Ranking the Best Pac-12 Football Matchups of Week 9
The Pac-12's best hopes of making the College Football Playoff face off this weekend, highlighting a strong lineup of games that includes an in-state rivalry and one between longtime regional foes.
Colorado and UCLA are the schools on a bye for Week 9, with the Buffaloes getting their break right after becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007. UCLA's time off will allow it to further evaluate sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen, whose shoulder injury has held him out of the last two games (both losses).
But more about those teams next week. Right now the focus is on the 10 that will be in action this weekend, starting with a Thursday night tilt. We've ranked these five games based on the strength of their matchup and the likelihood you'll want to watch.
5. Washington State (5-2, 4-0) at Oregon State (2-5, 1-3)
1 of 5
When: Saturday, Oct. 29; 10:45 p.m. ET
Oregon and Washington are the more well-known Pac-12 schools, with their respective “state” schools getting less attention over the years. That means when Oregon State and Washington State meet up each year, it's a chance for each to carve out their own piece of the spotlight.
Saturday night will mark the 101st meeting between the Beavers and Cougars, with WSU holding a slim 50-47-3 edge aided by wins the last two years. The Cougars haven't won more than two straight in the series since winning 10 in a row from 1983-93.
WSU is one of the hottest teams in the league, having won five straight after an 0-2 start that included a home loss to an FCS school. Oregon State broke a long Pac-12 losing streak earlier this month but has lost its last two and is heading for a third straight losing season.
4. Arizona State (5-3, 2-3) at Oregon (2-5, 0-4)
2 of 5
When: Saturday, Oct. 29; 5 p.m. ET
If you're a fan of big plays, lots of yards and near-nonstop scoring, this is the game for you. But if defense is your thing, it might be wise to avoid this battle of teams that haven't made many stops this season.
Oregon, off to its worst start in Pac-12 play since 1996, ranks last nationally in total defense at 538.6 yards allowed per game. Arizona State, losers of two straight, isn't much behind the Ducks at 120th. Against the pass, the Sun Devils' 386.1 yards allowed per game is 42.8 yards more than any other team.
These schools have combined to yield 283 plays of 10 or more yards, 81 that have gone for 20-plus and 43 of 30 or more yards. ASU has also given up 17 40-yard plays and 11 that have traversed at least half the field.
3. Stanford (4-3, 2-3) at Arizona (2-5, 0-4)
3 of 5
When: Saturday, Oct. 29; 11 p.m. ET
In winning the Pac-12 and a Rose Bowl last season, Stanford averaged 37.8 points per game and hit the 30-point mark in 13 consecutive games. If the Cardinal get to 30 at Arizona, it will be their first occasion of the season.
Stanford ranks last in FBS in total offense, at 299.1 yards per game, and in its last four games (which includes three losses) it has scored 44 points. The Cardinal lost 10-5 at home to Colorado last time out.
Arizona's offense is managing 26.1 points and 433.6 yards per game despite an overwhelming number of offensive injuries. The Wildcats have used five quarterbacks, one a converted tight end, and its running game now includes former wide receiver Samajie Grant because of attrition.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
2. California (4-3, 2-2) at USC (4-3, 3-2)
4 of 5
When: Thursday, Oct. 27; 10:30 p.m. ET
After setting an FBS record for offensive snaps last Friday, California could sure use a rest. Instead, the Golden Bears are playing their second consecutive weeknight game against a team they haven't beat since 2003.
Cal ran 118 plays in beating Oregon 52-49 in double overtime, a game USC's players and coaches watched in leisure while on a bye. The Trojans are rested and have momentum, winners of three straight since their tough opening month.
USC won't have leading rusher Justin Davis available again, but backups Ronald Jones and Aca'Cedric Ware are ready to step up. Last time out, in a 48-14 win at Arizona, that duo combined for 180 yards and three touchdowns and now they're taking on the third-worst run defense in FBS.
Cal's last win at the Los Angeles Coliseum: Oct. 28, 2000.
1. No. 4 Washington (7-0, 4-0) at No. 17 Utah (7-1, 4-1)
5 of 5
When: Saturday, Oct. 29; 3:30 p.m. ET
When the first College Football Playoff rankings are released next Tuesday, Washington could be holding one of the prime spots at the top of the list. That's assuming the Huskies can survive their toughest test yet, a trip of Salt Lake City to face a dangerous Utah squad led by a player looking to show up his former team.
Washington has won 10 consecutive games, scoring at least 35 points in every one, but this season its opponents have a combined record of 18-33, and the Huskies have won those games by an average of 33.7 points. Utah won't be handled so easily, not at home where the Utes have won 10 of the last 11.
Utah has rediscovered itself the last two weeks since senior running back Joe Williams returned from a self-imposed retirement to rush for 511 yards and five touchdowns in wins at Oregon State and UCLA. But the key to pulling an upset may be how quarterback Troy Williams fares against the school he began his career with. He played at Washington in 2013-14 before transferring to a junior college, and with the Utes he's thrown for 1,725 yards with seven touchdowns and run for five more.
Adding to the big-game atmosphere: ESPN's College GameDay pregame show is making its first foray of 2016 into Pac-12 territory.
All recruiting information courtesy of Scout.com, unless otherwise noted. All statistics provided by CFBStats, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
