PAC-12 Football Power Rankings week ending 11/30
2. Washington Huskies (3–0) – 23rd AP poll, 23rd Coaches poll, 22nd BCS poll
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.
1. USC Trojans (3–0) – 17th AP poll, 16th Coaches poll, 20th BCS poll
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.