Zach Charbonnet, UCLA Bruins.
The top dogs took out the smaller ones in the Pac-12 last week. Pacific Northwest Sports continues our 2022 PAC-12 football power rankings, which run through the last bowl game.
The conference now has five teams in the Top 25 (and another received votes), led by 8th-ranked Oregon. Here are our Power Rankings for the week ending November 1, with a Pacific Northwest twist.
Last Game: ASU 42 – Colorado 34
Colorado lost a winnable game at home. For the second straight week, the Buffs gave up 42 points.
This Week: vs. Oregon, 12:30 PM – ESPN
The Pac-12’s best team comes into Boulder on a big winning streak, and it’s on national television. This won’t be pretty
Last Game: Oregon 42 – California 24
Bears fans can look at last week’s game as it was their turn to get beat up by Oregon. They did get a glimpse of the future as freshman quarterback Kai Milner was 8 of 11 for 114 yards and two touchdowns in mop-up duty.
This Week: at USC, 12:30 PM – FS1
At least Cal played Oregon at home. This week they have to travel to lose to another Top 10 team.
Last Game: UCLA 38 – Stanford 13
Stanford’s lack of offense finally caught up with them. After scoring 16 and 15 points in winning their previous two games, 13 wasn’t enough to cut it against UCLA.
The Cardinal broke their 10 quarter touchdown drought. Trailing 38-6 with 4:11 left in the game, Tanner McKee hit Benjamin Yurosek in the end zone for six points.
This Week: vs. Washington State, 12:30 PM – Pac-12 Network
They catch Wazzu at a good time. This week’s visitors are on a three-game losing streak and aren’t putting points on the board at the same rate they were early in the season.
Last Game: USC 45 – Arizona 37
The Wildcats gave USC much more of a fight than their guests expected. Michael Wiley‘s 10-yard touchdown run at the end of the third quarter brought UA within two. After Arizona’s conversion failed, Southern Cal scored twice to put the game away.
This Week: at Utah, 4:30 PM – Pac-12 Networks
Arizona has done a nice job of keeping up with difficult competition at home. Can they do it again at Rice-Eccles Stadium? Probably not.
Last Game: ASU 42 – Colorado 34
Arizona State’s offense was back on track after sputtering a week prior. They put up 42 points and 557 yards against hapless Colorado. The defense, however, could use a little tightening up.
This Week: This Week: vs. UCLA, 7:30 PM – FS1
It was fun while it lasted, but UCLA has something big to play for.
Last Game: Utah 21 – WSU 17
Except for five minutes in the second quarter, the Washington State Cougars were just as good as their 14th-ranked opponent.
Cougars’ quarterback Cameron Ward had a good game. He was an efficient 27 of 31 for 222 yards and a touchdown. That Includes 12 straight completions to start the game.
Once again, the running game failed Wazzu. They had 42 rushing yards on 19 attempts.
MLB Daiyan Henley turned in another Roy Kent-like performance with 12 tackles.
This Week: at Stanford, 12:30 PM – Pac-12 Network
Stanford doesn’t provide much offense. Then again, Wazzu’s offense has also disappointed.
The teams are pretty close to each other in points and yards per game (WSU 23.6, 356.5 – Stanford 23.6, 381.8). Since both are close to the conference’s bottom in these stats, this contest shapes up to be a defensive struggle.
That’s where Washington State has the edge. The Cougs allow the Pac-12’s fewest points per game (20.8) and fourth fewest yards (364.4). Stanford is 8 points and over 50 yards worse.
Additionally, Wazzu shuts down the run well. It will be difficult for Casey Filkins to pick up much yardage against them. If the Cougs can get pressure on Tanner McKee, they have an excellent chance of winning.
On the other side, WSU quarterback Cameron Ward has to avoid turnovers. He’s been different since Renard Bell went out with an injury a few games back.
Coach Dickert and his staff had 12 days to devise a plan to beat Utah, and they came close. Taking down Stanford after a 9-day break seems doable. They need to win this game to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Last Game (October 22): OSU 42 – Colorado 9
Oregon State continues winning without starting quarterback Chance Nolan. In their last game 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: Friday, November 4 at Washington, 7:30 PM -FS1
Oregon State kept themselves in the hunt for a ticket to the Pac-12 Championship Game. They had an extra week to prepare for Friday’s knockout game at Washington.
Last Game (October 22): 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.
This win was Washington’s first victory of 2022 away from home. With six wins, they are now bowl-eligible.
This Week: Friday, November 4, vs. Oregon State, 7:30 PM -FS1
Friday Night Lights at Husky Stadium features a pair of teams fighting for survival.
Washington’s potent passing offense needs to be front and center once again. Receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan have been spectacular all season, they’ll need to bring their best against OSU’s secondary.
Unfortunately, it could be a wet track in Seattle. If it is, the advantage moves to OSU. It will be on the Husky defense to make stops and give the offense a short field to work with.
There are plenty of Heisman candidates in the conference, so not only is this a must-win for UW, but Michael Penix needs another good showing to stay in consideration. He’s eclipsed the 300-yard mark in all 8 games and has thrown at least 1 touchdown in 7 of them.
Let’s call this matchup what it is, an elimination game. The winner of this contest keeps their slim hopes of reaching the Pac-12 Championship Game alive. Meanwhile, the loser is likely headed to the Jimmy Kimmel Los Angeles Bowl
Last Game: Utah 21 – WSU 17
Utah battled hard to pull out a narrow win in Pullman. And they did it without star quarterback Cameron Rising. In his place, Bryson Barnes was good enough.
The biggest difference last Thursday was the Utes found a way to run the ball, and WSU didn’t.
This Week: vs. Arizona, 4:30 PM – Pac-12 Networks
Utah can still win the Conference title. They won’t let pesky Arizona stop them at home.
Last Game: UCLA 38 – Stanford 13
Zach Charbonnet practically beat Stanford by himself. For the second time in three weeks, the senior ran for 198 yards. This time he also had three rushing touchdowns and caught five passes for 61 yards.
Not to take anything away from Charbonnet, but UCLA’s defense was outstanding. Through three quarters, they held Stanford to 147 yards and 6 points. With 15 minutes to go, and a 32-point lead, Bruins coach Chip Kelly went to the reserves, which is why they allowed a touchdown.
This Week: This Week: at Arizona State, 7:30 PM – FS1
The Bruins should win this game, but ASU won’t roll over at home. If UCLA’s defense plays like they did against Stanford, it won’t be a problem. Also, expect the DTR/Charbonnet/Bobo offensive machine to keep rolling.
Last Game: USC 45 – Arizona 37
Southern California got into an unexpected dog fight in Tucson last week. They couldn’t put Arizona away until the fourth quarter.
Caleb Williams kept himself in the Heisman race. The Trojans quarterback threw for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns.
This Week: vs. California, 12:30 PM – FS1
The Trojans are at home against a bad team. Consider Cal a minor speed bump on USCs road to the Pac-12 Championship game.
Last Game: Oregon 42 – California 24
Make it seven wins in a row for 8th-ranked Oregon after they manhandled California on the road. UO won by 18 points, and the game wasn’t anywhere near that close.
Two weeks ago against UCLA, Bo Nix threw for 5 touchdowns. This week he passed for 3 and ran for 3 more. His final passing numbers were 27 of 35 for 412 yards (with two picks), and Nix added 59 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Nix has accounted for 11 touchdowns in two weeks. Those are Heisman numbers. At the least, Nix is the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year.
And Oregon plays defense too. Before coach Dan Lanning pulled his starters in the fourth quarter, Cal had only 252 yards of offense, and 57 of it came on a great catch by Jeremiah Hunter.
This Week: vs. Colorado, 12:30 PM – ESPN
Oregon knows they have to win out to make the College Football Playoff. This is their last easy game of the year. After Colorado, it’s Washington, Utah, and Oregon State.
They will make an example of CU this week, sending notice to their upcoming foes.
Check back with us next week for our updated power rankings.