Pac-10 College Football Power Rankings: Oregon Remains on Top
Going into college football's fourth week, the Pac-10 is starting to take shape. Not only that, but the top teams are starting to distance themselves from the teams at the bottom of the conference.
There are some changes from last week, but the team at the top hasn't changed and especially not after the beat down they put on their opponent this past Saturday.
Arizona and Stanford both picked up wins, Arizona State came close, and Washington State just isn't there yet.
Here are the Pac-10 power rankings after Week 3 of the college football season.
No. 10: Washington State Cougars
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Last week: No. 9
The Washington State Cougars fall to the bottom of the Pac-10 rankings after sitting in the ninth position, just in front of the UCLA Bruins.
However, after taking a beating from SMU, the Cougars fall to 1-2 on the year and look to have the same kind of rough year they had last season.
Their main problem has been the protection of quarterback Jeff Tuel, who's already been sacked 10 times in three games. Four of them came against SMU.
Next game: vs. USC
No. 9: Washington Huskies
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Last week: No. 8
The Washington Huskies got a glimpse of where they were on the college football scale. What they found out wasn't pretty.
Jake Locker took a beating, and so did the rest of the team, at the hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a lopsided 56-21 win by Nebraska.
Locker threw for just 71 yards on Saturday and was intercepted twice. The Huskies as a team were held to 246 total yards.
Next game: Oct. 2 @ USC
No. 8: UCLA Bruins
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Last week: No. 10
After starting the season 0-2, including getting blown out by conference foe Stanford, the UCLA Bruins apparently came out of hiding to smack around the Houston Cougars 31-13 on Saturday night.
The Bruins got a big game from running back Johnathan Franklin, who ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns, not to mention their defense holding Case Keenum, one of the nation's most prolific passers, to just 83 passing yards.
Next game: @ Texas
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No. 7: Arizona State Sun Devils
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Last week: No. 6
The Arizona State Sun Devils fall back one spot from last week, even after they traveled to Camp Randall Stadium and dropped a tough 20-19 decision to the Wisconsin Badgers.
Running back Deantre Lewis and quarterback Steven Threet both had solid days for the Sun Devils against a top-15 team, especially on the road.
Lewis rushed for 122 yards while Threet threw for 211 yards and was sacked twice. Amazingly, neither team turned the ball over once.
Next game: vs. Oregon
No. 6: Oregon State Beavers
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Last week: No. 7
Oregon State climbs one spot, coming off a bye week and just barely getting past Louisville 35-28 on Saturday.
The Beavers got a big day from running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns, adding a receiving touchdown as well.
The Oregon State defense gave up 453 total yards to Louisville but forced two big turnovers that ended up being the difference.
You might chalk it up to looking forward to their next game on the "Smurf Turf" of Boise State.
Next game: at Boise State
No. 5: Cal Golden Bears
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Last week: No. 3
The Cal Golden Bears take a fall this week after traveling to Reno, Nev., and leaving town on the wrong end of a lopsided 52-31 loss to the Nevada Wolfpack.
Cal got a big performance from running back Shane Vereen, who rushed for 198 yards and three scores but the Bears' defense could not stop Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The senior threw for 181 yards, rushed for another 148, and had five total touchdowns, three of them on the ground.
Next game: @ Arizona
No. 4: USC Trojans
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Last week: No. 4
The USC Trojans continue to find ways to win ballgames, no matter how many points or yards their defense gives up, their offense seem to score just enough to win.
After almost losing to Virginia the previous week, the Trojans traveled to Minnesota and combined with the Golden Gophers for six turnovers, including four interceptions from quarterbacks Matt Barkley and Adam Weber.
Although both also combined for four passing touchdowns.
USC's defense picked it up in the second half, getting three punts and an interception in four of Minnesota's six second half possessions.
Next game: @ Washington State
No. 3: Arizona Wildcats
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Last week: No. 5
The Arizona Wildcats make the biggest jump of the week from the number five spot in the rankings to the No. 3 spot.
After opening games against Toledo and Citadel, the Wildcats welcomed in 19th-ranked Iowa who brought with them one of the best defenses in the nation.
Arizona was apparently up for the challenge and it didn't take them long to show it.
The Wildcats for an interception return for a touchdown by Trevin Wade and a kickoff return for a touchdown by Travis Cobb.
Iowa would eventually tie the game midway through the fourth quarter before Arizona quarterback Nick Foles put it away with a touchdown pass to William Wright with just over four minutes to go.
Next game: vs. Cal
No. 2: Stanford Cardinal
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Last week: No. 2
The Stanford Cardinal continue to put up impressive performance after impressive performance.
After two straight lopsided wins against Sacramento State and UCLA, the Cardinal put up the most points they've scored all season in a 68-24 win over Wake Forest this past weekend.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck had three touchdown passes in the first half alone and his team led at halftime 41-7 and they never looked back.
Luck finished with 207 yards passing, 69 yards rushing, and five total touchdowns on the day.
Next game: @ Notre Dame
No. 1: Oregon Ducks
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Last week: No. 1
The Oregon Ducks continue to leave a wake of destruction in their wake and are making a lot of people wonder if they aren't the best team in the nation right now.
Through three games, the Ducks are outscoring their opponents 189-13 and are averaging 63 points per game.
Running back LaMichael James, coming off a solid freshman year in 2009, is averaging 180.5 yards per game rushing this season, including 12 yards per carry. He also set a career high with 227 yards against Portland State this past weekend.
The Ducks ran up 668 total yards, which included a school-record 528 rushing yards.
Next game: at Arizona State
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