Tag: Pac-12 podcast

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 8. Teams at the top and bottom of the conference have separated themselves from the pack. The middle of the conference is a totally different story. Deciphering the matrix of teams from #4-10 is an arduous task. The Pac-12 wheel of death is in full swing right now. Every team except Oregon is connected with a conference loss at this point. That’s why it’s so frustrating to hear people say Pac-12 conference football is weak when the conference has by far the most parity. It is hard to make it through unscathed with all the different start times and days of the week games land. Oregon, ASU, and Utah appear to have the inside track. And only Oregon and Washington have an outside shot at landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 7.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 8:

Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.

12. UCLA Bruins (1-5, 1-2)

Last Week: IDLE

Nothing bad can happen if you don’t play, right? UCLA had a much needed week off to regroup after that disaster of a loss to Oregon State. Chip Kelly will need a strong finish to this season like he did last year to quiet the naysayers. This team does look better than last year offensively, but defensively it looks like it regressed.

Points Allowed per Game with National Rank thru Week 7

3. Oregon, 8.7
8. Utah, 13.2
16. ASU, 17.7
18. Cal, 18.3
28. Washington, 19.6
59. USC, 25.7
64. Stanford, 26.5
98. WSU, 31.8
110. Arizona, 33.0
113. Colorado, 33.8
114. OSU, 34.0
123. UCLA, 37.7

— SuperWest Sports (@SuperWestSports) October 13, 2019

11. Oregon State Beavers (2-4, 1-2)

Last Week: at 52-7 (L) Utah

OSU got absolutely thumped by Utah. I was truly surprised by the level of beatdown this was. The Beavers defense is extremely leaky so I expected Utah to put up a lot of points. However, I did not expect their offense to struggle so mightily. Quarterback Jake Luton, their two running backs, and Isaiah Hodgins had led the way to score at least 28 points and have good stats in every game.

This game had to be extremely disappointing for head coach Jonathan Smith and Beavers fans. But they must dust themselves off and try to find another victory in 2019.

10. Washington State Cougars (3-3, 0-3)

Last Week: 34-38 (L) at Arizona State

Mike Leach’s team didn’t look “fat, dumb, happy, and entitled” after their bye week. But, Their defense coordinator Tracy Claeys resigned last week, and the defense looked worse for it. Washington State is now giving up 459 ypg and almost 32 points. It will be interesting to see how the Cougs bounce back this week against Colorado. CU will be angry about getting embarrassed by Oregon on both sides of the ball. If Washington State can’t snag this game, their hopes of going to a bowl game will be in real jeopardy.

9. Colorado Buffaloes (3-3, 1-2)

Last Week: vs 3-45 (L) Oregon

There was nothing positive to take from this game on offense or defense. Steven Montez had a horrible game passing. He finished with 131 passing yards and four interceptions. The defense didn’t fare much better. they gave up 45 points, 527 yards of offense, and 7.4 yards per play.

Mel Tucker is making the right move by recruiting a lot of junior college guys to bolster their roster quickly. Until he gets a couple recruiting cycles under his belt, expect the occasional game like this against top teams.

8. Arizona Wildcats (4-2, 2-1)

Last Week: 27-51 (L) vs Washington

Watching Arizona play can be frustrating at times. I have no idea about this team’s identity and who they want to be. Do they want to be a spread team that runs the read option with Khalil Tate or to they want to sit back and throw it 50 times with Grant Gunnell? Either way, Kevin Sumlin needs to make up his mind before the season spirals out of control.

Against Washington, it looked like the team quit in the 4th quarter. Khalil Tate looked disinterested and the defense didn’t give great effort either to close the game. Arizona can rally to be a factor in the Pac-12 South, but they need to figure out their Qb situation fast.

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7. Cal Golden Bears (4-2, 1-2)

Last Week: IDLE

Cal had a week off, which couldn’t have come at a better time. They are one week close to getting their quarterback Chase Garbers back. And Cal will have had two weeks to coach Devon Modster up as the starter. Their offense is now worst in the Pac-12 conference at 20.3 points per game. We know their defense always shows up, but they will need to be even better to get this team to 7-8 wins.

6. Stanford Cardinal (3-3, 1-2)

Last Week: IDLE

Stanford pulled off the upset in Seattle against Washington and got an off week as an added prize. The Cardinal have been beaten up on the offensive line and quarterback positions. This team is not as good as they have been in previous seasons, but this is a prideful bunch and who will be a tough win for everyone on the back half of their schedule.

If KJ Costello is healthy, does Davis Shaw go back to him at QB or hand the reigns to former 5* young gun Davis Mills?

5. USC Trojans (3-3, 2-1)

Last Week: 27-30 (L) at Notre Dame

USC continuously loses games when they are the more talented team on the field. Most Trojans fans I know are completely torn about this season. On one hand, they hate to see their team lose. On the other hand, they want Clay Helton gone because they don’t believe he maximizing the potential for this team. But like every other time a fan base wishes a coach gone, they are heading into the unknown. There is o guarantee the will replace Helton with a guaranteed winner unless it’s Urban Meyer.

USC is not in the top 4 of any Pac-12 major statistical category on offense or defense except passing yards.

However, there is great news. They still control their own destiny in the Pac-12 South.

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

Last Week: 51-27 (W) at Arizona

It’s Duck week and the Huskies want revenge.

This Huskies team bounced back from their Stanford loss in a major way. The game was close until the Dawgs put up 24 points in the fourth quarter. Fans were excited to see an impressive offensive outing after the struggles against Cal, USC, and Stanford. They were also treated to a breakout game by highly touted WR Puka Nacua. This performance could not have come at a better time. Washington got a major confidence boost heading into this week against Oregon.

They have the opportunity to end Oregon’s playoff hopes while reviving their own Pac-12 North title hopes. This matchup on Saturday should be epic.

3. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1, 2-1)

Last Week: vs Washington State

BREAKING: Jayden Daniels was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the third time in just six games. He’s owned the honor and is clearly the leader for Freshman of the Year in the conference. https://t.co/DvXxNpQNpA pic.twitter.com/HX9E6Eeajd

— SunDevilSource.com (@SunDevilSource) October 14, 2019

If Jayden Daniels were playing for any college football blue blood he would be a household name by now. This true freshman has ice water in his veins and is a star in the making. He has been Pac-12 freshman of the week three times already and the Sun Devils have only played six games.

It seems like every ASU game goes down to the last possession. How many times can this team get a good bounce and Jayden Daniels be perfect in the clutch? If ASU can get it done five more times and have Utah be one of those wins, a berth in the Pac-12 championship awaits. This team has gone the hard route earning their spot in the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 8.

2. Utah Utes (5-1, 2-1)

Last Week: 52-7 (W) at Oregon State

The Utes did very bad and mean things to Oregon State. They scored 52 points and Zack Moss only carried the ball five times and Huntley only threw it 17 times. And the defense is fantastic too. If it weren’t for Oregon, this defense would get more credit. Utah seems to be kicking it into high gear since the USC loss. Maybe they really can win a Pac-12 Championship. Maybe they want to play in the Rose Bowl more than everyone else.

I have said since the beginning of the season that Utah’s entire season rests on Tyler Huntley. Can he be special and not just a game manager when they need it the most? He will need at least three special performances over their next six games to make the Pac-12 championship.

1. Oregon Ducks (5-1, 3-0)

Last Week: 45-3 (W) vs Colorado

It’s Husky week. Things just got real. Washington vs Oregon is probably the most underrated rivalry in all of college football.

Was it Kenny Wheaton’s interception. That started the hatred or was it something else? Let me know. #GoDucks #GoDawgs

pic.twitter.com/cRETPVi2nG

— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) October 14, 2019

The Oregon Ducks are only giving up 8 points per game. An opponent hasn’t scored more than 7 points since week one. On top of that, the offense seems to be hitting their stride. In the past two games, they have rushed for well over 200 yards. Justin Herbert seems to be dialing in and becoming more assertive as a leader.

The back half of the season will test the Ducks’ will. They have not played great on the road over the last few seasons. So, road games at Washington, USC, and Arizona State will be the difference in an Alamo Bowl, Rose Bowl, or CFB Playoff berth.

Also… The Ducks need to stay healthy from here on out. They lost another player for the season, TE Jacob Breeland.

Check back every Monday for the next Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 8.

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 7. It was separation Saturday in the Pac-12 Conference. The list of contenders and pretenders for a Pac-12 Conference Championship is pretty clear at this point. Some teams had their hopes fade away with an injured quarterback. Others, just realized they aren’t as good as they thought they were. All teams are mathematically alive to win their division. Oregon, Washington, ASU, and Utah appear to have the inside track. And only Oregon and Washington have an outside shot at landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 6.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 7:

Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.

12. UCLA Bruins (1-5)

Last Week: 31-48 (L) vs Oregon State

We have a new worst team in the Pac-12. UCLA’s defense can’t stop a nose bleed. This team is bad at tackling, and doesn’t look very strong. This is strange because most of their 2-deep depth chart on defense is Juniors or Seniors. That means either defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro is doing an awful job with the scheme or his players are awful. I believe it’s probably a combination of both, but more so the coordination. Cal, WSU, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah all do a better job on defense with less high school recruiting stars. UCLA is last in Passing defense, total defense, scoring defense, and opponent first downs.

On the offensive side, the Bruins have 14 Freshman and Sophomores in their 2-deep but have looked pretty good the last three weeks.

The bottom line is, this was a full rebuild for Chip Kelly. We just didn’t think rock bottom would be this low.

11. Oregon State Beavers (2-3, 1-2)

Last Week: at 48-31 (W) UCLA

Today is a day of celebration for OSU and their fans. For the first time in three seasons, the Beavers are not the worst team in the conference. Jonathan Smith has his program headed in the right direction. Last year, they lost the majority of their games by 21 or more points. This year, they have an early conference win and may sneak out a couple more.

The Beavers’ biggest improvement has been offensively. They are now the top three in the Pac-12 in total offense and top five in scoring offense. Now, if they can get their Swiss cheese defense to catch up with offense.

10. Washington State Cougars (3-2, 1-1)

Last Week: IDLE

A week off couldn’t have come at a better time for the Cougars. They have been spiraling downhill since the second half of the UCLA game. Maybe Mike Leach can get his team’s “fat, dumb, happy, and entitled” problem solved.

Defensive Coordinator Tracy Claeys resigned during their off week. So let’s see what happens with the Wazzu defense going forward.

Thank you Coach Leach for the opportunity. I didn’t resign for health or personal reasons. The defense has struggled and I am responsible. We couldn’t agree on solutions so the SPEED D is better with new leadership! I love the players and staff! They will finish strong! GO COUGS

— Tracy Claeys (@t_claeys) October 5, 2019

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9. Colorado Buffaloes (3-2, 1-1)

Last Week: vs 30-35 (L) Arizona

There is a theme at the bottom of the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 7. NONE of the bottom three teams are good on defense. However, all three can score a good amount of points. Colorado’s QB Steven Montez is having a very good senior season. He is at 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions through their first five games.

After 5 games the bottom fell out of this Colorado team last season. Mel Tucker will have his hands full changing the culture of this team. But if he can, dare I say… bowl game?

8. Stanford Cardinal (3-3, 1-2)

Last Week: vs Washington

Stanford is a well-coached and prideful program. I knew they would bounce back from a terrible start to the season to be extremely competitive against Washington. David Shaw’s team had their best rushing output of the season with 189 yards. The Cardinal came into the game with the 12th ranked offense in the Pac-12 and put up nearly 500 yards on Washington.

This team has been decimated by injuries to their quarterbacks and offensive line. They are on their 3rd string QB and only had six offensive linemen by the end of the game. I have no clue what the rest of the season looks like for Stanford but they will fight.

7. Cal Golden Bears (4-2, 1-2)

Last Week: 7-17 (L) at Oregon

Cal is in such a bad position I feel bad for this team. I talked to two Pac-12 coaches who said Cal has a championship-caliber defense, but their offense has no chance without Chase Garbers at QB. Even with Garbers, it was an uphill battle, but it was one that could be won.

The Golden Bears defense has put every single offense they have faced this season in a chokehold. The future is bright for Cal, but it seems criminal that they may be in danger of missing a bowl game.

6. USC Trojans (3-2, 2-1)

Last Week: IDLE

USC got a much needed off week. They need Kedon Slovis healthy because Matt Fink is not the answer at quarterback. I predicted that USC had to choose between winning the Washington and Notre Dame game. They lost to UW, which in some strange way gives them a better chance to pull off the upset this weekend. I don’t make the rules, this is just how inconsistent teams operate.

5. Washington Huskies (4-2, 1-2)

Last Week: 13-23 (L) at Stanford

After reading the message boards, Facebook groups, and Twitter it feels like there is a 4-alarm fire going on in Husky Nation. The fan base took the Cal loss well and refocused on the Rose Bowl. But, this Stanford loss means UW no longer controls its own destiny. The good news for Pac-12 football fans is that the Oregon game is on ABC and the magnitude of the game is amplified for the Huskies. They can spoil any hopes the Ducks have of making the CFB playoff. And simultaneously put themselves back in the Rose Bowl conversation.

While Jacob Eason has been an upgrade from the Jake Browning years, he doesn’t look like a guy leaving for the NFL after this season.

4. Arizona Wildcats (4-1, 2-0)

Last Week: 35-30 (W) at Colorado

This is weird seeing Arizona at #4. It doesn’t feel that long ago that Arizona lost to Hawaii and there were questions surrounding the future of defensive coordinator Marcel Yates. We were even wondering on the Pac-12 Apostles podcast if Kevin Sumlin could be on the hot seat and what the future of Khalil Tate looks like.

The truth is while Arizona sits on top of the Pac-12 South they haven’t even run into the meat of their schedule yet. They still have games against Washington, Utah, at USC, at Stanford, at Oregon, and at Arizona State left. Am I the only one that has trouble spotting many wins there?

3. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1, 1-1)

Last Week: IDLE

Sometimes the best thing that can happen for your standings in the Pac-12 Power Rankings is to have an off week. The Sun Devils have just found ways to win even though it hasn’t been pretty. The variance of the possible records ASU could finish with is ridiculous. They could finish the season anywhere between 4-8 or 11-1 depending on how many one-possession games they can squeak out. Arizona State at #3 doesn’t feel great, but it is what it is.

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

Last Week: IDLE

Utah is in prime Pac-12 South position. They control their own destiny. Win out and they will be fighting for the Pac-12 title and CFB Playoff. I am done doubting Tyler Huntley’s quarterback abilities and limitations of the Utes offense until they get back to conservative play. Huntley put on such a performance against Washington State that I had to shut my mouth.

1. Oregon Ducks (4-1, 2-0)

Last Week: 17-7 (W) vs Cal

The Ducks are the clear cut #1 team in the Pac-12. They finally got their running game together against Cal. But the Ducks suffered a key injury on their defensive line. Gus Cumberlander who was a Pac-12 defensive lineman of the week may miss extended time.

The key for the Ducks who rank in the tops of the conference in most statistical categories is consistency and focus. They have the inside track to the Rose Bowl and a chance to make the playoff top 4. Don’t blow it.

Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 7.

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6. It was separation Saturday in the Pac-12 Conference. The list of contenders and pretenders for a Pac-12 Conference Championship is pretty clear at this point. Some teams had their hopes fade away with an injured quarterback. Others, just realized they aren’t as good as they thought they were. All teams are mathematically alive to win their division. Oregon, Washington, ASU, and Utah appear to have the inside track. And only Oregon and Washington have an outside shot at landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 5.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6:

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 (1-3)

Last Week: 28-31 (L) vs Stanford

The Beavers let an opportunity to get a Pac-12 win slip through their fingertips. Last year they lost to Stanford by 31. This year it was a winnable game. The positive is Oregon State is clearly improving as a team. The bad news is that they have no clue how to win yet. OSU’s defense is no longer seller dwellers in total defense. Even though they are last in rushing defense, the overall play has improved. The Beavers are still terrible, but MUCH improved.

11. Stanford Cardinal (2-3)

Last Week: 31-28 (W) at Oregon State

A win usually moves you up the Pac-12 Power Rankings. But Stanford’s effort against Oregon State, particularly in the 4th quarter was less than impressive. The Cardinal are still without starting QB KJ Costello, but Davis Mills filled in admirably. “Stanford football” has been nowhere to be found for the last two seasons. They are 11th in the Pac-12 in rushing (112 ypg), and last in scoring offense (20 ppg). Things are clearly broken. Can David Shaw fix them?

10. Washington State Cougars (3-2)

Last Week: 13-38 (L) @ Utah

When UCLA beats you twice (the game and in focus for Utah) and your coach calls the team out, things are spiraling downhill. Mike Leach called his team “fat, dumb, happy, and entitled” in his monotone meltdown postgame press conference. (We talk about this in detail on the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast below). They need to take this entire week off to regroup before they head down to Arizona State.

So much for the Cougars’ “most efficient offense in the country” talk WSU fans had been on my timeline yelling at me about.

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9. UCLA Bruins (1-4)

Last Week: 17-20 (L) @ Arizona

Chip Kelly clearly has his team headed in the right direction even though their record says 1-4. The Pac-12’s worst scoring defense and total defense only gave up 20 points to a team averaging over 30 ppg. The Bruins are the worst tackling football team in the Pac-12, and it’s not close. The good news is that Dorian Thompson-Robinson looks like he has turned a corner into a competent quarterback. If the O-line can keep him upright, the Bruins still have a shot at shocking the Pac-12 south.

8. Arizona Wildcats (3-1)

Last Week: 20-17 (W) vs UCLA

Is the Khalil Tate era over in Tucson? We kicked the tires on the question of Khalil Tate redshirting to transfer and Arizona going forward with the future of the program on the podcast. Grant Gunnell threw the ball more times in the first half against UCLA than Khalil Tate has in any full game this season. The seat is probably getting a little warmer under Kevin Sumlin, so switching QBs might just be the shot of life the program needs.

Their next stretch of games against Colorado, Washington, USC, Stanford.

7. Cal Golden Bears (4-1)

Last Week: 17-24 (L) vs Arizona State

I’m basing this ranking on where Cal is without Chase Garbers. He had finally turned a corner in his maturation as a passer. After he got hurt, the passing offense was a disaster with Devon Modster at QB. Stats and the film show Cal’s defense is stout, but have been hurt by a lot of big passing plays on QB scrambles. Can they get Modster to play turnover-free football? If they can, Cal can still rally to win 7 games. If not, they may be staring 5-7 in the face.

6. USC Trojans (3-2)

Last Week: 14-28 (L) vs Washington

The score in the game against Washington was a lot closer than the game was. Many people expected the Trojans defense to struggle against the pass with their two top DBs out. However, USC was able to hold Jacob Eason to a very pedestrian 180 yards passing with no touchdowns. The problem was the offense. Matt Fink looked like a 3rd string QB. They were consistently unable to move the ball and flip field position. So Washington played with short fields the majority of the day.

If healthy, it’s time to go back to Kedon Slovis at quarterback.

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1)

Last Week: 24-17 (W) vs CAL

I got a lot of “I told you so” from ASU fans about my Cal prediction. The Sun Devils deserve credit for winning the game. Herm Edwards’ team is as resilient as they come. Their wins haven’t been pretty, but they are sitting at 4-1 with a legit shot at the Pac-12 South crown. They will need to fix their offensive line issues. Eno Benjamin had 29 carries against Cal and was probably hit by a defender in the backfield on 22 of those carries.

I must give some props to QB Jayden Daniels. His stat lines are not impressive. But, if you watch the game, he is playing hard and making plays when the team needs it most. ASU has a potential star on their hands.

4. Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)

Last Week: IDLE

Mel Tucker’s squad had a week off and moved up the Pac-12 Power Rankings. It’s weird to see them at #4, but they won’t be here long unless they get their 11th ranked scoring defense fixed (30.8 ppg).

3. Utah Utes (4-1)

Last Week: 38-13 (W) vs Washington State

When I was watching the game it felt like Tyler Huntley was giving me a giant F-U. All the things I have said he and this offense couldn’t do after the USC game, they went out and did. Huntley finished with over 334 yards passing with a pair of TD through the air and ground. If he had Heisman buzz around his name, the national media would be singing his praises.

Now the Utes have a week off to get healthy and regroup for the stretch run in the Pac-12 south.

2. Washington Huskies (4-1)

Last Week: 28-14 (W) vs USC

The Huskies defense looked amazing against the extremely talented USC receiving corps. I knew Ahmed was bound to have some big rushing days this season. He is always a broken tackle away from hitting his head on the goalpost. Washington will need much better play out of Jacob Eason if they hope to beat Oregon, win the Apple Cup, and get to the Rose Bowl or CFB Playoff.

Right now, the Dawgs are positioned right where they want to be. They control their own destiny. Cal will probably lose to Oregon. So, beat the Ducks and Cougars and they are home free right?

1. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Last Week: 21-6 (W) Stanford

Hopefully, the theme of the week off was “stop the conservative play offensively”. It seems that Oregon’s lack of aggression and killer instinct offensively against solid competition is the only thing that can derail their this season. The Ducks also have to get their running game together if they have visions of the CFB Playoff. They have not had many explosive running plays (20 yards+) through their first four games.

Putting up big points against a good Cal defense will be a good time to make a statement to the nation.

Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6.

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5. Between the amazing UCLA comeback against Washington State and referees in the Ole Miss game, the Pac-12 was the buzz of the nation after week 4. It is clear that the Pac-12 is getting respect nationally because there are five teams ranked between 11-21. Oregon, Washington, Cal, and USC all have a shot at winning the Pac-12 and landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 4

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5:

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: IDLE

The Beavers got to enjoy their win for another week and put in new wrinkles for Stanford. At this point, that looks like a very winnable game for OSU. It is at home against a wounded Stanford. They just have to figure out a way to stop the run. Right now, OSU is dead last in the Pac-12 against the run giving up 207 ypg.

11. Stanford Cardinal (1-2)

Last Week: 21-6 (L) at Oregon

This team is headed in the wrong direction fast. We have seen cracks in the David Shaw system for the last couple of years, but the dam finally broke. He is part of the Jim Harbaugh coaching tree and they both are suffering the same fate. Neither can produce any kind of effective or explosive offense for the last two seasons. Other teams have adjusted to Stanford’s running attack and David Shaw has been unwilling to change his offense. If they lose to Oregon State, the Pac-12 world will be in shock.

Subscribe to the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

10. Arizona Wildcats (2-1)

Last Week: IDLE

Arizona should feel good about themselves on the heels of their Texas Tech victory and week off. Khalil Tate is now their leading passer and rusher again. Over the last two games, Arizona has looked more like the 2017 team that saw Khalil Tate be dynamic with his legs. Their biggest issue is on defense. The Wildcats are giving up 33 ppg and 484 ypg, both of which are 2nd to last in the Pac-12. Big game vs UCLA this week.

9. UCLA Bruins (1-3)

Last Week: 67-63 (W) Washington State

Epic comeback for the ages by UCLA. By now, you would have to be living under a rock to have missed highlights of their 32-point comeback in a quarter and a half against Washington State. I am left with more questions about this team than answers. Did the “light” come on for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson? Did Chip Kelly find his offensive groove again? Was the second half of the Wazzu game the real UCLA, or are they the team that couldn’t score more than 14 points their first three games? If they can put together a string of victories they will find themselves flying up the Pac-12 Power Rankings.

8. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-1)

Last Week: 31-34 (L) vs Colorado

Herm Edwards summed up the difference between college and pro teams perfectly. He said pro teams are consistent and you know what you will get on a week in and week out basis. College teams are inconsistent from week to week. His Sun Devils were the epitome of that in week 4. Their offense had struggled against Sacramento State and Michigan State while their defense was stout. Against Colorado, their offense was explosive and their defense was porous.

7. Washington State Cougars (3-1)

Last Week: 63-67-28 (L) vs UCLA

Coug’d it. College football fans got to see a ridiculously improbable comeback. But, there is another side to the story. Washington State has to pick up the pieces after a historic collapse. Will they regroup and play well against Utah on the road this week, or will they let UCLA beat them twice?

The Cougars only improved their amazing offensive numbers against UCLA. Anthony Gordon is leading the nation in passing yards and touchdown passes.

6. Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)

Last Week: 34-31 (W) vs Arizona State

Mel Tucker’s team can’t play defense yet, but they can score points and they are battle-tested. The good news is that they finally started fast. They fell behind early in their last two games but came out strong versus ASU. The Buffaloes get a week off in week 5. Their fans have to be happy about this 3-1 start but know that they will have to finish strong to make a bowl game.

5. Utah Utes (3-1)

Last Week: 23-30 (L) vs USC

This had to be a deflating loss for Utah. They were preseason Pac-12 favorites, ranked #10 in the country and had rolled through non-conference play. However, I have been saying it since the season started, their offense will be their demise. We all know their defense is usually spectacular, but to win championships, your offense will need to save the day sometimes. Utah’s offense and QB Tyler Huntley aren’t built to score a lot of points or have amazing passing days. This is still a really good team that can win the Pac-12 South but will need to regroup.

4. USC Trojans (3-1)

Last Week: 30-23 (W) vs Utah

New QB, no problem. USC has started three different quarterbacks this season and has won three games. That is a huge testament to Graham Harrell and Clay Helton for having the young guys ready. It is also, really easy to be a 300-yard passer when you have the best receiving core in the nation to throw to. Many people expected Clay Helton to be 1-3 and on the way out the door at this point in the season. He’s proving he won’t be fired without a fight.

USC fans are so conflicted, they are happy to be winning, but frustrated that Clay Helton is the one leading them.

3. Washington Huskies (3-1)

Last Week: 45-19 (W) vs BYU

Since their loss to Cal, Washington has put down two impressive performances. They dismantled Hawaii and BYU. It seems like Jacob Eason and this offense are in a real groove. Can they continue to put up these types of offense performances against the top defenses in the conference, Oregon, and Utah?

The Huskies were in this position last year and still managed to win the Pac-12 and get a Rose Bowl berth.

2. Cal Golden Bears (4-0)

Last Week: 28-20 (W) at Ole Miss

What in the hell got into Chase Garbers against Ole Miss? He passed for 357 yards and 4 touchdowns. Do you realize that is about 15% of his career total passing yards? If he can continue this high level of play, Cal can go undefeated and win the Pac-12. their defense is suffocating and unrelenting. Imagine what happens when Justin Wilcox gets a team full of 4-5*athletes.

1. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Last Week: 21-6 (W) Stanford

The Ducks are putting the conference and nation on notice they are back. Justin Herbert has put up excellent passing numbers despite missing the best parts of their receiving corps for all of this season. Oregon’s defense is #13 in the nation for total defense and hasn’t allowed a touchdown in three straight games. The only thing that can slow the Ducks down is their inability to generate explosive running plays this season. If they get the running game on track this team has enough momentum to propel them to the College Football Playoff.

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

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.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 3

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 4:

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.

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10. Stanford Cardinal (1-2)

Last Week: 27-45 (L) at UCF

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.

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 3. There are major shifts in the conference power rankings after a couple of conference games in week 2. Cal shocked the world (except me) and beat Washington for the second year in a row. Washington State fans want respect after blowing out two doormat teams. There is a fight for the worst team in the conference by Oregon State and UCLA. 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.

• Hawaii has defeated two Pac-12 teams. If they beat Washington this week I will include them in the Pac-12 rankings for the remainder of the season.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 2

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 3:

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 (0-2)

Last Week: 28-31 (L) Hawaii

This loss to Hawaii was awful. The Rainbow Warriors already knocked off Arizona so OSU should have been ready. They were able to run the football all day but kept trying to pass the football. Jermar Jefferson ran for 183 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries. I am looking for wins on the Beavers schedule. The only one I can find is next week against Cal Poly.

11. UCLA Bruins (0-2)

Last Week: 14-23 (L) San Diego State

UCLA is fighting extremely hard to displace Oregon State as the worst team in the conference. It is inexplicable why the Bruins are so bad. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was statistically better and only had one turnover vs SDSU. But he was still not good enough for his team to stay in the game. I am not sure why Chip Kelly does not speed up the offense like he did at Oregon with Darren Thomas to keep defenses off balance. I am scared of what the score will be this week against Oklahoma.

10. Arizona Wildcats (1-1)

Last Week: 65-41 Northern Arizona

Wildcats’ fans will tell you that the second string gave up all these points to Northern Arizona. However, the second string is still part of the team. These teams are playing football so players will inevitably get hurt and those second-team players will have to play meaningful snaps. Ralph Amsden is still an Arizona and Khalil Tate truther. He believes they will somehow become a competitive team in the Pac-12, but we all know they won’t.

Subscribe to the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

9. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0)

Last Week: 19-7 (W) vs Sacramento State

No team scared me more in a win than ASU. If Sacramento State had an accurate quarterback they may have given Sun Devils fans a heart attack. Their offensive line had a tough time protecting Jaylen Daniels and creating running lanes for Eno Benjamin. The good news is that Herm Edwards has his team 2-0. They will be bound for a bowl game if by some miracle they can slip by Michigan State.

8. Washington State Cougars (2-0)

Last Week: 59-17 (W) vs Northern Colorado

I know Wazzu fans are frustrated with these rankings. Fans in my mentions on Twitter and emails keep saying it’s ridiculous they aren’t higher because WSU has the “most efficient offense in the nation”. They also have one of the worst schedules in the nation. They have played one of the worst FBS teams and an FCS team. Wazzu has a QB that nobody has seen play real competition. So, they may skyrocket up once they play someone. Remember how everyone thought Jacob Eason was Payton Manning until they played Cal?

7. Stanford Cardinal (1-1)

Last Week: 20-45 (L) at USC

I held out hope that quarterbacked KJ Costello would be able to play against USC (I like to see good football games). He missed the game and it was clear that the Cardinal missed him. They came out and looked good initially but were ultimately overwhelmed by USC’s receiving core. Next week against UCF will give us a lot of insight on how good this team is.

6. Colorado Buffaloes (2-0)

Last Week: 34-31 (W) vs Nebraska

The Buffaloes sleepwalked through the first 2.5 quarters. It took a ridiculous 24 point fourth quarter to come back and send the game to overtime. The thing we do know about Colorado is they are more mentally tough than last season. Wins over Colorado State and Nebraska are a solid start to the season. Their dominance has not been there but quality wins get high marks.

5. Washington Huskies (1-1)

Last Week: 19-20 (L) vs CAL.

On the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast, I was asked if I thought the 2-hour lightning delay that forced a lot of Huskies fans to their cars and ultimately home had an effect of the outcome. My answer was that Huskies fans are fantastic and loud, but I don’t believe it impacted the game. Cal’s defense is just suffocating. Jacob Eason appears to be better than Jake Browning but not has great as advertised. UW should have a great season, and don’t be surprised if their running back Ahmed has a couple 200+ yard games.

And then there is this twitter interaction with Cal’s defensive back coach Gerald Alexander and former Huskies WR Dante Pettis.

Don’t think this didn’t go unnoticed my boy!!!!!!! I seent it! https://t.co/E7GtEIXT89

— Gerald Alexander (@GAlexander21) September 9, 2019

4. USC Trojans (2-0)

Last Week: 45-20 (W) vs Stanford

You never want to see a player injured but USC has the right man at QB now. Kedon Slovis isn’t the typical 4-5* kid that we normally see at USC. He was an under the radar recruit who most thought would just fill the roster out in case of an emergency. Slovis clearly has other plans. Slovis finished 28/33 for 377 yards and three touchdowns.

USC looked absolutely dominant against Stanford after the first quarter. Can they keep up that high level of play through the rest of the season?

3. Utah Utes (2-0)

Last Week: 35-17 (W) vs Northern Illinois

Utah is just solid. They are a good team who is well-coached with NFL talent on defense and at RB. The Northern Illinois game did expose another possible weakness of the 2019 Utes. There were multiple times where the speed of NIU gave Utah trouble. That means playing USC and a potential matchup with Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship game could be problematic.

If I have said it once, I’ve said it 1,000 times, Tyler Huntley will need to be GREAT 2-3 times this year if the Utes are to win the conference and make a Rose Bowl of CFB Playoff appearance.

2. Cal Golden Bears (2-0)

Last Week: 20-19 (W) at Washington

When I watch Cal play the only thing I think is “what if”. What if the Golden Bears had a really good QB? If they did they would be a top 5 team. This team is so well-coached and tough. They are fun to watch. The problem is that if they need more than 20 points against a top opponent they can’t get there without scoring on defense.

Cal scored major points in the rankings this week for beating a team most thought had a shot at going undefeated.

1. Oregon Ducks (1-1)

Last Week: 77-6 (W) Nevada

The Ducks made a statement against Nevada who beat Purdue in week one. Their offense still needs to prove it in conference play. And they need to play well on the road because Oregon has struggled away from home the last couple of seasons. After two games, it looks as if the Ducks have their most stout defense of the last 15 years. As of now, the boys from Eugene look to be the favorites to win the Pac-12. They deserve to be #1 on the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 3.

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

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2. The conference had a strong week one at 8-4. A team from the Pac-12 has a real chance to make the College Football Playoffs in 2019. However, those chances took a real blow with Oregon’s loss to Auburn. There is a lot of football left to be played and it’s not over yet. 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.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2:

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 (0-1)

Last Week: 36-52 (L) OSU

The Oregon State offense put up nearly 450 yards of offense against Oklahoma State. A productive offense was a welcome sight for their fans However, Oregon State gave up nearly 600 including 352 on the ground. It is going to be a long season for the defense if they cannot stop the run. Pac-12 running backs will be looking to pad their stats on Beavers week.

11. Arizona Wildcats (0-1)

Last Week: OPEN

Arizona mercifully had an open ween last week. They needed time to mentally recover from losing to Hawaii. They get a chance to redeem themselves in an expected blowout win against Northern Arizona… I really hope I didn’t just jinx them.

10. UCLA Bruins (0-1)

Last Week: 14-24 (L) Cincinnatti

After week 1 I could not have lost any more hope in my darkhorse Pac-12 South pick. Chip Kelly’s offense is totally unrecognizable from his Oregon days. UCLA wasn’t fast, efficient, or explosive. Dorian Thompson-Robinson appeared to have a regression from his freshman year in week 1. If he is not better against San Diego State this week we may see a change at QB. Coaches say teams make the biggest improvements from week 1, so there’s hope.

9. Colorado Buffaloes (1-0)

Last Week: 52-31 (W) vs Colorado State

A win is a win for Colorado. They snapped their 7-game losing streak dating back to last season. Mel Tucker has his team on the right track. The best part of the win was that they did it without a big game from their best player Laviska Shenault. He only finished with a combined 6 touches for 83 yards and 1 touchdown. The bad news is that they gave up 505 yards of total offense including 374 passing yards to an inferior CSU team. Next week will be a real test as Nebraska rolls into town.

Subscribe to the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

8. Cal Golden Bears (1-0)

Last Week: 27-13 (W) vs UC Davis

Cal was expected to blow the doors off of UC Davis, but they got a scare through the first three quarters. The defense was stout as usual but the quarterback play by Chase Garbers left a lot to be desired in the first half. He did rally to end up with a respectable 238 yard, 2 touchdowns, 1 int day. Justin Wilcox has to be hoping that his young QB just had first-game jitters and will be better going forward. The bright spot was Christopher Brown Jr. who rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. We will see what this team is made of next week at Washington.

7. Arizona State Sun Devils (1-0)

Last Week: 30-7 (W) vs Kent State

This was totally a good news, bad news game for ASU. The good news is that they won. Freshman Qb Jayden Daniels played well. Eno Benjamin picked up from where he left off last season. The bad news is that the Sun Devils only scored 30 points against Kent State. The offensive line allowed too much pressure on Daniels. Next week should be another cakewalk for ASU against Sacramento State. I don’t even understand why power 5 schools are even allowed to schedule FCS teams.

6. Washington State Cougars (1-0)

Last Week: 58-7 (W) vs New Mexico State

I am completely unimpressed by a 50 point win over one of the worst FBS teams in college football. Anthony Gordon got the start at quarterback and lit it up to the tune of 420 yards and 5 touchdowns. Max Borghi also added 128 yards and a touchdown on the ground. We will have no clue what this team is made out of until they get to Pac-12 conference play. Northern Colorado and Houston should be wins the next two weeks for the Cougs.

5. USC Trojans

Last Week: 31-23 (W) vs Fresno State

Before the game, I said USC would win but do little to quiet the uncertainty about Clay Helton’s job security. That is exactly what happened. The team had opportunities to put Fresno State away but just couldn’t get it done. To make matters worse, starting quarterback JT Daniels was lost for the season with a torn ACL and MCL. Now Helton must either turn to either freshman Kedon Slovis or a player who just entered the transfer portal (Sears). USC is still talented enough to finish the season atop the Pac-12 Power Rankings, but it’s unlikely.

4. Utah Utes (1-0)

Last Week: 30-12 (W) vs BYU

Impressive win by Utah in the ‘Holy War’ against BYU. Their defense absolutely locked everything down in the second half. Zack Moss returned from injury with a vengeance. He finished with 29 carries for 187 yards and 1 touchdown. Tyler Huntley only threw for 106 yards and was not impressive, but he didn’ need to be. After one week, Utah is the class of the Pac-12 south.

3. Washington Huskies (1-0)

Last Week: 47-14 (W) vs Eastern Washington

Much like Washington State and Arizona State, it is hard to move up the Pac-12 Power Rankings playing FCS or Mid-American Conference teams. The Huskies did completely dominate, as expected, so they earned high marks for dominance but no marks for quality wins or schedule played. Chris Petersen showed that no matter how many players he loses to the NFL, Washington won’t be rebuilding, only reloading. Jacob Eason looked as good as advertised. If he can put up a top tier game against Cal’s nasty pass defense I will be a believer.

2. Oregon Ducks (0-1)

Last Week: 27-21 (L) vs Auburn (in Dallas)

Why on earth do I have an 0-1 team #2 in the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2? The Ducks played the toughest game in the nation in Week 1 against Auburn. They performed well and the game looked like a win that got away. The offense was much too conservative in the second half and let Auburn steal the game. The Ducks defense looks fast, physical, and well-coached. Oregon’s offensive line held their own against the best defensive line in the nation. The Pac-12 could be theirs to claim if they keep the pedal to the metal all game.

1. Stanford Cardinal (1-0)

Last Week: 17-7 (W) vs Northwestern

Stanford had the second toughest opponent of week 1 with Northwestern. Their defense was extremely impressive. They held Northwestern to 210 total yards. Right when the Cardinal started rolling offensively in the first half their quarterback KJ Costello was knocked out with a concussion on an uncalled targeting call. In the second half, Stanford more or less just took the air out of the football and held on for deal life for a 17-7 win.

Stanford’s win was not pretty, but it was a win against a quality opponent nonetheless. The Cardinal deserves to be on top of the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2.

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