Pac-12 Football Power Rankings – Week Ending 11/22
4. #10 Utah Utes (8-3, 6-2)
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.
3. #12 Washington Huskies (9-2, 6-2)
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:
- Offensive Yards from Scrimmage: Washington 575 – Colorado 202
- Colorado kickoff returns: 8 – Colorado pass completions: 7
- Colorado leading tackler Simeon Harris: 8 – Washington tackles for loss: 7
- Colorado kick return yards: 136 – Passing yards: 123 – Rushing yards: 79
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.