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Jacob Thorpe’s Pac-12 power rankings

By Jacob Thorpe

PULLMAN – As we approach the regular season’s official midpoint there is more confusion than ever following a chaotic weekend that saw half the AP Top 10 fall at the same time for the first time in history and seven previously unbeaten teams go down. Just how overturned is the Pac-12 conference right now? The highest-ranked team, No. 10 Arizona, isn’t even favored at home against USC. But we’ll try and make some sense of it all before Washington State beats Stanford and blows it all up again.

1 Arizona (5-0, 2-0; last week: No. 5) Sure, Rich Rodriguez has done a pretty good job this season. But c’mon, coach, it took you that long to figure out Anu Solomon was your guy at quarterback?

2 Oregon (4-1, 1-1; last week: No. 1) Hey, I can’t drop the Ducks too much for losing to a Top 10 team.

3 Stanford (Stanford 3-2, 1-1; last week: No. 4) Has Stanford’s offense scored on its defense in any practice this season?

4 Arizona St. (4-1, 2-1; last week: No. 6) If backup quarterback Mike Bercovici keeps playing like he did at USC then maybe the Sun Devils can move Taylor Kelly to safety or something.

5 UCLA (4-1, 1-1; last week: No. 2) UCLA has the talent to finish first, but the offensive line play of a last-place team.

6 California (4-1, 2-1; last week: No. 9) Cal’s guardian angel made up for falling asleep at the wheel against Arizona by spiking away WSU’s game-winning field goal.

7 Utah (4-1, 1-1; last week: No. 10) The Utes would be higher but there’s still a chance Travis Wilson starts at quarterback.

8 USC (3-2, 2-1; last week: No. 3) Don’t worry, USC fans. Once Steve Sarkisian gets his players in the system the Trojans will still have a bunch of high school All-Americans.

9 Washington St. (2-4, 1-2; last week: No. 8) The Cougars were casualties of their own hubris this weekend, scoring so many points Cal’s Trevor Davis was bound to return a few kickoffs for touchdowns.

10 Washington (4-1, 0-1; last week: No. 7) The Huskies lose points for sitting out the wildest weekend in college football.

11 Oregon St. (4-1, 1-1; last week: No. 11) With a bye this week, Beavers fans are going to make it to week eight before seeing their team lose a second game. Go ahead and skip watching the rest of the season, Beavers fans, you’ve earned it.

12 Colorado (2-4, 0-3; last week: No. 12) Colorado is going to surprise some team and pick up a win eventually. That’s really going to hurt for that team. I mean you lost to Colorado.