Pac-12 Week 10 Power Rankings: Utah Loss Creates Four Horse Race For South Division

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The entire south division has shifted after week ten games were played. Utah controlled their own destiny and just needed to win out to win the division. After their loss to Arizona State, that isn’t the case anymore as there is a three-way tie for first place atop the south division.

Utah, USC and Arizona are 4-3. If these three teams have the same conference record at the end of the season, Utah would win the tiebreaker because they beat both USC and Arizona.

Arizona State is 3-3 but if they finish their schedule undefeated, they will win the division with the head-to-head wins over the other three teams.

Here’s how the Pac-12 schools did in the tenth week of play. Teams are listed by division, in order of their KSL Sports Power Ranking.

NORTH

1. No. 8 Washington State (8-1, 5-1)

Result: Defeated California 19-13 at home.

Recap: The 413 yards of total offense didn’t show up on the scoreboard for Washington State. Quarterback Gardner Minshew connected with wide receiver Easop Winston on a 10-yard touchdown pass to take a 19-13 lead with 32 seconds left in the game. That was Minshew’s only passing touchdown of the game to go with 334 yards. Winston finished with 92 receiving yards on 7 catches. The Cougars have won five straight and hope to creep closer to the top five in the College Football Playoff Rankings.

Previous ranking: 1

Next up: at Colorado, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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

Result: Beat Stanford 27-23 at home.

Recap: The Huskies jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half. They had to hold off Stanford’s comeback, who cut the lead to seven in the fourth quarter. Washington knocked in a field goal before Stanford scored a touchdown and trimmed the lead to four with 3:24 left. Quarterback Jake Browning threw for 194 yards and one touchdown, while running back Myles Gaskin rushed for 148 yards on 28 carries to go with one touchdown.

Previous ranking: 2

Next up: Bye week

The Huskies remain undefeated at Husky Stadium with tonight’s win over the Cardinal. #PurpleReign

Recap: https://t.co/YasoMtuf3S pic.twitter.com/X3XTNOQYn5

— Washington Football (@UW_Football) November 4, 2018

3. Oregon (6-3, 3-3)

Result: Beat UCLA 42-21 at home.

Recap: Oregon was able to outscore the Bruins 28-7 with 6:15 left in the third quarter. Each team exchanged two more touchdowns before the Ducks came away with the win, snapping their two game losing streak. Quarterback Justin Herbert had two touchdown passes with 264 yards. Running back C.J. Verdell had 90 yards and a score on the ground. Wide receiver Dillon Mitchell caught 8 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks are now bowl-eligible after winning their sixth game.

Previous ranking: 4

Next up: at Utah, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.

4. Stanford (5-4, 3-3)

Result: Lost to Washington 27-23 on the road.

Recap: The Cardinal pulled within seven points early in the fourth quarter before Washington kicked a field goal. Stanford scored another touchdown but missed the extra point and lost by four points. Quarterback K.J. Costello had to throw the ball 43 times, completing 29 passes. He had two touchdowns and three interceptions to go with 347 yards. Tight end Kaden Smith scored a touchdown through the air with 107 yards receiving. Running back Bryce Love found the end zone once with 71 rushing yards. Stanford has lost their last two games and four of their last five.

Previous ranking: 3

Next up: vs. Oregon State, Saturday at 7:00 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.

5. California (5-4, 2-4)

Result: Lost at No. 8 Washington State 19-13.

Recap: It looked like Cal had another chance to upset a Pac-12 leader, coming off their win over Washington in week 9. With the game tied in the third quarter, the Golden Bears let the game slip away with 32 seconds left as Washington State scored a touchdown. Quarterback Chase Garbers threw 127 passing yards and one touchdown and added 67 yards on the ground.

Previous ranking: 5

Next up: at USC, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

6. Oregon State (2-7, 1-5)

Result: Lost to USC 38-21 at home.

Recap: The Trojans jumped out to a 21-0 lead before the Beavers made their comeback attempt. They trimmed the lead to seven in the third quarter before USC scored two unanswered touchdowns in the final quarter. Quarterback Jake Luton threw for 301 yards and one touchdown, he connected with wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins eight times for 129 yards. Running back Jermar Jefferson was held in check by the USC defense, collecting just 58 yards rushing.

Previous ranking: 6

Next up: at Stanford, Saturday at 7:00 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.

SOUTH

1. Utah (6-3, 4-3)

Result: Lost to Arizona State 38-20 on the road.

Recap: Utah dug themselves out of a 14-0 hole early in the first quarter to trail 21-17 at the half. They lost quarterback Tyler Huntley for the season with a broken collarbone that he suffered in the third quarter. The Utes couldn’t overcome the Sun Devils 17-point fourth quarter and Arizona State snaps Utah’s four game winning streak. Running back Zack Moss had 128 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Utes defense struggled with the Sun Devils, allowing 536 yards of total offense, including 251 yards on the ground.

Previous ranking: 1

Next up: vs. Oregon, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.

2. Arizona State (5-4, 3-3)

Result: Defeated No. 15 Utah 38-30 at home.

Recap: The Sun Devils held a one point lead going into the fourth quarter before breaking the game open, outscoring Utah 17-0 in the final period. Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins threw 285 passing yards and three touchdowns, all of those scores to wide receiver N’Keal Harry who added 161 receiving yards. Running back Eno Benjamin had 175 yards rushing on 27 carries to go with two touchdowns.

Previous ranking: 3

Next up: vs. UCLA, Saturday at 12:00 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.

.@TheSunDevils are in the driver’s seat 😈 pic.twitter.com/LqJv4QGMe8

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 4, 2018

3. Arizona (5-5, 4-3)

Result: Defeated Colorado 42-34 at home.

Recap: Despite the slow start, trailing 10-0 after the first quarter, Arizona answered with 26 points in the second quarter and held a two point lead at halftime. The third quarter was just about even with the Wildcats holding a one point lead. Arizona scored the only touchdown in the fourth quarter to win their second straight game. Quarterback Khalil Tate threw a career-high 350 passing yards and five touchdowns. Running back J.J. Taylor ran the ball 40 times with 192 rushing yards. The Wildcats had 566 yards of total offense.

Previous ranking: 2

Next up: Bye week

And that’s how you start a weekend off! #BearDown pic.twitter.com/CrfOAXGF2F

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 3, 2018

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

Result: Defeated Oregon State 38-21 on the road.

Recap: USC stopped the Beavers comeback in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns to snap their two-game losing streak. The Trojans had 332 rushing yards led by Aca’Cedric Ware with 17 carries for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Vavae Malepeai added 101 yards on 15 rushes.

Previous ranking: 4

Next up: vs. California, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

5. Colorado (5-4, 2-4)

Result: Lost at Arizona 42-34.

Recap: Colorado came up short in the shootout with Arizona. Quarterback Steven Montez threw 343 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Juwann Winfree had 8 receptions for 101 yards. The Buffaloes have lost their last four games after starting the season 5-0.

Previous ranking: 5

Next up: vs. No. 8 Washington State, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN.

6. UCLA (2-7, 2-4)

Result: Lost at Oregon 42-21.

Recap: Bruins head coach Chip Kelly returned to Oregon for the first time since leaving the Ducks in 2012. They played two quarterbacks, starting with Dorian Thompson-Robinson who threw for 135 yards and one touchdown. Wilton Speight added 147 passing yards and a score. Running back Joshua Kelley added 161 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Previous ranking: 6

Next up: at Arizona State, Saturday at 12:00 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.