Caleb Williams, USC Trojans.
Pacific Northwest Sports continues our 2022 Pac-12 football power rankings, which run through the end of the season.
A pair of elimination games decided by three points highlighted last week’s Pac-12 schedule, which shook up the top five in our rankings.
There are still six conference teams in the AP Top 25, led by 5th-ranked Southern California. Here are our Power Rankings for the week ending November 22, with a Pacific Northwest twist.
Last Game: Washington 55 – Colorado 7
Just when Buffs fans thought it couldn’t get worse, the Pac-12’s basement team lost by 48 points at Washington. CU allowed 55 points for the second straight week. In their last 5 games, Colorado allowed 243 points (48.6 points per game).
This Week: vs. Utah, 1:00 PM – Pac-12 Networks
Colorado finishes the season against another Top 25 team. By dinner time on Saturday, the Buffaloes’ miserable 2022 will finally come to an end.
Last Game: California 24 – Stanford 17
They call this “The Big Game.” Someone forgot to tell Stanford that it lasts for 60 minutes.
The Cardinal took a 17-6 lead into the fourth quarter but hit cruise control too early. Cal rallied for three fourth quarter touchdowns to win the game. The best Stanford could muster was a 61 yard field goal by Josh Karty as time expired to cut it to a 7-point loss.
This Week: vs. Brigham Young, 8:00 PM – FS1
2022 has been a bust in the BYU Cougars’ last independent season before joining the Big 12. On September 11, they were ranked 12 in the AP Poll. After reaching that point, they lost to Oregon, which kicked off a stretch of 4 losses in 6 games.
Even wounded, the 6-5 BYU Cougars are light years better than Stanford. This is QB Tanner McKee‘s last regular season game to impress NFL scouts.
Last Game: Oregon State 31 – Arizona State 7
Let’s go with the Cliff’s Notes version. ASU running back Xazavian Valladay ran for 109 of his team’s 276 total yards and scored the Sun Devils’ only touchdown on an 11 yard run in the second quarter. Meanwhile, their defense couldn’t stop the Beavers.
This Week: at Arizona, Friday, November 25, 12:00 PM – FS1
Two teams with nothing at stake except bragging rights. The Sun Devils would love a win on Saturday to put the teams at even records for 2022.
Last Game: California 24 – Stanford 17
Give the California Golden Bears their due. After falling behind 17-6 in the third quarter, the Golden Bears could have quit, and not many would have noticed. Instead, they put up 3 fourth quarter touchdowns, including a scoop-six by linebacker Jackson Sirmon for the go-ahead score.
This Week: vs. UCLA, Friday, November 25, 1:30 PM – FOX
There are so many side stories to this game, but more on that later. A Cal win on Friday would be another nasty thorn in UCLA’s side.
Last Game: Washington State 31 – Arizona 20
Jayden de Laura threw four interceptions to his former team, which sealed the Wildcats’ fate. Arizona rallied late with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough.
This Week: vs. Arizona State, Friday, November 25, 12:00 PM – FS1
Now that Arizona is out of bowl contention, this game doesn’t have the same pop it would have if the Wildcats won last week. There are still in-state bragging rights at stake.
Last Game: Washington State 31 – Arizona 20
Cameron Ward completed 25 of 36 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 59 yards and a touchdown on 8 runs.
Even though Wazzu scored 31 points, their defense was the star. The Washington State Cougars picked off their former QB four times and held Arizona to 2 of 13 third down conversions.
This Week: vs. Washington, 7:30 PM – ESPN
So far, Cougs Head Coach Jake Dickert is 1-0 against UW. He’d love to build off last year’s 40-13 blowout, not to mention a winning record in his first full Pac-12 season.
This is a solid football team that wins with both their offense and defense. Their biggest task will be covering all of Washington’s receivers so they can contain Michael Penix.
Don’t expect much of a ground game. This one will be decided in the air.
Last Game: Oregon State 31 – Arizona State 7
Oregon State made it two straight blowout wins by manhandling Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium. Not only did the Beavers dominate on the scoreboard, but they also won the total yardage portion 443-276 and time of possession 34:17-25:43.
Freshman running back Damien Martinez had his fifth consecutive 100-yard game, with 22 carries for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns.
This Week: vs. Oregon, 12:30 PM – ABC
It’s the game that was known as the“Civil War” until 2020. Oregon State can ruin any chance UO has for the Pac-12 Title Game and a New Year’s Six bowl with a victory in Corvallis.
The Beavers will look for ways to get Martinez into space. But their bigger task is to defend against Oregon’s dynamic offense.
Last Game: USC 48 – UCLA 45
It was a barn burner at the Rose Bowl last Saturday. Unfortunately, the Bruins didn’t have as much gas as they needed.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson spoiled a 309-yard, 4 touchdown performance with 3 interceptions and a fumble. The final pick was a backbreaker as UCLA was near midfield with a minute-and-a-half left in the game.
This Week: at California, Friday, November 25, 1:30 PM – FOX
After two straight losses, UCLA has gone from almost the penthouse to the third floor. Aside from an opportunity to play in a good bowl game and finish with 10 wins, there is plenty of outside intrigue surrounding Friday’s matchup.
The California Board of Regents delayed its decision about allowing UCLA to join the Big Ten until December. There is only one reason why the Board would nix such a plan, and that’s because the Bruins leaving the Pac-12 would hurt Cal’s media revenue.
Last Game: Oregon 20 – Utah 17
The loser of this game was out of the conference title hunt. Where USC-UCLA was an offensive explosion, Oregon-USC was a defensive battle of will.
Utah rallied from 14 points down in the third quarter to tie the game at 17. But their magic ran out in the fourth. The Utes had three possessions which netted 97 yards. Two ended on downs, while an interception stopped the other.
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham, who used a gutsy two-point conversion to beat UCLA earlier in the season, will regret not kicking a field goal on 4th-and-3 from Oregon’s 11 yard line with 2:29 left in the first half.
This Week: at Colorado, 1:00 PM – Pac-12 Networks
Everyone else beat the tar out of Colorado this year, and so will a fired-up tribe of Utes.
Last Game: Washington 55 – Colorado 7
Coming off of their stunning upset over Oregon, it would have been easy for the Washington Huskies to lose focus against the conference’s last place team. Not only did UW come ready to play, they absolutely decimated Colorado in the home finale.
Usually, the Huskies win with the pass, but they got plenty of help from their running game. Wayne Taulapapa carried 11 times for 107 and 2 touchdowns. Cam Davis also had 2 touchdowns, which ups his season total to 11.
How complete was Washington’s domination over Colorado? Check out these numbers:
This Week: at Washington State, 7:30 PM – ESPN
The Huskies are back up to number three in our power rankings and 12th in both the writer’s and coach’s polls. A win in the Apple Cup combined with an Oregon State upset of Oregon puts Washington in the Pac-12 Championship game against USC.
But first up is that Apple Cup game against Wazzu. There is plenty to overcome, starting with the game is in Pullman this year. Then there is the fact that Washington State destroyed them in last year’s game.
Quarterback Michael Penix wasn’t a Husky in 2022, so he doesn’t carry that burden. He’s been sharp all season and makes use of four excellent wide receivers and two tight ends. If UW’s secondary is healthy, they can stay with Washington State’s receivers.
Last Game: Oregon 20 – Utah 17
Don’t underestimate the heart of a champion. Ducks quarterback Bo Nix played this game on one leg.
Due to his limited mobility, Oregon needed their running game to step up. It didn’t. UO gained just 59 rushing yards.
Even though Utah also took away his number one receiver Tony Franklin, Nix still completed 25 of 37 passes for 287 yards.
Meanwhile, Oregon’s defense forced 3 interceptions and held Utah 4 times on fourth down.
This Week: at Oregon State, 12:30 PM – ABC
Oregon has everything on the line this week. With a win, they play next week in the Pac-12 Championship game against USC.
Nix is the engine that makes the Ducks run. A foot injury makes his status for Saturday uncertain. He’ll be evaluated before the game to see if he can go.
Even if Nix can play, how effective will he be? Oregon needs him as close to his best on Saturday with so much at stake.
Last Game: USC 48 – UCLA 45
What a thriller. This was the other Pac-12 knockout game for a shot at the conference championship.
USC stood tall even without starting running back Travis Dye. His replacement Austin Jones did quite well, picking up 120 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 4 receptions for an additional 57 yards.
Trojan quarterback Caleb Jones was outstanding. He completed 32 of 43 passes for 470 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
This Week: vs. #13 Notre Dame, 4:30 PM – ABC
USC remains in the pressure cooker. They already locked up a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. But the Trojans are playing for so much more. With a win, USC likely jumps the Michigan-Ohio State loser in the BCS poll.
Which Notre Dame team will arrive in Los Angeles on Saturday? Is it the one that lost to Marshall in Game 2 (and Stanford a few weeks later) or the team that’s won five straight, including a 35-14 victory over Clemson?
Whichever one shows up at L.A. Memorial Coliseum, it’s up to them to stop USC’s offense.
Next week, we’ll have condensed power rankings, as our focus will focus on the upcoming bowl games.