After a crazy first few weeks of Pac-10 play, things in the conference are beginning to shake out with the contenders separating themselves from an increasing list of pretenders.

With a couple great matchups on tap this weekend, including a game that could determine the Pac-10 championship, the race for the conference crown is heating up. Here’s how things stack up now.

1. Oregon (6-1, 4-0 Pac-10)

The Ducks are currently the only undefeated team in conference play with a 4-0 mark and are coming off a convincing 43-19 shellacking of Washington.

Since a disheartening 19-8 loss to Boise State to open the season, the team with a million different jerseys has looked like one of the best in the nation, illustrated by its No. 10 spot in this week’s Bowl Championship Series rankings.

Oregon’s shot to dethrone USC as conference champion will come Saturday when the two powers square off in a blockbuster conference contest. The winner will have an upper hand in the quest for the Rose Bowl.

2. USC (6-1, 3-1 Pac-10)

The Trojans didn’t have as easy a time dispatching of their opponent with the pesky Beavers in town on Saturday.

Still, USC held on to top Oregon State 42-36 behind a career-high 147 rushing yards from junior running back Allen Bradford.

As usual, the Men of Troy are taking care of business after an early-season conference defeat. But can the squad currently ranked No. 7 in the BSC standings do enough to play for a national championship?

A win over the Ducks this weekend could help its case.

3. UA (5-2, 3-1 Pac-10)

With a quarterback who bares a striking resemblance to Sunshine from “Remember the Titans,” UA cracked its way into The Associated Press Top-25 poll this week for the first time in nine years.

Sophomore Nick Foles, a one-time ASU commit, has been excellent in the signal-caller role for the Wildcats, ranking No. 3 in the conference in pass efficiency (147.5).

Despite five turnovers against UCLA on Saturday, the Wildcats easily disposed of the Bruins, and they now sit in a second-place tie in the conference with USC.

4. Stanford (5-3, 4-2 Pac-10)

The Cardinal showed it wasn’t going to give up on its season following a two-game losing streak.

Senior running back Toby Gerhart and Co. dominated ASU in every facet of the game in a 33-14 rout of ASU on Saturday and looked every bit like a bowl-caliber team in the process.

The schedule ahead is a daunting one, as games against No. 10 Oregon, No. 4 USC, Cal and No. 25 Notre Dame remain on the Cardinal’s schedule.

Still, the squad needs just one more win to earn its first bowl berth since 2001.

5. Oregon State (4-3, 2-2 Pac-10)

The Beavers almost did it again. It took everything USC had not to be upset by OSU for the second time in as many seasons.

With the Rodgers brothers, James and Jacquizz, on offense, the Black and Orange will continue to give teams fits throughout the season.

Mike Riley’s bunch has a history of finishing seasons strong, and with a more favorable schedule than some of the other top teams in the conference have going down the stretch, don’t count the Beavers out too soon.

6. California (5-2, 2-2 Pac-10)

There’s nothing to get an offense back on track quite like a matchup with Washington State.

Cal torched the Cougars to the tune of 559 yards of offense. Quarterback Kevin Riley threw only three passes in the first quarter. They all went for touchdowns.

Senior running back Jahvid Best ran his way to 159 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries.

OK, so these numbers don’t mean as much coming against the ultimate Pac-10 cellar dweller. But it is clear the Golden Bears are finding their groove again on offense, and that certainly makes them dangerous.

7. ASU (4-3, 2-2 Pac-10)

The roller-coaster ride continues for the Sun Devils, and it’s certainly at a low point right now.

Not only did ASU lose to Stanford in a nearly must-win situation, but it lost the game in a manner that inspires little confidence in the team’s chances of winning the necessary two out of its final five contests to become bowl eligible.

Even the normally stellar defense was a no-show during the lopsided defeat. If that becomes a trend, the Maroon and Gold has little chance of avoiding a second straight losing season.

8. Washington (3-5, 2-3 Pac-10)

The Huskies are beginning to come back down to Earth. Lost in the wonder of some early upsets in Seattle is a defense, which, for the most part, has been a major liability.

Only in-state rival WSU is allowing more yards per game than UW (423).

If the Huskies and defensive coordinator Nick Holt can’t turn things around, it won’t matter what star junior quarterback Jake Locker does on the other side of the ball.

Even with the toughest part of the schedule in the rearview mirror, the chances of UW winning three out of its final four games to become bowl eligible are slim.

9. UCLA (3-4, 0-4 Pac-10)

When you force five turnovers and come away with only 13 points, chances are things aren’t going well on offense. The Bruins rank ninth or lower in the conference in every major offensive category, including last in pass efficiency (101.7).

UCLA defensive back Rahim Moore leads the nation in interceptions with seven, but that is about the only bright spot for a team that is reeling from four straight losses following a 3-0 start.

Things won’t get much easier with a trip to Corvallis, Ore., and a tilt with the Beavers on deck.

10. Washington State (1-6, 0-5 Pac-10)

If there were ever an exercise in stating the obvious, declaring that the Cougars are the conference’s worst squad would be it.

Ranked near the bottom nationally in almost every major statistical category, it would be a shock if the boys from Pullman were able to earn a win this season. There is a major talent disparity between WSU and the rest of the teams in the conference, and coach Paul Wulff’s job could be in jeopardy.

Reach the reporter at nkosmide@asu.edu.