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A battle of Top 10 teams highlighted another week of great Pac-12 football. Pacific Northwest Sports continues our 2022 PAC-12 football power rankings, which run through the last bowl game.
The conference now has four teams in the Top 15 (and two others received votes), led by 8th-ranked Oregon. Here are our Power Rankings for the week ending October 25, with a Pacific Northwest twist.
Last Game: OSU 42 – Colorado 9
Another week, another loss for Colorado. The Buffs got creamed at Oregon State.
This Week: vs. Arizona State, 4:30 PM – ESPNU
The Buffaloes are at home against ASU. They can win this game.
Last Game: Washington 28 – California 21
It’s not like Cal laid an egg last week, but the game wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Kudos to Jack Plummer for taking so many hits and getting back up.
This Week: vs. Oregon, 12:30 PM – FS1
Oregon is on a roll as of late and has cracked the Top 10. Cal’s defense doesn’t have enough to stop the Ducks.
Last Game: Stanford 15 – ASU 14
ASU’s defense didn’t give up a touchdown, and the Sun Devils still lost. Arizona State must like punting; they did it six times at Stanford Stadium.
This Week: This Week: at Colorado, 4:30 PM – ESPNU
Both teams are having down seasons. ASU would win this game at home, but it’s a toss-up on the road.
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.
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.
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).
Last Game: OSU 42 – Colorado 9
Oregon State keeps winning without starting quarterback Chance Nolan. Last week the Beavers ran the ball down Colorado’s throat.
Running back Damien Martinez carried 22 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, OSU’s defense allowed only 1 touchdown, which came late in the third quarter when the Beavers were up by 32 points.
This Week: Bye
Oregon State kept themselves in the hunt for a ticket to the championship game. They have an extra week to prepare for Washington.
Last Game: Washington 28 – California 21
Cal’s defense made it their mission to take away the long ball. Even without going deep, the Washington Huskies and their dynamic quarterback Michael Penix effectively moved the ball.
Penix adapted, finding open receivers on short and middle-yardage routes. He finished 36-of-51 passing for 374 yards and 2 touchdowns.
When the Huskies needed their front six to step up, they responded. On Cal’s final two series, the pass rush put pressure on Jack Plummer, forcing bad throws. They punted once, then turned the ball over on downs.
Last Saturday was Washington’s first victory of 2022 away from home. With six wins, they are now bowl eligible.
This Week: Bye
Although the Huskies moved the ball well against California, they stalled out several times by settling for field goal attempts. That’s something they must work on during this bye week.
Another area of concern Washington needs to address is the secondary. Due to injuries, the Huskies have been forced to use several backups. Opposing offenses are taking advantage of their inexperience. An extra week might be the best medicine.
Last Game (October 17): Utah 43 – USC 42
In a week filled with great games, Utah beating undefeated USC by making a two-point conversion with 43 seconds left in regulation might top them all. Give Utes head coach Kyle Wittingham some credit for having the guts to go for it.
This Week: at Washington State, Thursday, 10/27, 7:00 PM – FS1
After their win over USC, the Utes are back in a position to compete for back-to-back Pac-12 Championships. Additionally, Kyle Whittingham is an excellent coach who had an extra week to prepare.
That spells bad news for Washington State.
Last Week: Oregon 45 – UCLA 30
Well, it was fun while it lasted, but UCLA’s six-game win streak and time on top of the Pac-12 standings is over. They lost at Oregon last week 45-30.
The Bruins’ offense did its job, but their defense was overwhelmed by a relentless Ducks onslaught.
This Week: vs. Stanford, 7:30 PM – ESPN
There is no time for the Bruins to wallow in self-pity. They’re in a dog fight for one of the top two spots and a trip to the Championship Game. Look for UCLA to take out some frustration on Stanford.
Last Game (October 17): Utah 43 – USC 42
The Trojans led this game from the first possession until Utah’s two-point conversion with 43 seconds left in the game. The heartbreaking loss dropped USC from first place.
If this game happened in Los Angeles instead of Provo, the results might have been different. There aren’t many teams that can keep up with USC’s potent offense, but the Trojans went against one that did.
This Week: at Arizona, 4:00 PM – Pac-12 Networks
USC had an extra week to stew after losing to Utah. It’s a bad week to be the Wildcats.
Last Week: Oregon 45 – UCLA 30
Autzen Stadium is like a coffin for visiting teams; no one gets out alive. Last week the Ducks’ high-powered offense took apart UCLA to claim first place.
The Bo Nix show continued as he threw for 283 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Auburn transfer also ran for 51 yards on 8 carries.
Speaking of duel threats, running back Bucky Irving took 19 handoffs for 107 yards and caught 3 passes for 57 more yards and a touchdown.
This Week: vs. Oregon, 12:30 PM – FS1
Oregon seems to have shaken off their opening game loss to top-ranked Georgia. They are on a mission for a second chance at UGA in the College Football Playoffs. California won’t get in their way.
Check back with us next week for our updated power rankings.