Oregon and Oregon State Top Pac-12 Rankings
The Pac-12 was given a good shake last week when the Stanford Cardinal formerly ranked fifth in the nation lost to Utah 27-21.
Nevertheless, the showdown between the Cardinal and the Oregon Ducks on November 7 in Palo Alto will be the most anticipated game in Pac-12 football of the season. Last season Stanford beat Oregon in Eugene and the Ducks want to return the favor this season.
Dating back to 2011, Stanford is the only team in the Pac-12 to beat the Ducks in Oregon’s last 13 games against conference opponents.
Utah had lost previously at home to both UCLA and Oregon State before upsetting the Cardinal. With the loss, Stanford not only fell to No. 13 in the nation, but also fell behind Oregon in the Pac-12 as the conference’s best team. Oregon remains on top at 6-0 and a national ranking of No. 2.
Over the next two weeks, Stanford plays at home against UCLA the No. 9 ranked team in the nation and Oregon State winners of five straight games. The Cardinal could possibly loss both games.
Stanford showed their passing defense was vulnerable against the Utes and must face two of the nation’s best quarterbacks in Brett Hundley from UCLA and Sean Mannion from Oregon State.
The North division of the Pac-12, with Oregon perched on top, dwarfs the South division. Both Oregon and in-state rival Oregon State are unbeaten in conference play at 3-0. UCLA leads the South division at 2-0.
The North has a Pac-12 conference record of 12-8, while down south the South division has a record of 6-10. One sign of the depth in the North division is that Washington is in fifth place in the North, but ranked No. 20 in the nation.
The top five in overall rankings for the two divisions combined are:
1. Oregon is on top at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference. Marcus Mariota the team’s sophomore quarterback and the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, has played just once during the fourth quarter this season due to the complete dominance his team has had. Saturday will be more of the same, when Oregon plays Washington State at home.
2. Sitting in second overall is Oregon State at 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference. The Beavers should win against Saturday at California.
3. In third place is UCLA, at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference. UCLA meets Stanford and will not have starting tailback Jordon James who is injured.
4. In fourth is Stanford even with their recent loss, the Cardinal is strong at 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference. Stanford has not lost two straight games in 4 seasons, but faces a tough UCLA team this weekend.
5. Washington is ranked fifth in the conference at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference. The Huskies have great balance offensively and the leading rusher in the nation.
