PAC-12 Football Power Rankings – Week Ending 10/25
9. Stanford Cardinal (3-4, 1-4)
Last Game: Stanford 15 – ASU 14
This was Stanford’s first conference win of 2022. The Cardinal are on a two-game winning streak. Joshua Cartyconnected on 5 field goal attempts, including one from 47 yards out and two others 44 yards away.
This Week: at UCLA, 7:30 PM – ESPN
Unfortunately, Stanford’s streak comes to an end. UCLA will be fired up this week after their first loss of the season.
8. Arizona Wildcats (3-4, 1-3)
Last Game (October 17): Washington 49 – Arizona 39
UW was the second straight opponent to hang 49 points on Arizona’s defense. Even a 4 touchdown performance from Jayden de Laura wasn’t enough to overcome the Wildcats’ poor defense.
This Week: vs. USC, 4:00 PM – Pac-12 Networks
Arizona got an extra week to ponder USC. The Wildcats will be fortunate to give up only 49 against Southern Cal’s powerful offense.
7. Washington State Cougars (4-3, 1-3)
Last Game (October 17): Oregon State 24 – WSU 10
This game was a must-win for the Cougs, and they couldn’t generate any points against Oregon State. Wazzu had 368 yards of total offense, and 345 of them came via Cam Ward’s right arm.
Worse, Washington State had opportunities to get in back into the game. But every time they came within one score of tying it up, the Coug defense gave up a touchdown.
In the end, Ward’s three turnovers (2 fumbles and 1 interception) sunk WSU. Middle linebacker Daiyan Henley did all he could, racking up 13 tackles.
This Week: vs. Utah, Thursday, 10/27, 7:00 PM – FS1
Pac-12 after dark in Pullman. The Washington State Cougars are coming off a bye week which gave them time to prepare for Utah’s stout defense.
They’ll have to do it on Saturday without wide receiver Renard Bell. De’Zhaun Stribbling moves to Bell’s slot position, and freshman Leyton Smithson enters the starting lineup as the “X” receiver.
That still gives Ward four quality receiver options. Now he just has to avoid those turnovers. That’s easier said than done with Clark Phillips lining up on the other side at cornerback.
Utah has morphed from a running team to a high-powered passing offense led by quarterback Cameron Rising. With so many great passers in the conference, the junior often gets overlooked.
That’s a mistake; Rising is very efficient in guiding Utah’s offense. This year he has 15 touchdowns against 3 interceptions and a 68.8 completion percentage (second in Pac-12).