PAC-12 Football Power Rankings week ending 12/6
2. Colorado Buffaloes (4-0, 3-0 Pac-12)
Last game: The Buffs came out of the gate very slowly in Tucson. They had no points, one turnover, and 57 yards in the first quarter. It wasn’t good. Colorado’s first four possessions went punt, punt, fumble, punt. Meanwhile, Arizona scored three times, taking a 13-0 lead.
Somewhere around the mid-second quarter, a switch flipped, and Colorado dropped the hammer. The Buffs offense scored touchdowns three of the next five times they had the ball. That would be all CU needed in a 21-13 win.
Running back, Jarek Broussard ran like a Buffalo in a stampede. The sophomore from Dallas, TX, rushed for 301 yards on 25 carries. As a team, Colorado gained 401 yards on the ground.
This week: It’s a must-win game a Fulsom Field. To take the Pac-12 South, the Buffs must defeat Utah and hope USC loses the Battle of Los Angeles. Just for fun, Utah at Colorado kicks off at 10:00 a.m.
1. USC Trojans (4-0)
Last game: Once again, USC claims the top spot in our Pac-12 Power Rankings. Last week, the Trojans got off to a hot start scoring four touchdowns in the first quarter, as well as the game’s first 35 points. It wasn’t just an offensive onslaught.
Southern Cal came out of the chute hitting hard. It was almost as if they were sending future opponents a message at Washington State’s expense. It was a very physical game that USC won handily 38-13.
This week: USC takes their high powered offense to UCLA in a must-win game. A Trojans win puts them in the Pac-12 Championship game and keeps their name in the national discussion (as an undefeated Power-5 team should be). This team wants to make an identity of their own. They are nothing like the John McKay teams of the 60s and 70s. Or Pete Carroll’s champions from the 2000s.
There are some important Pac-12 games this week. Check back with us on Tuesday for our updated power rankings.