Jacob Thorpe’s Pac-12 power rankings

While Washington State may not have beaten Stanford in the battle between the Pac-12’s two hottest teams, the coin-flip finish was a more impressive result than any of the unimpressive wins against inferior opponents the conference’s other winning teams achieved.

UCLA, USC and Utah all muddled around with middling teams, earning wins but no style points. Somebody had to lose when the conference’s two best teams played each other, but when a hard fought game is decided in the final second, neither team has to lose their spot in the Power Rankings.

1 Stanford (7-1, 5-0; last week: 1) If Kevin Hogan is going to start rushing for 100 yards a game then the Cardinal might as well just run the Wing-T.

2 Washington State (5-3, 3-2; last week: 2) Many of the Pac-12’s better teams appear to be going through a mid-season malaise. But not WSU.

3 USC (5-3, 3-2; last week: 3) Is USC the best three-loss team or the country’s worst collection of All-Americans? The annual debate rages on.

4 Utah (7-1, 4-1; last week: 4) The Utes defense will carry them to a good season. But the lack of an offense beyond Devontae Booker will keep it from being a great one.

5 UCLA (6-2, 3-2; last week: 5) The Bruins managed to escape with a win over the Buffaloes. Thought it’d be a couple more years before I typed that.

6 Oregon (5-3, 3-2; last week: 8) Finally, Oregon once again has an offense capable of putting up 61 points. Even if it needs three overtimes to get there.

7 Washington (4-4, 2-3; last week: 10) Washington’s offense might be figuring things out. Either that or Arizona has the worst defense since Godzilla told a jury they had the wrong lizard.

8 California (5-3, 2-3; last week: 6) Just California’s luck they couldn’t catch USC when it struggled. Now the Golden Bears have to face an Oregon team that’s making plays again.

9 Arizona State (4-4, 2-3; last week: 7) Just imagine how many points the Sun Devils would give up they weren’t stealing signs.

10 Colorado (4-5, 1-4, last week: 11) Colorado’s bound to finish off one of these comebacks, right?

11 Oregon State (2-6, 0-5; last week: 12) Unfortunately for the Beavers, they already played Arizona (and lost).

12 Arizona (5-4, 2-4; last week: 9) Last week’s loss to Washington was undoubtedly the worst by a Pac-12 team this season.