Jaydn Ott, California Golden Bears.
Last weekend, the Pac-12 had its first full slate of conference games. Pacific Northwest Sports continues our 2022 PAC-12 football power rankings, which run through the last bowl game.
If this is a conference on the decline, someone forgot to tell the teams that played. There were some fantastic games last week. The Pac-12 now has four teams in the Top 15, and three more received votes.
Here are our Power Rankings for the week ending September 25, with a Pacific Northwest twist.
Last Game: UCLA 45 – CU 17
This game was never close. The Buffs were down two touchdowns after the first quarter and didn’t do much to close the gap. Quarterback Owen McCown threw for 258 yards (with a touchdown and an interception), which accounted for the majority of CU’s 309-yard total.
This Week: @ Arizona 6:30 PM, Pac-12 Networks
If Colorado wants to escape a winless season, this week against Arizona is one of their best chances to do it.
Last Game: Utah 34 – ASU 13
The post-Herm Edwards era got off to a resounding thud. ASU’s offense was inept, not scoring a touchdown until their final possession of the game. Their defense wasn’t much better.
It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for Arizona State as they head to Los Angeles and a date with Pac-12 front runner USC. The Sun Devils looked bad against Utah, and it won’t get better on Saturday.
Last Game Washington 45 – Stanford 22
Stanford’s start to the Pac-12 season isn’t going so well. Last week, Cardinal quarterback Tanner McKee had three turnovers (2 fumbles, 1 interception). He did have success with receiver Michael Wilson. The duo connected 6 times for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns.
This Week: @ Oregon, 8 PM – FS1
It doesn’t look promising for the Cardinal this week, either. Washington devastated their offensive line last week, and Oregon might be even better up front.
Stanford will have plenty of chances to show they can protect McKee. That’s because the Bo Nix-led Ducks offense can score points in a hurry.
Last Game: Cal 49 – Arizona 31
It was a Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde performance for Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura against California. On the positive side, JDL threw for 401 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, he also threw 2 interceptions and lost a fumble.
Both Jacob Cowing and Dorian Singer had over 100 yards receiving.
This Week: vs. Colorado, 6:30 PM, Pac-12 Networks
The Wildcats should have an easier time with Colorado. Expect Arizona to have one of their better offensive showings of 2022 this week.
Last Game: Cal 49 – Arizona 31
In only the fourth game of his college career, running back Jaydn Ott had one for the ages. The freshman from Chino, California, had 274 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on just 19 carries. His scoring runs weren’t one-yard plunges; they were 73, 18, and 72 yards, respectively.
Jack Plummer added to the offensive onslaught with 3 touchdown passes. Safety Daniel Scott tied for the team lead in tackles and had an interception.
This Week: @ Washington State, 2:30 PM – Pac-12 Networks
If Arizona can hang 31 on Cal, the Golden Bears’ defense should be ready for an even more dynamic offense. In return, they’ll feed Wazzu a steady diet of Ott.
Last Game: USC 17 – OSU 14
Oregon State gave USC all they could handle and then some. They had a lead until the final 1:13 of the game.
It was a surprisingly stout defensive performance by OSU against a very good Southern Cal offense. The Beavers held USC quarterback Caleb Williams to 185 yards on 16 of 35 passing.
This Week @ Utah, 11 AM, Pac-12 Networks
Even though they lost last week, Oregon State has to be feeling pretty good about themselves. They went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country.
Their hard journey continues as OSU faces #12 Utah. This game may be even tougher than USC because it’s on the road.
Last Game: Oregon 44 – WSU 41
For a good part of the game, it looked like Wazzu would pull off a huge upset over visiting Oregon. With over half the fourth quarter gone, they held a 12-point lead.
However, it wasn’t meant to be. Turnovers and poor defensive play ultimately cost Wazzu a big win. Ultimately, they came out on the wrong side of a 44-41 score.
The Cougs gave up 624 yards. They came into the game with 15 sacks but couldn’t get any pressure against UO’s offensive line.
Quarterback Cameron Ward played well. Despite his two interceptions, Ward put up big numbers. He completed 37 of 48 passes for 375 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, Ward did a great job of spreading the ball around, finding nine different receivers.
In football, there are no such things as moral victories, but last week’s loss could be a stepping stone for the Washington State Cougars.
This Week vs. Cal, 2:30 PM, Pac-12 Networks
The Washington State Cougars need to shake off that disappointing loss and move on. Defensively both teams have similar team stats in yards allowed, points against, and turnovers.
The biggest difference is that the Cougs have 15 sacks. And California hasn’t done a good job of protecting the quarterback.
Ward played well until his game-ending pick-six. Cal’s defense is one he and his cadre of talented receivers can exploit.
Last Game: UCLA 45 – CU 17
It was total domination by UCLA at Folsom Field. Not only did the Bruins win by 4 touchdowns, but they also outgained CU by over 200 yards.
Running back Zach Charbonnet showed why he’s one of the best rushers in the conference by picking up 104 yards and 3 touchdowns on only 9 carries.
On the other side, Laiatu Latu terrorized Colorado. The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week had 3 sacks.
This Week: vs. Washington, Friday, September 30, 7:30 PM – ESPN
It’s Friday Night Lights at the Rose Bowl as the Bruins host 15th-ranked Washington. Although UCLA is undefeated, they haven’t played anyone of consequence yet.
Washington will be a bigger test than anything the Bruins have faced so far. Maybe they can draw 30,000 fans this week.
Utah was more than ready to play an ASU team that wasn’t anywhere near ready to face them. Scoring on 4 of their first 5 possessions, the Utes took a 24-6 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Their defense was relentless. In addition to 5 quarterback sacks, the Utes allowed a net of 6 rushing yards and forced 3 turnovers.
Junior Quarterback Cameron Rising passed for 260 yards and ran for 37 more. Dalton Kincaid caught 4 balls, 2 for touchdowns.
This Week: vs. Oregon State, 11:00 AM – Pac-12 Networks
The Utes take on a pack of angry Beavers at Rice-Eccols stadium. It will be a good test for Utah. In the next two weeks, they face both of the conference’s Southern California schools, who are currently undefeated.
Last Game: Oregon 44 – WSU 41
The Ducks piled up big offensive numbers in Pullman last Saturday. Behind terrific offensive line play, Nix threw for 428 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, UO’s defense had 4 sacks and 2 interceptions. The final turnover was a pick-six by Mase Funa that sealed a hard-fought Ducks road win.
This Week: vs. Stanford, 8 PM -FS1
Oregon welcomes Stanford to Autzen Stadium for this week’s edition of Pac-12 After Dark. If Stanford struggled against Washington’s offense, they ain’t seen nothing yet.
Last Game: Washington 45 – Stanford 22
Saturday afternoon, the Washington Huskies made it 4 in a row to open their 2022 season. Last year they only won 4 games total, so what they’re doing now under Head Coach Kalen DeBoer is a big improvement.
U-Dub scored a touchdown on their first possession and accelerated from there. They cruised to a 40-22 victory and are now ranked 15th.
Michael Penix has become a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. The senior completed 22 of 37 for 309 yards and 2 touchdowns, upping his season passing TD total to 12.
While passing remains Washington’s forte, running back Wayne Taulapapa had another outstanding game. The Virginia transfer ran 13 times for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Washington’s front six had a field day. They sacked Tanner McKee 8 times and caused 3 turnovers which led to 17 points.
Linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala and Edge Rusher Bralen Trice had 2.0 sacks each. Zion Tupuola-Fatui finally looked like the pass-rushing threat he was before the torn Achillies, with 2.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks.
This Week: at UCLA, Friday, September 30, 7:30 PM – ESPN
Washington makes their only trip to Southern California for a rare late-September Friday Night game. They will face the undefeated yet lightly tested UCLA Bruins.
Huskies quarterback Michael Penix has been nothing short of outstanding this year. He’ll go after the Bruins secondary with a vengeance.
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is not only experienced but talented. Between him and Charbonnet, UW’s defense will have their hands full.
Last Game: USC 17 – OSU 14
USC got more than they bargained for in Corvallis last Saturday. Oregon transfer Travis Dye carried the offense with 142 total yards on 20 touches.
Meanwhile, the Trojan defense declared a no-fly zone, holding OSU to 167 passing yards. They also had 4 interceptions
This Week vs. ASU, 7:30 PM – ESPN
There is no such thing as a gimme in Pac-12 football, but this is as close as it gets. USC is at home against a team in disarray that got crushed last time out.
It’s a big week in the Pac-12. Check back with us next Tuesday for our updated power rankings.