Pac-12: Power Ranking the Conference's Best Performances from Week 3

The Pac-12 won’t get much national respect after going 3-4 against FBS foes. The conference is now 12-9 against FBS nonconference opponents and 4-6 against other AQ conferences. The Pac-12 is ranked fourth in the ESPN conference power rankings.

There are three top 25 teams after the latest AP poll: Stanford (3-0) No. 5*, Oregon (2-1) No. 10* and USC (3-0) No. 23*. Arizona State fell out of the top 25 with a 17-14 loss to Illinois (now No. 24*).

Player of the week honors go to USC QB Matt Barkley for offense, Utah DE Trevor Reilly for defense and California kick returner Brendan Bigelow for special teams.

Top games this week include: USC at Arizona State, California at Washington, Colorado at Ohio State and Oregon at Arizona.

Meanwhile, the Pac-16 realignment talks continue including discussion of four regional “pods” even though it is not clear if the Pac-12 university presidents want to expand.

Here is a ranking of the conference’s best performances from the third week of the college football season excluding Oregon State who did not play.

*Week 4 AP ranking

Previous Pac-12 Power Rankings:

Week 2

Week 1

11. UCLA Bruins

Score: Texas 49, UCLA 20

UCLA’s four turnovers and No. 23* Texas (3-0) 488 yards on offense including two TD tosses by Texas QB Casey McCoy in his first career start overwhelmed the Bruins.

This was supposed to be a much closer game, and Texas avenged last season’s stunning home loss.

McCoy was very efficient with 12 of 15 completions for 168 yards and no INTs, turnovers or sacks. The Longhorns had 284 yards rushing including 110 yards and a TD from Malcolm Brown, and Fozzy Whitaker added two more TDs. Junior WR D.J. Grant caught six passes for 77 yards and three TDs.

UCLA’s Richard Brehaut passes for 150 yards after Kevin Prince threw three INTs in the first quarter. Derrick Coleman rushed for two TDs. UCLA kicker Jeff Locke made two long FGs. The Bruins ended up with 317 yards but were only 3-for-13 on third downs.

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel’s seat just got a lot hotter because he is the QB coach and made the poor decision to start Prince over Brehaut. The Bruins fall to 1-2, and have only beaten San Jose State in a disappointing effort.

The Bruins visit Oregon State next Saturday in a game that both teams must win.

*Week 3 AP Ranking

10. Washington State Cougars

Score: San Diego State 42, Washington State 24

San Diego State (3-0) scores the last 28 points and to overcome a 10-point Washington State (2-1) lead in the third quarter and defeat the Cougars.

SDSU’s Ronnie Hillman ran for 191 yards and four TDs.  QB Ryan Lindley threw for 273 yards on 21 of 37, but committed the first two turnovers on an interception and fumbling a snap.

WSU backup QB Marshall Lobbestael threw three TDs on 20 of 42 for 368 yards. However, he had two interceptions. Marquess Wilson caught six passes for 236 yards and two TDs. The Cougars had 419 yards to 500 for SDSU, but the four turnovers and 6-of-14 third down conversions were tough to overcome.

The Cougars have a bye this week and that is probably a good thing since they were riding high until the second half of this game.

9. Washington Huskies

No. 11* Nebraska (3-0) got revenge for the 19-7 Washington (2-1) victory at the Holiday Bowl in a wild game featuring a combined 884 yards of offense. Nebraska scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter for a 37-17 lead that the Huskies could not overcome despite three TDs in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez was 10 of 21 for 155 yards and two TDs with no INTs. He ran for 83 yards and one TD on 17 carries. Nebraska had 309 yards rushing as Rex Burkhead added 120 yards and two TDs on 22 carries.

 Washington’s Keith Price was 21 of 37 for 274 yards, four TDs and two INTs. James Johnson caught six passes for 108 yards with two touchdowns. RB Chris Polk ran for 130 yards on 22 carries and one TD. 

Nebraska won despite 3-of-12 success on third downs.

Washington hosts California on Saturday in an important game for both teams.

*Week 3 AP ranking

8. Colorado Buffaloes

Score: Colorado 28, Colorado State 14

Colorado (1-2) QB Tyler Hansen ran for two TDs and passed for another pair to log coach Jon Embree's first victory and it was against rival Colorado State Rams (2-1).

Hansen was 17 of 32 for 215 yards and no INTs. RB Rodney Stewart had seven receptions for 93 yards and rushed for 98 yards on 19 carries.

Colorado State QB Pete Thomas was 18 of 28 for 157 yards and no TDs or INTs. TE Crockett Gillmore had 84 yards and one TD (pass from WR Charles Lovett) on 5 catches.

The Buffs travel to Ohio State on Saturday and hope to upset them.

7. Arizona Wildcats

Score: Stanford 37, Arizona 10

Details are in the Stanford slide. Arizona plays Oregon this week so things don't get any easier.

6. California Golden Bears

Score: California 63, Presbyterian 12

California (3-0) overwhelmed and overmatched Presbyterian (1-2) from the start in the expected slaughter.

Presbyterian had 48 total yards and three first downs with two turnovers. The only question is, how did they score 12 points in the second quarter? Justin Bethel blocked a punt and returned it for a TD, and intercepted a pass for a score.

Cal had 581 yards. QB Zach Maynard was 15 of 25 for 215 yards, three TDs and the one INT. Junior RB Isi Sofele had 17 catches for 105 yards and two TDs. Senior WR Marvin Jones ran for 123 yards and one TD on seven receptions.

This game was the first home game at AT&T Park while Cal’s Memorial Stadium has a $321 million renovation.

Cal travels to Washington for an important game for both teams.

5. Arizona State Sun Devils

Score: Illinois 17, Arizona State 14

Illinois (3-0) threw everything they had at 6-foot-8 Arizona State (2-1) QB Brock Osweiler and six sacks and two interceptions later they had the win. The Sun Devils had 362 yards compared to the Illini 240.

Both teams made mistakes with three turnovers each, but the Sun Devils also had eight penalties for 91 yards against the ferocious defense of the Illini.

Osweiller was 25 of 45 for 256 yards and one TD. Senior Gerell Robinson had eight receptions for 88 yards and one TD. Senior Aaron Pflugrad reeled in seven catches for 75 yards.

Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase was 11 of 15 for 135 yards with one TD and one INT. He also had 67 yards rushing on 18 carries.

Neither team scored in the second and third quarters.

No. 22* Arizona State dropped out of the top 25 with the loss.

Arizona State hosts the No. 23** USC Trojans on Saturday and hopes to rebound with a victory on their way to win the Pac-12 South Division.

*Week 3 AP ranking

**Week 4 AP ranking

4. Utah Utes

Score: Utah 54, BYU 10

Utah (2-1) forced seven BYU Cougars (1-2) turnovers in a rare lopsided game between the rivals.

Utah QB Jordan Wynn passed for two scores on 16 of 30 passes for 239 yards and one INT. RB John White had 174 yards and three TDs on 22 carries. Dres Anderson had 81 yards and one TD on three catches. The offense totaled 481 yards.

The Utes defense scored the first and last TD, and held BYU to 354 yards and only 11 rushing.

BYU QB Jake Heaps was 27 of 50 for 305 yards, one TD and one INT. Sophomore WR Cody Hoffman had 8 receptions for 138 yards.

Utah has a bye this week to savor the victory and bounce back from last week’s loss to USC. This win positions Utah to be a factor in the South Division.

3. USC Trojans

Score: USC 38, Syracuse 17

QB Matt Barkley tied a school-record five TDs to different receivers for 324 yards, and the undefeated Trojans (3-0) beat a previously undefeated Syracuse Orange (2-1). This was a more complete game than the first two Trojan wins due to fewer mistakes by inexperienced players.

Barkley has 892 yards, nine TDs and one INT in three games with 69 percent completions.

Robert Woods was again the leading receiver with eight catches for 82 yards and one TD. He has 33 receptions in three games breaking the Trojan record set by Keyshawn Johnson in 1995. Seven other receivers caught passes as USC took advantage of the double and triple teaming of Woods.

The Trojans were limited to six yards rushing in the first half because the Orange filled the box to prevent the run, but the USC OL wore down the Syracuse DL and ended up with 175 yards. RB Curtis McNeal had 80 yards in five carries in the fourth quarter.

The USC offense generated 501 yards while the defense limited Syracuse to 331 yards and only 73 yards rushing.

Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib completed his first 11 passes but only generated three points. He was 14 of 26 for the rest of the game. He was pressured most of the game by the Trojan defense but he played very well avoiding the rush, passing quickly and scrambling while being sacked only three times.

USC is now AP No. 23 in the Week 4 poll.

The Trojans travel to Tempe for the South Division showdown with Arizona State. The winner will likely be the champ. This may be a very close game.

2. Oregon Ducks

Score: Oregon 56, Missouri State 7

LaMichael James rushes for 204 yards and three TDs to lead No. 12* Oregon (2-1) over outmatched lower division Missouri State Bears (0-3).

QB Darron Thomas was 11 of 15 for 206 yards, three TDs and no INTs. Senior WR Lavasier Tuinei had 90 yards and two TDs on four catches.

The Ducks had 681 yards and held Missouri State to 289 yards. Oregon also had nine penalties for 81 yards.

Oregon moved up to No. 10 in the current AP ranking even though this game proved nothing.

The Ducks travel to Arizona this Saturday but should not have a difficult time.

*Week 3 AP ranking

1. Stanford Cardinal

Score: Stanford 37, Arizona 10

No. 6*Stanford (3-0) pulled away from Arizona (1-2) in the second half on the arm of Andrew Luck who threw for 325 yards and two TDs and the running of Stephan Taylor who had 153 yards on 22 carries.

Stanford scored 21 unanswered points in the second half after leading 16-10 at half time. TE Levine Toilolo caught four passes for 102 yards with a touchdown

Arizona QB Nick Foles kept the Wildcats in the game in the first half by completing his first 17 passes and throwing for 198 yards and a TD. But, he ended up with only 239 yards.

Stanford TE Coby Fleener may have suffered a serious injury and defensive leader LB Shayne Skov is lost for the rest of the season.

Stanford moved up to No. 5 in the current AP ranking and currently has the nation’s longest winning streak at 11 games.

The Cardinal enjoy a bye this week, while Arizona plays host to Oregon.

*Week 3 AP ranking