Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 10: Blowouts and Nailbitters

Best pac-12 defenses

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 10. 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. That also makes the Rose Bowl up for grabs if Oregon gets in the playoff. So, keep your eyes on Utah vs Washington this Saturday.

I would be wrong if I didn’t mention how brutal the Pac-12 refs were this weekend. Until this weekend I thought they had been better. But, they came back to full 2018 form last week. We have seen in the NFL that challenging pass interference calls is stupid and doesn’t work. But there has to be something done to train the refs to be better.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 9.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 10:

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. Cal Golden Bears (4-4, 1-4)

Last Week: 0-35 (L) vs Utah

Cal Pac-12 Power Rankings

Things have completely fallen apart for the Golden Bears since Chase Garbers broke his collarbone. They are averaging 8 points per game over their last three games. Even the defense’s consecutive streak of holding opponents under 24 points was broken. We are watching the bottom falling out on a team that was 4-0 and had some believing they could win the Pac-12 North.

At this point, it would take nothing short of a miracle for Cal to make a bowl game.

11. Colorado Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4)

Last Week: 31-35 (L) vs USC

Colorado showed a lot more life against USC than they did against Oregon and Washington State. Their offense was efficient and Steven Montez stopped throwing interceptions. These Buffaloes have limited depth and little margin for error offensively because their defense gives up 486 yards and 35 points per game. At least Laviska Shenault had a big game and entertained the Colorado faithful.

Knowing their defense is so bad, I can’t figure out why Mel Tucker decided to punt on 4th and 4 at USC’s 38-yard line with 6 minutes left leading by four points.

10. Arizona Wildcats (4-4, 2-3)

Last Week: 31-41 (L) at Stanford

There is no more frustrating team to watch than Arizona. They have now lost three straight. Kevin Sumlin is trying to use two quarterbacks in every game, but it’s not working. QB math is not the same as real math. 1+1 =0. If you a coach says he has two QBs he really has none. The team gets divided and chooses sides, and there is bitterness and frustration that brews under the surface.

Arizona is second in the Pac-12 in total offense (492 ypg) and second to last in total defense (469 ypg).

9. Stanford Cardinal (4-4, 3-3)

Last Week: 41-31 (L) vs Arizona

What a difference a quarterback makes. The same team that looked completely inept against UCLA with Jack West under center was clicking on all cylinders against Arizona with KJ Costello. It is unbelievable to see how far the Cardinal have fallen offensively. They are 10th in Pac-12 in rushing (120 ypg) and 11th in passing (228 ypg).

Right now, the goal has to be getting to a bowl game. With Stanford’s up-and-down play who knows how their last four games (Colorado, WSU Cal, Notre Dame) will go.

Pac-12 Power Rankings UCLA

8. UCLA Bruins (3-5, 3-2)

Last Week: 42-32 (W) vs Arizona State

What on earth has happened to UCLA’s defense in the last two weeks? The defense had been awful against everyone, but then had moments of domination against Stanford and Arizona State. Most fans were even calling for DC Jerry Azzinaro’s job. This has been a completely different team since their 32-point comeback at Washington State. Chip Kelly seems to have the Bruins headed in the right direction.

At the end of the ASU game, Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his knee. Any hope UCLA has of making a bowl game may be out the window if he misses time.

7. Oregon State Beavers (3-4, 2-2)

Last Week: IDLE

Pac-12 Power Rankings week 10

By far the most improved team in the conference is Oregon State. They are no longer amongst the worst teams statistically. The Beavers had a week off and will be doing their best to play Pac-12 spoiler. They have already knocked off Cal and UCLA. OSU heads to Arizona this week.

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6. Washington State Cougars (4-4, 1-4)

Last Week: 35-37 (L) at Oregon

Washington State’s loss to Oregon was a heartbreaker. There is nothing worse than to make a comeback and lose. The good news is the Cougars are back to competing on the field. Mike Leach had much higher expectations for this season than what the results have been. At Pac-12 media day, he not-so-subtly hinted that his team wasn’t getting enough respect. It has been clear that the attention WSU was getting was appropriate.

This is still one of the most dangerous teams to play in the conference.

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-3, 2-3)

Last Week: 32-42 (L) at UCLA

Over the last two weeks, ASU has been the worst team in the Pac-12. But they were amongst the best through the first six weeks. Their offensive woes that were present early in the season are back on full display. Herm Edwards’ young team did not mentally bounce bad well from the Utah beatdown. It feels like this team hit a wall. That is pretty normal when you play the most freshman in the conference.

This team is averaging 23 ppg on the season and giving up 21ppg. The Sun Devils margins a super thin.

4. USC Trojans (5-3, 4-1)

Last Week: 35-31 (W) vs Colorado

The Trojans have their quarterback of the present and future in Kedon Slovis. I would not be surprised if JT Daniels ends up in the transfer portal. after this season. Two of USC’s five wins (Utah, Colorado) belong to the wide receiving corps. In both games, they took over the game and were literally unstoppable. If I have said it once, I have said it 500 times, St. Brown, Vaughns, and Pittman are the best WR unit in college football.

It seems pretty unbelievable that USC controls their own destiny in the Pac-12 South despite Clay Helton being fired rumors hovering all season.

3. Washington Huskies (5-3, 2-3)

Last Week: IDLE

The Washington Huskies going to be mad and extremely focused with Utah coming to town. They feel like they let a game against Oregon slip through their fingertips. They have a chance to ruin the Utes CFB Playoff hopes and keep their Rose Bowl hopes alive. If they beat Utah and finish 9-3 and Oregon goes to the CFB Playoff, the Rose Bowl can choose between Utah and Washington. If that is not enough motivation to show up big, I don’t know what is.

2. Utah Utes (7-1, 4-1)

Last Week: 35-0 (W) vs Cal

The Utes have done mean things to ASU and Cal the last two weeks. They gave up a combined 3 points and 230 yards of total offense. Utah may be a little upset that everyone is talking about Oregon making the CFB Playoff but not mentioning them. Joel Klatt even believes they are the best team in the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 10. That may end up being the ultimate jinx because he has caped for Georgia and Wisconsin the week before they were upset too. Here is the CFB Top 10 As it Should Be.

I really like this Utah team but know their game in Seattle will be extremely difficult. All season I have said that Tyler Huntley will have to be great 2 games when the defense gives up points. This game against Washington will be that game.

1. Oregon Ducks (7-1, 5-0)

Last Week: 37-35 (W) vs Washington State

Oregon is getting every team’s best shot. The entire conference is trying to derail the Ducks CFB Playoff dreams. Next man up mentality has been paramount for this team in 2019. They have either lost of had key wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers, and defensive linemen miss time. The offensive line will have to continue to dominate if the Ducks want to finish the season unscathed. Justin Herbert’s efficient and near mistake-free football has added to their success.

Now, don’t screw it up. This could end up being a very special season.

Check back every Monday for the next Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 10.

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

Penn State College Football Top 10 Rankings

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Clemson- They have no competition in the ACC so they will finish undefeated with a string of blowout victories.
  4. 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

College Football Top 10

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.

Utah Utes

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.

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5. Clemson Tigers (8-0)

Last Week: 59-7 vs Boston College

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

Joe Burrow LSU

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.

How the best Pac-12 Offenses Stack Up with the Rest of College Football

Best Pac-12 Conference Offenses

Last week we talked about how the PAC-12 had roughly five teams ranked among the top 30 in the NCAA in defense, while four other teams were near the bottom – making the conference as a whole a league-average defensive group.

The PAC-12 offenses are actually roughly average across the NCAA as well, although that’s primarily because most of the teams in the NCAA are roughly league average.

Funny how that works.

However, there are some exceptions. Washington State is once again proving to be absolutely elite at moving the ball through the air, while Cal and Stanford are struggling to move the ball, well, at all.

Here is a quick look at some of the best – and worst – offenses in the PAC-12 and how they stack up around the rest of the college football landscape.

Pac-12 Offenses Anthony Gordon WSU QB 2019

Pac-12 Top Tier Offense: Washington State Cougars

Under coach Mike Leach, Washington State has once again constructed an absolutely elite passing attack.

WSU is averaging 440.7 passing yards per game, an absolutely staggering number. It leads the NCAA by a wide, wide margin and is actually a higher average than seven PAC-12 schools are averaging in TOTAL OFFENSE.

Think about that.

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Anthony Gordon is off to a ridiculous start to the season, completing 70.2 percent of his passes for a whopping 2,981 yards and a 29/7 touchdown to interception ratio.

WSU’s record will likely keep him out of the Heisman conversation, but even though this isn’t the magical Gardner Minshew-team, this is still a high-octane offense and one of the very best in the entire college football landscape.

Bottom Tier: Cal Golden Bears

The Golden Bears got off to a hot start this season, going 4-0 and even sneaking into the top-25 conversation. Although the offense never exploded in any of those games, they scored 27, 20, 23 and 28 through those four victories, displaying enough to beat teams like UW and Ole Miss.

However, things have really fallen off the rails since then. Cal is 0-3 in the last few weeks, including an embarrassing loss to Oregon State last week. The offense has faltered slightly, only scoring 17 against Arizona State and Oregon State and mustering just seven against Oregon.

All told, Cal has the fewest points per game average in the PAC-12, at just 19.9 points per game. They are the worst passing team in the conference by a considerable margin, averaging just 193.7 passing yards per game. Even Stanford, known for stubbornly running the ball, is averaging 216 yards through the air.

All told, there are only 14 teams in the entire NCAA, and only two in the Power-5, who are averaging less than Cal’s 324 total yards of offense per game.

After that hot 4-0 start, Cal is proving, more or less, that they are who we thought they were.

Oregon Ducks Pac-12

Top Tier: Oregon Ducks

No surprise here. The Oregon Ducks have had an elite NCAA offense for nearly a decade now, ever since Chip Kelly and his high-octane offense graced the field in Eugene.

The Ducks average 457.1 yards of offense per game, second in the PAC-12 behind Washington State, and are scoring 35.9 points per game, also second in the PAC-12 behind WSU and just ahead of UW, who is at 35.8.

Oregon has a decently balanced offensive attack, although it’s not a huge surprise that they do most of their damage through the air. The team is averaging 283.6 yards per game in the air, thanks to Heisman trophy candidate Justin Herbert and his sparkly 21/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

They are doing their fare share of work on the ground as well, with a tidy 173.6 rushing yard per game on average.

Oregon’s balanced attack and ability to avoid turnovers has made them one of the best teams in the Nation, and their chances at a CFB playoff spot remain intact at this point in the season.

Stanford Quarterback Stanford Offense

Bottom Tier: Stanford Cardinal

Stanford is averaging a measly 20 points per game, barely above Cal’s 19.9 mark.

The team’s trademark run-heavy offensive attack has not been effective this year, as they are only generating 114.1 yards on the ground per game, which is among the worst marks in the entire NCAA and only tops Washington State in the conference.

The passing attack, frankly, hasn’t been much better – as QB’s David Mills and K.J. Costello have only been able to average 216 yards per game, and combined have a combined 7/3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

It’s been a rough year for the Cardinal, and one that has them squarely among the worst offensive teams in the PAC-12 – and the nation.

Fixing the California Golden Bears Offensive Woes

Cal Golden Bears

On Saturday the Cal Bears traveled to the great salt lake to take on the #12 ranked University of Utah. Losers of their last three contests, (0-3) in conference play, and nearly out of conference title contention the Bears have had issues. Let us face facts about what is going on in Berkley, Ca. The California Golden Bears have been absolutely decimated by injuries. On Saturday the Bears travel to Salt Lake City to take on the #12 ranked Utah Utes.

To a man, nobody affiliated with the team will use it as an excuse. No one will tell you who are walking wounded, and certainly won’t allow for self-pitying.

But with the losses mounting after a blistering start, the Bears find themselves two games behind the first-place Oregon Ducks. If that wasn’t bad enough, they lost the head-to-head matchup as well.

CALIFORNIA Golden Bears

Without sophomore quarterback, Chase Garbers at the helm, offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin’s offense has become predictable, stagnant, and end zone challenged.

It’s nearly heartbreaking for the defense to continue holding teams to 24 points or less week in and week out, only to lose because the offense couldn’t get anything going at all.

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Feed Your Bears

The California Golden Bears have a variety of talent at the wide receiver position that has been starving for opportunities. We have seen Travon Clark, Nikko Remigio, Jordan Duncan, and Kekoa Crawford emerge as playmakers.

Jake Tonges has been making an impact in the passing game lately, while his numbers may not reflect it, his size and natural ability are going to pay off soon. The icing on the cake, Tonges is a more than capable blocker as well.

No matter who is at quarterback, these young men are going to need to get catchable targets. Garbers has a shoulder issue which we should infer is quite possibly a long term injury. Devon Modster still had an undiagnosed injury at the time of coach Wilcox’s postgame presser.

Change in Offensive Strategy

Modster, if cleared to play, looked comfortable with being outside the pocket. With the injuries to the offensive line, standing in the pocket hasn’t exactly been the best spot to survey the field. Bootlegs and naked bootlegs have been types of plays Modster has excelled with.

Possessing a good arm, Moister struggles with accuracy when amped up. Once settled, he can pinpoint the football on deep passes and intermediate crossing routes. He makes good decisions on when to tuck the ball and run. Against the Beavers, he had 19 rushes for 76 yards before bowing out with an injury.

California Bears Rushing Offense

Christopher Brown Jr. had a monster game against UC Davis 38 plays from scrimmage for 206 total yards and 1 TD. For the season CBJ has 121 rushing attempts for 480 yards and 4TDS.

CBJ is a multi-faceted back, with a nice set of hands and a solid route runner. A one-cut runner, CBJ has shown nice vision and his cutback game is very underrated for a 230 pound back. While the majority of Cal’s rushing attack occurs in the shotgun formation perhaps a small formational tweak can help both the offensive line and CBJ get going again.

The pistol formation allows for a happy unification for all. The offensive line gets that extra millisecond to reach and sustain their blocks in a zone and or gap rushing attack. CBJ, doesn’t have to run against a stacked box that already knows where the play is going. Running downhill is usually the best way to deploy a bigger back and opens up the play-action game.

What’s Next For Cal

After a 2.5 game offensive lull, it had appeared the Bears offense was ending it’s hibernation and regaining its stride. The California Golden Bears have played ranked teams incredibly tough and the defense will keep them in the game. Whether or not the coaching staff implements a different gameplan or incorporates a few subtle changes remains to be seen. Be that as it may, if the Bears intend to keep their slim conference title hopes alive, they have to win this weekend or they will be playing for a bowl game the remainder of the season.

Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 7 Offensive Standouts

Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 7

Huge Performances from Pac-12 NFL Players in Week 7

Marvin jones California Golden bears Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 7
Marvin Jones has come a long way since Cal

While the Oregon-Washington game was the most exciting game of the weekend, our Pac-12 alumni showed up in Week 7 of the NFL. The best Pac-12 NFL players were clearly Aaron Rodgers and Marvin Jones. They unleashed their abilities in full strength. No one could stop them and we couldn’t get enough. Who else joined them this week?

Best Quarterback Performances

Aaron Rodgers – Cal – Green Bay Packers

Against the Oakland Raiders, Aaron Rodgers went full God-mode. He dismantled them in every way possible for a quarterback. Rodgers finished with this stat line:

  • 25 of 31 (80.65-percent completion percentage)
  • 429 Passing Yards
  • 5 Passing Touchdowns
  • 1 Rushing Touchdown

With a game like that, it’s no wonder that Rodgers notched his first perfect-Passer Rating of the season. It was a vintage performance from the Cal product and it’s why he is one of the best Pac-12 NFL players of all time.

Matt Moore – Oregon State – Kansas City Chiefs

Wow. Talk about composure and stepping up. Somehow, even though Matt Moore hasn’t played since 2017, he sealed the win for the Kansas City Chiefs. With the loss of Patrick Mahomes to a dislocated knee, fans were panicking. But, calm and collected, Moore displayed exactly what teams need from a backup quarterback. He threw for a modest 117 yards, no interceptions and dropped a dime to Tyreek Hill for a touchdown.

Without Moore on the team, they’d be tempted to trade for a potential quarterback bridge until Mahomes gets healthy. But, like New Orleans and Teddy Bridgewater, the Chiefs have it covered.

Best Wide Receiver Performances

Marvin Jones – Cal – Detroit Lions

Even though he was up against the Minnesota Vikings defense, Marvin Jones erupted for four touchdowns. Four! It’s rare for an NFL receiver to get three touchdowns in a game, let alone four.

He was unstoppable. Uncoverable. On 13 targets, he caught 10 for 93 yards and 4 scores. To the delight of fans’ eyes, Jones had himself a game.

Best Tight End Performance

Rhett Ellison – USC – New York Giants

Now, this isn’t one of those Pac-12 NFL tight end games for the record books. But, Rhett Ellison had one of his better performances. He caught both targets for 33 yards and a touchdown. In a tight loss to the Arizona Cardinals, those were needed receptions.

Especially considering how inconsistent and poor Daniel Jones was playing. Hopefully, Ellison can find the end zone again this season. But, at least he joined the ranks of other Pac-12 NFL greats this week.

Disagree with our Pac-12 NFL List?

If you disagree with this list or want to add anyone else in, comment or Tweet at us.

What Oregon’s comeback win means for the Huskies

Washington Huskies 2019
University of Washington Block W logo RGB brand colors

A Stunning Loss for the Huskies

Heartbreak. At half, the Washington Huskies led the Oregon Ducks 21-14. Then, Jacob Eason and the UW offense marched down the field to open the third quarter. They were up 28-14 against a formidable Oregon football team. The Huskies were at home, up by two touchdowns and playing well.

Honestly, it was incredible, considering how strong the Oregon Ducks’ defense is. In their previous five games, Oregon held its opponents to a combined 25 points. Washington had it.

But, tragically, Oregon came back from a 14-point deficit and defeated the Huskies 35-31. Heartbreak and tragedy aside, here are the big takeaways from the loss.

Any Hope of a Huskies 2019 Pac-12 Title is Lost

Any chance the Huskies had of a Pac-12 title in 2019 is now gone. Against the Oregon Ducks, they needed to win. It was their only hope. And while they, for the most part, followed the keys to winning against Oregon, they lost. And with that loss, Washington lost their Pac-12 title berth.

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Jacob Eason and the Huskies Offense Finally Showed Up Against Competition

As most Huskies football fans will lament, Jacob Eason’s 2019 play is up and down. Against quality defenses, the offense collapsed. But somehow, against a stout Oregon Ducks defense, Eason and company rolled. Even with top-prospect Justin Herbert on the field, Eason was the better quarterback of the night. 23 of 30, 289 yards, 3 touchdowns and exceptional play against an incredible defense.

Against an Oregon Ducks team that only allowed 25 points in five games, the Huskies racked up 414 yards, 20 first downs, and 31 points. Although they failed in some areas, it was a bright game for Eason and the Huskies offense.

Young Talent Emerges Again

Surprisingly, this was without Sean McGrew, Richard Newton and Aaron Fuller. Even without some of their regular contributors, Washington made due and baffled Oregon with 31 points.

Without McGrew, Newton, and Fuller, the Huskies got to see some of their younger playmakers get involved. Alongside senior standout Hunter Bryant, Washington’s most utilized receivers were:

  • Puka Nacua – Freshman – Wide Receiver
  • Terrell Bynum – Sophomore – Wide Receiver
  • Cade Otton – Sophomore – Tight End

The Huskies Went for it

Finally, Chris Peterson and the Huskies attempted multiple fourth-down conversions. Ignoring the final play of the game, the Huskies two earlier fourth downs were critical. Deciding to attempt fourth downs, rather than punt or kick, gave the Huskies an offensive advantage. They were good calls and it was nice to finally see a coach confident in his offense.

Now, back to that last fourth down. Obviously, as Huskies fans will attest, the fourth down was controversial. Was it pass interference?

Yes, it was obvious pass interference. To anyone that actually knows football, it was an easy flag. With the correct call made, the Huskies drive would continue. However, they still had a quarter of the field to go and the win wasn’t guaranteed.

Third Down Efficiency Killed the Huskies

But, as with many games, there were plenty of opportunities for the Huskies to win it earlier. On third down, the Huskies were atrocious. Just awful. They went 3 for 13. The play-calling on third down needs to improve.

While Eason isn’t perfect and does miss occasional reads and throws, he is an excellent quarterback. Great offensive play-callers optimize their talent. Unlock Eason with better schemes, routes and talent configuration. With more open looks and crafty play-calling, the Huskies win this game. This loss isn’t on Eason.

Growing Pains and Bowl Games

To say this season is a letdown for Huskies football fans is to say the least. They expected a Pac-12 Title game, another Rose Bowl and a possible College Football Playoff berth. However, with the losses to staggeringly different levels of talent, Washington’s high hopes are gone.

Still, there is good for the Huskies. They are only one win out of bowl eligibility. Will they get a Rose Bowl again? Not a chance. But at least they can end up in the Alamo Bowl, Holiday Bowl or Redbox Bowl. And, if Jacob Eason decides to come back in 2020, he’ll be the best quarterback in the Pac-12. Hands down.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 9: Everything is Earned, Nothing is Easy

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

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.

Pac-12 Power rankings and standings

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 8.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 9:

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

Pac-12 Power Rankings 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.

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5. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-2, 2-2)

Last Week: 3-21 (L) at Utah

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

Pac-12 Power Rankings USc

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.

Oregon Ducks Pac-12 Football

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.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 9 As it Should Be

Justin Fields Ohio State

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.

college football rankings

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

florida gators football

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

college football top 10 rankings

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:

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5. Clemson Tigers (7-0)

Last Week: 45-10 (W) at Louisville

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

College Football Rankings Week 9

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.

How the Best PAC-12 Defenses Stack Up with the Rest of College Football

Best pac-12 defenses

The PAC-12 may not be nationally known for having elite defenses, but this season it has become clear that many of the best overall defensive teams reside on the west coast, along with some of the best individual defensive players.

Four teams – Oregon, Utah, Arizona State, and Cal – are among the top 20 in all of college football in scoring defense, with another (Washington) coming in at No. 28.

Of course, the other side of that coin is that four other teams are actually among the 33 worst defenses in the NCAA at preventing scoring: Washington State, Arizona, Oregon State, and UCLA, who is allowing opponents to score a whopping 37.7 points on average.

So, as one might expect, the PAC-12 is actually pretty average defensively – at least when evaluating them based on points allowed.

Let’s take a look at those elite defenses though, and how they are getting it done in 2019.

Best Pac-12 Defenses 2019

Troy Dye Oregon Pac-12 defenses 2019

Oregon Ducks

The Ducks have long been stigmatized as a speedy, offense-oriented team with little attention or care for their defense – a stigma that has lasted well past the Chip Kelly era despite a reality that contradicts that narrative.

This season, Oregon is allowing the third-fewest points per game on average, at just 8.7 points per game. They are successful at limiting both the run game (107.5 rushing yards per game – 23rd in the nation) and the pass game (196.2 passing yards per game – eighth in the nation) which of course means they are in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed per game – eighth to be exact, at just 267.7 yards per game.

Linebacker Troy Dye, a potential first round pick, has been perhaps their biggest performer on defense, with 33 combined tackles and one sack.

Mase Funa and Kayvon Thibodaux are getting it done off the edge with 5.5 combined sacks, and safety Jevon Holland already has three interceptions.

The Ducks still have an outside chance at a college football playoff appearance, and while their strength is still their quarterback, Justin Herbert, their defense will have played a big role if they make it that far.

Utah Utes

The Utes are probably the PAC-12’s most impressive defensive team, although they are limited somewhat against the pass.

Led by a flurry of playmakers, including Devin Lloyd, Francis Bernard, Julian Blackmon, and Bradlee Anae, the Utes have held opponents to just 13.2 points per game on average.

Their run defense is elite, and would be the best in the entire NCAA were it not for the ridiculousness that is the University of Wisconsin’s defense.

While their pass defense still leaves something to be desired, they do have seven interceptions as a team, including three that have been returned for touchdowns.

Utah will contend for a Rose Bowl appearance this season, thanks primarily to their defensive prowess.

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Arizona State Sun Devils

Arizona State Sun Devils

Arizona State may not have the playmakers that Utah or Oregon have, but as a team, they have allowed just 17.7 points per game on average, good for 16th in the nation.

They are considerably better against the run than the pass, giving up big games to Washington State and Colorado who both like to attack through the air.

Still, it’s been a wildly successful season for the Sun Devils, who held the Michigan State Spartans to just seven points and only gave up 17 to Cal.

The team still has Utah and Oregon on their schedule, however, so they’ll need to really tighten up if they want to contend for the Rose Bowl this year.

Cal Bears Evan Weaver pac-12 defenses

Cal Golden Bears

Cal has one of the most exciting playmakers in the nation in linebacker Evan Weaver. Weaver leads the entire nation with 83 combined tackles, an absolutely ridiculous total through just six games.

Cal has only allowed one team to score over 20 points this season, in their 24-17 loss to Arizona State.

As such, their 18.3 points per game allowed ties them with Auburn for 18th in the nation – despite only average numbers in run and pass prevention.

The PAC-12 may not be known for their defensive prowess, but there are still a handful of elite defensive teams that can manhandle any opponent on any given night.

Pac-12 defenses are some of the best in all of college football in 2019.

Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 7

Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 7

Pac-12 Football Lit up the Scoreboards in Week 7

Pac-12 Conference states

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

Jayden Daniels – Arizona State

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

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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

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!

Tight End

Jacob Breeland – Oregon

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.

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