California Governor Gavin Newsom created a firestorm when he signed the Fair Pay to Play Actinto law. Starting in 2023, college athletes in California will be able to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). They will also be able to sign with agents. After the act became law, several states announced plans to enact similar legislation. Among those states, was the state of Flordia. Two lawmakers in Florida proposed bills seeking to give college athletes including NCAA players the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Last week, Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, endorsed the proposed legislation. This is a major development regarding college athlete rights. It could mean that if either of the proposed bills makes it to DeSantis’ desk, he will likely sign it into law. Therefore, Florida could become the next state to allow college athletes to profit from their NIL.
However, the NCAA still has a chance to get out ahead of this NIL compensation issue. The NCAA could amend its rules to allow college athletes to profit from their NIL. The NCAA already has a working group set to address the issue soon. What would happen if the NCAA did just that and allowed college athletes to profit from their NIL? Would that make the Fair Pay to Play Act a non-issue? Would the federal government still enact a law addressing the issue? Before these questions can be answered, it is important to understand why so many state and federal lawmakers have come out in support of college athletes’ rights.
The Reason So Many Legislators are Interested in College Athletes’ Rights
The short answer is because it is the right thing to do. College sports are a billion-dollar industry. It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the blatant inequities in college sports. The benefits that college athletes receive pales in comparison to the benefits that their labor bestows upon others. For example, It was recently reported that several high profile college coaches have access to private jets for personal use. Access to such amenities are apart of their contracts.
PM RT: The hot perk now for college football head coaches is private-jet time for personal use. There are at least 15 coaches — now including 1 in the Group of Five — with this in contracts that also usually add car, country club, tickets, etc. https://t.co/XngJXmEBBf
As if it was not enough for some coaches to make severely more money than the governor of the state in which they coach, they have to have access to private jets too.
PM RT: On average, state governors will make about 6% of what the highest-paid FBS public-school football coach in their state will make in 2019, per @Tom_Schad. A partial list is below. For the full list, go here: https://t.co/cRyxkNWy1vpic.twitter.com/ifmglIjvfN
It is things like this that make it extremely hard to argue that college athletes should not be allowed to have a bigger piece of the college sports pie. Governor DeSantis realized this fact when he was attending a football game. His reason for endorsing the proposed legislation stems from him realizing that members of the marching band can make money promoting music on their YouTube channel. However, the football players who perform in the same field do not have a similar ability to profit from their talents. It is this inherent inequity and unfairness between the rights and abilities of college athletes versus those of other students that have sparked the interest of so many lawmakers.
What Happens if the NCAA Amends its Rules to Allow NIL Compensation?
While state and federal lawmakers are busy drafting college athletes’ rights legislation, the NCAA’s working group plans to address the issue. The working group is expected to announce its findings and recommendations very soon. The pressure is certainly on for the NCAA. Everyone is waiting to see if the NCAA will make recommendations that actually benefit college athletes. If the NCAA does amend its rules to allow college athletes to profit from their NIL, what will that mean for the Fair Pay to Play Act and other proposed legislation?
A World Where the NCAA Allows College Athletes to Profit From Their NIL
If the NCAA amends its rules in a meaningful way to allow NIL compensation, there is a chance that the NCAA could make the need for legislation go away. The Fair Pay to Play Act is not set to go into effect until 2023. Accordingly, the NCAA has time to remedy this situation themselves. However, in order to accomplish that the NCAA has to be willing to make meaningful change and allow college athletes to profit from their NIL and sign with agents with essentially no strings attached. The NCAA should not try to “tether” the endorsements to education or subject them to any other stipulation. The NCAA should do the right thing and allow college athletes to profit from their NIL like the Fair Pay to Play Act other proposed legislation intends to do.
If the NCAA does that there will not be a need for legislation and it will make the Fair Pay to Play Act obsolete. However, the NCAA’s track record paints a pretty bleak picture that they will do that. Furthermore, the stance that members of the working group have taken on the issue does not lead one to believe that meaningful change will be coming from the working group. Based on this, it is likely that some form of legislation will be necessary. However, the true outcome of the NIL compensation working group remains to be seen.
For the third weekend in a row, we learn that no team in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 9 As it Should Be is safe from upsets. First, it was Georgia, followed by Wisconsin and now Oklahoma. I will note that Oklahoma’s loss to Kansas State is a better loss than Georgia’s to South Carolina who sported a losing record. The AP poll likely won’t reflect that and we all know why. Rankings should be fair and unbiased, but that’s not the world we live in when preseason polls ultimately affect the final rankings.
We always think there will be chaos in college football, but it rarely happens. However, this season it is clear that nothing can be taken for granted.
College Football Playoff
We now have enough information to start putting together CFB Playoff scenarios. So here is how it should shake out at this point.
Undefeated Big Ten Winner- (Ohio State/Penn State). But Minnesota could mess everything up by winning the Big Ten with one loss. Assuming that loss is to Penn State or Wisconsin, Minnesota would still have a real chance to get in.
SEC Champion- This gets a little complicated because Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU could all win the conference and the winner could have 2 losses. Or you could have 1-loss Georgia or Florida beating an undefeated Alabama or LSU.
Clemson- They have no competition in the ACC so they will finish undefeated with a string of blowout victories.
Pac-12 Champion- (Oregon/Utah) If both teams finish the season 11-1 the conference championship game will featured a top 10 showdown.
The way this season is shaping up, everyone may be on board with an 8 team playoff. There will be so many 1 loss teams who will be deserving of a chance to play for a championship. Wouldn’t it just make more sense to have the five Power 5 champions and highest-ranked Group of 5 team to get automatic bids? There would still be two spots left for at-large bids. You would always get the best and most deserving teams in the tournament. That might actually cause teams to schedule better non-conference games because they would know they could still get in the CFB Playoffs with 1-2 losses. Fans would then get better games.
The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings
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 9.
College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 10:
Next Up: Minnesota, Georgia, SMU, Michigan
Before you even ask: Auburn led Oregon for :09 of that game and Bo Nix has been awful passing the ball against any team with a pulse. Georgia has to play their way back in the mix after losing to 2-3 South Carolina at home.
10. Oklahoma Sooners (7-1)
Last Week: at 41-48 (L) Kansas State
Bad Loss to a good opponent. This is a much better loss that Georgia losing to S. Carolina The Sooners just ran out of time on their comeback against Kansas State. There are still no concerns about the Oklahoma offense even though they were stalled for much of the 2nd and 3rd quarters. However, the same cannot be said about Oklahoma’s leaky defense. At one point K-State scored on seven straight drives.
Alex Grinch had Oklahoma’s defense playing better but we should have seen this coming. They got no turnovers in the last three games and none Saturday either. Good defenses get stops and turnovers.
People are writing the Sooners out of the playoff, but it’s much too early, and way too many games left to do that.
9. Baylor Bears (7-0)
Last Week: 45-27 (W) at Oklahoma State
Baylor is a clear case of why preseason rankings matter in college football when they really shouldn’t. If any big named Power 5 conference team was 7-0 they would have so much more buzz around them. People would be talking CFB Playoff and Big 12 championship. I would be willing to bet most college football fans can’t name two players off their team. So, I’ll help out…
QB: Charlie Brewer, RBs: John Lovett, JaMycal Hasty, WR: Denzel Mims, Tyquan Thornton
8. Utah (7-1)
Last Week: vs 35-0 (W) vs Cal
Over the last two weeks, Utah has given up a total of 3 points and 230 yards of total offense. There is no more suffocating defense in college football. My question about Utah has been surrounding their offense. Can they score enough points in a shootout? Can Tyler Huntley be great passing the ball when someone stops their running game?
Since their surprising loss to USC, the Utes have been lights out. They do not have any signature wins set, but their dominance has been top tier and they have knocked down the opponents on their schedule. Things are falling into place for a top 10 showdown with Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship.
7. Florida Gators (6-1)
Last Week: IDLE
This week off came at the perfect time for the Gators. They need to get a few guys healthy, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. And the Gators need to get their offense together during the first 3 quarters of the game. They are money in the 4th though!
Dan Mullens will have a chance to get his biggest win at Florida when they play Georgia this week.
6. Oregon Ducks (7-1)
Last Week: vs 37-34 (W) Washington State
Playing against the #1 offense in the nation is tough, but the Ducks passed the test. Injuries are starting to mount for the Ducks. They were without their best LB Troy Dye for the Washington State game and it showed. The Ducks offensive line is the reason this team is 7-1. If you have not watched Oregon’s left tackle Penei Sewell play please do so. He is the best OL in the country and he’s only a sophomore.
Justin Herbert’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but he is playing extremely efficiently and he’s not turning the ball over.
People thought the the Pac-12 was out of the CFB Playoff conversation. But ten weeks into the season Oregon and Utah are squarely back in the conversation.
Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:
DOMINATION. This was probably Clemson’s most complete game of the season. It was good to see Trevor Lawrence have a game without an interception. I know it was against Boston College, but Alabama played Arkansas, the same thing. Dabo Swinney knows that his team just has to make it through their rather soft schedule unscathed to get to the CFB Playoff. The only difference between the Tigers and Bama is that Clemson struggled against UNC and Bama has struggled against no one.
Without any obvious opportunities for quality wins on the schedule, it is crucial the Clemson’s dominance remains on max.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0)
Last Week: 48-7 (W) vs Arkansas
No Tua, No Problem. Mac Jones stepped in and threw three touchdown passes to help Bama cruise to victory. All eyes will be on Tua’s ankle health over the next two weeks. Will he be back for the LSU game? We do need to see Bama’s rushing game improve.
It sure will be nice to see the Crimson Tide play a good team this season. Eight wins and no games against teams currently ranked in the top 25. The fact they have been #1 in the AP poll makes ZERO sense.
3. Penn State (8-0)
Last Week: 28-7 (W) at Michigan State
Slowly but surely the Nittany Lions are getting the respect they deserve. They have knocked off Iowa, Michigan, and Michigan State in consecutive weeks. Don’t even try to say Michigan is not good. They just blew the doors off Notre Dame who took Georgia to the edge. Penn State won’t be confused with an offensive juggernaut, but they do have serious big-play potential with WR KJ Hamler.
If Penn State finishes the season undefeated they will be the most battle-tested team in the nation. They would have beaten Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, and the winner of the Big Ten West.
2. LSU (8-0)
Last Week: vs 23-20 (W) Auburn
We finally have seen someone slow down LSU’s explosive offense. Joe Burrow still finished 32-42 for 321 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers just keep passing every test thrown at them. A lot of people questioned their defense, but they showed up big against Auburn. Aside from one 70 yard run that didn’t score, Auburn got nothing.
Everything is on the line for LSU against Alabama next week. Will Ed Orgeron be able to dethrone Alabama even though they were crowned preseason champions?
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0)
Last Week: vs 38-7 (W) Wisconsin
A lot of people expected the Wisconsin game to be close because of the bad weather, but I knew the Buckeyes would blow them out. This was a case of styles make fights. OSU’s high-powered offense against Wisconsin’s run the ball with ball-control style. The Buckeyes’ defense was just lights out. Chase Young is clearly the BEST defensive player in the country right now. There is no reason he shouldn’t be one of the frontrunners for the Heisman trophy. He dominated a very good offensive line with 4 sacks and 5 tackles for loss.
OSU continues to prove they are the most complete team in the country. They are dominant on offense, defense, and special teams. Plus they have multiple top 25 wins. They are the #1 team in the country.
Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 10.
Am I a jinx? In my Week 7 column, I wrote about Boise State and how we need to keep an eye on them going forward. Last week, I added SMU to the mix and said the race is on between Boise State and SMU for the right to play in a New Year’s Six bowl game. For Boise State, that dream was derailed after a 28-25 loss to BYU. Apologies to all of my Bronco fans. Ahead of Week 9, my College Football Playoff includes:
LSU
Alabama
Ohio State
Oklahoma
No changes to the top four. Without a doubt, these are the four best teams in the country right now. You can make an argument for each team to be number one and I wouldn’t disagree with your rationale.
Week 9 is highlighted by two Top-15 matchups: No. 13 Wisconsin vs. No. 3 Ohio State and No. 9 Auburn vs. No. 2 LSU. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 9.
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State In Potential Big Ten Championship Preview
Wisconsin, you blew it! Wisconsin suffered an inexcusable loss to Illinois, 24-23, which could be their nail in the coffin in terms of making the College Football Playoff. However, the Badgers have a gigantic opportunity to make up for their loss when they travel to Columbus on Saturday to take on the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes. Both offenses are led by Heisman hopefuls Jonathan Taylor, who leads the nation in touchdowns with 19, and Justin Fields, who is tied for second in points responsible for with 180. However, the offensive fireworks may be hindered because Wisconsin and Ohio State have the number one and number two defenses in the country respectively. No matter what happens in this game, these two teams could meet again in the Big 10 Championship.
LSU Faces Another Top 10 Opponent
The only QB in college football since 2000 to have 25+ Pass TD and a completion percentage of at least 75% after seven games:@LSUfootball’s Joe Burrow 🎯 pic.twitter.com/RCcRL2buEH
Find me a team with a better resume than LSU. The Tigers defeated Texas in Austin and Florida in Baton Rouge when both opponents were ranked in the top ten. Now, the Tigers will once again have a top 10 opponent when Auburn comes to Death Valley on Saturday afternoon. If Coach O, Joe Burrow, and the boys defeat Auburn, they will be the number one ranked team in the country.
Penn State Continues To Shine Despite Brutal Schedule
Two down, three more tough games to go. Penn State survived a late comeback against Michigan to hold on 28-21, improving to 7-0. The schedule does not get any easier for the No. 6 ranked Nittany Lions. Penn State heads to East Lansing to take on Michigan State, who is coming off back-to-back blowout losses against Ohio State and Wisconsin. Their Big Ten title hopes are dead, but they would love to play spoiler against Penn State for the third straight year. The Spartans own this rivalry as of late, having beaten the Nittany Lions in five of the last six years.
Alabama’s Season Rests Upon Tua’s Ankle
Alabama will beat Arkansas this weekend no matter who lines up under center. Mac Jones will start this weekend and Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua’s little brother, will serve as his backup. Frankly, a third-string offensive lineman could play quarterback and the Tide would still win by double digits. That being said, the future of Alabama’s season will come down to Tua Tagovailoa’s ankle. The superstar quarterback will miss at least one game with a right ankle sprain. Remember that Tua sprained his left ankle last season and it affected his mobility at times. High ankle sprains are no laughing matter. Thankfully for Tide fans, Alabama has a bye week after this game before the LSU Tigers stroll into Tuscaloosa for the SEC Game of the Year. If Tua’s not healthy for the LSU game, it will be tough for the Tide to roll.
It’s Do-or-Die For Jim Harbaugh
REPORT: Jim Harbaugh’s reps are working on an exit strategy from Michigan and eyeing opportunities in the NFL according to @FootballScoop. pic.twitter.com/zeAa5qC9ub
Is this Jim Harbaugh’s last stand? After the Wolverines suffered their second loss of the season to Penn State, NFL rumors circulated, stating that Harbaugh has an exit strategy in place to leave Michigan. Harbaugh quickly denied the rumor, but can we really trust college coaches in general? Most of them are snake oil salesmen who would leave at a moment’s notice if a better job came calling, leaving the players to suffer. So if you’re asking if I believe these NFL rumors, then I would say I do. Michigan will have to look past these distractions and worry about No. 8 Notre Dame coming to the Big House for a Saturday night showdown. If Michigan loses, it could be the final nail in the coffin for Harbaugh.
What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 9? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 9. Aside from Oregon and Utah, it is nearly impossible to pick winners consistently from week to week in conference play. Teams who get a big win seem to get blown out the following week. It makes no sense, but that’s life in the Pac-12. The North division is all but wrapped up by Oregon while the South division is up for grabs. Even UCLA is still very alive to win the south. USC still controls its own destiny. Two teams, Oregon and Utah have a shot at landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.
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. Colorado Buffaloes (3-4, 1-3)
Last Week: 10-41 (L) vs Washington State
It feels like we are watching a repeat of the 2018 season. Colorado started the season off hot. It looked like Mel Tucker changed whatever caused this team to lose seven straight last season. We all know the Buffs suffer from a lack of depth, particularly on the defensive side. However, it is the offense that is most concerning. They were averaging 30 ppg but have only scored a combined 13 points in the last two weeks.
Their schedule to finish the Pac-12 season is just as hard as the beginning. They will need a serious wakeup call to even compete for a bowl game. Maybe they should feed Lavishka Shenault the ball more.
11. Stanford Cardinal (3-4, 1-3)
Last Week: 16-34 (L) vs UCLA
I thought Stanford had righted the ship when they beat Washington. But, I could not have been more wrong. You know things are going left when your offense is so bad that UCLA’s defense looks good. With the exception of Washington, Stanford’s running game has been largely ineffective. It feels so weird saying that about a David Shaw coached team for the second year in a row. “Intellectual Brutality” may be dead.
It doesn’t help matters that the Cardinal top two quarterbacks KJ Costello, and Davis Mills have been in and out of the lineup.
10. UCLA Bruins (2-5, 2-2)
Last Week: 34-16 (W) at Stanford
For the second year in a row, Chip Kelly’s UCLA is making a push in the back half of the season. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is getting better and more effective leading the offense each week. The good news is that UCLA beat Stanford for the first time in a decade. And their defense is no longer the worst in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, total defense, and passing defense.
However, the Bruins should not get too happy because the Cardinal were really bad. Maybe, this team has an “Angels in the Outfield” type run in them in the home stretch of Pac-12 play.
9. Arizona Wildcats (4-3, 2-2)
Last Week: 14-41 (L) vs USC
There is no more confused team in the Pac-12 conference. “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways”. Arizona is unsure if they want to be a read-option team with Khalil Tate or a drop back and throw it team with Grant Gunnell. Until Kevin Sumlin makes a definitive decision of his style of play this team will continue to spiral out of control.
8. Cal Golden Bears (4-3, 1-3)
Last Week: 17-21 (L) vs Oregon State
I feel bad for the Cal Bears. They have the smallest margin for error of any team to win games with QB Chase Garbers injured. If Cal’s defense gives up more than 17 points they will struggle to win. It was just a month ago they were 4-0 and people believed this team could challenge for the North title. Now, they look like a team that will struggle to make a bowl game. They lost to Oregon State…
7. Oregon State Beavers (3-4, 2-2)
Last Week: 21-10 (W) at Cal
What an amazing couple weeks for the Beavers. First, they take down UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Next, they played a game that we will ignore to keep things positive. Then they come back and beat Cal. OSU has now doubled the amount of Pac-12 games they have won in the last 2 seasons combined. They also have matched their win total for the last two seasons combined as well.
Jonathan Smith has his team headed in the right direction and will no longer be a doormat for the teams ranked #3-12 in the Pac-12 Power Rankings.
6. Washington State Cougars (4-3, 1-3)
Last Week: 41-10 (W) at Colorado
Mike Leach instituted a social media ban and the team won a game. Those things are not related, but Leach would probably tell you it is. The reality is the Cougars have one of the nation’s best offenses and were playing against one of the worst defenses in the nation over the last couple weeks. The biggest of the season will be answered this week against Oregon. Has Leach fixed whatever prompted him to call his team, “fat, dumb, etc”, or will they get blown out again?
The HBO 24/7 cameras were following them around last week. So it will be interesting to see how Leach runs his program compared to Herm Edwards at Arizona State.
In hindsight, last week’s loss at Utah was not as bad as it looked. In fact, it should have been expected. ASU’s offensive line is young, inexperienced, and had been extremely shaky all season. Then they went up against the best and oldest defensive line in the Pac-12. It should have been obvious what was going to happen. Every time Jaden Daniels dropped back to pass he was met by a Utah defended almost immediately. The stats say Daniels was awful at 4/18 passing. But, I highly doubt there is a QB in the nation who could have done much better under the circumstances.
The arrow is still way up on the Sun Devils. They are just young. I bet they will be preseason favorites to win the South in 2020.
The fact that Eno Benjamin managed to rush for over 100 yards in this game just speads to how good and NFL ready he is.
4. USC Trojans (4-3, 3-1)
Last Week: 41-14 (W) vs Arizona
USC’s beat down of Arizona is a total good news, bad news situation. The good news is they dominated Arizona on both sides of the ball. And they got Kedon Slovis back under center and he looked sharp. The bad news is that injuries continue to mount for the Trojans. Their running backs were down to their 4th and 5th string by the time the game finished.
USC is 4-3 but still controls its own destiny in the Pac-12 south. Win out and a berth in the Pac-12 Championship and possibly Rose Bowl await. With the exception of the Oregon game, their last five games look very winnable.
3. Washington Huskies (5-3, 2-3)
Last Week: 35-31 (L) vs Oregon
It never feels good when you lose a game after being up 14 points on your biggest rival. Well, That’s what happened to the Washington Huskies. They had the Ducks on the ropes but couldn’t close the deal. Jacob Eason had arguably his best game of the season and the offense was spectacular for three quarters.
We are still not sure who Washington is though. Are they the team that was explosive offensively against Oregon or the team that looked lifeless against Cal and Stanford?
The Huskies get a much needed week off to regroup and finish the season strong and get to a good bowl game.
2. Utah Utes (6-1, 3-1)
Last Week: 21-3 (W) at Arizona State
Their matchup with Arizona State took a physical toll on both teams. We saw a lot of big hits, injuries, and even an ejection for targeting. The Utes imposed their will on the Sun Devils defensively. Leki Fotu, Bradlee Anae, and the rest of the defensive line absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage and lived in the ASU’s backfield. They held ASU and their freshman phenom Jayden Daniels to 25 yards passing.
Utah’s defense is now #1 in the Pac-12 in points per game (11.7) and total defense (252 ypg). The Utes are making a case for debate about who should be the #1 team in Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 9.
1. Oregon Ducks (6-1, 4-0)
Last Week: 35-31 (W) at Washington
It was gut-check time for the Ducks in the second half of the Washinton game. Justin Herbert grew up and extended plays to made a couple of big throws when his team needed him the most. But, this win was more about what Mario Cristobal has tried to build this team on; physicality, and running the football. Oregon’s offensive line, tight ends, and running backs took control of the game in the second half.
The Ducks now sport the Pac-12 second-best scoring offense (35.9 ppg) and defense (11.9 ppg). They will get every Pac-12 team’s best shot from here on out, so any let down will be rewarded with a loss.
Check back every Monday for the next Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 9.
In back to back weeks we have a major upset that affects the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 9 As it Should Be team. Wisconsin fell to Illinois a week after Georgia got stunned by South Carolina. UGA fell to #10 in the AP poll despite losing at home to a team with a 2-3 record. But, watch how far Wisconsin falls down the polls after losing on the road. This is the entire reason the CFB rankings As It Should Be was created. Rankings should be fair and unbiased, but that’s not the world we live in when preseason polls ultimately affect the final rankings.
The way this season is shaping up, everyone may be on board with an 8 team playoff. There will be so many 1 loss teams who will be deserving of a chance to play for a championship. Wouldn’t it just make more sense to have the five Power 5 champions and highest-ranked Group of 5 team to get automatic bids? There would still be two spots left for at-large bids. You would always get the best and most deserving teams in the tournament. That might actually cause teams to schedule better non-conference games because they would know they could still get in the CFB Playoffs with 1-2 losses. Fans would then get better games.
The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings
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 8.
College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 9:
Next Up: Auburn, Georgia, SMU, Baylor, Wisconsin
Before you even ask: Auburn led Oregon for :09 of that game and Bo Nix has been awful passing the ball against any team with a pulse. Georgia has to play their way back in the mix after losing to 2-3 South Carolina at home.
10. Utah (6-1)
Last Week: Arizona State
Utah has really good players, but they also have grown men playing. Behind BYU, they may have the oldest average age in college football. I have tried to doubt this team offensively but Zack Moss and Tyler Huntley just keep getting it done. The best thing Utah has going is their defense. They are physical, stout, and stingy. Through seven games they are barely giving up over 10 points per game in a conference known for scoring points.
9. Notre Dame (5-1)
Last Week: IDLE
A week off won’t hurt the Fighting Irish. Their body of work is solid so far. But they will need to be dominant to finish the season to have any chance at the CFB top 4 with one loss. Notre Dame doesn’t face another team that will be ranked for the rest of the season (maybe Virginia Tech).
8. Florida Gators (6-1)
Last Week: 38-27 (W) at South Carolina
If this team is nothing, they are resilient. The Florida Gators fight till the end. They are a 4th quarter team. They seem to make plays on defense and offense when it matters the most. Kyle Trask has been the best thing to happen to this team offensively. He is not the runner that we are used to seeing on Dan Mullen led teams, but he is a good passer.
This team seems to have the inside track to the SEC East right now. But a November 2nd date with Georgia will be the deciding factor.
7. Oregon Ducks (6-1)
Last Week: 35-31 (W) vs at Washington
The Ducks marched into Husky Stadium to play their biggest rival Washington and walked out with a win. Washington threw everything except the kitchen sink at the Ducks and they responded in a major way. The biggest concern for Oregon at this point is injuries. They have to keep their key players healthy if they want to finish the season 12-1 and have a legit shot at the CFB Playoff.
This is not the same Oregon team that got conservative and lost to Auburn in the second half of week one. Their defense has been one of the best in the country and they have hit their stride offensively.
6. Penn State (7-0)
Last Week: 28-21 (W) vs Michigan
I have mixed feelings about their win against Michigan. They jumped out early 21-0 early in the 1st half, but couldn’t put the Wolverines away. Their offense was largely ineffective after that. Their defense allowed multiple big plays as well. But at the end of the day, a win is a win. Michigan is not a great football team, but they are a good football team. A quality win for the Nittany Lions. It was very tight decision between PSU at #6 and #4 ahead of Bama and Clemson because of their schedules.
The winner of the Big Ten is 100% getting in the CFB Playoff if they are undefeated. Penn State is more than halfway home and has earned their way into the #6 spot of College Football Rankings Week 9.
Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:
The Tigers’ defense is so good, and they might be even better than last year. Good thing because Trevor Lawrence is having a real sophomore slump. He now leads the ACC in interceptions thrown. But he finished the game with a solid stat line, 20-29 233 yards, and 3TD, 2ints. This team is still dominating everyone so how can you dock them too many points. Florida and Georgia have offensive struggles too, but nobody seems to discount them for that. Weird right… SEC bias?
The only thing separating Alabama and Clemson right now is that Clemson struggled against UNC. Neither team has played anybody worth talking about.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0)
Last Week: vs 35-13 (W) at Texas A&M
Alabama has not played one team that is currently ranked in the top 25. The fact they have been #1 in the AP poll makes ZERO sense.
Alabama is vulnerable this year. This is not the same team we are accustomed to seeing. They aren’t running the ball dominantly and their defense is young and inexperienced. Tua Tagoviloa is the engine that makes this team go. His leadership, accuracy getting the ball to their talented WRs is what makes this 2019 team special. He left the Tennessee game in the second half and everything changed.
If he has to miss any time Bama could be in trouble. They should be able to get past Arkansas next week, but LSU on November 9th won’t go well.
3. Oklahoma Sooners (7-0)
Last Week: 52-14 (W) vs West Virginia
The numbers for Jalen Hurts are just getting silly at this point. He added another nearly 394 yards of total offense and 5 touchdowns. He now has 25 total touchdowns through seven games. It is hard to believe that Oklahoma’s offense is better than it was last year with Kyler Murray at QB, but they are.To make Oklahoma even more absurd, their defense is finally decent. They aren’t good yet, but are MUCH improved from the Swiss cheese defense last year.
2. LSU (7-0)
Last Week: 36-13 (W) at Miss State
LSU is destroying everyone in their way. Joe Burrow looks like not only an NFL quarterback, but he may be a franchise QB. I cannot wait to see this team play over the next three weeks against Auburn and Alabama. If they can win those two games, the path is clear to the College Football Playoff.
The only question is can their defense keep up when they get into a shootout.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0)
Last Week: 52-3 (W) at Northwestern
Ohio State chewed Northwestern up and spit them out. This team looks incredible. Their offense and defense have cut through any resistance like a hot knife through butter. Justin Fields clearly made the right move by leaving Georgia. He looks better than Jake Fromm, and his team does too.
The Buckeyes will breeze to the CFB Playoff top four if they beat Penn State on November 23rd.
Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 9.
Last week, I said, “Where is the chaos?” Well, the football gods were listening because #3 Georiga lost at home to unranked South Carolina. The first domino fell in Week 7. There will be more to fall. It’s only a matter of time. Going into Week 8, my College Football Playoff includes:
LSU
Alabama
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Ladies and gentlemen, I have a new number one in my College Football Playoff rankings. To be honest, LSU should have already been number one after their win over Texas, but thanks to their second win against a top-ten opponent, moving them to the top position was a no brainer. Also, Oklahoma slides in at number four thanks to their win over Texas.
Week 8 is highlighted by Oregon traveling to Husky Stadium to take on Washington in a battle for Pac-12 supremacy. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 8.
Trap Game For Ohio State
No player, coach, or team has been able to stop the Ohio State offense in 2019. The Buckeyes average 534 yards per game while scoring a total of 39 touchdowns on the season, which is tied for second in the nation. The offense may be great, but the defense is even better as the Buckeyes come into this game ranked second in the country in total defense. If the Buckeyes can get past Northwestern on Friday night in Evanston, it sets up the potential Big 10 “Game of the Year” next week when Wisconsin strolls into Columbus.
Hats off to the Baylor Bears. This past offseason, head coach Matt Rhule was one of the final candidates in the Jets’ coaching search. Rhule didn’t get the job and returned to Baylor, which turns out to be the best thing that happened for the program. Rhule has led the Bears to an undefeated 6-0 start. With the mess that Art Briles left a few seasons ago, Rhule has done a hell of a job making the Bears relevant again. Baylor will look to remain undefeated when they travel to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State.
Boise State, SMU Look To Stay In The Race For The New Year’s Six
The race to represent the “Group of Five” in the New Year’s Six is heating up. Right now, the two teams fighting for the spot are #14 Boise State and #19 SMU. Both teams are 6-0 thanks to stellar quarterback play from freshman Hank Hank Bachmeier at Boise and Texas transfer Shane Buechele at SMU. However, Bachmeier injured his hip last week against Hawaii so he’s most likely not going to play this weekend against BYU. On the flip side, Buechele and the SMU offense are firing on all cylinders as they average close to 500 yards per game. SMU faces a tough Temple team this weekend.
For Penn State, One Down, Two To Go
It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win. Despite gaining less than 300 yards of total offense, Penn State survived a tough trip to Iowa and left Kinnick Stadium with a hard-fought 17-12 win. As I mentioned last week, Penn State was entering their “Murderer’s Row” section of their schedule. It doesn’t get any easier for the Nittany Lions as they welcome the Michigan Wolverines to Happy Valley on Saturday night. Win that game and Penn State could crack the top five in the polls.
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Battle For Pac-12 North Supremacy
Every game is a must-win, but for Oregon, this game against Washington is a must-win game to the tenth power. The Ducks travel to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies in a game that has huge implications on who will represent the Pac-12 North in the conference championship. Washington (most likely) can’t make the College Football Playoff, but Oregon still has a shot. The Ducks’ only loss on the season came Week 1 against Auburn so they still have a shot to be in the final four if they run the table. The quarterback matchup between NFL prospects, Justin Herbert and Jacob Eason, should be as good as advertised.
What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 8? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom set a trend when he signed the Fair Pay to Play Actinto law on LeBron James’ hit show The Shop. The new law will take effect in 2023. The Fair Pay to Play Act will give college athletes in California the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Specifically, college athletes will be allowed to garner endorsement deals and otherwise monetize their NIL without losing eligibility. The law also allows college athletes to sign with agents. The Fair Pay to Play Act is proving to be a trendsetter. Several states have announced plans to join the college athlete NIL movement.
Prior to the Fair Pay to Play Act being signed into law, a few other states had plans to introduce similar legislation to comp. Since the Fair Pay to Play Act became law states in almost every region of the country have announced plans to create similar legislation. The NCAA’s threats to ban California colleges from post-season play has been no match for legislators who are determined to do what is right for college athletes. These legislators are determined to create a more equitable college athletics system.
Currently, college athletes propel a billion-dollar college sports industry and are limited to a cost-of-attendance scholarship for their efforts. Meanwhile, coaches’ salaries continue to grow and the non-profit NCAA generates a billion-dollars per year. Several state and federal lawmakers are determined to give college athletes a bigger piece of the pie. Let’s take a look at the states that have joined the college athlete NIL movement since the passage of the Fair Pay to Play Act.
States With Plans to Introduce College Athlete NIL Legislation
In the midwest, Illinois and Minnesota state lawmakers have announced plans to introduce a college athlete NIL bills. Pennsylvania and Maryland are both considering introducing legislation similar to the Fair Pay to Play Act. Several lawmakers in Nevada have stated that they would consider introducing similar legislation. A lawmaker in Kentucky is reportedly drafting a bill addressing college athlete compensation. Perhaps the most notable state to join the college athlete NIL movement is the state of Florida.
Two Florida lawmakers have already filed bills. On October 4, Chip LaMarca filed HB 287. This bill seeks to allow college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. If signed into law, it will become effective on July 1, 2020. Prior to HB 287, Florida representative Kionee McGhee filed HB 251. That bill is also set to become effective on July 1, 2020. HB 251seeks to allow college athletes to receive “specified compensation.” The bill will also create a Florida College System Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness Task Force. With these two bills, Florida is bound to give college athletes the ability to profit from their NIL.
Download the Podcast Detailing CA and the Other States Legislation
The College Athlete NIL Movement has a Potential Newcomer on the Federal Level
The current collegiate model is not only being challenged on the state level. The collegiate model is being challenged at the federal level as well. Earlier this year, U.S. Congressman Mark Walker introduced the Student-Athlete Equity Act. The NCAA is exempt from federal taxation as an organization that organizes amateur sports and national championships. The Student-Athlete Equity Act seeks to remove that exemption if the NCAA continues to enforce rules that prohibit college athletes from profiting from their NIL. In addition to this fight at the federal level, the NCAA is about to face another one.
A U.S. Congressman from Ohio is planning to introduce a federal bill similar to the Fair Pay to Play Act. Representative Anthony Gonzalez, a former Ohio State wide receiver, plans to introduce a federal bill that will allow college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Gonzalez would like to see NIL compensation become a reality before 2020. However, he may wait until the NCAA’s NIL working group releases its’ findings before introducing legislation.
Paying College Athletes has Bipartisan Support
As more state and federal lawmakers announce plans to introduce college athlete legislation, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the issue has bipartisan support. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been vocal in support of the legislation. Perhaps this is because they all can see the blatant inequities in the current collegiate sports system. In a capitalist society, no one can reasonably support the notion that college athletes should be prohibited from profiting from their NIL. The bipartisan support will continue to grow. The NCAA will be forced to enact a meaningful change on the issue or sit back and watch lawmakers do it for them.
Pac-12 Football had big offensive performances, with three teams (Oregon, Washington, Utah) scoring over 45 points. Multiple receivers and running backs found the pay-dirt multiple times. These top-athletes displayed powerful running, big-play ability, and creativity to make the Pac-12 Football’s Best Offensive Performances list.
While many Pac-12 football players had big games, Unafraidshow only has room for one at each position.
Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 7: Quarterback
Though he’s a freshman, Jayden Daniels is ballin. He led the Sun Devils to a big win against the Cougars. He threw for three touchdowns, zero interceptions and showed off his mobility.
On Arizona State’s final drive, Daniels was poised as a senior. He executed play after play. Then, in a moment of brilliance and creativity, Daniels kept the ball and ran it in himself. It’s not every day Pac-12 football fans get to witness a freshman do this. Especially a freshman from the west coast. From San Bernardino to glory, it’s good to watch Jayden Daniels rise.
Running Back
Zack Moss – Utah
Zack Moss making it look easy early.
Midway through the first quarter and he’s already got 115 yards. Reeling off 91 yarders sure helps.#Utespic.twitter.com/MgbS4Jd8HD
On just five carries, Zack Moss ran for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. Yes, only five carries. Moss continues to be an underutilized, efficient runner. His five carries yielded yards of:
16 yards
9 yards
-1 yards
91 yard touchdown
6 yard touchdown
Moss didn’t even play in the second half. Why? Because the Utes didn’t need him any more. Although in a limited role, Zack Moss showed why he is in the conversation with Eno Benjamin for Pac-12 football’s best back. Moss is powerful and can take any carry to the house.
Wide Receiver
Brandon Aiyuk – Arizona State
#ArizonaState WR Brandon Aiyuk is one of the most underrated NFL prospects in this class.
Poor pursuit angle by the safety, but Aiyuk’s route speed forced the miss and did the rest. pic.twitter.com/smMjMdEm2w
There’s fast. And then there’s Brandon Aiyuk fast. As pointed out by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Aiyuk’s route speed makes him an “underrated NFL prospect” in the 2020 class. With his acceleration and long-speed, Aiyuk torched the Cougars secondary. After a performance like this, Aiyuk’s rank among Pac-12 football receivers surges.
Against WSU, Aiyuk made the most of each target from Jayden Daniels. With 8 targets, he secured 7 receptions for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. On those, he sped past the Cougars for touchdowns of 40, 86 and 36 yards. It was impressive!
It is nigh-impossible to remove Jacob Breeland from any best Pac-12 football list. He is just too good at football. Breeland is reliable and can turn any reception into a big play. On the season, Breeland leads NCAA tight ends in receptions-per-game and touchdowns-per-game.
He’s a large target with speed and route-running skills. Like many first and second-round tight ends before him, he’s a matchup nightmare. It’s why Breeland is on scout’s lists as a potential second-round NFL pick in the 2020 draft.
However, after catching a 22-yards reception, Breeland suffered an injury that forced him from the rest of the contest. Mario Cristobal said that his leg injury is serious and will cause him to miss the rest of the season. If healthy, Breeland will get drafted on Day 1 or Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Disagree with the Unafraidshow’s 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, tweet Unafraidshow, or email us immad@unafraidshow.com with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.
After a tight loss against Cal in Week 2 of college football, the Huskies bounced back in a big way against Hawaii. They ousted the Rainbow Warriors 52-20. Similarly, UW’s football team had another dominant performance against Arizona after an upset loss to Stanford. Even though the Wildcats were on a four-game win-streak, the Huskies beat them 51-27.
For Washington fans, the pendulum swung back into favor and joy. But, unfortunately for UW football, the Ducks had a more impressive win against the Colorado Buffaloes. With Oregon coming to town this week, does Washington have a shot?
Yes, the UW offense scored five touchdowns and three field goals. But in the first half, against an Arizona team on a four-game win-streak, the offense didn’t show up. Instead, the Dawgs made numerous big plays on defense and special teams. In the first half, the defense and special teams had:
2 Sacks
4 Tackles for a Loss
One blocked punt
Two forced fumbles and recoveries
One touchdown
At the end of the half, the Wildcats still led the Huskies. Despite incredible defensive play, the Huskies were still down 13-17 at half.
The Huskies Offense isn’t Perfect, even with 51 Points
𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤 + 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 + 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙥
Take a look at last night's 51-27 victory at Arizona.#PurpleReign
Again, Washington decided to go for field goals. Early in the game, they played it safe. In the first quarter, they opted for two field goals instead of going for it. Fourth and five at the Arizona 10. Kick. Fourth and three at the Arizona 3. Kick. It’s unbelievable how often Chris Peterson and the Huskies exchange field goals for touchdowns. Think about it, if the Huskies converted just 50-percent of those fourth downs, they’d be better off. Yes, they tried to convert a fourth down on their first drive. They failed. But, math and analytics still show that it is optimal to go for it on the opposing half. After all, seven points is more than six.
Additionally, the Huskies offense was sedentary, out-of-sync, and inconsistent in the first half. In fact, the Husky defense outscored the offense 7-6 in the first half. Their six drives yielded results of:
Turnover on Downs (4 plays, 9 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 36)
Field Goal (8 plays, 62 yards)
Punt (3 plays, 5 yards)
Field Goal (4 plays, 0 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 8)
Punt (6 plays, 43 yards)
Punt (3 plays, 4 yards)
Granted, the Huskies offense got rolling in the second half. They scored five touchdowns and a field goal in the second half. Eason and company got rolling. Sean McGrew and Salvon Ahmed showed consistency. Ahmed scored three rushing touchdowns and McGrew showed his efficient and explosive skill-set.
Arizona couldn’t stop them. However, the 2019 UW offense continues to be risk-averse and inconsistent. They need to find rhythm quicker and be willing to go for it on fourth down.
Huskies Finally Involve Puka Nacua
It is about time. In 2019, the Huskies continued to pepper their senior receivers with targets. With Aaron Fuller and Hunter Bryant making plays, that’s understandable. However, with a quality option like Puka Nacua on the bench, it didn’t make sense to keep putting Andre Baccellia on the field.
After getting his chance, Nacua let his name be known. The 6-1, 204-pound freshman caught three passes for 97 yards. Considering Jacob Eason only threw for 243 yards against Arizona, Nacua accounted for 40-percent of the team’s receiving yards. Excellent. It was a breakout performance for the freshman.
Against Oregon, the Huskies will be tested. The Ducks defense is elite. They’ve held opponents to 52 points in 6 games. But, more impressively, the Ducks haven’t let anyone score more than 7 points in their last five games. Because the Huskies offense has been hit-or-miss this season, Eason and company have to be on point.
Additionally, Justin Herbert and the Ducks offense continues to play well. Herbert has a touchdown in his last 34 games and Oregon has a top-5 offensive line in the nation. In Week 7, two Ducks offensive lineman were featured on PFF College’s Week 7 national team. So, it’s not going to be as easy for the defense to make big plays as they did against Arizona.
Last, it’s important to remember that Oregon’s only loss is against Auburn. In a close game. Since week 1, they’ve won each game handily. The Huskies, on the other hand, have swung back and forth between impressive and unimpressive. In order to win or even compete against the Ducks, the Huskies need to:
Create open looks for Jacob Eason
Give snaps to young talent like Puka Nacua
Make clean tackles and capitalize on turnover-opportunities
Attempt fourth down conversions early and often
If the Pac-12 is anything, it’s a conference of cannibals. So, an upset win is certainly possible for the Huskies.
Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 8. Teams at the top and bottom of the conference have separated themselves from the pack. The middle of the conference is a totally different story. Deciphering the matrix of teams from #4-10 is an arduous task. The Pac-12 wheel of death is in full swing right now. Every team except Oregon is connected with a conference loss at this point. That’s why it’s so frustrating to hear people say Pac-12 conference football is weak when the conference has by far the most parity. It is hard to make it through unscathed with all the different start times and days of the week games land. Oregon, 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.
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. UCLA Bruins (1-5, 1-2)
Last Week: IDLE
Nothing bad can happen if you don’t play, right? UCLA had a much needed week off to regroup after that disaster of a loss to Oregon State. Chip Kelly will need a strong finish to this season like he did last year to quiet the naysayers. This team does look better than last year offensively, but defensively it looks like it regressed.
Points Allowed per Game with National Rank thru Week 7
OSU got absolutely thumped by Utah. I was truly surprised by the level of beatdown this was. The Beavers defense is extremely leaky so I expected Utah to put up a lot of points. However, I did not expect their offense to struggle so mightily. Quarterback Jake Luton, their two running backs, and Isaiah Hodgins had led the way to score at least 28 points and have good stats in every game.
This game had to be extremely disappointing for head coach Jonathan Smith and Beavers fans. But they must dust themselves off and try to find another victory in 2019.
10. Washington State Cougars (3-3, 0-3)
Last Week: 34-38 (L) at Arizona State
Mike Leach’s team didn’t look “fat, dumb, happy, and entitled” after their bye week. But, Their defense coordinator Tracy Claeys resigned last week, and the defense looked worse for it. Washington State is now giving up 459 ypg and almost 32 points. It will be interesting to see how the Cougs bounce back this week against Colorado. CU will be angry about getting embarrassed by Oregon on both sides of the ball. If Washington State can’t snag this game, their hopes of going to a bowl game will be in real jeopardy.
9. Colorado Buffaloes (3-3, 1-2)
Last Week: vs 3-45 (L) Oregon
There was nothing positive to take from this game on offense or defense. Steven Montez had a horrible game passing. He finished with 131 passing yards and four interceptions. The defense didn’t fare much better. they gave up 45 points, 527 yards of offense, and 7.4 yards per play.
Mel Tucker is making the right move by recruiting a lot of junior college guys to bolster their roster quickly. Until he gets a couple recruiting cycles under his belt, expect the occasional game like this against top teams.
8. Arizona Wildcats (4-2, 2-1)
Last Week: 27-51 (L) vs Washington
Watching Arizona play can be frustrating at times. I have no idea about this team’s identity and who they want to be. Do they want to be a spread team that runs the read option with Khalil Tate or to they want to sit back and throw it 50 times with Grant Gunnell? Either way, Kevin Sumlin needs to make up his mind before the season spirals out of control.
Against Washington, it looked like the team quit in the 4th quarter. Khalil Tate looked disinterested and the defense didn’t give great effort either to close the game. Arizona can rally to be a factor in the Pac-12 South, but they need to figure out their Qb situation fast.
Cal had a week off, which couldn’t have come at a better time. They are one week close to getting their quarterback Chase Garbers back. And Cal will have had two weeks to coach Devon Modster up as the starter. Their offense is now worst in the Pac-12 conference at 20.3 points per game. We know their defense always shows up, but they will need to be even better to get this team to 7-8 wins.
6. Stanford Cardinal (3-3, 1-2)
Last Week: IDLE
Stanford pulled off the upset in Seattle against Washington and got an off week as an added prize. The Cardinal have been beaten up on the offensive line and quarterback positions. This team is not as good as they have been in previous seasons, but this is a prideful bunch and who will be a tough win for everyone on the back half of their schedule.
If KJ Costello is healthy, does Davis Shaw go back to him at QB or hand the reigns to former 5* young gun Davis Mills?
5. USC Trojans (3-3, 2-1)
Last Week: 27-30 (L) at Notre Dame
USC continuously loses games when they are the more talented team on the field. Most Trojans fans I know are completely torn about this season. On one hand, they hate to see their team lose. On the other hand, they want Clay Helton gone because they don’t believe he maximizing the potential for this team. But like every other time a fan base wishes a coach gone, they are heading into the unknown. There is o guarantee the will replace Helton with a guaranteed winner unless it’s Urban Meyer.
USC is not in the top 4 of any Pac-12 major statistical category on offense or defense except passing yards.
However, there is great news. They still control their own destiny in the Pac-12 South.
4. Washington Huskies (5-2, 2-2)
Last Week: 51-27 (W) at Arizona
It’s Duck week and the Huskies want revenge.
This Huskies team bounced back from their Stanford loss in a major way. The game was close until the Dawgs put up 24 points in the fourth quarter. Fans were excited to see an impressive offensive outing after the struggles against Cal, USC, and Stanford. They were also treated to a breakout game by highly touted WR Puka Nacua. This performance could not have come at a better time. Washington got a major confidence boost heading into this week against Oregon.
They have the opportunity to end Oregon’s playoff hopes while reviving their own Pac-12 North title hopes. This matchup on Saturday should be epic.
3. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1, 2-1)
Last Week: vs Washington State
BREAKING: Jayden Daniels was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the third time in just six games. He’s owned the honor and is clearly the leader for Freshman of the Year in the conference. https://t.co/DvXxNpQNpApic.twitter.com/HX9E6Eeajd
If Jayden Daniels were playing for any college football blue blood he would be a household name by now. This true freshman has ice water in his veins and is a star in the making. He has been Pac-12 freshman of the week three times already and the Sun Devils have only played six games.
It seems like every ASU game goes down to the last possession. How many times can this team get a good bounce and Jayden Daniels be perfect in the clutch? If ASU can get it done five more times and have Utah be one of those wins, a berth in the Pac-12 championship awaits. This team has gone the hard route earning their spot in the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 8.
2. Utah Utes (5-1, 2-1)
Last Week: 52-7 (W) at Oregon State
The Utes did very bad and mean things to Oregon State. They scored 52 points and Zack Moss only carried the ball five times and Huntley only threw it 17 times. And the defense is fantastic too. If it weren’t for Oregon, this defense would get more credit. Utah seems to be kicking it into high gear since the USC loss. Maybe they really can win a Pac-12 Championship. Maybe they want to play in the Rose Bowl more than everyone else.
I have said since the beginning of the season that Utah’s entire season rests on Tyler Huntley. Can he be special and not just a game manager when they need it the most? He will need at least three special performances over their next six games to make the Pac-12 championship.
1. Oregon Ducks (5-1, 3-0)
Last Week: 45-3 (W) vs Colorado
It’s Husky week. Things just got real. Washington vs Oregon is probably the most underrated rivalry in all of college football.
Was it Kenny Wheaton’s interception. That started the hatred or was it something else? Let me know. #GoDucks#GoDawgs
The Oregon Ducks are only giving up 8 points per game. An opponent hasn’t scored more than 7 points since week one. On top of that, the offense seems to be hitting their stride. In the past two games, they have rushed for well over 200 yards. Justin Herbert seems to be dialing in and becoming more assertive as a leader.
The back half of the season will test the Ducks’ will. They have not played great on the road over the last few seasons. So, road games at Washington, USC, and Arizona State will be the difference in an Alamo Bowl, Rose Bowl, or CFB Playoff berth.
Also… The Ducks need to stay healthy from here on out. They lost another player for the season, TE Jacob Breeland.
Check back every Monday for the next Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 8.
