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Pac-12 football power rankings: Washington survives, Utah has USC’s number

By Dante Pryor

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 03: A general view of the PAC-12 trophy before the PAC-12 Football Championship football game between the Oregon Ducks and the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 03, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 03: A general view of the PAC-12 trophy before the PAC-12 Football Championship football game between the Oregon Ducks and the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 03, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Pac-12 Power Rankings: Week 9
Oct 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Jacob Cowing (2) celebrates his touchdown scored against the Southern California Trojans during the second overtime at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Colorado Buffaloes (4-3, 1-3)

Colorado’s bowl hopes might have gone up in smoke due to their second-half collapse against the Stanford Cardinal. However, the back end of their schedule is incredibly difficult. The Buffaloes play three ranked opponents (Oregon State, Utah, and UCLA). Arizona is playing well and looking to make a bowl themselves.

Shedeur Sanders will have to be Superman, and the defense will need ridiculous turnover luck to find two wins and get to a bowl game.

7. Arizona Wildcats (4-3, 2-2)

The Wildcats are playing high-quality football. ‘Zona had every opportunity to win at USC, and they played Washington and Mississippi State within one score. Jedd Fisch and the Wildcats host Oregon State this weekend, and they can win that game. However, two likely wins are left on their schedule — Colorado and Arizona State.

6. No. 23 UCLA Bruins (5-2, 2-2)

Bruins head coach Chip Kelly is playing the “I’m not naming a starting quarterback” game with the media and Colorado, their opponent, this weekend. It is not going to matter who starts at quarterback against the Buffaloes because — barring a defensive meltdown — the Bruins should win handily.

5. No. 24 USC Trojans (6-2, 4-1)

The Trojans are a polarizing football team. On one hand, they are 4-1 in the Pac-12 and still have an opportunity for the conference championship. However, everyone expects them to lose at least twice before the end of the season. Everyone from fans to sports writers has always looked at them through a playoff lens. That is due mainly to Caleb Williams. Maybe that wasn’t the right lens.

It isn’t easy to build a championship roster in two seasons. That’s not a defense of how they’ve played this season. Riley needs to look inside himself, figure out what he wants this program to be, and build it from there.

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