/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21548695/20131019_ajw_ak4_080.0.jpg)
Just when you thought that it wasn't safe to go back into the Pac 12 waters, order appears to have been restored. Consider:
- Oregon racked up over 60 points in their win over the 'Cougs
- Stanford looked Stanford-ish in their manhandling of UCLA
- Speaking of which, the Bruins dropped out of their one-week orbit in the top 10
- Utah was welcomed backed to the muddled-middle
- Arizona -here's a thought - feature Ka'Deem Carey and won a game (in addition to restoring Carey to the national lead in rushing)
- The 'Cougs set another record for crazy passing by having Connor Halliday pass 89 times ... in the same game ... that they lost
- The Beavs smacked down a Cal team and sent them into a ... wait for it ... QB CONTROVERSY!
Here's your power rankings for Week 9.
UWDP's Weekly Pac 12 Power Poll - Week 9
Team | Record | |
---|---|---|
![]() |
1. Oregon Ducks | 7-0 (4-0) |
The Ducks were back to their old tricks in running up the score and then playing their scout team in the fourth quarter. The most entertaining part of this whole affair may have been after the game when the Ducks defensive coordinator, Nick Alliotti, went totally off the reservation and called out Mike Leach for "having no class" due to the fact that Leach kept his starters in for the entire fourth quarter. He later apologized - no doubt at the stern direction of HC Mark Helfrich who, I'm sure, was not entertained by his defensive coordinator usurping his authority and making himself a headline. |
||
![]() |
2. Stanford Cardinal | 6-1 (4-1) |
They're back. The Cardinal got some great running out of Tyler Gaffney and a highlight reel catch from Kodi Whitfield to complement a physically dominating defensive effort in a 24-10 victory over UCLA. It was a return to form for a Cardinal team that had had its toughness questioned in previous games against Washington and Utah. | ||
![]() |
3. Oregon State Beavers |
6-1 (4-0) |
I can't believe I'm going here, but the Beavers are still doing what good teams do - light up the scoreboard against inferior competition, in this case in dismantling Cal. Sean Mannion continues his darkhorse Heisman candidacy. The only question here is whether or not the injury to Brandin Cooks is serious. |
||
![]() |
4. Arizona State Sun Devils |
5-1 (3-1) |
To the victor goes the spoils. The Sun Devils demonstrated an ability to stop a good rushing attack (previously viewed as a weakness) and were able to generate a running game of their own in the blowout win over Washington. It looks as if they are the best team in the South right now. | ||
![]() |
5. UCLA Bruins |
5-1 (2-1) |
Playing Stanford is difficult, but it is difficult to see how both UW and Utah both played the same team and were able to do more. Because of their record, UCLA gets the benefit of the doubt. But, make no mistake, they took a butt whipping at Stanford and lost a few more offensive line in the process. As great as Brett Hundley is, this is a team that is thinning out and losing steam. | ||
![]() |
6. Washington Huskies |
4-3 (1-3) |
The Huskies had their first truly disappointing performance of the season by getting shellacked in Tempe. The Huskies showed nothing of what they showed in their first five games: good rushing attack, sound defensive discipline, quality LB play and efficient QB plays. The most frustrated of dawg fans want a coaching change, but the question remains as to whether or not that performance was an aberration or a sign of things to come. | ||
![]() |
7. Arizona Wildcats | 4-2 (1-2) |
QB BJ Denker had his second good game and Ka'Deem Carey dominated in the Wildcats win over the previously surging Utah Utes. This game was a huge pick-me-up for Rich Rod's group who had yet to win a Pac 12 game. The 'Zona defense also showed some chops in limiting the Utah offense to just 329 yards total. | ||
![]() |
8. Utah Utes |
4-3 (1-3) |
The Utes flopped in the week following their huge upset of Stanford. An injury to star QB Travis Wilson limited the Utes offense as they lost a close one to Arizona in Tempe. |
||
![]() |
9. USC Trojans |
4-3 (1-2) |
In their second game under the management of Ed Orgeron, the Trojans failed to capitalize on an injury to Notre Dame QB Tommy Rees as they fell to the Irish 14-10. While the defense played respectably, the Trojans have to be concerned about their offensive playmaking abilities, especially now that it looks like star WR Marqise Lee has another leg injury. |
||
![]() |
10. Washington State Cougars |
4-4 (2-3) |
Mike Leach is up to his old tricks as, under his direction, WSU QB Connor Halliday set a record that I think will never be broken with 89 passing attempts in the same game. Halliday, who finished the game with 557 yards and four touchdowns, now leads the nation in interceptions with 17. It looks like the Cougs are losing steam defensively after a pretty good start to the season. Of course, it is always hard to gauge when your last opponent played is Oregon. | ||
![]() |
11. California Bears | 1-6 (0-4) |
Another blowout loss by the Bears, this time to the Beavers, has left Cal in the throes of yet another QB controversy. Starting true freshman Jared Goff continues to give up the ball at an alarming rate and saw himself pulled in favor of Zach Kline midway through the game. Instability at QB is exactly what the doctor ordered as they head up to Husky Stadium to take on the Dawgs. Despite the horrible record, I still think these guys beat Colorado on a neutral field. | ||
![]() |
12. Colorado Buffaloes | 3-3 (0-3) |
The Buffs took care of business and beat up on Charleston Southern - an FCS team that was scheduled as a replacement for Fresno State on this year's schedule. Don't be fooled by the gaudy final score: this team is also in a major rebuild as they begin to retool the offense around true freshman QB Sefo Liufau. This is still the easiest out in the Pac 12. |