Pac-12 Football Power Rankings, Week 14: Utah makes playoff case

Given the circumstances, I would consider 8-4 a very successful season for the Trojans. They lost their starter in game one, and the team had the threat of losing their coach all season hang over their heads. It remains to be seen if a bowl win and 9-4 record can convince the new athletic director to save Clay Helton’s job, but it’s clear that they found their offensive coordinator and starting quarterback for the next few seasons.

I’ve written extensively about how great Kedon Slovis is, and he is the best true freshman this season, but Graham Harrell has also been phenomenal as the guy who was a second choice offensive coordinator after Kliff Kingsbury skipped town.

By the way, USC still owns the tiebreaker over Utah for the Pac-12 South. We’ve seen crazier things happen in college football.

Playoff hopes shot down — like a duck (I’ll see myself out). This team for three quarters looked miserable, and Justin Herbert was doing everything he could to play himself out of the first round of the NFL Draft. It was a bad look for the prime time slot the Ducks were in.

Of course, the frustrating part about Oregon, and Herbert more specifically, is the potential you see. They shot out of a cannon in the fourth quarter, and had Arizona State at a third and 16 deep in their own territory. But that defensive play call was inexplicable. No deep safety, knowing they’d have to go downfield, and Jayden Daniels put it on the money.

Nevertheless, the Ducks can play spoiler, as they’ve clinched the Pac-12 championship already. First, spoil their rivals at Oregon State, who want to become bowl eligible. Than potentially spoil Utah in the championship, and continue the Pac-12 playoff drought.

The Utes have out-scored opponents 84-10 in their last two games and they have looked the part as one of the most dominant teams in the country. They’ve dominated the Pac-12, and have only given up more than 20 points twice all year, including their loss to USC.

This team is just really impressive in every phase of football, and they’re one of four teams to rank in the top 10 in offensive and defensive FEI rating. They’ve demanded the respect, and now the playoff calls from everyone is starting to come out. People are paying attention to Utah now, can they follow through?