North
1. No. 3 Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12 Conference)
As the Ducks keep winning, they move up the rankings toward the No. 2 national slot they lost when they fell to Arizona. As expected, Oregon clinched the North championship.
Last week: First, W at Utah 51-27
This week: Saturday, bye
2. Stanford (5-4, 3-3)
Since the No. 2 slot can’t be left blank, the Cardinal moves back up to second. It didn’t lose last week, but much of that has to do with it not playing.
Last week: Third, bye
This week: Saturday vs. No. 25 Utah (6-3, 3-3)
3. Washington (6-4, 2-4)
The Huskies lost to a resurgent UCLA squad last week. Washington has lost four of its last six games since opening the season 4-0, though those four wins came against Hawaii, Eastern Washington, Illinois and Georgia State.
Last week: Second, L vs. UCLA 44-30
This week: Saturday at No. 17 Arizona (7-2, 4-2)
4. California (5-4, 3-4)
Like Stanford, the Golden Bears had a good week, for a Pac-12 North team. They had a bye, so they didn’t lose.
Last week: fourth, bye
This week: Thursday at USC (6-3, 5-2)
5. Washington State (3-7, 2-5)
Given up for dead a week ago when their best player broke his leg, the Cougars escaped the Pac-12 North cellar by embarrassing Oregon State. Redshirt freshman quarterback Luke Falk won Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Connor Halliday who?
Last week: Sixth, W at Oregon State 39-32
This week: Bye
6. Oregon State (4-5, 1-5)
Things are so bad in Corvallis, Ore., that just four years after head coach Mike Riley got what some consider a lifetime contract, Beaver fans want him out. Riley’s contract currently runs through 2021 and he gets another year added every time he wins six regular season games or better and goes to a bowl game. Nice work, if you can get it.
Last week: Fifth, L vs. Washington State 39-32
This week: Saturday vs. No. 7 ASU(8-1, 5-1)
South
1. No. 7 ASU (8-1, 5-1)
Now that we’re mercifully done with the North, it’s time to talk about the South. If ASU wins out, then it wins the South and likely a spot in the playoff.
Last week: first, W vs. Notre Dame 55-31
This week: Saturday at Oregon State (4-5, 1-5)
2. No. 14 UCLA (8-2, 5-2)
After failing to impress much of the season, the Bruins find themselves in prime position to return to the Pac-12 championship game. If ASU loses and UCLA wins out, the Bruins win the South thanks to their 62-27 pasting of the Sun Devils.
Last week: Third, W at Washington 44-30
This week: Bye
3. No. 17 Arizona (7-2, 4-2)
The Wildcats probably won’t win the South — they need to win out and see UCLA lose — but if they keep winning, they’ll get to a better bowl destination than New Mexico and Northern Louisiana. The Wildcats have only lost to the Los Angeles schools.
Last week: Third, W vs. Colorado 38-20
This week: Saturday vs. Washington (6-4, 2-4)
4. USC (6-3, 5-2)
The Trojans need a lot of help to get to the Pac-12 Championship game. USC needs to win out and hope ASU loses twice. The Sun Devils get to play WSU and OSU besides Arizona, so that’s not happening.
Last week: Fourth, bye
This week: Thursday vs. California (5-4, 3-4)
5. No. 25 Utah (6-3, 3-3)
The Utes had a nice run, but with three losses, including one to ASU, they’re pretty much out of the South championship race. They should make their first bowl game since 2011, though.
Last week: fifth, L vs. Oregon 51-27
This week: Saturday at Stanford (5-4, 3-3)
6. Colorado (2-8, 0-7)
Fun fact: the Buffaloes have more active losing streaks (five) than Pac-12 wins all-time (four). Colorado’s lost 23 in a row on the road to ranked teams, 18 in a row to ranked teams overall, 10 straight Pac-12 games, 11 straight road Pac-12 games and six games in a row overall.
Last week: Sixth, L at Arizona 38-20
This week: Bye
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