While ASU was on its second bye of the season, much of the rest of the Pac-12 was playing games. As much as we'd like for order to be restored, it doesn't look like that's on the horizon.
Here's how the conference stacks up with around half of games left to go.
1. No. 9 Oregon (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12)
Last week: Win, 42-30 at UCLA
Up next: Oct. 18 vs. Washington
Oregon is back on top after an impressive win at UCLA. Unlike most Ducks games, this was a blowout until the final quarter. Usually, good teams are able to keep it close with Oregon for two or three quarters, then the Ducks pull away with their superior athleticism in the fourth quarter. That didn't happen at UCLA. Unfortunately for the Bruins, they weren't able to keep the game close enough to pull off the rare fourth-quarter comeback.
2. No. 23 Stanford (4-2, 2-1 Pac-12)
Last week: Win, 34-17 vs. Washington State
Up next: Oct. 18 at ASU
Stanford has been up-and-down this season, and has yet to look like the Stanford we all know from years past. The Cardinal lack a power running game that fits their typical scheme, but they get it done, nonetheless. Really, there isn't a team that fits the No. 2 slot well. Stanford is the most talented, so it takes it this week, but the Cardinal face another tough test Saturday against ASU. Although, they've been the Sun Devils' kryptonite under Todd Graham.
3. No. 22 USC (4-2, 3-1 Pac-12)
Last week: Win, 28-26 at UA
Up next: Oct. 18 vs. Colorado
The Trojans outplayed ASU and were a Hayes-Pullard-doing-something-other-than-just-standing-there away from beating ASU. Then, they rebound from a heartbreaking defeat on the road against then-No. 10 UA, beating the Wildcats in another thriller. USC has the talent to contend for a Pac-12 South title; it's just about putting it together for the first time since 2011 — or, really, 2008.
4. No. 17 ASU (4-1, 2-1 Pac-12)
Last week: Bye
Up next: Oct. 18 vs. Stanford
Just like in the AP and coaches polls, the Sun Devils move up in the Pac-12 power rankings on their bye week. Although USC and UCLA could make arguments for being better than Stanford this season, neither has caused the problems Stanford has for ASU. The Sun Devils are 17-3 in their last 22 games not against Stanford. In the two against Stanford, ASU has lost by a combined 80-42, and it's felt like a larger gap than that.
5. No. 20 Utah (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last week: Bye
Up next: Oct. 16 at Oregon State
For once, it wasn't Oregon setting a trend in college football; it was Utah that was first to beat UCLA on its home turf. Travis Wilson is one of three quarterbacks in the country — all from the Pac-12 (Cyler Miles and Marcus Mariota are the others) — to have more than 100 passing attempts without an interception. Coming off a bye week, Utah gets stuck with the Thursday night game this week in Corvallis, in what should be a close game.
6. No. 16 UA (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12)
Last week: Loss, 28-26 vs. USC
Up next: Bye
This is as far as UA could drop after failing to follow up its big win over Oregon. Before the season, if the Wildcats knew they'd be 5-1 and only lost to USC by two, I'm sure they'd take it. Realistically, this is about where the Wildcats stack up in the Pac-12, rather than the No. 1 spot they claimed last week. UA has been better than expected, with a signature win to boot, heading into its bye week. Wouldn't a Territorial Cup showdown for the Pac-12 South be fun?
7. Washington (5-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last week: Win, 31-7 at California
Up next: Oct. 18 at Oregon
At times, Washington looks like one of the worst teams in the conference, then the Huskies beat up on a one-loss Cal team. The only other complete game UW has played this season came against Illinois. If Chris Petersen is able to open up his offense a little more and keep his team playing consistently, the Huskies could be a threat. The most impressive stat? UW leads the nation with a plus-14 turnover margin. That will be tested on Saturday at Autzen Stadium when the Huskies try to break a 10-year losing streak to bitter rival Oregon.
8. UCLA (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12)
Last week: Loss, 42-30 vs. Oregon
Up next: Oct. 18 at California
It's really unfortunate for ASU that UCLA's one complete game came in Tempe. Other than that 62-27 win, UCLA has looked no better than mediocre. It barely edged out Virginia, Memphis and Texas in the nonconference, then it has followed up the win over ASU with two home losses. Granted, Utah and Oregon are two dangerous teams, but UCLA has yet to look like a team that was in the College Football Playoff discussion to start the year. I'll leave it to you to question the Bruins' deservedness to be in the discussion in the first place.
9. Cal (4-2, 2-2 Pac-12)
Last week: Loss, 31-7 vs. Washington
Up next: Oct. 18 vs. UCLA
This season is already a win for Cal; it has to be. The Golden Bears won one game last season, and that came against Portland State. This season, the Bears have more wins just in conference play. A blowout loss to Washington, with tougher games on the horizon, could be the turning of the tide that closes Cal's season how it was expected to go from the start. It's been a good run, but build a defense and get back to me next season, Bears.
10. Oregon State (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last week: Bye
Up next: Oct. 16 vs. Utah
Hello, is there a Sean Mannion, here? Mr. Mannion, your 2013 self is calling for you. Please come to the front when you get a chance so the two of you can meet. Because it's been like this season's Sean Mannion never even met last year's. Oregon State's redshirt senior quarterback had been some people's Heisman darkhorse entering the season, and the Beavers were considered competitive in the Pac-12 North. That's hardly been the case, though. Mannion's QB rating is the lowest it's been since his freshman season, when he threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Partnered with too close of wins over weak opponents and a blowout loss to the hands of USC, Oregon State still statistically in the running for a conference title but realistically out of it.
11. Washington State (2-5, 1-3 Pac-12)
Last week: Loss, 34-17 vs. Stanford
Up next: Bye
The Cougars seem to be "that team" that gives Pac-12 title contenders a tough game but never quite pulls one out. So far, Washington State has given scares to Oregon and Stanford (and Cal) but has gotten zero wins from those games. It was able to pull off the slight upset of Utah for its lone conference win thus far, but, like Cal, a team with no defense and that almost exclusively passes it on offense isn't going to make it far in this conference.
12. Colorado (2-4, 0-3 Pac-12)
Last week: Bye
Up next: Oct. 18 at USC
Oh, Colorado. I really thought this could be the year the Buffaloes could string together a couple conference wins. Quite frankly, Cal has taken that role. Colorado has one of the better offenses in a conference stocked full of good ones, but like the other cellar dwellers, it doesn't have a defense to match its offense. Once (if) Colorado, Cal and Washington State develop any sort of defense, then they'll be threats. Until then, they're ranked ninth, 11th and 12th.
Reach the reporter at ewebeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @EvanWebeck
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