Pac-12 football power rankings

You know Pac-12 play is imminent when Arizona has to play a team you’ve actually heard of.

Yes, it’s the first weekend of conference-only games – five of them – which means these rankings will shuffle a lot more than they have in previous weeks. There’s even some decent movement this week, with Oregon State vaulting into the top five (remember, this is a week-by-week snapshot, not a predicted order of finish). Your Week 5 rankings:

1 Oregon (3-0, 0-0 in Pac-12; last week: 1) – Ducks didn’t play last week, but still scored 70 points in the nightmares of Tennessee’s players and coaches.

2 Stanford (3-0, 1-0; last week: 2) – Cardinal are destined to remain No. 2 until Nov. 7 meeting with Oregon.

3 UCLA (3-0, 0-0; last week: 3) – A well-earned bye this week after tough 59-13 win over New Mexico State.

4 Washington (3-0, 0-0; last week: 4) – Huskies can’t look past mysterious Arizona team to Oct. 5 game against Stanford.

5 Oregon St. (3-1, 1-0; last week: 8) – Slowly but surely, Beavers recovering from Eastern Washington disaster.

6 WSU (3-1, 1-0; last week: 6) – A win over Stanford would put Cougs in top 4. Or 3. Or …

7 Utah (3-1, 0-1; last week: 10) – Is this Kyle Whittingham’s best Pac-12 team?

8 Arizona (3-0, 0-0; last week: 7) – Awful nonconference schedule is over. Are Wildcats for real?

9 USC (3-1, 0-1; last week: 9) – Game against Arizona State is definition of must-win.

10 Arizona St. (2-1, 0-1; last week: 5) – Sun Devils will be back in top half of these rankings, but must be penalized for not showing up at Stanford.

11 Colorado (2-0, 0-0; last week: 11) – Long break for Buffs ends with tough game at OSU.

12 California (1-2, 0-0; last week: 12) – Brutal schedule continues with conference opener at Oregon.