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Pac-12 power rankings: Changing of the guards after Dawgs’ day in Boulder

Washington running back Myles Gaskin, front, dashes past Colorado defensive backs Trey Udoffia, left, and Ryan Moeller on the way to a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game l Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Boulder, Colo. Washington won 37-10. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com(509) 459-5584
Washington running back Myles Gaskin, front, dashes past Colorado defensive backs Trey Udoffia, left, and Ryan Moeller on the way to a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game l Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Boulder, Colo. Washington won 37-10. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

Injuries and ailments are part of the game, as the saying goes, but few conferences are hurting more than the Pac-12 right now. Both schools in the Evergreen State are moving on without key pieces for the rest of the season – at Washington it’s receiver Chico McClatcher, at Washington State it’s linebacker Peyton Pelluer. USC has two elite receivers currently out of the picture (Deontay Burnett and Steven Mitchell Jr.) while Utah is already on its second quarterback. Bummer, because Tyler Huntley really had those Utes rolling.

Which teams will rebound? Which won’t? I suppose we’ll know soon.

Three of the unbeatens absorbed losses last weekend and at least one more will have their first by Friday night. Here’s what the Pac-12 power rankings look like until then.

1. Washington (4-0, 1-0; last week: No. 2) – The Huskies won the conference title game rematch. If they get there again, we can be sure the Buffaloes won’t be the ones waiting for them

2. USC – (4-0, 2-0; last week: No. 1) – The Trojans might have the best non-scholarship kicker in the country, but the Huskies won the style points battle and got the top spot this week.

3. Washington State (4-0, 1-0; last week: No. 4) – The Cougars put away another inferior opponent, but Boise State’s blowout loss had to be at least slightly disconcerting to WSU fans.

4. Utah (4-0, 1-0; last week: No. 6) – Utah went 4-0 with Tyler Huntley under center. Now, with Huntley hurt, it appears that the Troy Williams Experience will have to get them past a physical Stanford team.

5. Stanford (2-2, 1-1; last week: No. 7) – Bryce Love has rushed for 787 yards in four games. Yep, I did the math twice. Came out with 787 both times.

6. Oregon (3-1, 0-1; last week: No. 3) – Suddenly, the Oregon offense doesn’t look quite as immortal as it did the first three weeks. But maybe the Ducks just caught in an Arizona sandstorm. Saturday’s home game against Cal should be a good barometer.

7. Cal (3-1, 0-1; last week: No. 8) – They’re not taking moral victories in Berkeley this year according to Justin Wilcox, but over here in the Power Rankings we’re still handing them out. And Cal gets one for a 10-point loss to USC.

8. Colorado (3-1, 0-1; last week: No. 5) – The Buffs gave up 27 points in their first three games. Then the Huskies did them in for 37. They had a nice run, though.

9. Arizona State (2-2, 1-0; last week: No. 11) – They’d probably like to celebrate their Top 15 win, but the Sun Devils have the Cardinal, the Huskies, the Utes and the Trojans before they can come up for air.

10. UCLA (2-2, 0-1; last week: No. 9) – Josh Rosen was the losing quarterback in a game that saw him pass for 480 yards. Meanwhile, K.J. Costello passed for 123 and won his first start.

11. Arizona (0-1, 2-2; last week: No. 10) – Things are still pretty bleak behind center, but the Wildcats had a pretty solid Utah team worried there for a second…

12. Oregon State (1-3, 0-1; last week: No. 12) – The Beavers cooled their heels last week. Nobody in the conference needed it more than them.