Pac-12 Conference power rankings

PULLMAN – Mike Leach uses the term “floodgate game” to describe those rare contests between somewhat evenly matched teams in which the winner seemed to play its best football of the season and the loser played it worst. One team gets every favorable bounce, one team doesn’t get a break and the result is a score so lopsided that one’s first reaction upon seeing it is to assume somebody made a typo. The floodgates were open and the levees broke in the Pac-12 last weekend, with fully half of all games involving a Pac-12 team turning into unexpected laughers. At the start of the season it was conceivable that Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon would not lose any games at home. Now they’ve each lost one by more than three touchdowns.

1 UCLA (4-0, last week: 1) If Jim Mora isn’t careful, the Bruins may become so good that he won’t have anything to complain about after games.

2 Utah (4-0, last week: 6) There was a time, not that long ago, when it was perfectly acceptable to question whether the Utes could compete with Pac-12 teams every week.

3 Stanford (3-1 last week: 2) Suddenly, Oregon is no longer Stanford’s de facto rival for North supremacy. Maybe the Cardinal’s actual rival can pose a threat?

4 USC (3-1, last week: 7) The Trojans have no margin for error, but USC can still win the conference and play for a national championship. A Pac-12 Championship Game with Stanford would be truly delicious.

5 California (4-0, last week: 3) Cal can get to the cusp of its first bowl game since 2011 with a win this weekend, where it will remain for at least a couple of weeks while traveling to Utah and UCLA.

6 Oregon (2-2, last week: 4) The Ducks didn’t just lose on Saturday. They were systematically and brutally dismantled. If one judges the program purely on the post-Mariota era, the Ducks look like a six-win team.

7 Arizona (3-1, last week: 5) Who knew that the underclassmen-filled 2014 Arizona team would get worse with experience?

8 Colorado (3-1, last week: 10) The Buffaloes had their fun beating up on Nicholls State. An Oregon team that badly needs a statement win might be a little tougher.

9 Washington (2-2, last week: 8) UW employs logically sound, if practically stupid strategy of keeping their more-talented defense on the field as much as possible.

10 WSU (2-1, last week: 11) The Cougs have to play much better to win conference games. But with two early kickoffs the next two weeks, WSU fans are already winners.

11 Arizona St. (2-2, last week: 9) The Sun Devils had a chance to prove to their fans they’re a compelling team last weekend. That’s not what happened.

12 Oregon St. (2-2, last week: 12) The Beavers are starting to look like a team that can steal a couple of Pac-12 wins. But OSU should be the underdog in every game.