For the first time since 2001, it looks like a new champion will be crowned in the Pac-10.

USC has won the conference ever since 2002 (the title was shared with other teams in 2002, 2006 and 2007), but after being demolished at home by Stanford last weekend, it appears the run of the mighty Trojans is over.

So how will things play out with just three weeks of the conference slate remaining? What kind of splash will Pac-10 teams make on the national stage come bowl season? Time will tell, but here is how the teams shake out in this week’s power rankings.

1. Stanford (7-3. 6-2 Pac-10)

Is there a hotter team in the nation right now than the Cardinal?
The nation’s 14th-ranked team has steamrolled over USC and Oregon in consecutive weeks, eclipsing the half-century mark in points in both contests.

Senior running back Toby Gerhart has galloped his way out of dark horse territory and into a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidacy. The bruising 235-pound back has rushed for 1,395 yards (third in the nation) and 19 touchdowns (second).

Redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Luck has helped keep the Cardinal attack a balanced one as he leads the Pac-10 in passing efficiency.

2. Oregon (8-2, 6-1)

While the No. 11 Ducks lead Stanford in the polls and conference standings, UO fell to the Cardinal 51-42 just two weeks ago.

The Ducks rebounded in a big way, though, running all over ASU last Saturday in a 44-21 win.

UO controls its own destiny in its quest for its first conference crown since 2001, and all eyes will be on its nationally televised showdown with UA on Saturday, a game that will have huge implications in the Pac-10 title picture.

3. Oregon State (7-3, 5-2)

As seems to be their tradition, the Beavers have picked up a nice head of steam in the second half of the season.

The sibling tandem of James and Jacquizz Rodgers has been a dangerous one for opposing defenses this season.

After rolling over Washington last week, OSU should have no problem with Washington State this week.

That will leave a compelling end-of-the-season meeting with rival UO on Dec. 3, where a whole lot more than bragging rights will likely be on the line.
Perhaps the Civil War will be one for the Roses?

4. California (7-3, 4-3)

Even without star junior running back Jahvid Best, the Golden Bears found a way to hold off UA at home last week — Cal fans thank your kicker for one heck of a game-saving tackle — pushing itself back to the edge of national rankings.

Kevin Riley has begun to find his groove at quarterback for the Bears, who travel to Palo Alto for The Big Game with Stanford on Saturday, a crucial matchup for bowl-game positioning.

5. USC (7-3, 4-3)

This clearly isn’t your father’s Trojan team.

Pete Carroll’s unbeaten streak in November games came to an end in a big way after a harsh beat down at the hands of Stanford at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The defense, which experienced a mass exodus to the professional ranks at the end of last season, is a shell of its former self, and the offense under freshman Matt Barkley isn’t exactly running on all cylinders either.

It’s going to be a little weird not having USC take up its normal spot in the Rose Bowl this season.

6. UA (6-3, 4-2)

The Wildcats’ real spot among the Pac-10 contenders will be determined when the Ducks come to Tucson on Saturday.

How big is this game? Well, ESPN’s College GameDay has decided to make the trip to the desert, even after Mike Stoops and Co. fell short at Cal.

But the postseason picture didn’t really shift for the Wildcats following the disappointing loss. If the squad wins its remaining three games, it would finish the Pac-10 season with two losses and be tied with UO and OSU.

In that scenario, UA would have the tiebreaker advantage over both teams by virtue of head-to-head wins.

The road to its first-ever Rose Bowl, though, will be a daunting one for UA, which comes to Sun Devil Stadium and then plays at USC following this week’s game against the Ducks.

7. UCLA (5-5, 2-5)

The Bruins got what any struggling team would love to have the last two weeks: games against the Washington schools.

After narrowly edging the Huskies at home two weeks ago, UCLA throttled awful WSU in Pullman last Saturday.

With five wins on the season, the Bruins are battling to become bowl eligible, and they know the best chance of earning that elusive sixth win will be when ASU visits the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

Quarterback Kevin Prince has started to put some rhythm into a UCLA offense that has struggled much of the season — he threw for 314 yards against the Cougars.

8. ASU (4-6, 2-5)

The Sun Devils just can’t get over the hump.

Good offense has come only in spurts, and while the defense has been highly acclaimed much of the season, it was exposed against an UO offense that has done plenty of exposing this season.

Injuries have also been a major concern for Dennis Erickson’s squad — at least 14 players have suffered season-ending injuries.

A win in Saturday’s game is not only crucial to ASU’s bowl hopes, but is also necessary for ASU to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1946-1947.

Erickson said he may not determine a starter at quarterback until Saturday.

9. Washington (3-7, 2-5)

It’s hard to believe this is the same team that was ranked in the early part of the season.

It seems like ages ago now that quarterback Jake Locker led the Huskies to a last-second 16-13 win over USC.

After a controversial win over UA on Oct. 10, UW has dropped four straight.

While Steve Sarkisian will make great strides in turning around the program that finished 0-12 last season, the early success the Huskies experienced this year was likely a mirage, for now.

10. Washington State (1-9, 0-7)

There are becoming fewer and fewer ways to describe how rough things are for the Cougars this season.

WSU’s only likely chance at a conference win will come in two weeks in the Apple Cup against UW. But let’s face it: that probably won’t happen.

Cheer up, Cougar fans. At least basketball season has started.

Reach the reporter at nkosmide@asu.edu.