SI Pac-12 Week 4 Power Rankings: UCLA Falls, Still Stays Afloat
The Fan Nation and Sports Illustrated publishers of the Pac-12 have come together to for the latest update of the conference's hierarchy following Week 3.
UCLA football (2-1) dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 in the latest edition of the SI Pac-12 Power Rankings following its loss to Fresno State on Saturday. The Bruins were the unanimous No. 2 team in the conference a week ago, but ranked everywhere between No. 2 and No. 5 on the six ballots sent in Sunday.
Oregon remained the unanimous top team in the Pac-12, as they boast the only undefeated record and best nonconference win out of all 12 teams at this point in the season.
UCLA and Arizona State, on the other hand, entered last weekend undefeated but both picked up losses Saturday.
One week after all six publishers had the Bruins at No. 1, there was a bit more disagreement this time around. Ducks Digest was the highest on UCLA at No. 2, while All Sun Devils was the lowest, placing them at No. 5. All Bruins, Cal Sports Report and Husky Maven all had them pegged at No. 3, and All Trojans ranked them at No. 4.
Taking the Bruins' spot in second place is their next opponent, Stanford, which put up a win over Vanderbilt on Saturday one week after besting USC and kicking Clay Helton out of town.
Here are the full Week 4 power rankings, as well as some brief thoughts from each of the publishers:
SI PAC-12 FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS
1. Oregon (3-0), 72 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Stanford (2-1), 65
3. UCLA (2-1) 58
4. USC (2-1) 55
5. Arizona State (2-1) 47
6. Oregon State (2-1) 35
7. Utah (1-2) 34
8 (tie). Cal (1-2) 30
8 (tie). Washington (1-2) 30
10. Colorado (1-2) 23
11. Washington State (1-2) 14
12. Arizona (0-3) 6
DONNIE DRUIN, ALL SUN DEVILS
1. Oregon; 2. Stanford; 3. USC; 4. Arizona State; 5. UCLA; 6. Oregon State; 7. Colorado; 8. Utah; 9. Cal; 10. Washington; 11. Washington State; 12. Arizona
Comment: Not a great outing by the Pac-12 over the weekend. I don't feel great about Stanford being at two and that will likely change, but UCLA/ASU falling over the weekend propel them there. I think USC may have found their elixir in Jaxson Dart.
JAKE CURTIS, CAL SPORTS REPORT
1. Oregon; 2. Stanford; 3. UCLA; 4. USC; 5. Arizona State; 6. Utah; 7. Oregon State; 8. Washington; 9. Cal; 10. Colorado; 11. Washington State; 12. Arizona
Comment: It’s Oregon and everyone else. Stanford’s results don’t warrant a No. 2 ranking, but based on how the Cardinal is playing with Tanner McKee as its quarterback, Stanford looks like the second-best team right now.
MAX TORRES, DUCKS DIGEST
1. Oregon; 2. UCLA; 3. Stanford; 4. USC; 5. Arizona State; 6. Utah; 7. Cal; 8. Colorado; 9. Oregon State; 10. Washington; 11. Washington State; 12. Arizona
Comment: These first three weeks of football show part of the reason why the Pac-12 is viewed as such a weak conference nationally. The Pac-12 really didn't do itself many favors in the non-conference slate, with only one team escaping unscathed with an undefeated record. The No. 2 spot is getting more highly contested, but I still give UCLA the edge after losing to a talented and gritty Fresno State team.
SAM CONNONS, ALL BRUINS
1. Oregon; 2. Stanford; 3. UCLA; 4. Arizona State; 5. USC; 6. Oregon State; 7. Utah; 8. Cal; 9. Washington; 10. Colorado; 11. Washington State; 12. Arizona
Comment: UCLA and Arizona State really fumbled the bag Saturday, in terms of what they could have done for the Pac-12. BYU and Fresno State are good teams, but losing those games cost the conference a pair of undefeated teams and added a couple more non-Power Five losses to the list this year. They weren't embarrassing enough to throw the rest of their seasons away, but they don't have as much momentum as Stanford at this point.
CLAUDETTE MONTANA-PATTISON, ALL TROJANS
1. Oregon; 2. Stanford; 3. USC; 4. UCLA; 5. Washington; 6. Oregon State; 7. Cal; 8. Arizona State; 9. Washington State; 10. Utah; 11. Colorado; 12. Arizona
Comment: The USC Trojans jump the list slightly after a comeback victory over the Washington State Cougars. The UCLA Bruins drop following a disappointing, but well fought loss to Fresno State at home.
DAN RALEY, HUSKY MAVEN
1. Oregon; 2. Stanford; 3. UCLA; 4. USC; 5. Arizona State; 6. Washington; 7. Utah; 8. Cal; 9. Oregon State; 10. Colorado; 11. Washington State; 12. Arizona
Comment: We know who has the best win in the Pac-12, giving those Buckeyes a black eye. OK, name the worst lost? Washington to Montana? USC to Stanford? Stanford to K-State? Well, UCLA joins that mix by being unable to stop Fresno State with 55 seconds to go. It’s the Ducks and everybody else.
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