Utes Continue As Top Pac-12 Team Through Two Weeks
Sep 9, 2019, 4:23 PM
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Two weeks through the season and the Pac-12 conference is beginning to take shape. Everyone is finding out who will be a contender in the conference and who is fighting to get to six wins and bowl eligible.
Utah is the highest ranked Pac-12 school in the AP Top 25 Poll and remain on top of the power rankings.
Colorado moved up in the south power rankings, while Washington dropped in the north.
Here’s the KSL Sports Pac-12 Power Rankings after the second week of the season:
NORTH
1. No. 15 Oregon Ducks (1-1)
Result: Beat Nevada 77-6 at home.
Recap: Other than allowing Nevada a field goal in both the first and second quarters, it was all Oregon. They scored 28 points in the second and third quarters. Justin Herbert completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 310 yards and 5 touchdowns, he threw all five touchdowns to five different receivers. The Ducks ran for 221 yards and three touchdowns as a team. They held Nevada to 109 passing and 83 rushing yards.
Previous Ranking: 2
Next up: vs. Montana (2-0), Saturday at 8:45 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
The Ducks put on a show tonight in Autzen. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/AvH3fTwELw
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) September 8, 2019
2. No. 20 Washington State Cougars (2-0)
Result: Defeated Northern Colorado 59-17 at home.
Recap: The game was close until the end of the first quarter with WSU leading by one touchdown. The Cougars outscored Northern Colorado 45-10 in the last three quarters. Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon passed for 464 yards, 4 touchdowns and one interception. Max Borghi ran in two touchdowns on just seven carries for 34 yards.
Previous Ranking: 3
Next up: at Houston (1-1) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Friday at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN.
📸 2-0#GoCougs | #JoinTheHunt pic.twitter.com/me5pJYMhIc
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) September 8, 2019
3. No. 23 Washington Huskies (1-1, 0-1 Pac-12)
Result: Lost to California 20-19 at home.
Recap: The game was six minutes in before they went into a lightning delay that lasted two and a half hours. Cal had a four-point lead entering the fourth quarter when the Huskies made two field goals to lead by two. When Cal had the ball with a chance to win the game, they nailed a 17-yard field goal with eight seconds left to pull off the upset.
Washington quarterback Jacob Eason threw for 162 yards, one interception and one lost fumble, while Salvon Ahmed rushed for 119 yards on 21 carries to go with his one touchdown run.
Previous Ranking: 1
Next up: vs. Hawaii (2-0), Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 8, 2019
4. California Golden Bears (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12)
Result: Defeated No. 14 Washington 20-19 on the road.
Recap: After a two and a half hour lightning delay, Cal was able to slug out a upset road victory in Seattle. They led by four heading into the fourth quarter before Washington held a two point advantage after scoring two consecutive field goals. The Bears had the ball on their final drive and set up a game-winning 17-yard field goal with eight seconds left to get the win. Quarterback Chase Garbers threw for 111 yards and rushed for 42 yards. Linebacker Evan Weaver had 18 total tackles, including 14 solo and two for a loss.
Previous Ranking: 5
Next up: vs. North Texas (1-1), Saturday at 2:15 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
We Like That! #Earned pic.twitter.com/I8ED0tYr9H
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) September 8, 2019
5. Stanford Cardinal (1-1, 0-1 Pac-12)
Result: Lost to USC 45-20 on the road.
Recap: Stanford missed their starting quarterback K.J. Costello, who suffered a head injury against Northwestern in the season opener. The Cardinal jumped out to a 17-3 lead at the beginning of the second quarter, when USC scored three touchdowns to take a 24-20 halftime lead. Stanford didn’t score in the second half and are now out of the top 25 poll. Davis Mills threw 237 yards, one touchdown and one interception with running back Cameron Scarlett carrying the ball 17 times for 82 yards and one touchdown in the loss.
Previous Ranking: 4
Next up: at No. 17 UCF (2-0), Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Final.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/pX6YJ2r3wl
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) September 8, 2019
6. Oregon State Beavers (0-2)
Result: Lost to Hawaii 31-28 on the road.
Recap: The Beavers had a 21-7 lead in the second quarter when Hawaii trimmed the lead to 28-21 at halftime. Oregon State didn’t score in the second half and the Rainbow Warriors scored a touchdown in the third quarter and the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter with 2:17 left in the game. Jake Luton had 169 yards and one touchdown. Running back Jermar Jefferson posted a great performance with 31 carries for 183 yards and one touchdown.
Previous Ranking: 6
Next up: vs. Cal Poly (1-1), Saturday at 2:15 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
SOUTH
1. No. 11 Utah Utes (2-0)
Result: Beat Northern Illinois 35-17 at home.
Recap: The Utes’ defense struggled in the first half, allowing all of NIU’s 17 points. Tyler Huntley threw for 214 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 38 yards and another score. Zack Moss racked up 80 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive end Bradlee Anae picked up three sacks and a forced fumble in the win.
Previous Ranking: 1
Next up: vs. Idaho State (1-0), Saturday at 2:15 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
2️⃣1️⃣4️⃣ passing yards
1️⃣ running touchdown@Utah_Football's @_SNOOP1 was ready to play today. pic.twitter.com/Y5muMiC8p3— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 7, 2019
2. No. 24 USC Trojans (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12)
Result: Defeated No. 23 Stanford 45-20 at home.
Recap: The Trojans scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to get past Stanford. Quarterback Kedon Slovis completed 28 of his 33 pass attempts for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns, with Tyler Vaughns hauling in 5 catches for 106 yards and a score.
Previous Ranking: 2
Next up: at BYU (1-1), Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on ABC.
Dub. 📸✌️ pic.twitter.com/P1AavoYDGb
— USC Football (@USC_FB) September 8, 2019
3. Colorado Buffaloes (2-0)
Result: Defeated No. 25 Nebraska 34-31 in OT.
Recap: Nebraska held a 17-0 lead at halftime before Colorado scored two unanswered touchdowns to trim the lead to three. The Cornhuskers added a 75-yard touchdown to bump the lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter. The Buffaloes answered with 10 straight points to tie the game before both teams scored one more touchdown, including a 26-yard score from Colorado with 46 seconds left in the game to force overtime. Colorado made a field goal before Nebraska had possession and the Cornhuskers lost the game by missing the game-tying field goal.
Quarterback Steven Montez threw for 375 yards and 2 touchdowns, wide receiver K.D. Nixon recorded six receptions for 148 yards and one touchdown in the win.
Previous Ranking: 4
Next up: vs. Air Force (1-0), Saturday at 11 a.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
GO CRAZY, BUFFS, GO CRAZY!#GoBuffs || #RELENTLESS || #BeatNebraska pic.twitter.com/YMZVpWlx2G
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) September 7, 2019
4. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0)
Result: Beat Sacramento State 19-7 at home.
Recap: The Sun Devils struggled offensively until the fourth quarter when they scored 10 points. Arizona State true freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 304 yards and one touchdown. Star running back Eno Benjamin racked up 69 yards on the ground and had four catches for 94 yards and one touchdown.
Previous Ranking: 3
Next up: at No. 18 Michigan State (2-0), Saturday at 2 p.m. on FOX.
Sun Devils improve to 2-0 🔱#ForksUp | #WordsandActions pic.twitter.com/flWe9YwIAB
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 7, 2019
5. Arizona Wildcats (1-1)
Result: Beat Northern Arizona 65-41 at home.
Recap: Arizona was more dominant than what the score indicates. They let off the gas pedal in the second half after holding a 51-13 lead at halftime. Quarterback Khalil Tate threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns, with backup QB Grant Gunnell completing 9 of his 11 pass attempts for 151 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Gary Brightwell had 141 yards and one score on just five carries.
Previous Ranking: 5
Next up: vs. Texas Tech (2-0), Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
BALLGAME#BearDown | #BuildingThe🅰️ pic.twitter.com/JCgaBJZeAE
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 8, 2019
6. UCLA Bruins (0-2)
Result: Lost to San Diego State 23-14 at home.
Recap: The Bruins are a mess and we are only two weeks into the season. Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 199 yards and one touchdown, while the running game was limited to just 62 yards and one touchdown.
Previous Ranking: 6
Next up: vs. No. 5 Oklahoma (2-0), Saturday at 6 p.m. on FOX.
Final. pic.twitter.com/iwuYxkX31B
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 7, 2019