Sitting at No.10 overall, Utah eyes its first college football playoff birth. It’s a great time to be a Utah fan. Their upcoming matchup is the Pac-12 South game of the year. Utah vs USC. No. 10 Utes vs the now-competitive Trojans. If Utah continues to win, they’ll surely rise up the ranks. But, Pac-12 scheduling set this game for Friday night. Will this night game hurt their national exposure? In a line of poor ideas and bad commissioning from Larry Scott, Utah’s late matchup harms both Utah and the Pac-12. The conference outsources it’s scheduling to a company in Colorado. Then the Pac-12 brass, school presidents, and athletic directors approve it.
The Problem with Night Games
Keep in mind, night games are not inherently a problem. Especially for east coast teams and viewers. But, on a Friday night, Pac-12 games can be extremely bothersome. For example, the Utah vs USC game starts at 6:00pm on the west coast. That’s not too bad. For those who get off work at 5:00, they can make it home by the first whistle.
However, that same time is 9:00pm for east coast viewers. It’s not rocket science to figure out why that is a bad idea. Because college football games last an average of 3 1/2 hours, they have to stay up past midnight to see how it ends. 12:30am, at the end of a workweek, to watch a Pac-12 rivalry game. Honestly, how many non-conference fans would commit to that for Pac-12 games? It undermines national exposure for the Pac-12 conference.
Even Chris Peterson agrees with this sentiment.
“It hurts us tremendously in terms of national exposure. No one wants to watch our game on the East Coast that late, and we all know it,”
Late games just get less eyes. From fans, from scouts and from the press. For a contending team like Utah, they need all the eyes they can get. But, because of Larry Scott and his ideas, he’s holding back the Pac-12. Again.
We Discuss the Friday Night games more on Pac-12 Apostles Podcast
“The reason we play almost a third of our games at night is that was a way to unlock significant value from television in our last negations,” Scott said. “ESPN and Fox placed a high value on us giving them a little more flexibility and being willing to play more night games.”
“We essentially extend their day,” Scott said. “We give them a whole other window of high-quality, highly rated games. … Playing more night games than we did in the past unlocked the kind of value our schools were looking for.”
To Larry Scott, the exclusivity of the late-night games are worth the pain. With more flexibility to play later, he claims to obtain “high value”. However, perhaps it is just a complete lack of leverage. Recall that Larry Scott deliberately put a wedge between major networks and the Pac-12. Betting on the Pac-12 Network to hit it big didn’t happen. Because every other power five conference has contracts with these networks, it leaves the Pac-12 to pick up the scraps. So, instead of putting the lower-ranked teams in the Friday night lights, Larry Scott and the Pac-12 schedulers put Utah.
For goodness sake, the Utah vs USC game deserves to get national exposure. The Utes deserve that. Does anyone think Roll Tide fans would stand for this? Of course not. If Larry Scott wants a Pac-12 program to make it to the college playoffs, he has to put steps in place for them to get there. Playing on Saturday, during the day, when everyone can view them, is best practice. But, then again, it’s unclear if Larry Scott actually knows what’s best for the Pac-12.
UW and USC were strong candidates to be in the college football playoffs, but losses to Cal and BYU, respectively, have all but eliminated them from being a Pac-12 2019 College Football Playoff team.
Oregon looks strong, but an early-season loss to Auburn, while respectable, gives them a razor-thin margin of error if they want to make the playoffs this year.
The conference still has six teams ranked in the top 25: Utah (10) Oregon (16) WSU (19) Washington (22) Cal (23) and Arizona State (24), with USC just getting bumped following their loss.
The question now, however, is will any of these teams make it out of the hyper-competitive PAC-12 conference play in order to participate in the College Football Playoff, or will the competitive nature of the conference knock every team out of contention with a handful of losses?
No. 10 Utah
Utah might have the best shot at it, although they have a classic trap game coming up on Thursday when they play the Trojans down in Southern California. They have No. 19 Washington State after that, but at least they’ll be in front of the home crowd. Most of the rest of their tough opponents will be at home, although a date with the No. 23 Huskies in Montlake won’t be easy.
They likely can’t afford to lose any games if they want to make the playoffs, so this will be a huge challenge.
No. 19 Washington State
Washington State is 3-0 and ranked No. 19, but they haven’t played anyone yet and all their tough games are on the road this year, including @ Utah, @ Arizona State, @ Oregon, @ Cal and @ UW for the Apple Cup. It’s hard to imagine them not taking a loss (or two) out of that murderer’s row, all but ensuring they won’t be playing for a title.
No. 16 Oregon
Oregon has to get by the Huskies in Seattle, the Sun Devils in Tempe and the Trojans in Los Angeles, but – lead by star quarterback Justin Herbert – they may actually have the best shot at playing meaningful football in early 2020.
The Rest
I just don’t see it for UW, Arizona State or Cal.
UW already lost to Cal, which gives them a miniscule margin of error – unless Cal kills it this year which would make the loss not look as bad. Still, UW has to get through Oregon and Utah (both at home) as well as Arizona in Arizona, Colorado in Colorado and a sneaky-good BYU team this weekend. They have a favorable home schedule, but that Cal loss looms large for the Huskies and their new quarterback, Jacob Eason.
Arizona State’s win over Michigan State looks nice, and they have a decent home schedule, but road games against Cal, Utah and home matchups against USC and Oregon will be a tough gauntlet to emerge 4-0 from, which they’ll likely have to do if they want a college football playoff berth.
Finally, Cal is a surprise team on this last after beating UW in the lightning fest at Husky Stadium, but road games against Ole Miss, Oregon and Utah will be extremely difficult to power through for a team that wasn’t expected to do much this year.
This doesn’t even include the fact that teams like UCLA, Stanford and Oregon State are known spoilers, and could easily trip one of these teams up on their quest for a championship.
All-in-all, the PAC-12 seems likely to shoot themselves in the foot again this year, limiting their opportunities to make a name for themselves on the national stage with continued losses against each other in conference play.
There were some incredible performances from the NFL in Week 2. While some colleges like Cal had a multitude of options for this Best Pac-12 NFL Players list, others like Arizona barely had one. Which alumni from your college had the best Week 2? Check out the list below!
Arizona
Will Parks – Denver Broncos
While Will Parks isn’t great, he’s not bad either. Parks was on the field for 82-percent of defensive snaps for the Broncos. No, he didn’t record any counting stats. But, as a strong safety, he doesn’t have to record stats to have a positive impact. Denver held Chicago to just 16 points. More importantly, they held Mitchell Trubisky to 120 yards. It was a good game for the Denver defense. So, it also was a good day for Parks.
All in all, Will Parks is a good NFL player and gets consistent snaps for the Broncos. That’s more than the rest of the Arizona alumni can say. Yes, he was on this list last week. But until someone else from Arizona can step up, Parks will remain on the Best Pac-12 NFL Players list.
Arizona State
Vontaze Burfict – Oakland Raiders
Even though the Oakland Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 28-10, the defense actually played well. They held Mahomes and company scoreless three out of four quarters. Against KC, Vontaze Burfict played 97-percent of defensive snaps. Win, lose or tie, he was out there for the Raiders. Burfict is a consistent, albeit dirty, NFL player. The linebacker racked up 4 tackles and a pass defense, in addition to being sent after Mahomes. No, they didn’t win and no he didn’t get any sacks or turnovers. But, it was still a good game for Burfict in his new home and why Burfict is one of the best Pac-12 NFL players this year.
We gotta give @TooLoose26 major props for protecting his QB from big scary meanie Vontaze Burfict on this play. Grown man move. pic.twitter.com/S1CoHhbTM3
Against the formidable Los Angeles Rams, Cameron Jordan returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown. Then, the refs blew it. Saints fans died a little more this week. Not only did they see their third straight game with officiating blunders. This time also came amidst a Drew Brees injury. It’s a bad time to be a Saints fan.
Nonetheless, Cameron Jordan is still a force to be reckoned with. His career makes a case for him to not only be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players this week, but all time. Even without the touchdown, Jordan accounted for:
5 Tackles
1 Tackle for a Loss
2 QB Hits
1 Sack
1 Fumble Recovery
This was also his second game straight with at least 5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits and 1 sack. He is unstoppable right now. Well, unless the refs get in his way.
Colorado
Ahkello Witherspoon – San Francisco 49ers
Yet again, Witherspoon highlights Colorado with exceptional defense. However, it wasn’t all pretty.
Ahkello Witherspoon drops a pick-six, kicks the ball and it drills a security guy in the head. He gets called for delay of game.
While he didn’t get the pick-6 in this game, he still made up for it with impressive play. Witherspoon totaled 5 tackles and 2 passes defended. But, his overall quarterback rating when targeted speaks volumes on his play. Ahkello was one of the best Pac-12 NFL players of any school in Weeks 1 and 2 of the NFL season.
With play like this, Witherspoon is making a case to earn a big paycheck. The 49ers desperately needed playmakers on defense the past few seasons and it seems Ahkello Witherspoon is stepping up weekly.
In another dominant, defensive win, Arik Armstead helped the 49ers cruise past the Cincinnati Bengals. In their win, Armstead played 43 defensive snaps. During that time, he was able to make 3 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit and 1 sack. He constantly frustrated the Bengals. The 49ers have a plethora of defensive linemen to create pressure (a lot of them that could become some of the best Pac-12 NFL players). And it looks like Arik Armstead is taking advantage of his situation.
In Week 2, the Buffalo Bills comfortably beat the New York Giants 28-14. They held Eli Manning to 250 yards on 45 attempts. He tried his best to beat them through the air, but threw more interceptions than touchdowns. One of which went to Jordan Poyer.
In their win, Jordan Poyer had 2 tackles, 1 interception and defended 1 pass. He’s had an excellent season so far. In 2019, Poyer is credited for 8 solo tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack and has only been targeted once. On top of that, the target didn’t succeed. So, he hasn’t even allowed a reception. It makes sense why his current PFF grade is 84.4. Jordan Poyer is the best Pac-12 NFL player on the Bills.
Harrison Phillips was an excellent interior defender against the New York Giants. He made plays on both Eli Manning and Saquon Barkely. Against Manning, Phillips finally got his first sack. Well, half sack. But still, that’s a big thing for an interior defender who’s job is to make defensive stops.
Against Barkely and the Giants run game, Phillips did what he does best: didn’t allow push and made defensive stops. But, as said above, Phillips also recorded 1 QB hit, 0.5 sacks and 2 passes defended It was quite the game for the big guy up front.
UCLA
Kenny Clark – Green Bay Packers
There was not a bigger mismatch on the field on Sunday than Kenny Clark vs. Garrett Bradbury. pic.twitter.com/8GOkBnRqQp
Man. Kenny Clark had a game. He looked like an All-Pro against the Vikings. Clark consistently created havoc and pressured Kirk Cousins.
If you can get your nose tackle to get pressure like this in the red zone on a 3man rush and hurry a QB’s throw… It can give your defense tremendous flexibility
Keep in mind that Kenny Clark is a nose tackle. A nose tackle that pressured, frustrated and sacked the opposing quarterback. In their win, Clark hit Cousins twice, sacked him once and forced a fumble. He was a large part of their divisional win.
USC
Nelson Agholor – Philadelphia Eagles
On Sunday night, the Philadelphia Eagles lost DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffrey and Dallas Goedert to injuries. Other players had to step up and fill the offensive void. That player was Nelson Agholor. Granted, it wasn’t a perfect night for Agholor.
But, other than the drops, Agholor played well. On 11 targets, he had 8 receptions for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. Of note are his two biggest plays. The first, and his only touchdown of the game, came on fourth and goal. His hands worked there.
When the Eagles needed playmakers, Agholor made himself available.
Utah
Eric Weddle – Los Angeles Rams
This just in. Eric Weddle can still lay a hit. He layed the hit on Jared Cook in their Week 2 matchup, causing Cook to lose the ball and the Rams to intercept it. Keep in mind that this is just one week after Weddle took a knee from Christian McCaffrey and bled all over.
He’s an experienced veteran and is still willing to lay his body on the line. Against the Saints, he played well and helped stifle the non-Brees offense. This season, he has a 79.3 PFF grade, 12 tackles and a pass defended in 2019. If he manages to stay healthy with the hits he’s taking/giving, the Rams have a menace in the secondary.
Washington
Will Dissly – Seattle Seahawks
Will Dissly had himself a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 5 Targets
Against Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson trusted Dissly to make big plays. It was Dissly’s best game in his short NFL career. Aside from his first two weeks in 2018, Will Dissly has either gone unnoticed or was injured. Perhaps this is his year to connect with Wilson in a sans-Baldwin offense.
Washington State
Joe Dahl – Detroit Lions
For a Detroit Lions team that is constantly rotating their offensive lineman, Joe Dahl is playing well. On 117 snaps at guard, he hasn’t allowed a sack and holds a 71.6 PFF grade. He isn’t dominant yet, but he’s made a significant jump in performance from 2018 to 2019. The Lions need to keep him in more regularly and commit to offensive line continuity.
The Lions second best player yesterday per PFF? Graham Glasgow. The fourth? Joe Dahl. The 15th (!!)? Kenny Wiggins.
Why on earth are we rotating Wiggins in with Glasgow and Dahl again?
The Lions sure seem to be setting themselves up to lose Glasgow next year. I don't get it.
The Colorado Buffaloes were riding high after their epic victory over Nebraska. It was time for the Mel Tucker era to take shape. The 2019 Colorado Buffaloes Week 4 looked like it would be one with the team entering Pac-12 play undefeated.
However, what was a big step forward was countered by the Air Force Falcons, who defeated the Buffaloes 30-23 in overtime. It was a tough loss for Colorado, but one they can — and must — recover from.
Situated just 86.2 miles from each other, the 2019 Air Force vs. Colorado matchup was the first between the two Colorado schools since 1974. And with the Buffaloes having already dispatched in-state Colorado State in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, Saturday’s game against Air Force was a chance to secure state supremacy. But instead of locking Colorado down and moving to a 3-0 start, Colorado looked impressive in bursts but wasn’t consistent enough to hold off the upset.
Great place to kickoff your day of College Football! Air Force playing Colorado for the first time in 45 years. Go Bolts!!!! pic.twitter.com/yECxDZG1EC
For Colorado, the game started in positive fashion. On the first drive of the game, Colorado took the ball for an 11-play, 75 yard drive that ended with quarterback Steven Montez connecting with Laviska Shenault to give the Buffs a quick 7-0 lead. Then, on Air Force’s third offensive play, Colorado safety Aaron Maddox forced Air Force running back Taven Birdow to fumble and linebacker Davion Taylor recovered. The Buffs’ defense, under coordinator Tyson Summers, found their calling card for the third straight week and forced yet another timely turnover.
But after the Buffs cashed the turnover in for three points, it was Air Force laying claim as the best team in the state of Colorado. Three straight touchdown drives gave the Falcons a 20-10 lead as Air Force was winning the battle in the trenches and confusing the Buffaloes with their triple option offense.
Colorado’s offense, meanwhile, cooled-off after its opening scores. The offensive line had trouble protecting Steven Montez and the Buffaloes couldn’t get things going on the ground. The two together led to another wildly inconsistent game from the redshirt senior.
The stadium was silent. The Buffs were having trouble supplying the fans with the energy necessary to cheer on their team and things looked grim. Fortunately, Colorado safety Mikial Onu created a spark with an interception off a deflection in the end zone in the final moments of the first half. Instead of Colorado facing a 17-point deficit for the second week in a row, the Buffaloes were down by 10.
The interception brought the fans who made it out to the early kickoff, that or the clock passing noon. Whatever the case, the early 11 a.m. start for the Buffaloes was not ideal for players and fans alike, especially in a game where Colorado was the clear favorite. Football is about momentum, and while Colorado supporters showed up and were loud, the quick response by Air Force in the first half hushed the crowd. The caffeine had worn off. This isn’t an indictment against earlier kickoffs or Colorado supporters, because Buffaloes fans showed up.
Early kickoffs are a necessary evil that comes with program exposure and television deals. However, credit goes to the fans who stayed for the whole game and those that arrived late. Folsom Field filled up and was full until the final whistle. To the credit of Air Force fans, some were theirs. The service academy traveled well for a chance to watch this rare in-state rivalry, and they made themselves heard.
Great place to kickoff your day of College Football! Air Force playing Colorado for the first time in 45 years. Go Bolts!!!! pic.twitter.com/yECxDZG1EC
Colorado fans, meanwhile, began the second half with nervous notes countered by the confidence knowing the Buffaloes had come back from worse. Unfortunately the half did not start well, with Aaron Maddox leaving the game with an apparent leg injury after colliding with a misting machine on the Air Force sideline. This was a blow to the defense, but the unit regrouped and forced Air Force to finally punt for the first time in nine possessions.
The Buffaloes couldn’t take advantage on offense. In their first two possessions of the second half they were forced to punt and Colorado relied on their defense to stifle Air Force while the offense figured it out.
Holding the Falcons to three points in the second half, the Colorado’s defense gave the offense just enough time to mount a comeback. Down 23-10 in the 4th, the Buffaloes’s offense marched 75 yards to get within seven points with 6:09 remaining in the 4th quarter. However, the Buffs had another mishap as the extra point was blocked.
Now down 23-16 with time winding down, the offense needed a clutch drive and delivered just that. On their final drive in regulation the Buffaloes converted three 3rd downs and tied the game with 28 seconds left on a play that saw Shenault take a snap from the wildcat formation and run it into the end zone. This time, the extra point converted.
The rare meeting between Air Force and Colorado would be decided in overtime. It was the second overtime game in as many weeks for the Buffaloes, and Colorado took to defense first.
Unfortunately the momentum from an impressive second-half defensive showing did not carry into overtime. On the first play of OT, Falcons running back Kadin Remsberg took the ball to the house for a 25-yard touchdown that put all the pressure on Colorado’s offense to convert.
Touchdown or bust.
After the Buffaloes converted their first third down of their first overtime drive on a 4-yard run by Shenault, the Air Force defense came up huge.
Putting pressure on Montez on his next three dropbacks, the Falcons’s defense prevented another Colorado comeback as Montez failed to connect with Shenault on 4th and 12.
Great place to kickoff your day of College Football! Air Force playing Colorado for the first time in 45 years. Go Bolts!!!! pic.twitter.com/yECxDZG1EC
The new era of Colorado Football that some may have thought started after last week’s win looks eerily familiar to the previous one. The Buffaloes have consistently beat teams such as Colorado State, and won both matchups against Nebraska this year and last, but have floundered against inferior teams. Last season the Buffaloes lost in overtime to an in-conference opponent, Oregon State, that they should have beat. This season they have an overtime loss to Air Force, a non-conference opponent many thought they would handle.
But 2019 is a new year and only time will tell if it will be a repeat of 2018. There is a lot of football to play and the Buffaloes have plenty of opportunities to create a new identity. This starts next week against Arizona State.
The Sun Devils are coming off an enormous victory over Michigan State and are trying to create a new identity themselves. Playing in Tempe will be no easy task for the Buffaloes. But with the way this team has found a way to compete in every game, so long as they show up they’ll have a shot.
For Cougar fans, Anthony Gordon finally makes this list. And rightfully so. Against New Mexico State and Northern Colorado, it made sense to keep some skepticism. Gordon and the Cougars weren’t truly tested in either of those outings. But, in Week 3, against a competitive Houston football team, Anthony and the Pac-12 football Cougs maintained their excellence.
In three straight weeks, Anthony Gordon passed for at least 420 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is a perfect fit for the Mike Leach Air Raid offense. Gordon already has:
96 completions on 122 attempts
1,324 passing yards
12 touchdowns
2 interceptions
Counting stats are great. But, leading a team, down 7-14 at half, to beat Houston 31-24 shows incredible poise. In the win, he spread the ball around to nine different receivers and completed 75-percent of his passes. Four different receivers caught passes of 30-plus yards. His arm-strength, pocket-awareness and overall quarterback abilities were on full display.
Anthony Gordon simply continued his spectacular play again this week against Houston. pic.twitter.com/JgWzzqF5rH
Other than Eno Benjamin, there is no running back better than Zack Moss in Pac-12 football. Against Idaho State, Moss recorded his 13th 100-yard game, rushing for 106 yards on just 10 carries. With a touchdown, he passed Eddie Johnson for Utah’s No.2 spot in Ute rushing touchdowns. If Moss scores five more rushing touchdowns this season, he breaks Del Rodgers’ Utah career record. For Utah, Moss is a steady contributor of power and big plays.
Consider his first touch of the game. Moss took the handoff, spun away from a tackle and ran for 38 yards. It’s unreal how efficient and effect he’s been thus far. Pac-12 football fans haven’t even seen him unlocked yet because utah keeps running away with games. Moss does more with 10 carries than other backs do with 20.
Best Wide Receiver Performance
Laviska Shenault Jr. – Colorado
To anyone that watched Pac-12 football’s Colorado take on Air Force, one thing was clear: Laviska Shenault Jr. could not be stopped.
After a slow start against Colorado State and Nebraska, Shenault exploded in Week 3. He showed speed, power and reliability. Shenault was dynamic as a receiver and even as a runner.
Here's a look at that game-tying touchdown by @Viska2live
On 11 touches, he amassed nearly 150 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns. He was the difference-maker for Colorado again and again. It’s a pity that Colorado couldn’t extend their win-streak. But, Shenault did show why he belongs with the best playmakers in Pac-12 football.
Through three weeks of college football, Hunter Bryant is PFF’s top-graded tight end. And not just in Pac-12 football programs. In the country! His athleticism and receiving abilities are exceptional. Against Hawaii, Bryant broke free for the opening touchdown. His 47-yard catch and run epitomizes his offensive ability.
Don’t look now but the Pac-12 has six — yes six! — teams in the latest AP Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll. Utah (10 AP, 11 Coaches), Oregon (16 AP, 17 Coaches), Washington State (19 AP, 19 Coaches), Washington (22 AP, 21 Coaches), Cal (23 AP, 23 Coaches) and Arizona State (24 AP, 24 Coaches) all find themselves in the college football polls after their Pac-12 football week 3 results.
With the addition of California and Arizona State into the week 4 AP Top 25 college football poll, the conference’s six teams are the most it has had in the poll since Week 13 of 2016. This bodes well for the Pac-12 Conference’s perception as it enters the bulk of conference play. What doesn’t bode well, however, are the mounting out-of-conference losses.
The Bad From Pac-12 Football Week 3
The Pac-12 went 8-4 in college football week 3. With no conference games played this week (there were two in week 2), the conference did benefit from eight non-conference wins to just four non-conference losses. And while a couple of the wins were nice, most came against inferior opponents in expected fashion. The losses, however, weren’t so great.
UCLA, Stanford, Colorado, and USC all dropped non-conference tilts in week 3. Of these losses, only one can really be considered acceptable.
Addressing this ‘acceptable’ loss, nobody expected the UCLA Bruins to put up a fight against Oklahoma. The Sooners be in the College Football Playoff picture throughout the year and are one of college football’s most imposing teams. The Bruins, meanwhile, are not.
After an offseason in which Chip Kelly cleaned house, the Bruins are now playing like it. Their offense is miserable, defense inept and all signs point to a massive rebuild in the years to come. Adding salt to the wound of an already embarrassing loss was the terrible attendance despite tickets being given away to the game.
The Rose Bowl deserves better. The Pac-12 deserves better.
Colorado, Stanford and USC don’t have excuses like the Bruins. They’re not going through complete rebuilds, even though the Buffaloes did bring in new head coach Mel Tucker during the offseason.
USC and true freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis looked brilliant at times but lost during most others. The talent is there to compete with the best, but consistency is becoming an issue with the Trojans. Losing to BYU was tough for the Trojans and the Pac-12.
Stanford’s loss to UCF wasn’t as bad. The return of quarterback K.J. Costello did not go well and UCF freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel looked like a stud against Stanford’s porous secondary. Still, for what Stanford could have been — and still could be (a scary thought for the Pac-12) — in 2019, a blowout loss to UCF is difficult to swallow.
Then there was Colorado. After a big win against Nebraska at home, whispers began about the Buffaloes being back. The Air Force Falcons and their triple-option ignored those, disposing of an inconsistent Colorado team in OT. It was a result that once again sparked the debate of why the Pac-12 struggles so much with what should an inferior Mountain West.
The Good From Pac-12 Football Week 3
What did go well in Pac-12 football week 3 was the continued rebound of Arizona, the emergence of Arizona State, and the conference’s headliners holding ground.
Since a shocking week zero loss to Hawaii, Arizona has rattled off two wins. Quarterback Khalil Tate looked the Heisman candidate many want him to be and the defense actually held a decent offense in check. With a bye week followed by games against UCLA and Colorado, the Wildcats could regroup in fine fashion in the coming weeks.
The other team from The Grand Canyon State, the Arizona State Sun Devils, had a more impressive showing. Having held their first two opponents to seven points each, the Sun Devils continued that trend against the Michigan State Spartans in Pac-12 football week 3. While their offense may need work, that defense is good.
The remaining Pac-12 teams came away with expected wins. Utah managed a shutout against Idaho State, Oregon’s defense was equally impressive in their 35-3 win over Montana and Washington trounced Hawai’i. California, meanwhile, sneaked into the polls with a so-so performance against North Texas and Oregon State finally won a game.
All-in-all it wasn’t Pac-12 football week 3 wasn’t so bad for the conference. But it wasn’t so great either. Tough non-conference losses were softened by emerging contenders who now have a lot to prove in conference play. There’s a lot of football left to play and the results from Pac-12 week 3 are setting up a wild ride.
Six was the magic number, but now it’s five. With play beginning tonight with Washington State vs. Houston, there are roughly five Pac-12 football teams still in the race to be one of the four 2019 College Football Playoff teams. Within these six are a couple favorites, a couple contenders and a couple sleepers who could make big statements in the coming weeks.
Last week the Pac-12 had the following teams still vying for a spot in the 2019 College Football Playoff:
Utah Utes
Washington Huskies
Oregon Ducks
Stanford Cardinal
Washington State Cougars
USC Trojans
Entering week three the number of Pac-12 teams in contention for the playoff drops by one. Two teams fall out of the picture and one jumps in. 2019 may be yet another year, however, where the Pac-12 feasts on itself and eliminates the conference from the College Football Playoff.
That said, here are the Pac-12 football teams with the best shot of being one of the 2019 College Football Playoff Teams, Week 3.
1. Utah Utes
Utah didn’t look as polished in their 35-17 win over Northern Illinois as they should have. Still, the Utes are 2-0 and that defense is scary. And while running back Zack Moss was held to just 80 yards, better play from quarterback Tyler Huntley was inspiring and should give confidence to Utah heading forward. If Huntley can continue his growth at the position, the Utes could be scary good in conference play.
2. Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks weren’t about to let themselves slip outside the 2019 College Football Playoff race for too long. Though they’re still a fringe team after a tough loss to Auburn, Oregon destroyed Nevada in week two, sending a message that they’re the real deal. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo finally unleashed his offense and Oregon’s defense is its best in years. If Auburn remains the Ducks’s lone loss on the year, they’ll be one of the 2019 College Football Playoff teams.
3. USC Trojans
Watch out, college football, USC true freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis is for real. Now that the Trojans have the quarterback they need to distribute the ball appropriately, USC has a shot at the 2019 College Football Playoff. Their schedule is still brutal but what they did to Stanford is not something to ignore. If Slovis can remain level-headed and USC handles Utah at home on September 20, the Trojans will be front-and-center in the world of college football.
If California had a decent offense they would be a legit contender to be one of the 2019 College Football Playoff Teams, week 3. Yet they remain on the outside because that offense is tough to watch. Still, going on the road and facing the adverse conditions they did at Washington is impressive. With a recovery game against North Texas this week, California would do well to focus on building some offensive momentum. Should the Golden Bears compliment their outstanding defense with some form of offensive threat, they’ll be a dark-horse CFP contender.
5. Washington State Cougars
Washington State and Mike Leach, we love you. Your opponents, however, we do not. While quarterback Anthony Gordon could be the real deal and the Cougars could boast one of the most efficient offenses in college football history, lackluster matchups against New Mexico State and Northern Colorado did nothing to show us who Washington State is. Well, maybe outside the fact that they’re no longer the laughing stock of the Pac-12 who could legitimately lose to a New Mexico State or Northern Colorado. They’ve still got a shot at the 2019 College Football Playoff but have a lot to prove.
With Week 1 of the NFL season officially done, it’s time to examine which Pac-12 alumni stood out. Each week, the Unafraid Show will review the stats, games and plays to determine the best Pac-12 NFL players. Without further adieu, here are the best Pac-12 NFL Players Week 1.
The Best Pac-12 NFL Players Week 1 List, Team by Team
Arizona
Will Parks – Denver Broncos
For Arizona alumni, Will Parks stood out the most. The strong safety played 29 defensive snaps, 17 special teams snaps and recorded 2 tackles. Additionally, he earned a 69.2 PFF grade. While not incredible, he is on a short list of Arizona alumni to make it in the NFL.
No one knows how, but Terrell Suggs still has it. The 36 (soon to be 37) year-old was a big reason for the Cardinals comeback. Even though his Pac-12 days are long behind him, Suggs continues to dominate the NFL. On a defense that has few playmakers, Suggs lifted the team. He recorded 5 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. The Ravens all-time sack leader had a great debut for the Arizona Cardinals.
Cal
DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles
DeSean Jackson was born to play in Philly. Returning to his former team, Jackson torched the opposing defense. On 9 targets, he recorded 8 receptions for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns. He couldn’t be caught. His 19.3 yards per reception may seem impressive, but what’s more impressive is Jackson’s 2 50-plus yard touchdowns. He now has 31 touchdowns of 50-plus yards in his NFL career. The Pac-12, NFL rocket from Cal is too fast to handle.
Again. Carson Wentz to DeSean Jackson for the second time today. First one was a 51 yarder, this one is a 53-yard TD. pic.twitter.com/W9mBkCQYOr
Facing the Buccaneers, Ahkello Witherspoon and the 49ers held Jameis Winston to just 194 yards, including 3 interceptions. Witherspoon was a major part of this defensive shutdown. When targeting players covered by Witherspoon, Winston had a 4.9 passer rating. On those 6 targets, Witherspoon allowed just 2 receptions, while recording 4 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception for a touchdown. It was a near-perfect game for Witherspoon.
On Sunday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers could not move the ball. New England’s held them to just 3 points and completely stifled Ben Roethlisberger and company. Against Pittsburgh, Patrick Chung racked up 6 tackles, broke-up one pass and earned an 82.1 PFF grade. For those watching, his speed and instincts were the key to his excellence. Chung consistently closed down Pittsburgh players and didn’t allow yards after the catch. He’s been one of the best Pac-12 NFL Players for years and remains such in 2019.
Oregon State
Isaac Seumalo – Philadelphia Eagles
#Eagles converted a couple of QB sneaks & maybe the biggest play of the game was this 4th down conversion.
The big reason for the push? LG Isaac Seumalo. Awesome rep against Da'Ron Payne inside. Wins off the snap with great pad level and runs his feet on contact #FlyEaglesFlypic.twitter.com/UvyDIYj7Zv
At last, Isaac Seumalo claimed his position on the Eagles offensive line. Against the Washington Redskins, he played all 75 offensive snaps. During Week 1, Seumalo allowed zero sacks and was not penalized. He consistently made plays and helped push Philadelphia’s offense into successful positions. It was a strong game for him and he cemented his role on the league’s best and deepest offensive line.
Stanford
Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers
It is impossible to leave Christian McCaffrey off of this list. He lit up the Los Angeles Rams defense:
19 carries for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns
10 receptions for 81 yards
48 yards after the catch
His production accounted for 61-percent of Carolina’s net offense. McCaffrey is a special talent and his versatility is astonishing. It’s why he plays every offensive snap and is difficult to stop. If McCaffrey continues to do this, his name will be retired from this Pac-12 NFL Players list.
UCLA
Eric Kendricks – Minnesota Vikings
What it looks like to Julio Jones when you will not be holding onto a pass after being hit by Eric Kendricks. #vikings @EricKendricks54 pic.twitter.com/azmC583FID
Eric Kendricks and the Minnesota Vikings were a force. They held the Atlanta Falcons to just 12 points. In that game, Kendricks was a regular contributor to their defensive wins. He had 6 solo tackles, 1 quarterback hit and defended 2 passes. Kendricks is a great linebacker and makes name known to the opposing offense.
USC
Rasheem Green – Seattle Seahawks
Somehow, there is a bright star on the Seattle Seahawks defense. After a solid preseason and an excellent Week 1, Rasheem Green should earn consistent reps. Even though he only made one big play in the game, it was the most important play for the Seahawks. His strip-sack of Andy Dalton stopped the Cincinnati Bengals from reaching field goal range. He sealed Seattle’s win.
Please let Josh Gordon stay mentally strong. Lovers of the Pac-12, NFL and the New England Patriots need his talent and raw athleticism. Few players are as naturally gifted as Gordon. He makes difficult catches seem effortless and he bounces off defenders. In 2019, the Patriots needed a Rob Gronkowski replacement. Josh Gordon is that man. His size, power, speed and receiving ability will terrorize defenses. The way he played against the Steelers was definitely worthy of him being one of the top Pac-12 NFL Players Week 1.
Per PFF, Cory Littleton was their highest graded player in Week 1. Littleton made a show for Pac-12, NFL and sports fans alike. He certainly earned that title with his versatility and instincts. Littleton was everywhere and racked up 14 tackle against the Carolina Panthers. Of those, 4 were defensive stops. Additionally, he made big play after big play. Littleton defended 2 passes, forced and recovered a fumble against D.J. Moore and intercepted Cam Newton in the fourth quarter. He played out of his mind.
Cory Littleton is balling out today. First a forced fumble and recovery. Now THIS. #LARvsCAR#LARams
After losing Nick Foles to a broken clavicle, the Jacksonville Jaguars turned to rookie Gardner Minshew. And he didn’t disappoint. Playing three quarters, he completed 22 of 25 passes for 275 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. No, he didn’t lead the Jaguars to a win. Not even Nick Foles could do that against the high-powered Kansas City Chiefs. However, he played exceptionally well and displayed the marks of an NFL quarterback. Hopefully Minshew continues to earn starts and long-term dedication from the Jaguars. He could become a regular addition on this Pac-12 NFL list.
Pac-12 NFL Players Need to Perform Well
As many already know, the Pac-12 lacks praise and respect. Much of this is due to it’s commissioner, Larry Scott. Nonetheless, if the Pac-12 can account for a larger percentage of NFL talent, it will earn that respect. So, even though these players aren’t on collegiate programs anymore, it is important to root for their success.
At 1:22am, the Cal Bears upset the Huskies 20 to 19. No one expected that to happen. Washington was a double-digit favorite coming into the game. Ranked 14th in the nation. Jacob Eason coming off of a four touchdown win. Home field advantage. The game had all the markings of a win for UW football. And yet, with all the advantages, Washington came up short. Unlike Week 1 of the Evergreen State’s football, UW fell hard and saw WSU football rise.
In a game where the opposing quarterback only throws for 111 yards, one would think that Jacob Eason could take over. Not the case. Eason was less efficient and downright sloppy. Hurried and panicked, he consistently made poor judgements and throws. After four quarters, he completed 18 of 30 passes for just 162 yards and 1 interception, while losing a fumble.
In addition to losing a fumble and throwing an interception, Eason missed a big-time throw to Andre Baccellia in the end zone. Moreover, Eason couldn’t lead the Huskies to a single touchdown in the second half. Three field goals was all the team could muster to challenge Cal. Field goals aren’t going to cut it.
“Certainly kicking too many field goals isn’t going to get it done for us. That was frustrating. Really frustrating,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said.
Washington’s Rush Attack is Still Effective
Oddly enough, this was one of those games where both quarterbacks were beat in yards by their running backs. For UW football, Salvon Ahmed rushed for 119 yards and the Huskies lone touchdown. Additionally, Richard Newton showed efficiency and explosiveness again. As a two-headed attack, they should be good for the Huskies. Provided the Huskies can pass the ball, Ahmed and Newton should compliment Eason well. But remember, rushing is comparatively inefficient to passing. There’s only so much a team can do without a pass game.
The Turnover Drought Continues for UW Football
Yes, Washington held Cal to 20 points. They also allowed just 111 passing yards from Cal’s Chase Garbers. But, UW gave up 192 rushing yards and didn’t create one interception or defensive fumble recovery. This continues the fumble drought to four games and the interception drought to three games. Tackles for loss and sacks are excellent. UW continues to make plays. But, somehow the turnover ratio stays skewed. The football needs to bounce the Huskies way the rest of the season.
Unlike their evergreen counterpart, Washington State University had a much easier game. Against Big Sky Northern Colorado, WSU football rolled through, winning 59-17. They were no match for the Northern Colorado Bears.
Continuing a strong season’s start, Anthony Gordon completed 31 of 39 attempts for 464 yards and 4 touchdowns. That now puts his season totals are 884 yards passing, 9 touchdowns and 1 interception. Granted, his schedule so far is cake. Gordon’s hasn’t played a strong defense yet. He’s untested against true adversity. Yet, even with the Big Sky opponent, he threw his first interception and only led the Cougars to a 24-10 halftime lead. Yes, Gordon is putting up video game numbers in Mike Leach’s system. But he still has room to grow and improve. It remains to be season if he’ll crumble under the pressure like Jacob Eason.
WSU Football Wins Turnover Battle, But Still Looks Shaky
As noted above, WSU entered the half with a 24-10 lead. Against a team far inferior, WSU looked far from dominant. Overall, the Cougars allowed 355 yards from Northern Colorado. But, thankfully for stressed-out fans, WSU gave up just 3 points in the second half. They won the second half 35-3. Much better.
They also created havoc with four forced fumbles. As with any AP ranked team, it would be nice to see a game like this play out the way the second half did, but through the game’s entirety. Yet, WSU’s defense still looks like an average defense complimenting an above-average offense. As with Gordon, WSU’s defense is untested against a difficult opponent. Next week they face Houston, a team that gave No.5 Oklahoma a run for its money in week 1. If the defense and Gordon can hold up against Houston, they’ll earn the respect Coug fans crave.
Washington is Out and WSU is in the Race for Playoffs
Washington lost it. They did. Yes, there’s still a chance they could comeback and win the Pac-12. There’s also the smallest of percentages that the UW football program could make the college football playoffs. But, losses like this reflect the current state of the football program. The Huskies lack leadership and a true difference-maker at quarterback. When faced with a tough defense, Eason crumbled. And with that, so did hopes of Purple Reign. Adding Washington’s upset loss to Cal is the success of the rest of the Pac-12:
Colorado Upsets No.25 Nebraska 34-31
Utah Rises from No.13 to No.11 with Win against Northern Illinois
Oregon Rebounds 77-6 vs Nevada and Rises to No.15
USC Leaps into AP ranking with Win Against Stanford
WSU Football Rises from No.22 to No.20
With Washington State University rolling through non-conference opponents, UW football looks like the lesser program in 2019. Although the WSU football program has yet to face a challenge, they haven’t failed like Washington did. An AP ranked team is dominant until they aren’t. Right now, WSU is performing well. Against Houston, WSU gets the chance to prove their merit in the Pac-12. WSU, Utah and USC each ranked and 2-0. Oregon and Washington, while still ranked, both have heartbreaking losses. With all that being said, WSU fans can look forward to a season-defining game against Houston next week.
An instant classic in the saga of Nebraska vs. Colorado. That is what happened at Folsom Field when the Cornhuskers invaded Boulder on Saturday. But this classic game, a resounding win for the Colorado Buffaloes and first-year head coach Mel Tucker, did not root its atmosphere in 2019 alone.
A college football rivalry dating back to 1898, the Colorado-Nebraska rivalry is one college football fans had to deal without for the early part of this decade. Renewed in 2018, the matchup still proves to be one of college football’s best.
Last year, legendary Colorado Buffaloes football coach Bill McCartney stated his belief that the whole state of Colorado could get behind the effort of beating their old Big 12 rivals. The Buffaloes made the state do just that.
Down 28-27 with just over one minute left, quarterback Steven Montez hit Laviska Shenault in the right corner of the end zone. It was the decisive touchdown in a 33-28 win. Then-head coach Mike MacIntyre hugged his son Jaye as Boulder filled with Euphoria. Colorado was back, or so many thought.
But the remainder of 2018 would not prove so kind. After a 5-0 start to the season, the Buffaloes failed to win another game. The result led to MacIntyre being let go and another new era in Colorado football history.
Come back every Tuesday for a new installment of Pac-12 Football Seasons: 2019 Colorado Buffaloes
Setting the Table for 2019 Colorado Buffaloes Week 3
After dispatching Colorado State in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, the Buffaloes turned attention to a sea of red. Nebraska, with revenge on their mind, would visit Boulder in college football week two. The Huskers had unfinished business, but the Buffaloes had something to prove.
Drowning out the red. That was the goal for the Buffaloes as the Huskers invaded Boulder. It looked like a giant pool of red blood that had fissured the usual black and gold colors seen in Folsom Field’s stands. The Buffs’ first drive took up about half of the first quarter, but the offense came out choppy for the second consecutive week, as the team gained 33 yards on 12 plays and was forced to punt. Not exactly the remedy the Buffs were looking for to silence the red.
Nebraska, meanwhile, showed precision and came out swinging. They had touchdown drives of 96 and 95 yards in the first half, igniting their fans. Home chants were infected by chants of “Go Big Red”.
The Buffs looked flustered as they entered the halftime locker room down 17-0. This was much their own doing. In fact, Colorado did about everything wrong on offense in the first half. It seemed like the team had no identity. The choppiness they showed in the CSU game was forwarded into the first half against Nebraska.
The Comeback
Fortunately, the Buffaloes turned it around.
It began with an eight-play, 64-yard drive that gave the Buffs their first score with 1:26 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Question being, would they have enough time to heal the wound of a 17-point deficit to Big Red?
Eventually, yes.
Getting the ball back early in the fourth quarter, Colorado and offensive coordinator Jay Johnson needed to silence the Nebraska crowd and strike fast. They did so by getting creative.
Positioned nearly an entire field length away from their end zone, Colorado drew up its most daring play in years: the flea-flicker. Quarterback Steven Montez took the pitch back from running back Alex Fontenot and stood in the end zone with Nebraska rushers pursuing him. He completed the pass to K.D. Nixon, who ran into the end zone to cut the Nebraska lead to 17-14. Words cannot do this play justice.
With the stadium rocking and silencing the Nebraska faithful, the Huskers struck back with a quick TD to regain a 10-point lead.
The Buffs would not lie down, as those watching the game got a sudden sense this would be one for the history books. Classic Nebraska vs. Colorado.
Sensing their shot and riding a wave of second-half momentum, Colorado pulled within three on a lightning-fast 5 play, 75 yards touchdown drive. Folsom Field thundered, and with the help of a timely fumble by Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez, the stadium got louder, especially once the Buffaloes kicked a field goal to tie the game with 8:30 remaining.
An Ending to Remember
But Nebraska proved unrelenting in their effort to make sure the red took over Boulder. Shaking off his mistake, Martinez marched the Huskers down the field and muscled in for a touchdown on 4th-and-1 to give them a 31-24 lead.
With time beginning to wind down, Colorado knew it needed to regain momentum. Unfortunately, they would not get the chance they were hoping for, as Shenault fumbled the kickoff return around midfield, giving the Huskers a prime opportunity to eat the clock.
But it was not Nebraska’s day. The glory was to be had by Colorado.
With Folsom Field thundering, the Buffaloes stuffed Nebraska and got the ball back with 3:33 remaining.
On a defining drive, Montez converted a 4th-and-1 at midfield to keep the Buffs afloat. Then, with 46 seconds left to play, he connected with Tony Brown on a 26-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. The game headed to overtime, where the Buffaloes would finally overtake the red.
Overtime
Kicking a field goal on their first offensive possession of overtime, Colorado turned to its defense. Fortunately for the Buffaloes, new head coach Mel Tucker knows a thing or two about game-changing defenses.
Needing a field goal to tie and a touchdown to win, Nebraska was stuffed by Colorado. The end result of their first and only offensive possession in overtime? A four-play, negative six-yard drive that ended with a missed field goal. Wide right.
As the field goal missed, it was the Black and Gold that poured onto the field. This was what Colorado needed to put themselves on the college football map.
These type of wins catapult programs into the national spotlight, and it was the exact type of win that coach Mel Tucker needed. His team has taken on his personality of a never-give-in attitude. They did not surrender to a dangerous Nebraska team, which along with their fans, attempted to invade Folsom Field.
Next Up: Air Force
CU will welcome another team in close proximity to them next week in the Air Force Falcons. The team will be coming off of the high of beating the Huskers, but should not overlook the challenge that the Falcons will present.
Air Force is known for running the option, and it will be important for the Buffs to respect their opponent, who is from what most would say an inferior conference. However, the Pac-12 and Mountain West have always had a “big brother little brother” rivalry, and it is important that the Buffaloes once again show which football team rules the land in Colorado, as they did when they beat Colorado State two weeks ago.
But while the team focuses on the upcoming game, there is no doubting the importance of beating Nebraska. Triumphant two years straight in one of college football’s best rivalries, Colorado has made its statement. The red was drowned out and the Black and Gold has risen. It’s time for the next chapter in Colorado football.
