Pac-12 power rankings: Week 5

1. No. 2 Oregon (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12)

Last week: Bye

Up next: Oct. 2 vs. UA

Oregon hit its bye week sitting in the top spot of the power rankings, and nothing happened to change that. Through five weeks, no team from the Pac-12 has looked to be on the Ducks' level.

2. No. 8 UCLA (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12)

Last week: Win, 62-27 vs. ASU

Up next: Oct. 4 vs. Utah

After four weeks of mediocrity and underperforming, it all came together on Thursday night for UCLA, which dismantled the Sun Devils by 35 points. Brett Hundley proved to be healthy, and the Bruins proved to be a force when he is. After Utah upset Michigan, it looked like this week's game could be a battle for the Pac-12 South, but after the Utes lost to Washington State at home, that looks less likely.

3. No. 14 Stanford (3-1, 1-1 Pac-12)

Last week: Win, 20-13 at Washington

Up next: Oct. 4 at Notre Dame

Stanford has now faced the toughest two-game combination in the Pac-12: vs. USC and at Washington. It's 1-1 in those games after traveling to Seattle and taking down the Huskies in a messy, defensive battle. Stanford didn't win pretty, but there's no discounting a road win against a quality opponent.

4. No. 16 USC (3-1, 2-0 Pac-12)

Last week: Win, 35-10 vs. Oregon State

Up next: Oct. 4 vs. ASU

The Trojans are taking advantage of the other Pac-12 teams beating up on each other. USC got its bad loss out of the way early and is slowly moving its way back up the rankings. The Trojans didn't play as well as a 35-10 final might indicate, but they're the only team that is 2-0 in Pac-12 play.

5. UA (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12)

Last week: Bye

Up next: Oct. 2 at Oregon

Similar to USC, UA is also watching its conference opponents take each other out. The Wildcats had a bye last week, and they still haven't gotten an impressive win. But as Washington, ASU and Oregon State lose, the Wildcats' undefeated record looks better and better. They'll try to perform an encore to last year's upset of Oregon on Thursday at Autzen Stadium.

6. Washington (4-1, 0-1 Pac-12)

Last week: Loss, 20-13 vs. Stanford

Up next: Bye

The bye week comes at a good time for the Huskies. Through five weeks of the season, UW has put together really only one complete performance: its 44-19 Week 3 win over Illinois. Losing by one score to Stanford — and threatening at the end of regulation — looks good on paper, but a mix of poor play calling and inexperience at quarterback held the Huskies to just six offensive points and 179 total yards.

7. ASU (3-1, 1-1 Pac-12)

Last week: Loss, 62-27 vs. UCLA

Up next: Oct. 4 at USC

The Sun Devils have to put last week's massacre behind them as quickly as possible. The schedule doesn't get any easier from here on out, as ASU heads to USC on Saturday. Coach Todd Graham has to get his defense right, while still preparing for the likely second start from redshirt junior backup quarterback Mike Bercovici.

8. Utah (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12)

Last week: Loss, 28-27 vs. Washington State

Up next: Oct. 4 at UCLA

For a moment there, it looked like Utah was going to be the surprise team to challenge for the top spot in the Pac-12 South. The Utes still may shock some and pull an upset here and there, but the inabilty to follow up a big road win in their first conference test doesn't bode well for the Utes.

9. Washington State (2-3, 1-1 Pac-12)

Last week: Win, 28-27 at Utah

Up next: Oct. 4 vs. California

The Cougars, after looking like the worst team in the Pac-12 during nonconference play, have given a scare to Oregon and beaten Utah on the road. Not only did they knock off Utah, but the Cougars also held them to their second-lowest point total of the season and made an impressive comeback after trailing 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

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

Last week: Loss, 35-10 at USC

Up next: Oct. 4 at Colorado

A string of unimpressive wins against lesser teams came to a breaking point when Oregon State finally played a quality opponent. Defensive woes still plague the Beavers, and they weren't able to rely on veteran quarterback Sean Mannion to keep putting up points. It's a battle for Pac-12 mediocrity between OSU and Colorado on Saturday.

11. California (3-1, 1-1 Pac-12)

Last week: Win, 59-56 vs. Colorado

Up next: Oct. 4 at Washington State

While it didn't feature much talent (or defense) in the present, the shootout between Cal and Colorado showcased the future offensive stars of the Pac-12. Jared Goff had his best game as a Golden Bear, and the same can be said for Buffaloes QB Sefo Liufau. Just take a look at these passing numbers:

12. Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Pac-12)

Last week: Loss, 59-56 at California

Up next: Oct. 4 vs. Oregon State

 

 

If the Buffaloes had any sort of defense, they would have beaten Cal, and they would have had a good shot at beating ASU. If the Buffaloes had a defense, they'd be one of the better teams in the Pac-12. Nelson Spruce might be the most underrated receiver in the nation, and he's just one piece to what is a potent offense that resides in Boulder, Colorado.

 

Reach the reporter at ewebeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @EvanWebeck

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