Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington Huskies football.
Pacific Northwest Sports continues our PAC-12 football power rankings. We will run this feature through the last Bowl game. It’s a bit difficult in some places to rank teams because of COVID-19 related cancellations.
Only nine conference squads were in action last week because there were teams that couldn’t field the required 53 available scholarship players due to positive tests and contact tracing. Even with a few teams MIA, it was a good week of football. One major upset caused big changes in the rankings this week.
Here are our PAC-12 Power Rankings for the week ending November 30, 2020, with a Pacific Northwest twist.
Last game: (11/28) Disappointment continues for the 2020 Arizona Wildcats. UCLA’s early ineptitude opened to door for the Wildcats to take a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. The Bruins stormed back with 20 straight points. It was over by halftime.
Not only did Arizona lose the game, but they also lost Grant Gunnell to a shoulder injury on the first play of the game. UA’s quarterback was slammed to the turf by an unblocked blitzer. His status going forward hasn’t been determined.
This week: Arizona hosts undefeated Colorado. It’s hard to see the Wildcats winning this one, especially if Gunnell is a no-go.
Last game: (11/27) In a battle of winless teams, Cal came up short in the Big Game. At least it was close. The Golden Bears pulled within a point at 24-23 with 58 seconds left on a three-yard touchdown run by Christopher Brown Jr. Unfortunately, the extra point Cal needed to tie the game was blocked, and Stanford ran out the clock.
This week: There’s no time to sulk; a flock of angry birds is on the way to Berkeley. The Oregon Ducks come to town with a huge chip on their shoulder after an upset loss last week at Oregon State. This one could get out of hand quickly.
Last game: (11/28) Utah came into Husky Stadium and dominated early, getting out to a 21-0 halftime lead. It didn’t last. The fortunes of both squads did a 180 in the second half. It was Washington who scored 24 points, while the Utes were held off the scoreboard resulting in a 24-21 defeat.
This week: A very fired up Oregon State squad comes calling the week. The Beavers are on a big high after upsetting in-state rival Oregon last week.
Last game: (11/7) The Sun Devils let a big win slip through fingers. USC scored a pair of touchdowns in the last three minutes to pull out a 28–27 win.
This week: Coach Herm Edwards team hasn’t played in almost a month due to a coronavirus outbreak. They return to action this week against UCLA, who hasn’t missed a game yet. The Sun Devils can’t afford to be rusty.
Last game: (11/27) Stanford got their first win of the season in dramatic fashion. They blocked a game-tying extra point with 58 seconds remaining to get out of Berkeley with a 24-23 win. This game was a perfect example of it doesn’t always have to be pretty to get the job done.
This week: It’s not THE Big Game, but it’s A big game for Stanford this week. The Cardinal travel to Seattle for a matchup against Pac-12 North Division-leading Washington.
Last game: (11/14) – The Washington State Cougars have to be kicking themselves. They had Oregon on the ropes at home and let the game get away from them. Holding a 19–7 lead with 20 seconds left in the first half, UO receiver Jaylon Redd beat the secondary for a 59-yard completion to WSU’s three-yard line. One play later, the Ducks punched it into the endzone. That score provided the momentum Oregon needed to take control of the game.
This week: The Cougs have been licking their wounds for three weeks due to COVID-19. On the positive side, they play another team that’s been ravaged by the coronavirus. On the negative side, it’s an away game against 16th ranked USC in Los Angeles.
Last game: (11/28) After an early screw-up, UCLA dominated hapless Arizona. Trampled might be a better phrase. The Bruins ran for 281 yards, including 206 on 32 carries (6.4 yards-per-carry) by senior Demetric Felton. Defensively, UCLA limited Arizona to 143 yards and three points in the second half.
This week: A road trip to Tempe, Arizona, is scheduled. It’s been almost a month since Arizona State played their only game of 2020.
Last game: (11/27) Wow, what a game for Oregon State. The Beavers upended in-state rival and, at the time, ninth-ranked Oregon 41-38. Running back, Jermar Jefferson once again put on a show with 226 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.
This week: The Beavers will try to rise above the .500 mark in conference play for the first time since last November. They may have to do it without quarterback Tristan Gebbia who is doubtful for the game with a hamstring injury. No matter who the QB is, Utah will get a steady diet of the Pac-12’s leading rusher Jefferson.
Last game: (11/27) Last week’s game had so many levels of disappointment for Oregon. They lost, which took them out of the national playoff picture. Worse, the Ducks to in-state rival Oregon State, that’s never acceptable. Finally, UO blew a 12-point fourth quarter lead as well as a four-point lead with under a minute left. I could go on, but that’s enough misery for now.
This week: Oregon has the perfect opponent to take out their frustrations on, winless Cal. The Ducks have something to prove after last week’s shocker. Expect UO to put up plenty of points against their division rivals. Cal QB Chase Garbers may want to take out a life insurance policy because the Ducks are coming after him on Saturday.
Last game: (11/28) Colorado took advantage of a rare non-conference opponent last week. The Buffaloes remained undefeated with a 20-10 home win over San Diego State. The Aztecs were a last-minute substitute for USC, who didn’t have enough scholarship players available to play.
This week: The Buffs are in a fight for first place in the South Division with Southern Cal. Playing the conference cellar-dwellers, Arizona helps their chances. A win at Arizona likely puts the Buffs into the polls. It also makes things very interesting. Due to last week’s schedule change, Colorado lost its opportunity to prove it on the field against USC.
Last game: (11/28) Utah dominated the Washington Huskies in the first half. After a game-opening possession fumble, the Utes scored three of the next four times they had the football. UW did very little right in the half and looked largely outclassed. Fortunately, there was a big turnaround after the break.
Jimmy Lake must have given a halftime speech for the ages because Washington was a different team after the break. They set a new tone after getting the ball to open the second half. UW drove 72-yards in under three minutes, highlighted by a 38-yard pass play from Dylan Morris to Terrell Bynum. That was the start. Washington’s offense scored on all three third-quarter possessions.
Both squads bogged down in the fourth quarter. Washington, however, put together the drive of the game. The Huskies drove 88 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cade Otton, to take a 24–21 lead with 36 seconds left in the game.
This week: Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara County, California, this week’s game against Stanford will take place at Husky Stadium. Last week, the Huskies showed what a total team effort looked like during their second-half comeback. Stanford can expect to see more of the same.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Morris becomes more comfortable with the offense every week. He’s found a go-to receiver in Otton. The Huskies four-headed monster backfield runs behind a behemoth offensive line.
Let’s not forget the Huskies defense. Zion Tupuola-Fetui is the stuff quarterback nightmares are made of. He has a Pac-12-leading seven sacks. If somehow Stanford QB Davis Mills does get time in the pocket, he still has to find a way to beat one of the country’s best secondaries.
Last game: (11/21) After a couple of close games, the 18th ranked Trojans won, going away at Utah 33–7. It helped that USC forced five turnovers. Even with the turnover, Southern Cal barely won the total yardage game 357–327.
This week: It’s a rare Sunday game as the Men of Troy play Washington State. New coronavirus restrictions by Los Angeles County aren’t expected to impact the game. USC needs to win this one to keep their name in the national discussion.
It won’t be easy. Washington State has a good football team with plenty of offensive weapons at their disposal. The Trojans defense has been a little suspect yielding 24.67 points per game so far this season.
There are some good matchups this week. Check back with us on Tuesday for our updated power rankings.