Oregon Ducks Take No. 1 Spot In Final 2020 KSL Sports Pac-12 Power Rankings

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Oregon Ducks took over the top spot in the final KSL Sports Pac-12 Power Rankings of the season.

Originally, Oregon was not supposed to play in the Pac-12 Championship game but was able to play in the game after Washington had to pull out due to COVID-19. The Ducks went to the LA Coliseum and knocked off the USC Trojans to win their second straight Pac-12 Championship.

Here is the KSL Sports Pac-12 Power Rankings following the final week of the regular season.

North Division

1. No. 25 Oregon Ducks (4-2)

Previous Result: Beat No. 13 USC 31-24 in Pac-12 Championship Game

Recap: Oregon started the game with two unanswered touchdowns. USC responded with a touchdown before the end of the first quarter. Both teams exchanged TD’s in the second quarter with Oregon taking a 21-14 lead into the break. The Ducks scored first in the third followed by a field goal by the Trojans. Oregon kicked a field goal early in the fourth before USC scored a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The Ducks held on to win their second straight conference title. Tyler Shough threw for just 91 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Anthony Brown had 17 passing yards and two TD’s. D.J. Johnson, Jaylon Redd, Travis Dye and Hunter Kampmoyer all caught touchdowns.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next Up: Fiesta Bowl vs. No. 10 Iowa State (8-3) on Saturday, January 2 at 2 p.m. MST on ESPN.

BACK-TO-BACK PAC-12 CHAMPIONS! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/xpskrfdI3i

— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 19, 2020

2. Stanford Cardinal (4-2)

Previous Result: Beat UCLA 48-47 in 2 OT on the road

Recap: Stanford had a 20-3 lead at halftime. UCLA responded with 31 unanswered points and had a 34-20 lead with 5:39 left in the game. The Cardinal tied the game with two touchdowns by former Brighton star Simi Fehoko in the final 2:34 of the game to force overtime. UCLA scored the first TD of OT, followed by two straight by Stanford. UCLA scored and went for the two-point conversion but was stopped by Stanford. Davis Mills threw for 428 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Austin Jones rushed for 92 yards and two TD’s. Isaiah Sanders had two carries for 5 yards and two scores. Fehoko finished with 16 receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns.

Previous Ranking: 3

Next Up: Opted out of bowl game. Season over.

𝐇𝐎𝐖 '𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/07GoSwrvTL

— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 20, 2020

3. Washington Huskies (3-1)

Previous Result: Game Canceled

Recap: Washington’s game against USC in the Pac-12 Championship was canceled due to COVID-19 related issues in the Huskies’ program.

Previous Ranking: 1

Next Up: Opted out of bowl game. Season over.

The @UW_Football program has elected to not pursue a bowl bid due to medical reasons.

Statements from Director of Athletics Jen Cohen, Head Football Team Physician Dr. Kim Harmon, and Head Coach Jimmy Lake:

— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) December 18, 2020

4. Oregon State Beavers (2-5)

Previous Result: Lost to Arizona State 46-33 at home

Recap: Arizona State jumped out to a 26-15 lead at the halftime break. Each team scored three touchdowns in the second half. Chance Nolan threw for 114 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jermar Jefferson had 103 rushing yards, while Jack Colletto ran in two TD’s.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next Up: Season Over

JACK JACK 🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/WsfalegK4z

— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) December 20, 2020

5. Washington State Cougars (1-3)

Previous Result: Lost to Utah 45-28 on the road

Recap: Washington State jumped out to a 28-7 lead in the first half. The Utes crawled back and scored 38 unanswered points and kept the Cougars scoreless in the second half. Jayden de Laura passed for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Cammon Cooper threw for 77 yards. Max Borghi rushed for 95 yards and one TD. De Laura and Deon McIntosh also ran in scores.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next Up: Season Over

Final from Salt Lake pic.twitter.com/WB7okzwp8d

— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) December 19, 2020

6. California Golden Bears (1-3)

Previous Result: Game Canceled

Recap: Cal’s game against Arizona was canceled due to COVID-19. The Golden Bears finished the season with a 1-3 record.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next Up: Season Over

https://t.co/Ry9D71DJyQ pic.twitter.com/TOKoe2hXuS

— Cal Football (@CalFootball) December 14, 2020

South Division

1. No. 17 USC Trojans (5-1)

Previous Result: Lost to Oregon 31-24 in Pac-12 Championship Game

Recap: Oregon started the game with two unanswered touchdowns. USC responded with a touchdown before the end of the first quarter. Both teams exchanged TD’s in the second quarter with Oregon taking a 21-14 lead into the break. The Ducks scored first in the third followed by a field goal by the Trojans. Oregon kicked a field goal early in the fourth before USC scored a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The Ducks held on to win their second straight conference title. Kedon Slovis had 320 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Bru McCoy caught six passes for 76 yards and a TD. Drake London had 8 receptions for 75 yards, while Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in 5 catches for 74 yards and a score.

Previous Ranking: 1

Next Up: Opted out of bowl game. Season over.

Until next year.

Full Story: https://t.co/ChWgzM17jm#FightOn✌️

— USC Football (@USC_FB) December 20, 2020

2. Colorado Buffaloes (4-1)

Previous Result: Game Canceled

Recap: Colorado’s final game of the regular season against Oregon was canceled because the Ducks replaced Washington in the Pac-12 Championship game.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next Up: Alamo Bowl vs. No. 20 Texas (6-3) on Tuesday, December 29 at 7 p.m. MST on ESPN.

UPDATE: The Pac-12 Conference has canceled this Saturday's scheduled game between the University of Colorado and the University of Oregon after the Ducks were elevated into the league's championship game Friday night against USC.https://t.co/RRSgmuSwll

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) December 14, 2020

3. Utah Utes (3-2)

Previous Result: Beat Washington State 45-28 at home

Recap: Washington State jumped out to a 28-7 lead in the first half. The Utes crawled back and scored 38 unanswered points and kept the Cougars scoreless in the second half. Jake Bentley threw for 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Drew Lisk had 152 passing yards. Ty Jordan ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Britain Covey caught 6 passes for a career-high 134 yards and one TD. Clark Phillips III returned an interception for a touchdown.

Previous Ranking: 3

Next Up: Opted out of bowl game. Season over.

WHAT A GAME pic.twitter.com/rPgJHfIG0L

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 19, 2020

4. UCLA Bruins (3-4)

Previous Result: Lost to Stanford 48-47 in 2 OT at home

Recap: Stanford had a 20-3 lead at halftime. UCLA responded with 31 unanswered points and had a 34-20 lead with 5:39 left in the game. The Cardinal tied the game with two touchdowns by former Brighton star Simi Fehoko in the final 2:34 of the game to force overtime. UCLA scored the first TD of OT, followed by two straight by Stanford. UCLA scored and went for the two-point conversion but was stopped by Stanford. Chase Griffin came in for the injured Dorian Thompson-Robinson and threw for 127 yards and 4 touchdowns. Brittain Brown racked up 219 rushing yards.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next Up: Season Over

Final. pic.twitter.com/wQoIG2O4ik

— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) December 20, 2020

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-2)

Previous Result: Beat Oregon State 46-33 on the road

Recap: Arizona State jumped out to a 26-15 lead at the halftime break. Each team scored three touchdowns in the second half. Jayden Daniels threw for 139 yards and one touchdown, while running for 83 yards and two TD’s. Rachaad White racked up 158 yards and two scores. Ricky Pearsall and DeaMonte Trayanum each had a rushing TD.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next Up: Opted out of bowl game. Season over.

W. pic.twitter.com/PkqeoNGbNV

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) December 20, 2020

6. Arizona Wildcats (0-5)

Previous Result: Game Canceled

Recap: Arizona’s final regular season game of 2020 against California was canceled due to COVID-19.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next Up: Season Over

Official statement from AD @Dave_Heeke pic.twitter.com/8OtgLa1nGt

— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) December 14, 2020

Combined Power Rankings

Here is the entire power rankings combined.

1. Oregon Ducks
2. USC Trojans
3. Colorado Buffaloes
4. Stanford Cardinal
5. Utah Utes
6. Washington Huskies
7. UCLA Bruins
8. Arizona State Sun Devils
9. Oregon State Beavers
10. Washington State Cougars
11. California Golden Bears
12. Arizona Wildcats

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.