Pac-12 Football Rankings And Reactions, Week 5
Week 5 Pac-12 football rankings and reactions. While Stanford remains on a wicked tear, a UCLA loss to Arizona State has turned the tightly packed South Division upside down.
Week 5 Pac-12 football rankings and reactions. While Stanford remains on a wicked tear, a UCLA loss to Arizona State has turned the tightly packed South Division upside down.
Pac-12 Player of the Week
Arizona State QB Mike Bercovici completed 27-of-44 passes for 273 yards and two scores with a pick, and ran nine times for 37 yards and a touchdown in the win over UCLA.
Week 5 Pac-12 Football Rankings
1. Utah: Bye Week
Next week: vs. Cal
2. Stanford: W, Arizona 55-17
QB Kevin Hogan is playing as if he’s on a salary run. And everyone on the Farm is benefiting, both offensively and defensively. Hogan missed just two passes in the blowout of the Wildcats, which is allowing the Cardinal to run the ball up to its usual standard. A high-percentage passing game is helping unlock the abilities of backs Christian McCaffrey and Barry Sanders … and keep opposing defenses on the field for long stretches of time.
3. USC: Bye Week
Next week: vs. Washington
4. UCLA: L, Arizona State 38-23
There was going to be a week that the Bruins’ youth and injuries caught up to them. It wasn’t supposed to be this week against a struggling visitor from Arizona State. The Sun Devils wore down UCLA, controlling the clock for more than 37 minutes and winning the ground battle by 130 yards. NT Kenny Clark was a monster on the interior for the Bruins, but he needed more help from his fellow linemen on both sides of the ball.
5. Cal: W, Washington State 34-28
The Bears are learning how to win close games, breaking from old habits that existed for many years in Berkeley. However, should the program be concerned that Washington and Washington State came within six points of handing Cal its first loss of the year? The Bear backs haven’t done much to support QB Jared Goff the last two games, a possible worry now that the schedule is set to get much tougher.
6. Oregon: W, at Colorado 41-24
These are strange times in Eugene, so it figures that new heroes are beginning to step forward for the Ducks. The linemen for instance. Oregon got better play from both lines on Saturday night, albeit against the Buffaloes. The O-line paved the way for 361 rushing yards, while the D-line was all over QB Sefo Liufau and the backs. The Ducks might need a slightly unconventional path to success in 2015, beginning in the trenches.
7. Arizona State: W, at UCLA 38-23
The Sun Devils always knew they had the talent to beat top 10 teams. Now that they’ve actually delivered on that potential, it’ll be interesting to see where they go from here. QB Mike Bercovici looked as comfortable in—and out of—the pocket as he has all year, accounting for more than 300 yards and three scores. And holding Paul Perkins and the UCLA ground game to just over two yards a carry was a huge achievement for the Devil D.
8. Arizona: L, at Stanford 55-17
The wheels are off in Tucson. How will RichRod’s team respond to yielding 111 points in consecutive losses to UCLA and Stanford? Obviously, the Wildcats aren’t even close to the same team without LB Scooby Wright and QB Anu Solomon, neither of who played in Week 5. Arizona needs someone to step up right now, because the upcoming stretch of Oregon State, Colorado, Washington State and Washington affords the team a chance to regroup.
9. Washington: Bye Week
Next week: at USC
10. State: Bye Week
Next week: at Arizona
11. Washington State: L, at Cal 34-28
The Cougars will need to address their issues up front if QB Luke Falk is to get a chance of playing to his full potential. Falk was sacked seven times by the Bears, among a bunch of other hurries, yet still completed 35-of-49 for 389 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. He’s learning how to dish with a man in his face, but he can be so much more effective if given an extra second or two to check down his receivers.
12. Colorado: L, Oregon 41-24
Compared to recent seasons in Boulder, the defense had been playing relatively well. And then the Ducks came to Folsom Field. Colorado has been pressing the issue and making plays behind the line of scrimmage. But when run right at them, the Buffs lack the defensive front to hold up at the point of attack against better teams. Chunk yards and poor tackling will continue to plague Mike MacIntyre’s crew.
