Pac-12 Football Power Rankings: #15 Utah upsets #9 USC in Salt Lake City

Pac-12 Football Power Rankings

4. #12 USC Trojans (6-1, 4-1)

The USC Trojans played one of the better games of the weekend, falling to Utah 43-42. USC has exceeded expectations this season. Their loss to Utah was somewhat inevitable. Defensively, the Trojans’ success was unsustainable. It is impossible to expect the defense to force three or more turnovers every game. The Trojans’ next big test should not come until they play UCLA in November.

3. #15 Utah Utes (5-2, 3-1)

Utah’s defeat of the Trojans was its most significant win in quite some time. After losses to Florida and UCLA, the Utes had been forgotten. They reminded everyone they are not out of the hunt for the Pac-12 title just yet. The Utes’ next three games are winnable, and they’ll need to avoid another loss to have an opportunity to win the conference.

2. #10 Oregon Ducks (5-1, 3-0)

The most pleasant surprise about the Ducks’ 3-0 start is how consistent Auburn transfer quarterback Bo Nix has been this season. Nix’s career has been marked by how up and down he can be. This season, however, the former five-star recruit has been steady all season. Nix and the Ducks have the game of the week in the Pac-12 when they host the #9 UCLA Bruins.

1. #9 UCLA Bruins (6-0, 3-0)

No team in the conference and few teams in the nation are playing, and the UCLA Bruins are playing through six games this season. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson has come into his own as a true dual-threat quarterback.

He and running back Zach Charbonnet are a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare at the mesh point. Their road game against the Ducks should be a good one this weekend.