the offense to do just enough.

I’ll say it once, I’ll say it again: Cal’s defense will keep them in any game.

After collapsing against Auburn to start the season, the Ducks have responded in a big way, beating a solid Nevada team and then doing what it had to do against Montana.

Justin Herbert has thrown for 625 yards and 10 touchdowns in the last two games, and the Oregon offense looks the part again as one of the top in the conference.

If they had beaten Auburn, this team would be number one in the rankings no doubt.

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