Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6: Separation Saturday

Unafraid Show's Pac-12 2020 NFL Draft Preview: Part Two

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6. It was separation Saturday in the Pac-12 Conference. The list of contenders and pretenders for a Pac-12 Conference Championship is pretty clear at this point. Some teams had their hopes fade away with an injured quarterback. Others, just realized they aren’t as good as they thought they were. All teams are mathematically alive to win their division. Oregon, Washington, ASU, and Utah appear to have the inside track. And only Oregon and Washington have an outside shot at landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 5.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6:

Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.

12. Oregon State Beavers (1-3)

Last Week: 28-31 (L) vs Stanford

The Beavers let an opportunity to get a Pac-12 win slip through their fingertips. Last year they lost to Stanford by 31. This year it was a winnable game. The positive is Oregon State is clearly improving as a team. The bad news is that they have no clue how to win yet. OSU’s defense is no longer seller dwellers in total defense. Even though they are last in rushing defense, the overall play has improved. The Beavers are still terrible, but MUCH improved.

11. Stanford Cardinal (2-3)

Last Week: 31-28 (W) at Oregon State

A win usually moves you up the Pac-12 Power Rankings. But Stanford’s effort against Oregon State, particularly in the 4th quarter was less than impressive. The Cardinal are still without starting QB KJ Costello, but Davis Mills filled in admirably. “Stanford football” has been nowhere to be found for the last two seasons. They are 11th in the Pac-12 in rushing (112 ypg), and last in scoring offense (20 ppg). Things are clearly broken. Can David Shaw fix them?

10. Washington State Cougars (3-2)

Last Week: 13-38 (L) @ Utah

When UCLA beats you twice (the game and in focus for Utah) and your coach calls the team out, things are spiraling downhill. Mike Leach called his team “fat, dumb, happy, and entitled” in his monotone meltdown postgame press conference. (We talk about this in detail on the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast below). They need to take this entire week off to regroup before they head down to Arizona State.

So much for the Cougars’ “most efficient offense in the country” talk WSU fans had been on my timeline yelling at me about.

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9. UCLA Bruins (1-4)

Last Week: 17-20 (L) @ Arizona

Chip Kelly clearly has his team headed in the right direction even though their record says 1-4. The Pac-12’s worst scoring defense and total defense only gave up 20 points to a team averaging over 30 ppg. The Bruins are the worst tackling football team in the Pac-12, and it’s not close. The good news is that Dorian Thompson-Robinson looks like he has turned a corner into a competent quarterback. If the O-line can keep him upright, the Bruins still have a shot at shocking the Pac-12 south.

8. Arizona Wildcats (3-1)

Last Week: 20-17 (W) vs UCLA

Is the Khalil Tate era over in Tucson? We kicked the tires on the question of Khalil Tate redshirting to transfer and Arizona going forward with the future of the program on the podcast. Grant Gunnell threw the ball more times in the first half against UCLA than Khalil Tate has in any full game this season. The seat is probably getting a little warmer under Kevin Sumlin, so switching QBs might just be the shot of life the program needs.

Their next stretch of games against Colorado, Washington, USC, Stanford.

7. Cal Golden Bears (4-1)

Last Week: 17-24 (L) vs Arizona State

I’m basing this ranking on where Cal is without Chase Garbers. He had finally turned a corner in his maturation as a passer. After he got hurt, the passing offense was a disaster with Devon Modster at QB. Stats and the film show Cal’s defense is stout, but have been hurt by a lot of big passing plays on QB scrambles. Can they get Modster to play turnover-free football? If they can, Cal can still rally to win 7 games. If not, they may be staring 5-7 in the face.

6. USC Trojans (3-2)

Last Week: 14-28 (L) vs Washington

The score in the game against Washington was a lot closer than the game was. Many people expected the Trojans defense to struggle against the pass with their two top DBs out. However, USC was able to hold Jacob Eason to a very pedestrian 180 yards passing with no touchdowns. The problem was the offense. Matt Fink looked like a 3rd string QB. They were consistently unable to move the ball and flip field position. So Washington played with short fields the majority of the day.

If healthy, it’s time to go back to Kedon Slovis at quarterback.

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1)

Last Week: 24-17 (W) vs CAL

I got a lot of “I told you so” from ASU fans about my Cal prediction. The Sun Devils deserve credit for winning the game. Herm Edwards’ team is as resilient as they come. Their wins haven’t been pretty, but they are sitting at 4-1 with a legit shot at the Pac-12 South crown. They will need to fix their offensive line issues. Eno Benjamin had 29 carries against Cal and was probably hit by a defender in the backfield on 22 of those carries.

I must give some props to QB Jayden Daniels. His stat lines are not impressive. But, if you watch the game, he is playing hard and making plays when the team needs it most. ASU has a potential star on their hands.

4. Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)

Last Week: IDLE

Mel Tucker’s squad had a week off and moved up the Pac-12 Power Rankings. It’s weird to see them at #4, but they won’t be here long unless they get their 11th ranked scoring defense fixed (30.8 ppg).

Pac-12 conference

3. Utah Utes (4-1)

Last Week: 38-13 (W) vs Washington State

When I was watching the game it felt like Tyler Huntley was giving me a giant F-U. All the things I have said he and this offense couldn’t do after the USC game, they went out and did. Huntley finished with over 334 yards passing with a pair of TD through the air and ground. If he had Heisman buzz around his name, the national media would be singing his praises.

Now the Utes have a week off to get healthy and regroup for the stretch run in the Pac-12 south.

2. Washington Huskies (4-1)

Last Week: 28-14 (W) vs USC

The Huskies defense looked amazing against the extremely talented USC receiving corps. I knew Ahmed was bound to have some big rushing days this season. He is always a broken tackle away from hitting his head on the goalpost. Washington will need much better play out of Jacob Eason if they hope to beat Oregon, win the Apple Cup, and get to the Rose Bowl or CFB Playoff.

Right now, the Dawgs are positioned right where they want to be. They control their own destiny. Cal will probably lose to Oregon. So, beat the Ducks and Cougars and they are home free right?

1. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Last Week: 21-6 (W) Stanford

Hopefully, the theme of the week off was “stop the conservative play offensively”. It seems that Oregon’s lack of aggression and killer instinct offensively against solid competition is the only thing that can derail their this season. The Ducks also have to get their running game together if they have visions of the CFB Playoff. They have not had many explosive running plays (20 yards+) through their first four games.

Putting up big points against a good Cal defense will be a good time to make a statement to the nation.

Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6.

Pac-12 Football Seasons: 2019 Colorado Buffaloes Week 6

Tony-Brown-Colorado-Nebraska-2019

The 2019 Colorado Buffaloes entered their bye week 3-1 and with plenty of optimism. As they now shift back towards game preparation, Colorado and their fans are hopeful about what is in store for the Mel Tucker era. The new head coach’s relentless attitude has helped the Buffaloes compete until the very end in all of their games while instilling confidence into the players. 

Tucker has accomplished feats previous coaches did not. He beat a ranked opponent on the road for the first time in 30 games, and in that same victory left Sun Devil Stadium with Colorado victorious for the first time in six tries.

But in all the optimism there have been twists and turns. Inconsistencies on offense have led to close nail-biters and thoughts of something more. Still, for all the inconsistencies the Buffaloes have flashed, the team has remained consistent in one aspect: making sure the games are competitive. Regardless of who the Buffaloes have played, all the games have been within one score at some point in the fourth quarter. The Buffaloes were able to prevail in three of these four games, but they may not have been the combination of wins many who follow the program were expecting to see.

The Buffaloes were expected to beat Colorado State, and they did 52-31. 

Many thought Nebraska was going to be a close game, and the Huskers were slightly favored. Colorado was able to push through adversity and make up a 17-point deficit to win in overtime. 

However, the next week, the Air Force Falcons shocked everyone in Boulder and gave the Buffaloes a permanent stain on their season, defeating them 30-23 in another overtime game. 

The Buffaloes then went the unexpected route and beat a ranked Arizona State team on the road in their Pac-12 opener. Unpredictability has been this team’s calling card.

Take the Nebraska game. The Buffaloes looked like a team with no sense of identity for the first 40 minutes, as they were down 17-0 until getting their first score late in the third quarter. Then suddenly, the script changed. The Buffaloes were a team on a mission and though it took them a while to warm up, they made a 180-degree turn and became one of the best teams in the country for 20-plus minutes.


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2019 Colorado Buffaloes Strengths

Conditioning: Mel Tucker has stressed being the best-conditioned team. The Buffaloes have been able to stay in games late and improved as games have progressed. The players are more energized as the games go on, and their conditioning helped in comebacks against Nebraska and Air Force.

Wide Receivers: The wide receivers group, coached by Darrin Chiaverini, has been a huge strength of the team. With Laviska Shenault facing double teams and being injured in the Arizona State game, the other wide receivers, namely Tony Brown, were able to pick up the slack. Known as “Touchdown Tony Brown” in high school, Brown is trying to reclaim that nickname in his senior year.

2019 Colorado Buffaloes Weaknesses

Inconsistency on offense, particularly the offensive line and Montez: The offense has looked extremely choppy at points this season. There has not been a consistent flow to the offense, and as a result, they’ve had various versions of the offense on display through the first four weeks.

Against Colorado State, it looked like the offense was figuring out how to deal with the double teams Laviska Shenault was receiving. Against Nebraska, it took nearly three quarters to pick up steam. 

The offensive line’s struggles were magnified against Air Force, as Montez was struggling in the pocket, throwing off his back foot on numerous occasions. With an offense that features three upperclassmen in Arlington Hambright, Kary Kutsch, and Tim Lynott, and a senior quarterback in Montez, it is frustrating when the chemistry has been off for one reason or another this season.

Secondary giving up big plays: The Buffaloes struggled to contain big plays in the opening game of the season against Colorado State, but the defense has improved each week. They have a bend-but-don’t-break attitude and turnovers have been their calling card. Cornerback Delrick Abrams has struggled on numerous occasions, as opposing receivers have had decent games against him. 

The defense has given up 31, 31, 30, and 31 points in their games this season, and secondary play will have to improve before the Buffaloes will be able to hold opponents under 30 points. 

Offensive MVP: WR Tony Brown

Stats: 19 Receptions, 301 Yards, 4 Touchdowns

It may surprise some that Laviska Shenault is not the offensive MVP of the Buffaloes right now. Some may point to the fact that he has been underutilized by offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, and an undisclosed injury prevented him from being fully utilized against ASU. Because of this Tony Brown has benefited. He has come in the clutch for the Buffaloes’ offense on numerous occasions this season, including catching two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns. The first of these crucial touchdowns came trailing Nebraska in the final minute of the game when the Buffs were down 31-24. He was able to catch the ball in the end zone and send Folsom Field into a frenzy. 

His second fourth-quarter touchdown came two weeks later in the Arizona State game to give the Buffs a 31-24 lead. This play was huge because it came on a 2nd-and-goal from the ASU 20-yard line. Most teams would have been assured of a field goal on this drive, but this would not be the case as Brown went up over a defender to catch the clutch touchdown.

Defensive MVP: S Mikial Onu

Stats: 27 Tackles, 3 Interceptions, and 2 Forced Fumbles

Onu, a graduate transfer from SMU, has been the main tone-setter on defense. The defense’s calling card has been the turnover this season, and Onu is the driving force behind that. He was the first to don the “turnover robe” in the CSU game when he came up with the first of his two interceptions in that game. He also had an interception and a forced fumble in the Air Force game. Those two turnovers were arguably the only reasons the Buffaloes were even in that game in the fourth quarter. Onu is second on the team in tackles, and has had a profound impact on the successes of the Buffaloes defense so far this season.  

Most surprising player: RB Jaren Mangham

Mangham, a freshman, has had some timely runs for the Buffaloes this season and has shown his physicality that he brings to the table at 6-2 and 215 lbs. He had two red zone touchdowns in the Nebraska game, which were a contributing factor to the Buffs being able to come back and win those games. He might not get as many carries as Alex Fontenot, but he is going to get noticed more if he continues to be a physical presence running the football.

2019 Colorado Buffaloes Week 6

There are many positives to take away from the first third of the 2019 Colorado Buffaloes season. These will be crucial moving forward, as Colorado faces six straight Pac-12 opponents before another bye week on November 16. 

To succeed will require flipping the script from last season, as the Buffaloes failed to win a game after beating Arizona State in 2018. This task begins against Arizona, a team that will challenge Colorado.

The Wildcats may be without Khalil Tate, who has given the Buffs fits in the past. However, Arizona beat UCLA with backup quarterback Grant Gunnell in College Football Week 5. With the parity in the Pac-12 on great display this season, Brown, Onu, and the rest of the Buffaloes cast need to come prepared as they try to beat the Wildcats at Folsom Field for the first time since 2011.  

Week 5 Grades, Mike Leach Meltdown, Khalil Tate Conspiracy, UCLA Sabotage, Power Rankings

After a crazy week in Pac-12 football, the Apostles had so much to discuss. They recap every game from week 5 and talk about the quarterbacks dropping like flies and who still has a chance to make the playoffs. Who will win the Pac-12 North and South? They also drop the Power Rankings for week 6 as well. We also learn that Ralph may have unintentionally sabotaged the UCLA kicker on his game-tying kick.

Washington State head coach Mike Leach melted down and called his team out after getting destroyed by Utah. Is it ok for a coach to say this to his players if true?

George has a conspiracy theory about Khalil Tate and his future at Arizona. Ralph does not disagree but may be mad that he is out of the loop on what is happening with his football man crush.

The Pac-12 Apostles is a podcast for fans who love the Pac-12 conference. George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden are committed to the honest and fair conversation about the Pac-12 conference. They talk about the good, bad, and the ugly about the Pac-12. Join them in becoming a Pac-12 Apostle by subscribing and sharing the podcast. Send your thoughts, comments, and :30 ranks to immad@unafraidshow.com. The best comments and rants will be included in the show.

Visit Unafraid Show to read unapologetic articles about the conference and the teams you love.

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California Senate Bill 206 Fair Pay to Play Act Would be a Major Benefit to Impoverished Athletes

California Senate Bill 206 Fair Play Act NCAA Athletes

California is currently the hotbed for the pay-for-play debate in college sports. This is due to the Fair Pay to Play Act that is currently before the California state legislature. Two California state senators have taken action against the injustices that plague the current college sports system. Those senators are Nancy Skinner and Steven Bradford. Senators Skinner and Bradford introduced the Fair Pay to Play Act in hopes of creating a more equitable system for college athletes and particular NCAA athletes in California. The bill seeks to give those college athletes the ability to profit from the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The athletes would also be able to sign with agents. The Fair Pay to Play Act has the potential to completely change the landscape of college athletics and the NCAA.

The Current Landscape of College Athletics

Currently, college athletes are not permitted to profit from their NIL for athletically related activities. Despite the NCAA’s best efforts to steer everyone away from this fact, college sports are a billion-dollar industry. Everyone gets rich except the players. Conferences and college sports officials garner billion-dollar television broadcasting deals. Coaches, athletic directors, and conference commissioners negotiate million-dollar salaries. Meanwhile, the athletes are limited to a cost-of-attendance scholarship and are prohibited from profiting from their name, image, and likeness. If an athlete seeks to make such a profit, the athlete will be deemed ineligible for competition by the NCAA. How is this fair? The answer is that it is not fair. The Fair Pay to Play Act seeks to remedy that injustice.

On Monday, the California State Assembly unanimously passed the bill 72-0. The bill will now go back to the State Senate for another vote. The bill was amended after it was originally passed in the State Senate. If the bill is passed again in the State Senate, it will go to Governor Gavin Newsome’s desk.

Governor Newsome should sign the bill into law because the Fair Pay to Play Act has the ability to create a more equitable system for college athletes in California. If signed into law, the bill will greatly benefit all college athletes attending school in California. However, the bill could have a profound effect on black college athletes; particularly those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Fair Pay to Play Act could create an entirely new revenue stream for such athletes by allowing them to acquire a better quality of life not dependent on making it in professional sports.

The Make-up of the Labor Force that Drives the Billion-Dollar Industry

The two sports that generate the bulk of the revenue in college athletics are Division I Football and Division I Men’s basketball. An overwhelming majority of the athletes participating in those sports are African American. In 2018, roughly 48 percent of Division I football players were African American. In 2018, roughly 56 percent of Division I Men’s basketball players were African-American. Even in Division I Women’s basketball, 47 percent of the participants were African-American. Many of these players come from disadvantaged backgrounds and some live in poverty.

Roughly 86 percent of African-American college athletes come from families that live below the poverty line. Generally, many college athletes live at or below the federal poverty line. The National College Players Association conducted a study that compared the room and board portion of each school’s full athletic scholarship to the 2011 federal poverty line.  The study found that 85 percent of on-campus athletes and 86 percent of off-campus athletes lived below the federal poverty line. It is true that college athletes are now given cost-of-attendance stipends. However, in many cases, the cost-of-attendance stipend is not enough for athletes to take care of themselves and their families.

The Cost-of-Attendance Stipend is Simply not Enough

In January 2015, the Power 5 conferences voted to allow college athletes to receive cost-of-attendance stipends. Each school calculates the amount of their cost-of-attendance stipend by considering variables like transportation, tuition and fees, books, and personal expenses. Many college athletes use these stipends to support themselves and their families. For example, Deion Hair-Griffin played receiver for North Texas. He received approximately $3,136 as his cost-of-attendance stipend, which he used to help his mother. His mother sacrificed her food and struggled to pay bills so that her son could play football. Once Deion received the stipend he was able to alleviate some of his mother’s financial stress.

Similarly, Van Smith who played football at Clemson used part of his $388 monthly stipend to cover part of his younger brother’s high school football expenses. Myles Gaskins, who played football for the University of Washington, argued that the stipends are still not enough. Gaskins pointed out that the stipend amount would lead athletes to live below the poverty line due to the high rent cost in Seattle. The stipends have been beneficial to college athletes. However, it is still not enough. This is especially true for college athletes who come from poverty. The implementation of the Fair Pay to Play Act and cost-of-attendance stipends will vastly improve the lives of impoverished college athletes in California.

While the Benefit may not be the Same for all Athletes, all Athletes Stand to Benefit

Opponents of the Fair Pay to Play Act argue that the outcome of the bill will not be successful because it will not benefit all athletes. They argue that the bill will only prove beneficial to the highly sought after elite athletes. However, it is very likely that lower-profile athletes will benefit from this bill as well. Simply having the opportunity to garner an endorsement deal is a benefit. This benefit can go a long way for athletes who come from poverty. Let’s consider the perspective of two former college athletes on the issue of how beneficial the Fair Pay to Play Act will be to college athletes.

Former College Athletes Perspective on the Fair Pay to Play Act

Greg Camarillo is a former Stanford University football player who supports the bill. Mr. Camarillo stated that he is not sure that the bill would have benefited him because he was not a high profile athlete in college. However, he acknowledged the possibility of local businesses giving lower-profile athletes endorsement deals. Mr. Camarillo stated that in his view endorsements are the most realistic way for college athletes to receive payment because most schools cannot afford to pay athletes. He also stated that colleges should not have the power to take away college athletes’ ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness.

Travis Johnson is a California native and former Florida State football player. He believes that finding a way to pay college athletes is long overdue. Mr. Johnson recalled instances where athletes did not have enough money to buy groceries or to travel home for the holidays. He acknowledged that an extra $1,000 per month would go a long way. Mr. Johnson suggested that when a company is interested in endorsing the star linebacker, the company offer some type of deal to each player on the line. That way, even the lower-profile players will have an opportunity to benefit from the Fair Pay to Play Act. This bill could lead to the creation of such a system.

With the Fair Pay to Play Act, College Athletes will not Feel so Pressured to Turn Pro and Degree Completion will Likely Increase

Many college athletes leave school early for the pros because they are desperate to change their social-economic status. While some may wish to remain in college, they feel that they cannot afford to. The Fair Pay to Play Act has the ability to alleviate that stress by creating an avenue for college athletes to garner extra income. Furthermore, the Fair Pay to Play Act will provide financial opportunities for athletes who do not make it to the pros.

Approximately 4 percent of college basketball players were selected in the 2018 NBA draft and approximately 4 percent of college football were selected in the 2018 NFL draft. This means that only a small fraction of college athletes are given the opportunity to receive the true value of their athletic worth. Due to the NCAA’s rules, most college athletes miss their opportunity to take advantage of their skills when they are the most marketable. This simply is not right. The Fair Pay to Play Act can change this by giving all college athletes the ability to profit from their athletic abilities during their prime years in college. 

Opening the door for college athletes to sign endorsement deals, receive compensation from jersey sales and signed memorabilia, and to receive guidance from an agent while in college would dramatically improve the lives of college athletes, especially those who come from poverty. It would essentially create an avenue where college athletes can use their athleticism to build wealth while pursuing their education. Thus, equipping impoverished college athletes with the two most pertinent things needed to get out poverty – money, and education.  Therefore, the Fair Pay to Play Act should be signed into law if and when it reaches Governor Newsome’s desk.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 6 As it Should Be

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings

I cannot remember a time where there were so many elite teams in college football. You could make a case for seven teams to be #1 right now. Week 5 in college football provided no separation between the teams in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 6 As it Should Be. Every single AP top 25 team won except the loser of the two top 25 games and Cal, who lost their quarterback. I was hoping for chaos, and all I got was chalk.

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 6. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5.

College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 6:

Next Up: Penn State, Florida, Notre Dame, Washington

10. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Last Week: IDLE

Oregon still has hopes of making the CFB Playoff. They will need to finish the season 12-1 with a Pac-12 championship.

9. Wisconsin Badgers (4-0)

Last Week: 24-15 (W) Northwestern

A win is a win, but eww. Wisconsin got NO style points for this win. To make it even worse, the game was boring. I am not sold on the Badgers as a top 10 team yet because Michigan may have been overrated. They will have a chance to set the record straight on October 26th against Ohio State.

8. Texas Longhorns (3-1)

Last Week: IDLE

Any weekend you don’t lose is a good weekend. Next week the Longhorns get a tuneup against Kansas before playing the Oklahoma Sooners. It’s time for Texas to cowboy up and prove they are really back.

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7. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0)

Last Week: 48-7 (W) Nebraska

Ohio State looks phenomenal. It is really six in one hand and half a dozen in the other between the top seven. It looks as if Ryan Day is doing what Lincoln Riley is doing at Oklahoma. He is taking over for a legendary coach, but elevating the program. At this point, I don’t see anyone in the Big Ten competing with them, even Wisconsin. But Penn State is creeping in the shadows and moving in silence.

6. Oklahoma Sooners (4-0)

Last Week: 55-16 (W) Texas Tech

Lincoln Riley’s squad has punched a hole in every one of their opponents in 2019. It seems that this third iteration of one year quarterback at Oklahoma is the best. Jalen Hurts is already exceeding the outrageous stats that Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray put up. I’m ready for the Red River Shootout.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0)

Last Week: 59-31 (W) at Ole Miss

Tua Tagovioloa is breaking records and cementing his place amongst the all-time college football greats. Ole Miss was nothing more than a speedbump in the way of Alabama being 5-0.

I am still extremely frustrated that Bama is so good and so talented but we have to watch them play four games they could roll their helmets out and win.

4. Georgia Bulldogs (4-0)

Last Week: IDLE

I cannot believe there are people that still have Alabama ranked ahead of Georgia. Those people site the past and history, but it’s 2019. In 2019, Georgia has looked great and beat Notre Dame while Bama has zero quality wins. We will find out who is better later, but for now, UGA has earned a better ranking.

3. LSU (4-0)

Last Week: IDLE

Aside from the Texas game, the schedule has been extremely light for LSU. But, everything I have seen from Joe Burrow makes me a believer. This should be an epic showdown in the SEC West this season.

2. Auburn (5-0)

Last Week: 56-23 (W) Miss St

Auburn has done nothing but get better each week. Their true freshman QB Bo Nix had his best game of the season. He passed for 335 yards, 2 touchdowns and added 56 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Tigers have already defeated Oregon and Texas A&M. Who has two better wins… Nobody.

1. Clemson Tigers (5-0)

Last Week: 21-20 (W) at North Carolina

Clemson escapes North Carolina… Is this their Syracuse game from last year or is this an indication the Tigers can be beaten?

UNC is much improved but this was an UGLY win. Trevor Lawrence has not looked as NFL ready as we thought last season. I believe Clemson is just having a national championship hangover and will rebound big from this scare. However, they cannot be ranked based on potential. Had UGA or LSU played and put a great performance together, they may have fallen from the #1 spot.

Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 6.

Top 5 Candidates for 2019 PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Year Through Week 4

Easop Winston WSU Houston 2019

The PAC-12 may run the risk of beating each other up this season, but there’s no doubt the conference has a ton of talented players on both sides of the ball.

The quarterback play in the PAC-12 has been arguably as good as ever this season, and a QB is likely to win the coveted 2019 PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Here are five candidates – not all quarterbacks – who could win that award by the end of the 2019 season.

Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Oregon

Long considered a Heisman favorite and potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert has not disappointed in his senior campaign so far.

Herbert has completed a whopping 74.4% of his passes for 1,127 yards and 14 touchdowns through four games this season. He has yet to throw an interception, and his passing efficiency rating is a staggering 183.1.

Herbert is on pace to shatter most of his accomplishments from the last few seasons, and not only has a great chance to be the offensive player of the year in the conference, but he could become the next Oregon quarterback to win the Heisman.

Anthony Gordon, Quarterback, Washington State

Herbert has been a machine of efficiency for the Ducks, but it’s hard not to ignore the staggering volume of statistics that have been posted by Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon through three games.

Gordon has thrown for 1,894 yards already this season, with a stellar 74.9% completion rate and 21 touchdowns – lead of course by his nine touchdown game against UCLA.

Gordon does have four interceptions, his biggest knock so far, but if he keeps playing like this it will be really hard to not give him the award

He is on pace for nearly 6,000 yards through the air, which would shatter the NCAA record of 5,833 set by B.J. Symons at Texas Tech back in 2003. If he even places in the top-five, the award is probably his.

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Washington State Cougars wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (8) scores on a 39-yard touchdown reception during an NCAA football game between the Houston Cougars and the Washington State Cougars at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on September 13, 2019.

Easop Winston, Wide Receiver, Washington State

The man on the receiving end of so much of Gordon’s damage done this season has been Washington State receiver Easop Winston, who himself has made a pretty compelling case to the offensive player of the year in the conference.

Winston already has 348 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns on the season, putting him on pace for just over 1,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. While he probably won’t reach those lofty totals, if he continues to produce big time numbers he has a chance to be recognized at the end of the season.

Jacob Eason, Quarterback, Washington

The former Georgia quarterback is having a very solid start to his career as a Husky, and while he’s behind both Herbert and Gordon statistically, it’s not impossible to imagine him getting the nod if he continues to play well and the Huskies go undefeated from here on out.

Eason has recorded 1,063 yards and 10 touchdowns through four games this season, along with a nice 73.1% completion rate and just two interceptions.

He has some catching up to do if he wants this award, but stranger things have happened.

Isaiah Hodgins, Wide Receiver, Oregon State

A true dark horse for this award, Hodgins plays receiver for a bad PAC-12 team, but the numbers he has put up so far indicate he could be a wildcard candidate for offensive player of the year.

As Oregon State’s only real threat offensively, Hodgins has already hauled in 23 receptions for 347 yards and five touchdowns on the young season. While he has a long, long way to go to move past Herbert and Gordon to win the award, he does have a lot going for him in a relatively inept Oregon State offense.

It will be hard for anyone to top Herbert or Gordon for this award, but there’s no question that the PAC-12 has a lot of talented offensive players in the 2019 season. Still, with no true offensive standouts in the Pac-12 South, will the 2019 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year’s best candidates only come from the Pac-12 North?

Week 5 Predictions and Preview, Bryce Young Decommits, D’Eriq King, Pac-12 Conference Players of the Week

Pac-12 Apostles Podcast: Week 5 Predictions and Preview, D'Eriq King

George and Ralph preview all the Pac-12 conference college football games week 5. The visiting teams have a legit opportunity to win every game this weekend. They disagree heavily on the outcome of the Cal at Arizona State game. Check out the week 5 Pac-12 Power Rankings.

Houston quarterback D’Eriq King is redshirting the rest of the season and transferring to another school to play. The Apostles discuss whether this is good for college football and would we support his decision if it happened to our favorite team.

Listen on any Podcast Platform: Anchor // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic

They also discuss top CA high school quarterback Bryce Young’s decommitment from USC to commit to Alabama.

The Pac-12 Apostles is a podcast for fans who love the Pac-12 conference. George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden are committed to the honest and fair conversation about the Pac-12 conference. They talk about the good, bad, and the ugly about the Pac-12. Join them in becoming a Pac-12 Apostle by subscribing and sharing the podcast. Send your thoughts, comments, and :30 ranks to immad@unafraidshow.com. The best comments and rants will be included in the show.

Oregon vs. Stanford 2019 – The Ducks fly past sinking Stanford

Pac-12 Football Review: Oregon leads 2020 recruiting, BYU Games, KJ Costello

Oregon vs. Stanford 2019 was another in the series of two relatively new Pac-12 heavyweights. And yet, this iteration felt different.

The Stanford Cardinal have had a nightmarish start to the season, after winning the opener to Northwestern the Cardinal have lost three straight games including a 21-6 loss at home to the University of Oregon.

First Half

Facing a Ducks team ranked #16 in the nation and led by Heisman candidate Justin Herbert, the Cardinal would attempt to right the ship. Receiving the opening kickoff, the Cardinal drove 61 yards in 12 plays in 6:21 seconds, primarily off the legs of running back Cameron Scarlett. Unable to punch the ball into the endzone Stanford would settle for a field goal, taking a 3-0 lead.

The Cardinal defense was the one of a few bright spots on the day, keeping Herbert under 300 yards passing (19/24 259yards 3TDs). The Stanford defense also held Oregon’s rushing attack to 61 total yards. They harassed Herbert all game long, totaling four sacks and piled up seven tackles for loss.

On the Ducks third possession, however, Oregon found something exploitable in the Cardinal defense. Herbert hit wide receiver Jaylon Redd on a crossing route and he outraces the coverage for 36 yards and a lead changing score. Oregon went 55 yards on 2 plays, using only :35 off the clock to take a 7-3 lead. With his second completion, Herbert broke 8,000 yards passing. He also extended his streak of games with a passing TD to 32.

Still, the Cardinal were not out. Unfortunately their offense couldn’t get going, or even out of its own way. Osiris St. Brown was called for a chop block, costing Stanford 15 yards and seriously impairing the momentum. Two runs and an incompletion later and the Cardinal had to punt on 4th and 12 from their 33.

Stanford’s defense, meanwhile, continued to smother the gun and pistol stretch runs which the Ducks are known for. However, getting off the field on third downs remained a major problem. On two consecutive third-and-longs the Cardinal allowed the Ducks to convert. This led to an eventual score.

On the next possession the Cardinal found momentum as halftime approached. But on the eighth play of the drive at the Oregon 39 yard line, quarterback K.J. Costello was sacked. And after the original play was ruled a fumble returned for a TD, upon official review it was ruled Costello’s knee and elbow were down. The sack counted but the scoop and score did not.

With the offense stifled by Oregon’s defense, the Ducks had another shot. Herbert threw for gains of 24 yards, 16 yards, and 16 yards. The final was a TD pass to tight end Jacob Breeland on a back shoulder throw and catch to open up the lead. 14-3 Ducks.

2nd Half

Heading into the second half the Cardinal had hope. Their first drive showed they could play against Oregon’s stout defense and a 14-3 score was not insurmountable.

But after stopping the Ducks’ offense on their first drive of the second half, Stanford started the third quarter moving backwards.One false start, one delay of game penalty, a completion for 0 yards, a sack of 8 yards, and a 6 yard run. All preceded an opening drive punt for the Cardinal.

The Ducks, believing in either their defense or Stanford’s offensive futility — or a combination of the two — were content to continue running the clock. Stanford had 181 yards of total offense with no touchdowns heading into the 4th quarter. Scarlett, the lone offensive bright spot, had 91 yards on 17 carries. Only Austin Jones and St. Brown had more than 20 yards of receptions for the Cardinal.

This offensive futility was highlighted by a Costello interception that led to Oregon’s third TD of the game. After Oregon safety Jevon Holland intercepted Costello, Herbert marched the Ducks down the field. He connected with Breeland once again for a 24-yard TD, the second of Breeland’s day and 172nd of Herbert’s career.

Now down 21-3, Stanford needed something to get any momentum back.

Moving the offense down the field, Costello had his biggest play of the game on a 25 yard pass to M. Wilson. After Scarlett added 6 yards on a run, Costello once again hit Wilson for 14 yards on another slant, bringing the Cardinals into the redone for just the second time of the afternoon. An incompletion into the end zone was followed by a loss of three on a screen. Costello was then sacked on 3rd and 13 by Lamar Winston Jr., forcing a field goal attempt. Fortunately for Stanford, kicker Jeff Toner connected. With time bleeding away, Stanford was down 21-6.

Needing to score quickly and get the ball back, Stanford attempted an onside kick. They did not convert, and saw Oregon drive 41 yards on 7 plays. This put the Ducks in field goal range. Fortunately for the Cardinal, Oregon missed. With 5:35 seconds left in the game the Cardinal took possession at their 20 yard line down 21-6.

But after starting out with a nice pass on first down for a first down, the Cardinal offense failed to convert a fourth down, giving the Ducks the ball and the opportunity to run more off the clock. And while they did punt to Stanford, Costello and Stanford had no time. He was sacked for the last play of the game, an appropriate ending for the way the game played throughout.

Oregon vs. Stanford 2019 Final Thoughts

Costello finished the game 16/30 for 120 yards 0TDS and 1 INT. Scarlett carried the ball 19 times for 97 yards and 0 TDs. Stanford’s leading receiver was Michael Wilson with 61 yards on 5 catches. The Cardinal are in desperate need of offense and help doesn’t appear to be on the way.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5: Fantastic Finishes

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5. Between the amazing UCLA comeback against Washington State and referees in the Ole Miss game, the Pac-12 was the buzz of the nation after week 4. It is clear that the Pac-12 is getting respect nationally because there are five teams ranked between 11-21. Oregon, Washington, Cal, and USC all have a shot at winning the Pac-12 and landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 4

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5:

Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.

12. Oregon State Beavers (1-2)

Last Week: IDLE

The Beavers got to enjoy their win for another week and put in new wrinkles for Stanford. At this point, that looks like a very winnable game for OSU. It is at home against a wounded Stanford. They just have to figure out a way to stop the run. Right now, OSU is dead last in the Pac-12 against the run giving up 207 ypg.

11. Stanford Cardinal (1-2)

Last Week: 21-6 (L) at Oregon

This team is headed in the wrong direction fast. We have seen cracks in the David Shaw system for the last couple of years, but the dam finally broke. He is part of the Jim Harbaugh coaching tree and they both are suffering the same fate. Neither can produce any kind of effective or explosive offense for the last two seasons. Other teams have adjusted to Stanford’s running attack and David Shaw has been unwilling to change his offense. If they lose to Oregon State, the Pac-12 world will be in shock.

Subscribe to the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

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10. Arizona Wildcats (2-1)

Last Week: IDLE

Arizona should feel good about themselves on the heels of their Texas Tech victory and week off. Khalil Tate is now their leading passer and rusher again. Over the last two games, Arizona has looked more like the 2017 team that saw Khalil Tate be dynamic with his legs. Their biggest issue is on defense. The Wildcats are giving up 33 ppg and 484 ypg, both of which are 2nd to last in the Pac-12. Big game vs UCLA this week.

9. UCLA Bruins (1-3)

Last Week: 67-63 (W) Washington State

Epic comeback for the ages by UCLA. By now, you would have to be living under a rock to have missed highlights of their 32-point comeback in a quarter and a half against Washington State. I am left with more questions about this team than answers. Did the “light” come on for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson? Did Chip Kelly find his offensive groove again? Was the second half of the Wazzu game the real UCLA, or are they the team that couldn’t score more than 14 points their first three games? If they can put together a string of victories they will find themselves flying up the Pac-12 Power Rankings.

8. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-1)

Last Week: 31-34 (L) vs Colorado

Herm Edwards summed up the difference between college and pro teams perfectly. He said pro teams are consistent and you know what you will get on a week in and week out basis. College teams are inconsistent from week to week. His Sun Devils were the epitome of that in week 4. Their offense had struggled against Sacramento State and Michigan State while their defense was stout. Against Colorado, their offense was explosive and their defense was porous.

7. Washington State Cougars (3-1)

Last Week: 63-67-28 (L) vs UCLA

Coug’d it. College football fans got to see a ridiculously improbable comeback. But, there is another side to the story. Washington State has to pick up the pieces after a historic collapse. Will they regroup and play well against Utah on the road this week, or will they let UCLA beat them twice?

The Cougars only improved their amazing offensive numbers against UCLA. Anthony Gordon is leading the nation in passing yards and touchdown passes.

6. Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)

Last Week: 34-31 (W) vs Arizona State

Mel Tucker’s team can’t play defense yet, but they can score points and they are battle-tested. The good news is that they finally started fast. They fell behind early in their last two games but came out strong versus ASU. The Buffaloes get a week off in week 5. Their fans have to be happy about this 3-1 start but know that they will have to finish strong to make a bowl game.

5. Utah Utes (3-1)

Last Week: 23-30 (L) vs USC

This had to be a deflating loss for Utah. They were preseason Pac-12 favorites, ranked #10 in the country and had rolled through non-conference play. However, I have been saying it since the season started, their offense will be their demise. We all know their defense is usually spectacular, but to win championships, your offense will need to save the day sometimes. Utah’s offense and QB Tyler Huntley aren’t built to score a lot of points or have amazing passing days. This is still a really good team that can win the Pac-12 South but will need to regroup.

4. USC Trojans (3-1)

Last Week: 30-23 (W) vs Utah

New QB, no problem. USC has started three different quarterbacks this season and has won three games. That is a huge testament to Graham Harrell and Clay Helton for having the young guys ready. It is also, really easy to be a 300-yard passer when you have the best receiving core in the nation to throw to. Many people expected Clay Helton to be 1-3 and on the way out the door at this point in the season. He’s proving he won’t be fired without a fight.

USC fans are so conflicted, they are happy to be winning, but frustrated that Clay Helton is the one leading them.

3. Washington Huskies (3-1)

Last Week: 45-19 (W) vs BYU

Since their loss to Cal, Washington has put down two impressive performances. They dismantled Hawaii and BYU. It seems like Jacob Eason and this offense are in a real groove. Can they continue to put up these types of offense performances against the top defenses in the conference, Oregon, and Utah?

The Huskies were in this position last year and still managed to win the Pac-12 and get a Rose Bowl berth.

2. Cal Golden Bears (4-0)

Last Week: 28-20 (W) at Ole Miss

What in the hell got into Chase Garbers against Ole Miss? He passed for 357 yards and 4 touchdowns. Do you realize that is about 15% of his career total passing yards? If he can continue this high level of play, Cal can go undefeated and win the Pac-12. their defense is suffocating and unrelenting. Imagine what happens when Justin Wilcox gets a team full of 4-5*athletes.

1. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Last Week: 21-6 (W) Stanford

The Ducks are putting the conference and nation on notice they are back. Justin Herbert has put up excellent passing numbers despite missing the best parts of their receiving corps for all of this season. Oregon’s defense is #13 in the nation for total defense and hasn’t allowed a touchdown in three straight games. The only thing that can slow the Ducks down is their inability to generate explosive running plays this season. If they get the running game on track this team has enough momentum to propel them to the College Football Playoff.

Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings.

Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football: Week 4

Max Borghi Washington State

Pac-12 Football is Hot as Ever

Pac-12 Conference states

Week 3 was great, but Week 4 of Pac-12 football was unbelievable. There were a plethora of upsets, heartbreaks and big-time players. Which offensive players made the biggest differences this week?

Best Quarterback Performance

Anthony Gordon – Washington State

Anthony Gordon melted faces in Washington State’s loss to UCLA. That earned him a repeat on this best of Pac-12 football list.

Somehow, even though Gordon threw nine, yes nine, touch down passes, Washington State lost. It’s incredible how good Anthony Gordon continues to be, but he’s anchored by WSU’s dreadful defense.

Yes, Washington State blew a 49-17 lead. But, was that Gordon’s fault? Here are the results of each Washington State drive in the second half:

  • Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
  • Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
  • Anthony Gordon completes pass to Rodrick Fisher, then Fisher loses fumble
  • Punt
  • Anthony Gordon completes pass to Dezmon Patmon, then Patmon loses fumble
  • Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
  • Punt
  • Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
  • Anthony Gordon completes pass to Eason Winston Jr., then Winston Jr. loses fumble
  • Anthony Gordon sacked and loses fumble

Honestly, Gordon’s second half was still ridiculous. He still threw four touchdowns, but he was hampered by three of his players. Fisher, Patmon and Winston Jr. lost the ball and stopped the drives. Looking back at this game, people will inevitably remember Gordon as a loser. But, Anthony Gordon just gave Pac-12 football a performance of a lifetime.

Best Running Back Performance

Max Borghi – Washington State

Electric. Mex Borghi continues to impress with his versatility. As a runner, he’s capable of breaking 50-plus runs at any time. But, Borghi also adds a large threat as a receiver, evidenced by his 65-yard touchdown against UCLA.

This season, Borghi has 325 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 13 receptions, 169 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. He’s the type of pass-catching running back the NFL craves.

Best Wide Receiver Performance

Tony Brown – Colorado

In Colorado’s victory (yet another Pac-12 football upset), Tony Brown accounted for three of their four touchdowns. He caught touchdown passes of 29-yards, 31-yards and 20-yards. His touchdowns were each unique and displayed a well-rounded skill-set:

  • Scramble-Drill and YAC
  • Diving Catch in End Zone
  • Contested Catch in End Zone
https://youtu.be/t5SD4SNATeY

Best of all, this game was out of nowhere for Tony Brown. Currently, his career high in receiving yards is 333 yards in one season. Against Arizona State, he had 150 yards. Prior to this game, he totaled three receiving touchdowns. In his career! During this game, he had three. It was unbelievable. Laviska Shenault Jr. was out and Tony Brown had the best game of his career. What a story for Pac-12 football fans!

Best Tight End Performance

Jake Tonges – Cal

As easy as it would be to give this award to Jacob Breeland again, it goes to Jake Tonges. Yes, Breeland is certainly deserving with his two-touchdown performance. But, it was against freefalling Stanford. Tonges, on the other hand, made the difference against Ole Miss. With this performance, he helped Pac-12 football earn more respect.

Against Ole Miss, Tonges made all his money in the second half. His receptions were more than just the box-score shows. Here are the results of his three receptions:

  • On 3rd & 14, Tongues makes a 15-yard catch for a first downTwo plays later, Cal scores a touchdown
  • Tongues catches a 60-yard touchdown pass
  • Tongues catches a 13 yard pass, resulting in a first down

Who are the Best Pac-12 football players?

If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment or tweet at unafraidshow with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.