Pac-12 Apostles Podcast: Power Shift- The Rise of UCLA and the Fall of the North

In this episode of the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast, George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden get into all of the action in week one, including a disastrous showing by the schools up north, though George thinks the Pac-12 at least outperformed the ACC. Who put on the worst coaching clinic- Justin Wilcox, Nick Rolovich, or Jimmy Lake? The guys get into their Pac-12 power rankings, and are unified at the top after UCLA’s dominant performance against LSU. Finally, Previews and picks for the upcoming week 2 slate of games.

Apple Podcasts // Spotify // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic // iHeart

Make sure you like and subscribe to the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast with George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden on any podcasting app.

Who are the Pac-12 Apostles?

The Pac-12 Apostles is a podcast for fans who love the Pac-12 conference. George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden are committed to the honest and fair conversation about the conference. Join us by becoming a Pac-12 Apostle. Subscribe and share the podcast.

Please leave a rating and review of our podcast on iTunes! We record a podcast once a week with emergency episodes when necessary. Our podcasts are always heavy on Pac-12 football. But we make it a point to also try and cover the other notable Men’s and Women’s Pac-12 sports. We cover recruiting and any other major storyline in the Pac-12 universe.

George Wrighster is a former Pac-12 and long-time NFL tight end. As a television/radio host, opinionist, and analyst, who is UNAFRAID to speak the truth. Contrary to industry norms he uses, facts, stats, and common sense to win an argument. He has covered college football, basketball, NFL, NBA, MLB since 2014. Through years of playing college football, covering bowl games, coaching changes, and scandals, he has a great pulse for the conference and national perspective.

Ralph Amsden is a sportswriter and podcaster. He is the publisher of Rivals’ ArizonaVarsity.com, and was previously the managing editor of the Arizona State University Rivals affiliate, DevilsDigest.com. Wyoming born, Arizona raised, and now based in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and four kids, Amsden made his mark in Arizona sports media through investigative reporting, and being one of the first people to leverage social media and the podcast medium to grow his platform. In addition to his podcasts, he is the Content Director for UnafraidShow.com. Ralph might be sub-.500 in spousal disputes and schoolyard fights, but whether the topic is food, movies, music, parenting, politics, sports, television, religion, or zoological factoids, he’s always UNAFRAID to square up.

Pac-12 Football Review: Rolovich Buys Drinks and Graham Harrell Stays

Nick Rolovich WSU Cougars Pac-12

2020 Pac-12 Football Schedules Announced

Every year, Pac-12 football gets little respect. Due its cannibalism in 2019, no team stood out enough in Pac-12 football. However, the 2020 conference schedule is loaded with competition.

  • 17 games against 2019 bowl participants
  • 15 games against teams with eight or more wins in 2019
  • 8 Power Five opponents: Michigan, Ohio State, TCU, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Alabama
  • Two games against Notre Dame

With difficult schedules in 2020, the 2020 Pac-12 football conference champion should make College Football Playoffs. For the full schedule, check it here.

USC Keeps Graham Harrell and Tries to Aquire Todd Orlando

Trojans rejoice! In a shocking decision, Graham Harrell chose to stay in Los Angeles another season. His 2019 season put him in the offseason coaching scramble. Even the Philadelphia Eagles interviewed Harrell for an offensive coordinator job.

Which makes sense. Somehow, with injury after injury at quarterback, his USC offense finished third in the Pac-12 in points per game. Additionally, remember that Kedon Slovis was a 2019 FWAA Freshman All-American. Giving Harrell a full offseason with Kedon Slovis at the helm is excellent for USC and for Pac-12 football.

Listen to the Best Pac-12 Conference Podcast

Anchor // Apple Podcasts // Spotify // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic 

Although Todd Orlando got the boot in Texas, USC still went for him. His 2019 Longhorns ranked 54th in Football Outsider’s DFEI rankings, while USC barely trailed them at 57th. Apparently his experience at Texas is more important than their defense at Texas. It’s a safe move, but remains to be seen whether or not he can lift USC’s defense any higher.

WSU Hires Nick Rolovich, Rolovich Buys Drinks for Cougar Fans

Mike Leach will forever be remembered as one of the most entertaining coaches in Pullman. However, new head coach Nick Rolovich is coming out swinging.

Certainly, this is one of the oddest moves of a head coach. But, it’s a move that gained respect and admiration in the Cougar fanbase. Yes, Leach is gone, However, it appears that Rolovich understands Cougar nation.

Josh Simmons Commits to Oregon

Josh Simmons decided to be a Duck this Monday. While Oregon football already boasted a strong offensive line, adding four-star recruit Simmons further adds to their depth and talent. Simmons is the 10th-best offensive guard and Oregon sits at the top of Pac-12 in recruiting and is also ranked 13th in the nation. The Ducks continue to build on their success.

Tre’Shaun Harrison Transfers from Florida State to Oregon State

After Oregon State already picked up Trey Lowe from Washington, they nabbed another Power-Five transfer Tre’Shaun Harrison. Though four-star recruit Harrison originally committed to Oregon, he ultimately played for FSU. Now, after two years struggling to get snaps, he became a Beaver.

Well, this is great news for Oregon State. The Beaver’s talented Isaiah Hodgins declared for the 2020 NFL Draft after his breakout junior season. Losing him is huge. So, adding receiving talent is a must for Oregon State if they want to compete with other Pac-12 football programs.

Colorado Basketball: Time to Beat Everyone else like Oregon in Boulder

colorado buffaloes Pac-12 basketball vs oregon

The Colorado Buffaloes basketball team has started the 2019-20 season 12-3. This start has helped the Buffaloes attain the 25th spot in the latest AP Poll. Their most noteworthy win was when they beat Oregon, who was ranked 4th in the nation at the time, 74-65 on January 2 in Boulder.

Colorado Basketball Has Dominated Oregon In Boulder

https://twitter.com/UKsportsfeed/status/1212949309974597632?s=20

From the outsider’s view, this win should bolster the Buffaloes’ resume. While it does, it has become commonplace for Colorado to beat Oregon in Boulder. It is one of the greatest unofficial traditions Colorado Athletics has to offer.

Listen to the Best Pac-12 Podcast

Since the Buffaloes have joined the Pac-12 in 2011, they have gone 9-6 against Oregon, with a 7-0 mark when the teams meet at CU Events Center in Boulder. Here is the list of the scores in the Boulder games:

2012: Colorado 72, Oregon 71

2013: Colorado 76, #19 Oregon 53

2014: #20 Colorado 100, #10 Oregon 91

2016: Colorado 91, Oregon 87

2017: Colorado 74, #10 Oregon 65

2019: Colorado 73, Oregon 51

2020: Colorado 74, #4 Oregon 65

The Buffaloes have won by a whopping 11 points per game against the Ducks in Boulder. For a basketball program as prominent as Oregon, not being able to win in Boulder is one of the biggest head-scratching dilemmas facing the program.

Lack of Overall Success Frustrating Considering Colorado Basketball’s Success Versus Ducks

For the Buffaloes, the lack of success they have had in the big picture compared to Oregon is frustrating considering their success against them in Boulder. Oregon has made four Sweet 16’s and one Final Four since Colorado joined the conference in 2011, while the Buffaloes have won just one NCAA Tournament game.

Tad Boyle has an overall record of 201-126 at CU, and he is arguably the best coach in the history of Colorado basketball. However, the team has not truly made the leap into national prominence despite having Oregon’s number. Colorado has had better games against Oregon in Boulder, but Oregon has always had better seasons than Colorado. For the Buffaloes to be respected nationally, they have to show that they can play the way they play against Oregon more often and not lay eggs at home like they did against Oregon State on January 5.

Fans Should Have Higher Expectations Because of Success Against Oregon

Boulder is always hyped up when Oregon comes into town. Because of this, people not as familiar with Colorado Basketball will think it is a huge victory for the Buffaloes. While fans are happy when Colorado beat Oregon, the hype surrounding the team is exaggerated, especially when they lose to teams they should beat at home like Oregon State.

It is starting to get a little ridiculous that fans seem to always storm the court when the Buffaloes pull off victories against Oregon because of how commonplace beating Oregon at home has become. While these types of victories are significant for the Buffaloes, it will take them consistently competing for Pac-12 championships to be thought of as up there with Oregon and Arizona as the top basketball teams in the Pac-12.

The 2019-20 Colorado Basketball Team Should Make the NCAA Tournament

The good news is that this season the Buffaloes have a chance to do just that. Despite losing to Oregon State, they have wins against Oregon and also Dayton, who is currently ranked 15th in the latest AP Poll. Oregon is currently ranked 9th.

Their only two blemishes on the Buffaloes’ resume were home losses. Losing to Oregon State in the fashion they did was not good. However, losing to Northern Iowa in non-conference play was not the worst loss, as they are expected to compete for the Missouri Valley Conference title. Winning a tournament game is a must for the Buffaloes this year to build the reputation they want among Pac-12 and national pundits. Beating Oregon at home is nice, but it simply has not done enough for the Buffaloes to be taken seriously on the national level.

Justin Herbert’s Rose Bowl Win and 3 Rushing TD’s Saved His NFL Draft Stock

Justin Herbert NFL Draft

Justin Herbert’s First Drive was Phenomenal

12 plays, 75 yards and a rushing touchdown highlighted by a Justin Herbert stiff-arm.

It was a near-perfect opening drive for Herbert and the Oregon Ducks. Herbert’s first possession stats included:

  • 4-of-5 completions for 49 yards
  • 2 rushes for 7 yards and a touchdown

With ease, Justin Herbert and company carved through the Wisconsin Badgers. Although Oregon fans have become accustomed to high-scoring outings by their Ducks, this was against Wisconsin’s ninth-ranked defense in the nation, per Football Outsiders DFEI. To start like that was incredible. If Herbert kept his play at that high of a level, his 2020 NFL Draft stock would have risen substantially.

However, that didn’t happen.

Stalled Offense and Poor Decision Making

On his very next drive, Justin Herbert erased his flawless first possession. Tied at 7-7, following a Wisconsin kick-return touchdown, Herbert threw a horrible throw into traffic. Granted, most of the time passes near lineman are batted down. Few are intercepted like this. But, this throw was different. It was oddly low, into a cluster of players and Wisconsin’s Jack Sanborn was sitting there, waiting with eyes on Herbert. Herbert didn’t even try a different read.

Either he didn’t see the Sanborn or the Wisconsin cluster, threw the ball far lower than he wanted to or thought he could force a football through too tight a window. Regardless of why the interception happened, it grades very poorly for Herbert.

After opening the game with a 12 play, 75 yard touchdown drive, Oregon’s offense faltered for five consecutive drives. Justin Herbert couldn’t get anything going. Interception, punt, punt, punt, turnover on downs.

It wasn’t until the final four minutes of the first half when Herbert was able to lead any significant drive. But, that wasn’t solely because of him. Instead, it was mostly due to the Oregon Ducks’ defensive plays.

Relying on Defensive Turnovers

At the end of the game, Oregon forced four turnovers. Three fumbles and one interception. Considering Brady Breeze took one fumble to the house, Herbert doesn’t get credit for those seven points. However, two of Herbert’s three touchdown drives came off of turnovers. His team got him the ball at the Wisconsin 36, the Wisconsin 33 and the Wisconsin 30.

With field position like that, Herbert’s scoring drives were less impressive. Ignoring drives after turnovers and his first-half kneel, Justin Herbert’s nine remaining drives included:

  • One Touchdown
  • One Interception
  • 6 Punts
  • One Game-Sealing Drive to Run out the Clock

Not great. Yes, we can’t take away his touchdowns. He had two, critical touchdowns in the game that came off of turnovers. He didn’t lead them to field goals on those. They came away with 14 points because of him. However, a top-NFL scout needs to be able to create his own success and not rely so heavily on his defense.

Justin Herbert Shows Off Stiff Arm and Dual-Threat Ability

Thankfully, for Justin Herbert’s case, he chose to run. His three rushing touchdowns displayed the NFL’s newest delight: dual-threat ability. In the NFL, the game is evolving. Quarterbacks are running more read-options and designed quarterback runs. It’s a new era. NFL play-callers desperately want quarterbacks with versatility.

With successful stiff-arms and a game-winning 30-yard rushing touchdown, Herbert showed off that versatility. It changed the way scouts will look at him.

Although he’s no Lamar Jackson, Herbert’s athleticism in the Rose Bowl saved his lack of throwing success.

Just Enough to Cover-Up Mistakes and Maintain Draft Stock

While some saw an erratic passer, others saw a leader with grit and the clutch-gene. Herbert’s three rushing touchdowns displayed his athleticism. His 30-yard rushing touchdown showed his athleticism and game-winning ability. Then, at the end of the game, his poise on a game-sealing drive demonstrated his “winning effort”. Like Bucky Brooks said, his play “wasn’t always pretty”. But, Herbert did just enough to erase his mistakes.

At the end of the day, the Rose Bowl is still just one game. Justin Herbert’s four-year career for Oregon has been iconic. Some would even put him above the likes of Marcus Mariota in Ducks’ fame. With his highlight-reel three-touchdown scamper and the Rose Bowl “W”, Herbert kept himself in the top-three quarterback discussion.

Oregon Ducks Should Win First Rose Bowl Since 2015 Versus Wisconsin

Oregon Ducks Rose Bowl vs Wisconsin

The Oregon Ducks are going back to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2015. They have been tasked with playing the Wisconsin Badgers from the Big Ten.

Oregon Didn’t Make Playoff, But Should Cherish Rose Bowl Opportunity

Oregon had playoff aspirations going into the season, but hit a roadblock in College Football Week 1, losing 27-21 to the Auburn Tigers. If the Ducks had won out after losing to Auburn, they would have been strongly considered for the College Football Playoff. Their resume would have been better than Oklahoma’s. However, being upset by Arizona State late in the season derailed their title aspirations.

Fans of teams like Oregon and Wisconsin may be disappointed that their team did not make the College Football Playoff. Complaints about being in the Rose Bowl Game, however, are not warranted. The Rose Bowl has arguably the most pageantry out of all of the major bowl games. The game is always the main football attraction on New Year’s Day, when the game is usually played.

How Important is it for Oregon to Win the Rose Bowl?

A Rose Bowl victory will bolster recruiting and will give the Pac-12 a major bowl win. There is always criticism about the Pac-12 playing some of their major games too late on Saturday nights, but this game will be on at 5 p.m. on the east coast. Beating a Big Ten team such as Wisconsin would be noticed nationally, and it would make some of the people who might have an east coast bias rethink it a little.

The Pac-12 has been criticized in years past because of the perceived lack of defense in the conference. Oregon’s defense ranks 23rd nationally, while Wisconsin’s is 8th. Andy Avalos has been praised in Eugene for the defensive improvements that have been seen, especially this season. It will be important for potential recruits and conference prestige for the Ducks to stop Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. Oregon has the 10th best run defense in the country. The Ducks can legitimize this ranking by stopping someone who received Heisman Trophy votes.

Justin Herbert Can Punctuate His Oregon Career With a Victory

Oregon has a rich history with college quarterbacks. Justin Herbert is well-regarded nationally and may be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has won a Pac-12 championship, but a Rose Bowl victory could elevate him in the pantheon of Oregon quarterbacks. Marcus Mariota is revered by the Oregon faithful, and Herbert has to win a Rose Bowl to even think about being compared to Mariota. Mariota won the 2015 Rose Bowl against Florida State, 59-20, in what was a College Football Playoff Semifinal game.

Herbert is 1-1 in his career in bowl games. Last year, the Ducks beat Michigan State 7-6 in the Redbox Bowl last year. Oregon lost to Boise State 38-28 in the Las Vegas Bowl to end the 2017 season.

Rose Bowl Important for Mario Cristobal and Recruiting

Oregon is currently 18th in 247Sports’s 2020 Composite Team Rankings as far as recruiting. Cristobal earning his first major bowl win would give the Ducks brand more exposure to a national audience. There were more expectations for Oregon this decade, but they can start off the new decade with a win that will instill optimism into the program and the fanbase.

For as big of a brand as Oregon is, they should be higher than 18th in any recruiting rankings of any kind. Oregon’s win against Florida State in the 2015 Rose Bowl Game was the last major victory for the program. Recruits need to be reassured that the Ducks will be competing for national championships, and ending the season with a possible top-5 ranking would help this cause.

Prediction for Oregon Versus Wisconsin

ESPN’s FPI gives Oregon a 53.9% chance to win the Rose Bowl. If the Ducks are able to mix up the passing attack with the running of C.J. Verdell, they should be able to win. The defense needs to make Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan beat them. If the defense contains Jonathan Taylor, they should not have too many problems with containing the Wisconsin offense. If the Oregon offense can replicate what they did in the Pac-12 championship against Utah, they should have no problem beating Wisconsin.

Final Score Prediction: Oregon 31, Wisconsin 21

The Utah Utes are better than the Oregon Ducks

Utah Utes College Football Playoff Week 3

Don’t overlook the Utah Utes

Utah Utes logo

While the Oregon Ducks held onto the spotlight with their seventh-straight win, the Utah Utes deserve more recognition. Granted, the Utes are ranked ninth in the nation, but they still don’t get the love they deserve from Pac-12 fans. With a top defense and an effective offense, the Utah Utes are the best team in the Pac-12.

The Oregon Ducks showed weakness against Washington and Washington State

After dominating opponents for five straight weeks, Oregon slipped. Now, they didn’t lose to Washington or Washington State. But, their wins were too close for a top team.

  • Nevada, Montana, Stanford, Cal and Colorado: 195 Points Scored: 25 Points Allowed
  • Washington and Washington State: 72 Points Scored: 66 Points Allowed

Against Washington and Washington State, Oregon’s point differential dropped from Plus-175 to Plus-6. Their defense bent against Jacob Eason and Anthony Gordon.

Additionally, they also needed heroic wins against the Huskies and Cougars. In Week 8, the Oregon Ducks overcame a 14-point deficit and got the benefit of a late, no-call on the Huskies final drive. Additionally, they needed a last-second field goal to beat the Cougars. Yes, the Ducks got the wins, but it wasn’t pretty.

The Utah Utes get it done on defense

Lights out. Cal couldn’t get anything going against Utah. Similarly, most of Utah’s opponents struggle against the Utes. This season, Utah football is:

Additionally, Utah has PFF’s two highest graded defenders, Julian Blackmon (86) and Terrell Burgess (84). These safeties are just one reason why Utah steamrolls its opponents. Defensively, the Utah Utes have it all. Teams can’t run against them, pass against them or score against them. It’s a deadly squad ready to win a championship.

Quality and consistent on offense

With such a stifling defense, the Utah Utes only need an average offense to compete. A game-manager at quarterback would suffice. Considering that their holding opponents to 10.3 points per game, the offense doesn’t have to do much.

However, Utah’s offense is putting up 33.1 points per game with a quality, balanced, offensive system. In six of their eight games, they’ve scored at least 30 points. Their quarterback, Tyler Huntley, is having a quiet and underrated season. Currently, Huntley has 1,778 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, 229 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns and just one interception.

Additionally, per PFF, Huntley ranks first in the nation in Adjusted Completion Percentage. This metric factors out “dropped passes, throwaways, spiked balls, batted passes and passes where the QB was hit as he threw the ball.” His 86.9-percent Adjusted Completion Percentage displays his elite accuracy. Huntley’s 10.3 yards per attempt (6th in nation) and 123.4 passer rating (7th in the nation) show how underrated he is. Huntley is accurate, efficient and elite. Don’t sleep on Tyler Huntley.

Moreover, the Utah Utes utilize their powerful running back, Zack Moss. Moss, per PFF, is forcing a missed tackle on 45-percent of his rush attempts, third highest of the league. His five forced missed tackles and 65 yards after contact in their recent win display this. Moss’ 10 rushing touchdowns lead the Pac-12 and he also rolled up 728 rushing yards. Keep in mind, Utah’s benched Moss multiple times this season in blowout wins. If he played every quarter this season, he’d likely have over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. Moss is a top runner in the nation and the Utah Utes lean on him to close out games.

Move Aside Oregon, it’s time for the Utah Utes to rise

In almost every defensive metric, the Utah Utes are better than the Oregon Ducks. Additionally, quarterback Tyler Huntley and running back Zack Moss are efficient and productive when called upon. They have an elite defense, a strong offense, and every reason to be crowned as the Pac-12 kings.

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.

Subscribe to The Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

Anchor // Apple Podcasts // Spotify // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic 

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.

UW Huskies Get Big Win Over Wildcats, but Stay in Ducks’ Shadow

Washington Huskies

Huskies Get Another Bounce-Back Win

University of Washington Block W logo RGB brand colors

After a tight loss against Cal in Week 2 of college football, the Huskies bounced back in a big way against Hawaii. They ousted the Rainbow Warriors 52-20. Similarly, UW’s football team had another dominant performance against Arizona after an upset loss to Stanford. Even though the Wildcats were on a four-game win-streak, the Huskies beat them 51-27.

For Washington fans, the pendulum swung back into favor and joy. But, unfortunately for UW football, the Ducks had a more impressive win against the Colorado Buffaloes. With Oregon coming to town this week, does Washington have a shot?

Post-Game Notes from the Huskies Victory

Defense and Special Teams Carried the Huskies

Yes, the UW offense scored five touchdowns and three field goals. But in the first half, against an Arizona team on a four-game win-streak, the offense didn’t show up. Instead, the Dawgs made numerous big plays on defense and special teams. In the first half, the defense and special teams had:

  • 2 Sacks
  • 4 Tackles for a Loss
  • One blocked punt
  • Two forced fumbles and recoveries
  • One touchdown

At the end of the half, the Wildcats still led the Huskies. Despite incredible defensive play, the Huskies were still down 13-17 at half.

The Huskies Offense isn’t Perfect, even with 51 Points

Again, Washington decided to go for field goals. Early in the game, they played it safe. In the first quarter, they opted for two field goals instead of going for it. Fourth and five at the Arizona 10. Kick. Fourth and three at the Arizona 3. Kick. It’s unbelievable how often Chris Peterson and the Huskies exchange field goals for touchdowns. Think about it, if the Huskies converted just 50-percent of those fourth downs, they’d be better off. Yes, they tried to convert a fourth down on their first drive. They failed. But, math and analytics still show that it is optimal to go for it on the opposing half. After all, seven points is more than six.

Subscribe to the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

Anchor // Apple Podcasts // Spotify // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic 

Additionally, the Huskies offense was sedentary, out-of-sync, and inconsistent in the first half. In fact, the Husky defense outscored the offense 7-6 in the first half. Their six drives yielded results of:

  • Turnover on Downs (4 plays, 9 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 36)
  • Field Goal (8 plays, 62 yards)
  • Punt (3 plays, 5 yards)
  • Field Goal (4 plays, 0 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 8)
  • Punt (6 plays, 43 yards)
  • Punt (3 plays, 4 yards)

Granted, the Huskies offense got rolling in the second half. They scored five touchdowns and a field goal in the second half. Eason and company got rolling. Sean McGrew and Salvon Ahmed showed consistency. Ahmed scored three rushing touchdowns and McGrew showed his efficient and explosive skill-set.

Arizona couldn’t stop them. However, the 2019 UW offense continues to be risk-averse and inconsistent. They need to find rhythm quicker and be willing to go for it on fourth down.

Huskies Finally Involve Puka Nacua

It is about time. In 2019, the Huskies continued to pepper their senior receivers with targets. With Aaron Fuller and Hunter Bryant making plays, that’s understandable. However, with a quality option like Puka Nacua on the bench, it didn’t make sense to keep putting Andre Baccellia on the field.

After getting his chance, Nacua let his name be known. The 6-1, 204-pound freshman caught three passes for 97 yards. Considering Jacob Eason only threw for 243 yards against Arizona, Nacua accounted for 40-percent of the team’s receiving yards. Excellent. It was a breakout performance for the freshman.

Huskies vs Ducks

Next up, the Huskies face off against the Oregon Ducks. Currently, the Ducks rank 12th in AP polls and 7th in Unafraidshow’s Power Rankings. They are impressive. So impressive, in fact, that they are 3.5 favorites in Seattle.

Against Oregon, the Huskies will be tested. The Ducks defense is elite. They’ve held opponents to 52 points in 6 games. But, more impressively, the Ducks haven’t let anyone score more than 7 points in their last five games. Because the Huskies offense has been hit-or-miss this season, Eason and company have to be on point.

Additionally, Justin Herbert and the Ducks offense continues to play well. Herbert has a touchdown in his last 34 games and Oregon has a top-5 offensive line in the nation. In Week 7, two Ducks offensive lineman were featured on PFF College’s Week 7 national team. So, it’s not going to be as easy for the defense to make big plays as they did against Arizona.

Last, it’s important to remember that Oregon’s only loss is against Auburn. In a close game. Since week 1, they’ve won each game handily. The Huskies, on the other hand, have swung back and forth between impressive and unimpressive. In order to win or even compete against the Ducks, the Huskies need to:

  • Create open looks for Jacob Eason
  • Give snaps to young talent like Puka Nacua
  • Make clean tackles and capitalize on turnover-opportunities
  • Attempt fourth down conversions early and often

If the Pac-12 is anything, it’s a conference of cannibals. So, an upset win is certainly possible for the Huskies.

Who’s Still In and Who’s Out: The 2019 Pac-12 Football Championship

Arizona State vs Stanford Football 2019

As we predicted earlier in the season, the PAC-12 is doing an excellent job of eating each other alive – a tradition unlike any other in the conference of champions.

Cal and Washington State both cost themselves spots in the top-25 with losses to Arizona State and Utah, respectively, leaving the conference with no undefeated teams.

At this point, because so many teams are lumped together, it’s hard to pick a clear favorite for the PAC-12 championship.

Here are the schools who still have a realistic chance of winning the PAC-12, with a look at their remaining schedule:

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5

No. 13 Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Oregon’s loss to Auburn hurts, especially since it was a winnable game, but ultimately they are still the team best positioned to win the PAC-12 Championship, and possibly the only team who has a real chance at playing in the College Football Playoff this season.

That doesn’t mean it will be an easy road however, as they have true road games against Washington, Arizona State and USC, as well as a home date with the Cougars of Washington State.

Led by quarterback Justin Herbert, the Ducks should be playing meaningful football into the early part of 2020, but they still have some work to do to get there.

Washington Huskies Rose Bowl

No. 15 Washington Huskies (4-1)

A pounding by the Huskies of the Trojans on Montlake went a long way for this team, who is still rebounding from a tough, weather-aided loss to Cal at home a few weeks ago.

Washington actually has a somewhat favorable schedule going forward, as their two toughest opponents – Oregon and Utah – are both at home along with this year’s Apple Cup against Washington State.

Oregon is still the favorite, but the Huskies are also in good shape to make a push for a Rose Bowl berth if they can win out this season.

Utah Football Helmet
Sleeping on the Utes in 2019? Not a good idea.

No. 17 Utah Utes (4-1)

As I predicted, the Utes fell for the trap game against the USC Trojans down in California, wish dampened their hopes this season quite a bit.

They did bounce back with a commanding victory over Washington State, 38-13, but they’ll probably need to be perfect (or close to it) if they want to win the PAC-12 championship and play in either the Rose Bowl or the college football championship.

A date with the No. 15 Huskies in Montlake will be the biggest challenge they face, although back to back home bouts with Arizona State and Cal won’t be easy either.

Pac-12 Football Power Rankings Week 3

No. 20 Arizona State (4-1)

Arizona State is the biggest wildcard out of this group, but they did beat Michigan State earlier this season and just defeated Cal on the road, making them 4-1 with only a three-point loss to Colorado standing in their way.

They also have a favorable home schedule as well, with only Utah remaining as a tough conference game on the road.

They’ll have to defend their home turf against Oregon, Washington State, USC and rival Arizona, but they are a team to keep an eye on in the hyper-competitive PAC-12 conference this year.

Pac-12 Football Seasons: 2019 Oregon Ducks Week 6

Johnny Johnson III Oregon Ducks wide receiver 2019

For the 2019 Oregon Ducks football team, a bye week in college football’s week five is just what the doctor ordered. After a slew of injuries to the wide receiving corps in the preseason and the absence of standout center Jake Hanson against Stanford, Oregon enters the week six healthy and ready for a tough gauntlet of Pac-12 games.

They also enter week six with a record 3-1, their only loss coming in week one to a still undefeated Auburn Tigers program. This is good news for Oregon football and its fans, as the Ducks have disposed of Stanford and flashed signs of why they should be considered a favorite to win the Pac-12.

After a narrow loss to the Tigers in week one, the Ducks obliterated Nevada, made easy work of Montana and triumphed on the farm. Yet it has not been the offense — a signature of Oregon’s college football reputation — that has secured victories.

Allowing zero touchdowns in the past three games, Oregon’s defense under new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos has been the most impressive. The Ducks have been aggressive, disciplined and used a shutdown secondary to be one of the most impressive defenses in 2019 so far. And while the level of opponents they’ve faced in recent weeks leaves more to be desired, no touchdowns allowed in three games is no joke.

The Oregon offense, meanwhile, has shown flashes of greatness and vulnerability. Their performance against Auburn is an outstanding representation of both.

After jumping out to a 14-3 lead and looking the dominant team, the Ducks scaled-back against the Tigers and failed to forward early momentum. They lost their muster and eventually the game, scoring just once more while Auburn mounted a comeback.

Some of this has been blamed on offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, who attempted to prove doubters wrong with a 77-point explosion against Nevada. Yet the Ducks looked inconsistent against Montana and failed to get anything going against Stanford, instead relying on scoring drives sprinkled here-and-there.

Is this the beginning of a new era for Oregon? One in which the defense commands attention and the offense plays more conservative? If the Ducks are to be serious contenders in the Pac-12 and have a shot at the College Football Playoff, they’ll need to figure that out soon.

2019 Oregon Ducks Strengths

Defense: No surprise here. Oregon’s defense has been its biggest strength in 2019. With an experienced secondary and front seven, the Ducks have stifled opposing offenses throughout the young season. Most impressive has been the play of Oregon’s corners and the way they’ve adapted to the nickel position and STUD position Andy Avalos loves to incorporate. The Oregon defense has been aggressive, instinctive and dominant. If they continue to hold ground, they could be the top defensive unit in the Pac-12 at year’s end.

Wide Receivers: Big surprise here. After suffering a number of injuries to key wide receivers before the season began, Oregon’s healthy receivers have been nothing but impressive throughout 2019. Johnny Johnson III and Jacob Breeland (technically a tight end) are particular standouts.

Now that the Ducks are healthier at wide receiver and expecting Juwan Johnson, Mycah Pittman and Brenden Schooler back this week, they may have almost too many standouts to distribute to. Poor Justin Herbert.

2019 Oregon Ducks Weaknesses

Consistency: The Ducks have been frustratingly inconsistent in 2019. At times they’ve looked like a top-10 team while at others completely lost. Oregon has failed, outside Nevada, to really separate from teams as they have in the past. If they’re going to challenge for the Pac-12 crown, they’ll need to put together more dominating quarters and halves of play.

Running Game: As surprising as Oregon’s dominant receivers has been the Ducks’ less-than-dominating rushing attack. Neither C.J. Verdell or Travis Dye has emerged as a lead back, each flashing speed but consistently looking hesitant to hit holes and take charge. With as lauded as Oregon’s offensive line is, the backs need to do a better job of hitting holes and running with confidence.

Offensive MVP: Offensive lineman Penei Sewell

You read that right. Sophomore offensive lineman Penei Sewell has been the offensive MVP for the Oregon Ducks so far in 2019. Already establishing a name for himself as a true freshman, Sewell has continued to impress both a Pac-12 and national audience. He has been dominant, tenacious and consistently rated as one of the best offensive linemen in the nation.

Defensive MVP: Safety Jevon Holland

Jevon Holland will be a first-round pick in a future NFL Draft. A true sophomore, Holland has imposed his will against opposing receivers and been confident in stepping into the nickel position when called upon. Showcasing a knack for reading the quarterback, Holland has two interceptions and been critical in preventing big plays. Even more, Holland uses his speed and physicality to step up and help stuff the run and short passing game, posting 21 tackles on the year (15 solo).

Most Surprising Player: Wide receiver Johnny Johnson III

Those in the Oregon program are not surprised by wide receiver Johnny Johnson III’s numbers but the rest of the nation may be. After taking a backseat to other receivers in the past, Johnson’s work ethic and drive have clearly paid off. He has been Oregon’s best true receiver and leads the group in targets and yards. And though his production may drop with the addition of Juwan Johnson, Mycah Pittman and Brenden Schooler, look for Johnson III to be a consistent force for the Ducks throughout 2019.

2019 Oregon Ducks Bye Week

Oregon is rightfully the highest-ranked team in the Pac-12. They have looked the most impressive, been the least vulnerable and are returning key players from injury. That said, the Ducks being ranked behind two other one-loss teams in the current college football rankings is also justified. For all their strengths they have shown a few weaknesses that could hurt them down the road, inconsistency being the big one.

The Ducks will need to shore up those issues fast, as they are entering the toughest part of their schedule. With a big game against California this week, Oregon then hosts Colorado, heads to Washington and hosts Washington State to finish a tough October schedule. Games against California and Washington may prove the toughest of these matchups.

If Oregon manages to showcase their abilities and put together more consistent play, the Ducks could continue to shoot up the college football rankings and establish themselves as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.