Pac-12 Week 4 Power Rankings: Stanford Passes Crucial Test In Overtime Game

The Conference of Champions was featured by ESPN College Gameday Saturday in Eugene, as No. 20 Oregon hosted No. 7 Stanford. The Cardinal won in overtime. There was also an offensive shootout in the Coliseum between USC and Washington State, and Arizona State fell in their bid to upset No. 10 Washington.

With Utah, California, Colorado and UCLA all on bye weeks, there wasn’t much change among the Pac-12 contenders. Week four of the 2018 college football season is in the books.

Teams are listed by division, in order of their KSL Sports Power Ranking.

NORTH

1. Stanford (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12)

Result: Beat No. 20 Oregon 38-31 in overtime on the road

Recap: Oregon looked like they were going to run away with the win as they held a 24-7 lead at halftime. Stanford stormed back, scoring 14 unanswered points to pull within three, 24-21. Oregon would score their final touchdown of the game with 4:39 to go in the fourth quarter. Stanford would send the game into overtime with a 15-yard touchdown catch from wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside with 3:10 left and a 32-yard field goal by kicker Jet Toner as time expired.

Arcega-Whiteside had four catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Stanford quarterback KJ Costello had 327 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Cardinal star running back Bryce Love rushed the ball 19 times for 89 yards and found the end zone once.

Previous Ranking: 1

Next up: at No. 8 Notre Dame, Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on KSL

 

2. Washington (3-1, 2-0 Pac-12)

Result: Beat Arizona State 27-20 at home

Recap: After a shaky start to the season, Washington quarterback Jake Browning had four touchdown passes to go with four interceptions. Browning would answer the bell against Arizona State as he threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns. The game featured three lead changes in the first half as Washington had a 17-10 lead at the break. The Washington defense would hold onto the lead and the win. Huskies running back Myles Gaskin added 86 yards on the ground on 21 carries. Wide receivers Aaron Fuller and Provo native Ty Jones each caught a touchdown from Browning in the win. The Huskies held Arizona State to 268 yards of total offense in their seven point win.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next up: vs. No. 20 BYU, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on FOX

 

3. Oregon (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12)

Result: Lost to No. 7 Stanford 38-31 in overtime at home

Recap: Oregon held a 17 point lead at halftime, before the wheels fell off for Oregon as quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled a bad snap. Stanford linebacker Joey Alfieri scooped up the ball and took it back for an 80-yard touchdown. That would shift the momentum to Stanford who would outscore Oregon 24-7 in the second half and eventually losing to Stanford in overtime. Herbert threw for 346 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Ducks running back CJ Verdell racked up 115 yards on 20 carries and found the end zone once on the ground. Junior wide receiver Dillon Mitchell collected an impressive 239 yards receiving on 14 catches.

Previous Ranking: 3

Next up: at No. 24 California, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on FS1

 

4. California (3-0)

Result: Bye week

Recap: The Golden Bears entered their bye week with a 3-0 record with wins over North Carolina, BYU and Idaho State. With Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas A&M and Boston College getting knocked out of the AP top 25 poll, Cal was voted in at No. 24 in the nation.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next up: vs. No. 19 Oregon, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on FS1

 

5. Washington State (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12)

Result: Lost to USC 39-36 on the road

Recap: Washington State jumped out to a 30-17 lead with 10:21 remaining in the third quarter before the Trojans stormed back on the arm of USC quarterback JT Daniels who threw three touchdowns. Washington State trailed by three, 39-36 with 1:41 left in the game. The Cougars attempted the game-tying field goal from 38-yards out but was blocked by USC defensive tackle and Bingham high graduate, Jay Tufele. Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew threw for 344 yards passing and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Easop Winston had an outstanding performance in the loss, putting up 143 yards receiving and two touchdowns on just six catches.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next up: vs. Utah, Saturday at 4 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network

 

6. Oregon State (1-3, 0-1 Pac-12)

Result: Beat by Arizona 35-14 at home

Recap: The Beavers couldn’t get anything going on offense as they put up 238 yards of total offense. The defense wasn’t able to handle the Wildcats offense, giving up 594 yards, 442 of those yards coming on the ground. Oregon State quarterback Conor Blount threw two touchdowns on 137 yards through the air. Running back Jermar Jefferson ran for 82 yards on 19 carries.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next up: at Arizona State, Saturday at 8 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network

 

SOUTH:

1. Colorado (3-0)

Result: Bye week

Recap: Colorado had the week off and sitting at 3-0 on the season with wins over Colorado State, Nebraska and New Hampshire. The Buffs received the most votes among the teams just outside of the AP top 25 poll with 83 votes.

Previous Ranking: 1

Next up: vs. UCLA, Friday at 7 p.m. on FS1

 

2. Utah (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12)

Result: Bye week

Recap: The Utes focused on their offensive woes and throwing the ball in particular during their week off. Utah took the week to get some players like wide receiver Britain Covey and running back Zack Moss healthy after getting banged up with bumps and bruises against Washington on September 8. Utah received nine votes in the AP top 25 poll, sitting on the outside looking in.

Previous Ranking: 3

Next up: at Washington State, Saturday at 4 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network

 

3. Arizona State (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12)

Result: Lost at Washington 27-20

Recap: The Sun Devils came up short for the second straight week. They have lost their last two games by two touchdowns. Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins didn’t provide a lot of offense through the air, throwing for only 104 yards on 17-of-27 passes. He did run the ball into the end zone once to go with his 13 rushing yards. Running back Eno Benjamin kept the Sun Devils in the game with 104 rushing yards and one touchdown on 26 carries.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next up: vs. Oregon State, Saturday at 8 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network

 

4. USC (2-2, 1-1 Pac-12)

Result: Beat Washington State 39-36 at home

Recap: USC freshman quarterback JT Daniels lifted the Trojans from 13 points down by throwing three second half touchdowns to go along with 241 yards. Former Bingham high and current USC defensive tackle Jay Tufele blocked Washington State’s game tying 38-yard field goal with 1:42 left in the game and that would seal the deal for USC and give the Trojans their first win of the season in the Pac-12. Trojans running back Vavae Malepeai hit the end zone twice on the ground with 78 yards. Running back Stephen Carr added 77 yards on just eight carries in the run game.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next up: at Arizona, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2

 

5. Arizona (2-2, 1-0 Pac-12)

Result: Beat Oregon State 35-14 on the road

Recap: Wildcats running back JJ Taylor rushed for a Reser Stadium record 284 yards and two touchdowns. The rest of the offense accounted for 310 yards. The amazing rushing performance by Taylor had him rushing for more yards than the entire Oregon State offense combined. Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate managed to throw two touchdown passes on 152 yards. The Wildcats have now won two straight games.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next up: vs. USC, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2

 

6. UCLA (0-3)

Result:  Bye week

Recap: The Bruins had the week off after a brutal 0-3 start to the season. They have lost by 61 points in the three losses. Head coach Chip Kelly hopes to steer the ship in a different direction as the Bruins head into Pac-12 play.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next up: at Colorado, Friday at 7 p.m. on FS1