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

9. Colorado (3-1, 0-1)

Perspective is an interesting facet of the human condition. Some feel as if the hype train came to a crashing halt against the #9 Oregon Ducks this past weekend. Others contend that the Buffaloes exceeded expectations with its 3-0 start, and the Ducks did what everyone thought they would do. They were, after all, three-touchdown favorites.

Whatever side of the fence you sit on, it gets no easier this weekend for Coach Prime and his Buffs as they host the No. 8 Trojans. USC can call its score against Colorado, but their defense shows some of the same bad habits from 2022. The Buffs might be able to put up some points.

8. UCLA (3-1, 0-1)

Either the UCLA offense is not as good as we thought, or the No. 11 Utah defense is more elite than we thought. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. While the 2023 version of UCLA is expected to be Chip Kelly’s most talented team in Westwood, they are led by a true freshman quarterback. Dante Moore is an elite talent, but he’s still a freshman.

Utah’s defense is playing at an unbelievable level, with some key players injured. The Bruins can’t have its two lead backs average 2.7 yards per rush, and Moore needs to learn how not to take sacks. The following two weeks get no easier with No. 16 Washington State and No. 19 Oregon State on the schedule.

7. No. 19 Oregon State (3-1, 0-1)

A flat start and uncharacteristically poor play on defense cost the Beavers last weekend against No. 16 Washington State. The Beavs were down 35-14 before the offense woke up and got back into the game. To its credit, the defense played better in the second half, allowing 10 Cougar points.

The running game was solid, but the passing game was unimpressive. Wazzu quarterback Cameron Ward showed out, throwing for 404 yards. The Beavers host the No. 10 Utah Utes Friday night in Corvallis at Potato Salad Field.