Pac-12 football power rankings, Week 5: Colorado plummets

12. Stanford (1-3, 0-2)

The Cardinal lost a heartbreaker to Arizona last Saturday. Stanford played well, but the score did not go its way. Games like last weekend are the best Troy Taylor can hope for in year one of what is a significant building project in Palo Alto. The innovative offense Taylor brought to the Farm is averaging just 15 points per game in conference play.

Taylor and his staff should be encouraged by the defense. Stanford allowed 21 points and 349 total yards against Arizona. Next week gets no easier for the Cardinal. They host the No. 9 Oregon Ducks this weekend on the Farm.

11. Arizona State (1-3, 0-1)

While we are on the subject of moral victories for first-year head coaches, Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils hung with the #8 Trojans for three-and-a-half quarters. That might say more about USC than Arizona State, but numbers never lie.

Arizona State never led but was within one score of the SoCal Trojans deep in the fourth quarter until 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to salt the game away for USC. The Sun Devils travel to Berkley this weekend to take on the Golden Bears.

10. California (2-2, 0-1)

Speaking of those Golden Bears, they ran into the Pac-12 buzzsaw known as the Washington Huskies. California allowed 45 points in the first half as the Huskies won going away. Their road loss is a referendum on how good Washington is and nothing more.

California has looked better this year offensively. New offensive coordinator Jake Spavital has given the Bears some juice on offense. Next week is must-win territory for Cal against Arizona State. After they play the Sun Devils, their next five games are against No. 19 Oregon State, No. 10 Utah, No. 8 USC, No. 9 Oregon, and No. 16 Washington State.