Pac-12 Power Rankings: Washington State on the rise after big upset
By Dante Pryor
12. Colorado Buffaloes (0-2)
The Buffs are bad. It’s hard to say whether or not Karl Dorrell is because the Colorado job is difficult. That said, Colorado was embarrassed against the Air Force on Saturday. The Falcons ran all over the Buffaloes. The Falcons got whatever they wanted on the ground.
The offense was just as bad, throwing for 51 yards against the Falcons defense. There is a talent issue in Boulder. Is Dorrell the coach to fix it? That is the big question.
11. Arizona State Sun Devils (1-1)
Continuing with the subject of undermanned rosters, the Arizona State Sun Devils were outmatched and outclassed by the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater on Saturday. Cowboys quarterback Spencer Sanders threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
The Sun Devils’ offense looked vanilla and uninspired. The Sun Devils had one explosive play but struggled to sustain drives on a down-by-down basis. After they host Eastern Washington, the Sun Devils begin their Pac-12 schedule.
10. Stanford Cardinal (1-1)
On balance, Stanford did not play poorly. However, if any team in the Pac-12 wants a chance of defeating the Trojans this season, take the Stanford game as a point of reference. The Cardinal had an opportunity to stay in the game, but three early turnovers turned into three touchdowns.
Those touchdowns have to be a concern for the head coach David Shaw. Stanford’s defense put up no resistance against the Trojans. It gets no easier for the Cardinal as they travel to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies.
9. Arizona Wildcats (1-1)
The Wildcats returned to earth in their 39-17 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs after spoiling San Diego State’s first game in its brand new stadium. The Wildcats did themselves no favors by turning the football over three times, either.
Arizona did face a veteran defense in the Bulldogs as well. The Wildcats have one more non-conference game against FCS powerhouse North Dakota State before starting its Pac-12 schedule against California.