Ranking the Best Week 4 Pac-12 Matchups
With a collective 24-10 record, the Pac-12 Conference has had a relatively unimpressive performance to this point in the 2016 season. But what the league lacks in quality nonconference wins, it can make up for with strong league play, which kicks into full gear in Week 4.
Five of the six games involving Pac-12 teams this week are conference tilts, including three pitting North and South Division teams against each other. There's also a solid nonconference matchup that could provide a Pac-12 school with a nice boost going into the conference slate if it can pull out a win.
We've ranked this week's schedule based on how good the games should be and how likely you are to watch them. Check out the Week 4 lineup, and give us your thoughts in the comments section.
6. Boise State (2-0) at Oregon State (1-1)
1 of 6
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
The lone nonconference game in the league this week features a team that's already beaten a team from the Pac-12 in 2016 against one who hasn't since November 2014.
Boise State knocked off Washington State 31-28 in Week 2 and has won its last three games against Pac-12 schools. Oregon State is riding an 11-game conference losing streak but is coming off a 37-7 win last week against Idaho State that ended a 10-game overall skid.
Oregon State has looked more competitive this season than in 2015, when it was 2-10 overall and 0-9 in the Pac-12, thanks to more balance on offense. The Beavers ran for 246 yards against Idaho State, and quarterback Darell Garretson has completed 57 percent of his passes for 400 yards with three touchdowns.
5. Colorado (2-1) at Oregon (2-1)
2 of 6
When: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. ET
Colorado turned some heads with its impressive start at Michigan last week, leading 14-0 and 21-7 against a team that had yielded only 17 points in its first two games. The Buffaloes didn't have the staying power, though, falling 45-28, but they still came away with some confidence that they can hang with top teams.
Oregon is also coming off its first loss, 35-32 at Nebraska, a game that might have gone differently had the Ducks not attempted five two-point conversions and only made the first. Nebraska's game-winning touchdown with 2:29 remaining would have tied the game had Oregon stayed conventional, but that's not always been its forte.
Colorado has the top defense in the Pac-12, allowing 239.3 yards per game, and has been solid against the run, but it will get its toughest test yet in the Ducks. Even with Royce Freeman limited because of a leg injury, they ran for 336 yards and five touchdowns last week and lead the Pac-12 with 296 rushing yards per game.
4. No. 9 Washington (3-0) at Arizona (2-1)
3 of 6
When: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET
As impressive as Washington has looked this season, winning its games by a combined score of 148-30, not much can be said for the level of competition it has faced. USA Today's Jeff Sagarin rates the Huskies' strength of schedule as No. 182 in the country, and since there are only 128 FBS schools, that's telling.
That's only slightly better than Arizona's No. 171 schedule rating, though the Wildcats have at least played outside their own stadium and have suffered a loss. But it's when they are home and facing a Top 15 team that they're most dangerous, as head coach Rich Rodriguez has picked off at least one highly ranked team in Tucson in each of his previous four seasons.
Washington hasn't won at Arizona since 2006 but demolished the Wildcats in Seattle last season 49-3. That was the first of seven games in the past nine (including six in a row) that the Huskies have scored at least 41 points.
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3. California (2-1) at Arizona State (3-0)
4 of 6
When: Saturday, 10 p.m. ET
Fans of scoring, big plays and lots of yardage, this is the game for you. Just don't expect it to end at a reasonable hour.
Arizona State (48 points per game) and California (47) are ranked ninth and 10th, respectively, in the nation in scoring offense. They're also in the bottom tier in terms of points allowed, thanks to a series of shootouts.
All three of Cal's games have featured at least 82 points, including last week's 50-43 win over Texas, while ASU came out on the winning side of the season's highest-scoring contest (68-55 over Texas Tech) in Week 2.
All that scoring has led to quite a few players being among the national statistical leaders. Cal quarterback Davis Webb is second in the FBS with 453 passing yards per game and 13 touchdowns, while receiver Chad Hansen's 40 receptions and 546 yards lead the nation. ASU's Kalen Ballage has scored more points than anyone in the FBS, thanks to a record eight touchdowns against Texas Tech.
2. USC (1-2, 0-1 Pac-12) at No. 24 Utah (3-0)
5 of 6
When: Friday, 9 p.m. ET
As is usually the case with USC, it came into 2016 with high hopes that the talent it had amassed would return this program to elite status. But reality has set in following two lopsided losses—including at Stanford last week—and the Trojans are in jeopardy of having their season fall apart before it's even half over.
Utah has no qualms about being the team that sends USC over the edge, as many of the Utes still remember last year's 42-24 loss in Los Angeles that spoiled their run at a perfect record.
USC head coach Clay Helton has opted to switch quarterbacks and go with redshirt freshman Sam Darnold over Max Browne, though the bigger problem has been the run game. The team's 3.59 yards-per-carry average is tied for 107th nationally and is second-worst in the Pac-12.
The Utah defense has paced its play so far, allowing 12 points per game while forcing eight turnovers.
1. No. 7 Stanford (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12) at UCLA (2-1)
6 of 6
When: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET
If Stanford is going to defend its conference title, it will need to do so on the road. The Cardinal play five league road games, all against teams that won at least seven games a year ago and are currently a combined 11-4, starting with UCLA.
Beating the Bruins has become commonplace on The Farm, as Stanford has won the last eight games in the series, including three in Pasadena by an average of 24.7 points. Last year's 56-35 win at home saw Christian McCaffrey run for a career-high 243 yards en route to 369 all-purpose yards.
The Rose Bowl is a top goal of every Pac-12 team, but for UCLA, which plays its home games there, success in that hallowed venue isn't so common. Under head coach Jim Mora, the Bruins are 10-8 in Pac-12 play at home, while David Shaw has piloted Stanford to six straight league road victories.
All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted. All statistics provided by CFBStats unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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