Pac-12 Football Notes: Colorado at Oregon Next
Colorado’s magic, more Pac-12 quarterback superlatives, Washington’s rise to CFP consideration, Stanford’s embarrassment, Pac-12 supremacy (even over the SEC), the Cam Rising drama, and the sad state of Arizona State’s quarterback situation.
That’s the capsule report of this week’s Pac-12, but we start with what is just ahead. The first full week of Pac-12 play starts next Saturday, and it begins with a doozy of a lineup.
Three Pac-12 games in which both teams are ranked
No. 22 UCLA (3-0) at No. 11 Utah (3-0), 12:30 p.m., FOX
UCLA freshman quarterback Dante Moore (fifth nationally in passer rating) vs. Utah quarterback Cam Rising, maybe (the 2021 first-team all-Pac-12 quarterback is practicing and may be ready to make his 2023 debut; if he can’t go Utah will go with its own true freshman, Nate Johnson).
Three UCLA running backs (Carson Steele, TJ Harden, Anthony Adkins) who each average better than 8 yards per carry vs. Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the Utes have won 16 straight games, the nation’s third-longest active streak.
No. 19 Colorado (3-0) at No. 10 Oregon (3-0), 12:30 p.m., ABC
Prime Time magic (Colorado somehow pulled out a 42-34 victory over Colorado State) vs. Autzen Stadium magic (Oregon’s only loss in its last 27 home games – since 2018 -- was a three-point defeat against Washington, which kicked the winning field goal with 51 seconds left)
Colorado Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Shedeur Sanders vs. Oregon Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Bo Nix.
No. 14 Oregon State (3-0) at No. 21 Washington State (3-0), 4 p.m., FOX
Oregon State quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (25-6 record as a starter in college) vs. Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward (third in the nation in passing yards per game)
Oregon State defense (first in the Pac-12 in total defense) vs. Washington State offense (sixth nationally in scoring, 48.3 points per game).
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One game that may be hard to watch
No. 5 USC (3-0) at Arizona State (1-2), 6:30 p.m., FOX
USC quarterback Caleb Williams (reigning Heisman Trophy winner leads the nation in passer rating) vs. Arizona State quarterback Jacob Conover (ASU’s fourth-string quarterback who is 6-for-16 with two interceptions this season but may start against the Trojans because the top three quarterbacks – Jaden Rashada, Trenton Bourguel, Drew Pyne – are injured, and Rashada is out 4-6 weeks).
USC’s offense (first nationally in scoring, 59.3 points per game) vs. ASU’s offense (129th of 130 FBS teams in scoring, 13.0 per game, after suffering its first home shutout defeat since 1988 in 29-0 loss to Fresno State)
USC’s efficient play (one turnover in three games) vs. Arizona State’s error-filled play (Sun Devils committed eight turnovers – yes, eight – on Saturday against Fresno State. “I literally couldn’t even explain how that’s even possible,” first-year head coach Kenny Dillingham said).
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How impressive is the Pac-12? Let us count the ways
--A 29-5 record against nonconference opponents, easily the best of any conference. The conference is 7-3 against Power Five foes.
--Eight teams are ranked in the AP top 25 for the second week in a row. That’s two more ranked teams than any other conference (SEC has six ranked teams).
--The nation’s top five teams in passing offense are all from the Pac-12: 1. Washington; 2. Colorado; 3. Washington State; 4. USC; 5. Oregon.
--Seven Pac-12 teams are averaging more than 40 points a game, and USC (59.3) and Oregon (58.0) rank first and second.
---The nation’s top three players in passing yards per game are from the Pac-12: 1. Michael Penix Jr., Washington (444); 2. Shadeur Sanders, Colorado (417); 3. Cameron Ward, Washington State (330).
---Washington has three players – Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Ja’Lynn Polk – averaging at least 100 receiving yards per game. No other team in the country has more than one player averaging 100 receiving yards or more.
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But then there is Arizona State and Stanford
The Sun Devils’ only win was a three-point victory over FCS team Southern Utah. I guess being ineligible for a bowl game is no longer part of the discussion.
Stanford suffered the embarrassment of losing to an FCS team, Sacramento State, which is the team Cardinal head coach Troy Taylor turned into an FCS powerhouse the past two years. So he’s probably responsible for his own misery on the Farm.
Only five current Pac-12 teams – Cal, UCLA, USC, Arizona State and Oregon -- have never lost to an FCS/Division I-AA opponent since that category was created in 1978. Stanford, Washington State and Colorado have all lost twice to FCS/Division I-AA teams, and Oregon State has lost six times to FCS/Division I-AA foes. (The designation name was changed from Division I-AA to FCS following the 2005 season.)
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How good is Colorado anyway?
Colorado fans stormed the field for the second straight week after a victory over an unranked foe, and this time it was an overtime victory over three-touchdown underdog Colorado State.
The Buffaloes were about to fall back to Earth with a loud splat before Shedeur Sanders led Colorado on a 98-yard touchdown drive that started with 2:06 left in the game, tying the game with the addition of the two-point conversion.
Then the Buffaloes did something odd: It is Football Strategy 101 to go on defense first in overtime if you win the toss, but Colorado chose to go on offense first. It worked as Sanders threw a touchdown pass in the first overtime, then threw a TD pass and a two-point conversion pass in the second overtime to win 43-35 in a game that finished at about 2:30 a.m. East Coast time.
Stat of the game: Colorado State amassed 187 yards in penalties and committed four turnovers, yet probably should have won the game.
Concern of the game: Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter was taken to the hospital during the game after taking a big (illegal) hit in the first half. He is unlikely to play against Oregon, leaving the Buffs without their top receiver and a key defensive back.
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Pac-12 Player of the Year Standings
--1. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Colorado – He was about the drop out of the top five completely until he directed that 98-yard scoring drive in the closing minutes, and he was outstanding in overtime.
--2. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Washington – Penix leads the nation in passing yards per game and he was 20-for-25 with three TD passes in the first half of the beat-down of Michigan State.
--3. Quarterback Caleb Williams, USC – His numbers are outstanding – nation’s leader in passer rating, 12 TDs, 0 interceptions – but we're waiting for him to face a challenge.
--4. Quarterback Cameron Ward, Washington State – 9 TD passes, 0 interceptions and an impressive over then-No. 19 Wisconsin.
--5. Quarterback Bo Nix, Oregon -- He has quietly completed 77.6% of his passes with 8 TDs and 0 interceptions for a team that is ranked in the top 10 and is second nationally in scoring.
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Top Five Pac-12 Teams
(We rank based on which teams have had the best results, not what we believe are the best teams)
--1. Washington (3-0) – Convincing wins over Boise State (at home) and Michigan State (on the road) push the Huskies to the top.
--2. Utah (3-0) – That win over Florida looks pretty good now after the Gators topped Tennessee.
--3. Washington State (3-0) – Don’t forget about that victory over Wisconsin.
--4. Colorado (3-0) – Barely beating Colorado State pushes the Buffaloes down a few spots.
--5. USC (3-0) – The Trojans may well be the best team in the Pac-12, but we’re waiting for them to face a decent opponent.
(Oregon might move all the way to the top if it beats Colorado convincingly.)
Cover photo of Shedeur Sanders by Andrew Wevers, USA TODAY Sports
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