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.
Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 4. The conference had a completely mixed bag of results but overall it was a win. The conference ended up with six teams in the AP top 25, but four are between 19 and 24. That means that as conference play starts, the losers will fall from the rankings. Stanford and USC losing on national tv to BYU and UCF was a blow. Both teams are national brands and influence the Pac-12’s perception even if neither is a top team in 2019. The conference has a chance to quiet all the outside noise about money and tv deals, and the Pac-12 network by winning the rest of their non-conference games. Oregon, Utah, and USC seem to be the only teams with a real shot at the playoff left.
Last week I said I would include Hawaii in the Pac-12 Power Rankings if they beat Washington. They did not, so I won’t. It’s a good thing too because that would have been embarrassing.
Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.
12. Oregon State Beavers (1-2)
Last Week: 45-7 (W) Cal Poly
The Beavers got a win. It was against an FCS team, but OSU will at least one game this season. They have only won one conference game in the last two seasons. The goal for Jonathan Smith’s team should be to stay competitive in every game and try to steal a game or two.
11. UCLA Bruins (0-3)
Last Week: 14-41 (L) Oklahoma
The loss against Oklahoma was expected. However, I did believe that UCLA would score more than their standard 14 points. The Sooners defense is nowhere near the top defense UCLA will face this season (Utah, Cal). Chip Kelly’s offense went back to more read-option and run-pass options against the Sooners. Typically, RPOs help young and athletic quarterbacks to read the defense with more defined throwing reads. Needless to say, it did not translate into more points. The Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is having a rough season and we may see him headed to the bench soon.
And then there is the Bruins defense… Just listen to the podcast to hear more detail on Chip Kelly and UCLA.
This was a bad bad loss by Stanford. The game was not nearly as competitive as the score suggests. I like UCF a lot and they are a top-tier college football team. But, Stanford was not even competitive in the game. Their pass defense was abused, and their team looks slow. This could be the first season that David Shaw truly struggles as Stanford head coach. When you look at the Cardinal from last year and this year, something is broken. Stanford has tumbled a long way down the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 4.
9. Arizona Wildcats (2-1)
Last Week: 28-14 (W) Texas Tech
Who is this Arizona team? Clearly, they are a bi-polar football team. Their Swiss cheese defense looked like a good defense. They forced two turnovers and consistently got off the field on 3rd down. Khalil Tate was back to his 2017 form. He rushed for 129 yards and a TD but didn’t pass the ball so well. Can their defense put two good performances in a row?
8. Colorado Buffaloes (2-1)
Last Week: 30-23/OT (L) vs Air Force
Don’t play the service academies. They will ruin your day. Air Force ruined Colorado’s chances of starting the season 3-0. Mel Tucker has his squad playing decent ball but could not get off the field on defense and couldn’t dominate the line of scrimmage. The good news is that the Buffaloes are more competitive than they were at the end of last season. Colorado is on their to a bowl game.
7. USC Trojans (2-1)
Last Week: 30-23 (L) vs BYU
This was just a bad loss for USC. All the goodwill that Clay Helton bought with the destruction of Stanford was lost. The Trojans fans are starting to whisper about Urban Meyer as their next coach already. It is hard to believe a team with this much talent gets beat at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary so often. I still believe in Kedon Slovis despite the interceptions. It seemed that the offense was different than the Stanford game. It appears they tried to protect the freshman in his first road start instead of letting him throw the ball downfield.
6. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-0)
Last Week: 10-7 (W) vs Michigan State
Improbable victory in East Lansing against Michigan State. ASU only had 216 total yards compared to Michigan State’s 404. The Sun Devil’s offensive line is having a hard time cleating running lanes for Eno Benjamin and pass protecting. The positive is that ASU’s defense stout, but there is no doubt that Pac-12 teams (even Cal) will manage more than one touchdown per game. At the end of the day, a win is a win, especially when it’s a quality one.
5. Washington State Cougars (3-0)
Last Week: 35-28 (W) vs Houston
Finally a decent opponent for the Cougars. Their offense had been so outrageously effective in the first two games that I believe it was shocking for players to run into first-half adversity. Anthony Gordon rallied the team and they were extremely effective in the second half. He finished with 440 yards with three touchdown passes. They will need to sure up their defense a bit.
4. Washington Huskies (2-1)
Last Week: 52-20 (W) vs Hawaii
The Huskies saved the conference from being Hawaii’s whipping boy. From the opening kickoff, UW opened up a can of whoop-ass. It seems very clear that the Cal loss was a wakeup game for Washington. I expect Chris Pedersen’s team to be dangerous and focus for the rest of the season. The Pac-12 North is going to be a dog fight.
3. Cal Golden Bears (3-0)
Last Week: 23-17 (W) at North Texas
Cal jumped out to a quick 20-0 lead in the first quarter but could only manage a field goal after that. The reason this team is 3-0 and a real threat in the Pac-12 this season is they rarely turn the ball over now. Last season, they fumbled and threw interceptions which put the game out of reach for their meager offense.
Their lack of dominance has moved them back one spot in the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 4.
2. Utah Utes (3-0)
Last Week: 31-0 (W) vs Idaho State
The Utes pitched a shutout, as they should have. It was an extremely efficient performance by the Utah offense. Zack Moss only carried the ball 10 times, and they spread the ball around. 15 different skill position players had carries or receptions. There seems to be growth in passing efficiency since week one, which should bode well for their next nine conference games. Utah is making a strong case to move up to the #1 spot of the Pac-12 Power Rankings.
1. Oregon Ducks (2-1)
Last Week: 35-3 (W) Montana
My only concern about the Ducks is their ability to run the football. Through three games we have only seen one or two runs over 20 yards. If all three games were against Auburn that would be understandable. But, for a team with the best offensive line in college football, that sounds strange to me. If the Ducks want to have a shot at the CFB Playoffs they will need to have explosive runs.
Oregon’s defense and passing game look great.
Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings.
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.
On this episode of the Pac-12 Apostles, George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden break down and dissect all the games Pac-12 football week 3. All twelve Pac-12 teams are in action this weekend. The Apostles believe this could be the most important weekend of the Pac-12 season because all the games are non-conference matchups. The results of these games against Michigan State, Houston, Texas Tech, BYU, and Oklahoma will ultimately be used to judge the strength of the Pac-12 come bowl time.
Player hydration has been a major topic this season. Coaches are talking about giving their players IV fluids before the games. Ralph has concerns about it but George sheds some light on how common they really are.
The Apostles address UCLA’s significant attendance problem. Only about 35,000 people showed up to the 100,00+ seat Rose Bowl to see the Bruins play San Diego State. They have even resorted to giving away 4 tickets to this week’s game against #5 Oklahoma. This is similar to a couple of seasons ago when Michigan gave away free tickets to fans who brought a Coke can.
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The Pac-12 Apostles is a podcast for fans who love the Pac-12 conference. George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden are committed to the honest and fair conversation about the Pac-12 conference. They talk about the good, bad, and the ugly about the Pac-12. Join them in becoming a Pac-12 Apostle by subscribing and sharing the podcast.
Send your thoughts, comments, and :30 ranks to immad@unafraidshow.com. The best comments and rants will be included in the show.
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.
Nevada’s demolishing at the hands of the Oregon Ducks last Saturday will be forever known as the Arroyo flex. Coming off a season-opening loss where Arroyo was criticized for conservative play calls, the Ducks unleashed their frustration on a motivated Wolfpack team. Now, as college football hits its stride and the 2019 Oregon Ducks football team enters week 3, Oregon is primed to have a special season. And with a calming breath in the Montana Grizzlies before the Pac-12 storm, now is the Ducks’ chance to focus and prepare.
Nevada had just dispatched Purdue. They rode a surge of early season momentum into Autzen Stadium and had confidence aplenty. With an offense that could put up points and a defensive front seven who could present Oregon problems, some had this game marked as an upset special.
The Ducks, meanwhile, were coming off a tough week one loss to Auburn. They needed to get their offense firing on its proper cylinders and show the college football world they would not go silently into the night.
What happened was everything the 2019 Oregon Ducks football program needed.
Taking some time to get rolling against Nevada in their 2019 home opener, once Oregon got rolling they did not stop.
First scoring on a 66-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Justin Herbert to tight end Jacob Breeland with 3:56 to go in the first, the Ducks went on to outscore the Wolfpack 28-3 the rest of the half, and would not stop there.
Allowing Herbert to remain in the game for the opening drive of the second half, the Ducks put another 42 on the board in impressive fashion. 11 different players scored, redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Shough made an impressive debut, and the 2019 Oregon Ducks looked like the team they’re expected to be.
More impressive than the offense, however, was Oregon’s defense. Holding Nevada to just 6 points — all in the first half — the Andy Avalos led defense put consistent pressure on Nevada’s offense and forced four turnovers. It was an effort that will go down as one of Oregon’s best in recent years.
Nitpicking the Negatives for the 2019 Oregon Ducks Football team in week 3
Not much went wrong against Nevada. Oregon excelled and the score reflected such. There were, however, some issues of concern.
Oregon did not get off to the start it wanted. After an impressive start to the Auburn game, the Ducks opened the Nevada game with two non-scoring drives. This was concerning, especially for Marcus Arroyo. Against a team like Nevada the Ducks should have put points on the board fast. They should have had long drives that proved they were the better team. Starting the game with drives of 25 yards and 18 yards did not accomplish that. If Oregon is to be the team it’s supposed to be, they’ll have to be more consistent.
Sticking with the offense, Oregon’s running game didn’t really get on track against the Wolfpack. While the quarterbacks picked the Nevada secondary apart, Oregon’s once potent rushing attack was held in relative check. After a so-so performance against the Auburn Tigers, the 2019 Oregon Ducks football team still needs to solidify their running game entering week 3. And with the likes of Stanford and Cal looming, they’ll need to do so fast.
A Game Filled with Positives
What Oregon did to Nevada was outstanding. At least if you’re not a Wolfpack fan. The Ducks did what they needed to do to get back on the map. However they also showed the Pac-12 and college football that they may have one of their best defenses in recent memory. Yes, there is still a lot of football to play, but what the Ducks have done of defense in the first two weeks is not something to ignore. Oregon’s secondary is better-than-advertised and after some shaky play against Auburn, the defensive line looks impressive.
Furthermore, Oregon’s offense showed what it is capable of. It spread the ball to a long list of playmakers and got young talent fresh looks at college football. The wide receiver corps looks to be in great hands despite being depleted and Justin Herbert is a complete quarterback.
This shouldn’t all be news. Oregon was expected to be special this year, and a 77-6 win over Nevada helped prove why. Though they may have one loss to their name, it is a quality loss and one that won’t define their season. There’s plenty of football to play, and Oregon showed it is ready for a special season.
Moreover, they recaptured that special attitude and atmosphere the program had been searching for in the past few years. Autzen Stadium rocked, the fans were into the game and the players were having a blast on the sidelines. No moment was greater than when senior linebacker Troy Dye danced around the field while the sounds of “Shout” filled the air.
Moving Forward with 2019 Oregon Ducks Football Week 3
Montana has no chance against Oregon, it’s as simple as that. Coaches and players will want to give their respects but let’s not kid: Oregon should destroy the Grizzlies. Now, crazier things have happened in college football. Bigger upsets have happened and there is always the slim chance Montana could down the Ducks.
Montana has a good quarterback in UNLV transfer Dalton Sneed, and receivers Jerry Louie-McGee, Samori Toure and Samuel Akem are equally impressive. They spread the ball out and are somewhat of a FCS version of Washington State. For teams with shaky secondaries the Grizzlies present a problem. This is not the case with Oregon.
Though two games is a small sample size, Oregon’s secondary may be the defense’s forte. As such the Ducks matchup well against Montana’s offensive strengths and will have no problem putting up points against a smaller FCS-level defense. The keys for the 2019 Oregon Ducks football team in week 3 will be cleaning up minor errors, finding more reliable play from their running backs and staying healthy.
While it is never a good thing to look ahead, Oregon has two tough tests immediately following Montana. First they’ll travel to Stanford before a date with Pac-12 sleeper California. Look for the Ducks to make quick work of Montana and focus on the Pac-12 play ahead.
Week 2 of Pac-12 football is in the books. While there were plenty of great, offensive performances from Pac-12 players, these players stood out the most.
Wow. What a game for the true freshman. In his debut, stepping in for the injured (INSERT INJURED USC QUARTERBACK), he threw for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns. Counting stats alone, Kedon Slovis put up some solid numbers. But, more importantly, he led USC to a win against the No.23 ranked Stanford. Zero turnovers and coming back from a 3-17 Stanford lead. His performance and USC’s win vaulted them into an AP ranking. USC, similar to Sam Darnold, has another bright, young star. Look out Pac-12 football. Kedon Slovis is here.
Starting at their own 4-yard line, Steven Montez and K.D. Nixon teamed up for an incredible highlight. Their 96-yard, flea-flicker touchdown could be Colorado’s highlight of the year. Not only was this an impressive and fun play for any game, it was against the No.25 ranked Nebraska football program. Nixon’s touchdown reception continued Colorado’s comeback win. Down 0-17, they kept fighting and earned a big upset against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It was big for Colorado and bigger for Pac-12 football.
“We didn’t win today, we won back in summer workouts.”
In a Pac-12 football game with very little offensive production from quarterbacks (or offenses at all), Marcel Dancy was explosive. Down 3-10 to UW, on Cal’s first drive of the second half, Dancy was the difference maker. He rushed for 23 yards on 3rd and 1 to extend the drive and push the Golden Bears into Washington territory. Then, he sealed the drive with a 20-yard touchdown rush, breaking tackles and spinning into the end zone.
HERE’S CAL💡
Marcel Dancy takes one in from 20 yards and the Golden Bears (+430) are tied up with Washington!pic.twitter.com/uFNQKsNYGD
On Cal’s following drive, he had rushes of 7, 11, 2 and 8 yards. His 11 yard rush resulted in a first down, again extending Cal’s offensive drives. Then, yet again, he finished Cal’s drive with a touchdown run, this time from 8 yards out.
So, on just 7 carries, Marcel Dancy rushed for 72 yards and accounted for Cal’s only 2 touchdowns of the game. Of note, 6 of his 7 carries came on Cal’s only 2 touchdown drives. In a tight game where UW couldn’t score touchdowns to save themselves, Dancy was an offensive force. Keep his name in mind in future Pac-12 football weeks. His name will surely pop up again.
Against Nevada, Oregon was red hot, to say the least. Justin Herbert displayed his offensive talent and Oregon had a fantastic bounce-back game. Oregon and the Pac-12 football needed that. During that win, it was Jacob Breeland that stood out the most. Standing at 6-5, 250-pounds, Breeland was Oregon’s best downfield threat. In their first two touchdown drives against Nevada, they utilized him. His 66-yard touchdown and 31-yard reception showed his big-play ability.
At games end, Breeland led the Ducks in receiving yards and tied for first in receptions. For Oregon, this is good news. Analytics found that NFL teams have greater efficiency when passing from heavier formations in 2018. Breeland can give Oregon incredible advantages in Pac-12 football with his size and receiving abilities. For a Ducks offense always looking for explosive playmakers, Breeland’s time is now.
The second week of college football has come and gone. With it came an impressive performance from the Pac-12 Conference, as Pac-12 college football teams went 6-2 against non-conference opponents. The Oregon Ducks got back on track against Nevada, Utah separated from Northern Illinois, and Colorado had a huge win over Nebraska at home.
Pac-12 conference play also begin last week, with California dispatching Washington and USC handling Stanford.
From these games came many outstanding performances. Here are the best from Pac-12 football week 3.
Offense
Quarterback – Kedon Slovis, USC
Is college football ready for USC football to back? Because from first look the 2019 Trojans may be the real deal along with freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis.
Starting in place of injured quarterback JT Daniels, Slovis completid 28-of-33 passes for 377 yards and 3 TDs in a big 45-20 win over the Stanford Cardinal. Exercising the abilities that made him a top competitor for the starting role out of camp, Sedonis showed the Pac-12 just how dangerous USC could be in 2019.
Running back – Marcel Dancy, California
There was thunder and lightning in the air and on the ground in Seattle on Saturday night. After a 3-hour delay to the game, the California Golden Bears shocked the Washington Huskies in a 20-19 upset on the road.
One of the reasons Cal managed the upset and its first Pac-12 win of 2019 was junior running back Marcel Dancy. Though he finished with 8 fewer yards than fellow Cal running back Christopher Brown Jr. Dancy made the most of his 7 carries, exploding for 72 yards and 2 TDs. The Oakland native had runs of 23 yards and 20 yards on Cal’s momentum-building first drive of the second half.
In the upset win over Big Red, Nixon had 6 receptions for 148 yards and 1 TD. One of his receptions was a 96-yard explosion that allowed the Buffaloes to stay within reach and establish momentum in the game. While Laviska Shenault Jr. commanded the most attention from Nebraska on Saturday, Nixon’s impressive effort was a big reason the Buffaloes came away with the win.
18 tackles, 14 of them solo and two for loss. That massive stat line belonged to California linebacker Evan Weaver, who did everything humanely capable to help the Golden Bears beat Washington. Expect to see him be a Pac-12 football top performer a number of times this year.
Greg Johnson, Cornerback, USC
While Sedonis commanded much of the attention in USC’s win over Stanford, not lost is USC cornerback Greg Johnson. With the Trojans establishing a two-score lead over the Stanford and needing to forward momentum, Johnson had a key interception to set USC up for another score, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Johnson finished the game with 6 tackles (4 solo) and one INT.
Bradlee Anae, Defensive End, Utah
Any day you get a sack is a big deal. A day when you get three? That means you’re about to be a Pac-12 top performer.
Making his debut of 2019, Utah senior defensive end did just that on Saturday against Northern Illinois. Finishing with four total tackles, Anae made the most of his efforts with three big sacks that kept the Huskies from any second half momentum.
Special Teams
Cristian Zendejas, Kicker, Arizona State
Nobody could have predicted redshirt sophomore kicker Cristian Zendejas would be the difference maker in Arizona State’s game against Sacramento State. Nobody!
That’s exactly what he was, however. Zendejas converted all four field goal attempts, helping the Sun Devils avoid the big upset at home. A Pac-12 football top performer? You bet!
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.
