Pac 12 Power Rankings Week 1: Washington Sits Atop The Conference and Carries Playoff Hopes With Them.

Week one of the Pac 12 is in the books. Let’s take a look at how the conference did.

1. Washington: Jacob Eason looked absolutely incredible in his first start for the Huskies. Eason threw for 349 yards and four touchdowns. The running game also worked well as Washington put up 200 yards on the ground. I feel like I slept on Washington. After Oregon’s loss, the Pac 12’s playoff chances dropped to about 5% and Washington is 4 % of them.
2. Utah: The other 1% is Utah. The Utes didn’t play their best game against BYU, but basically had the equivalent of Kyle Whittingham’s fever dream. Turn the ball over. Then just run, run, run. Zack Moss dominated this game and looks like a sleeper for the Heisman. Tyler Huntley didn’t have his best game but it’s week one. The more time the Senior gets, the closer he’ll get to the October form that lead to Utah buzz late last year.
3. Washington State: I slept on this team. Hand up. Good teams blow out bad teams, Washington State dominated against New Mexico State. Anthony Gordon won the QB battle and put up 420 yards and five touchdowns. Why am I doubting a Mike Leach air raid team at this point? They’re always good early. So here they sit at three, who knows, they might even rise at some point this season.
4. Oregon: Oregon looked awesome, for two and a half quarters. Then, the defense missed a ton of tackles and Bo Nix became super man and well, the rest is pretty much history. Justin Herbert looked good, but threw far to many check down passes. Also, you have to put that final hail mary throw in the end zone. Oregon is still set up for a good year but the college football playoff hopes are dashed in week one.
5. Arizona State: I loved the way Jayden Daniels looked in week one. I loved the way the whole offense looked in week one. I understand it’s Kent State, but again, good teams blowout bad teams and ASU blew out Kent State. By the way, to all you so called draft knicks out there Eno Benjamin, watch him. Also, Brandon Aiyuk who just dominated this game with 140 yards receiving.
6. USC: With no J.T Daniels, a suspect secondary, and a near loss,it’s just a matter of time before Clay Helton will be fired. So let’s take a look into the crystal ball and try to determine what week that will be. Next week against a tough Stanford defense should be a loss, but without K.J Costello I think the Trojans will keep it close enough to keep Helton from being ousted. Week three against BYU, another tough game, but one I think I will pick the Trojans to win Helton still alive. Week 4 Utah will run over USC and the natives will begin to get restless. The week Helton gets fired, after USC gets pummeled by Washington in week five. Book it.
7. Colorado: Steven Montez to Laviska Shenault is just as good as advertised. Alex Fontenot looks like a dominate runner early. 125 yards on 19 attempts as the Buffs flame Colorado State.
8. Stanford: K.J Costello didn’t look good and then got hurt. Stanford’s defense looks dominant though. The running back problem is not over blown. Cameron Scarlett looks to be the number one guy and looked OK in week one, but not awesome. The performance was the worst of all the Pac 12 wins this week and that’s why they sit at eight this week. Really 5-9 for these first few weeks have very little difference between them.
9. Cal: Struggled on offense against UC Davis, not a good look. The defense still looks like it might be one of the best in the conference.
10. Arizona: A tough loss. A loss though, in which Khalil Tate looked like Kahlil Tate. That’s a good sign for AU fans.
11. Oregon State: Hey they aren’t the worst in the Pac 12. Again, like most of last year, the offense looks fun to watch. The defense on the other hand….might be the worst in the nation.
12. UCLA: In a word, embarrassing. Dominated in every aspect by a very good Cincy team. No shame in losing to the favorite in the American, shame in the fact they didn’t really look competitive and could very easily have been shut out.

Week two picks

ASU 42 SCUS 10

Utah35 NIU 10

Nebraska 35 Colorado 28

SDSU 28 UCLA 17

Stanford 23 USC 17

Washington 27 Cal 17

WSU 64 NCO 10

Oregon 35 Nevada 21

Arizona 35 NAU 17

Hawaii 42 Oregon State 35