Power Rankings: Week 6

The wacky Pac-12 was up to its usual tricks last week, while the nation’s top teams remained relatively unthreatened (except Clemson, which we will get to).

Out west, the weekend started off with Arizona State upsetting No. 15 California on a Friday night in the Bay Area. The Golden Bears lost their starting quarterback, Chase Garbers, to an injury midway through the game and could not muster much offense without him.

Arizona State’s win left the conference without an unbeaten team at the end of September. It marks the first time since 2009 that the Pac-12 will not have a team get to 5-0. Not that a 5-0 start means a whole lot come the end of the season. Colorado was the only team to get to 5-0 last season, and the Buffaloes did not win a game the rest of the way and fired their head coach.

Instead, the Pac-12 will be looking for a one-loss team to get on a run and perhaps sneak back into the College Football Playoff conversation.

Washington has bounced back nicely from its early-season setback to once again look like a contender in the Pac-12 North Division. Down South, Utah quickly moved on from a Friday night road loss at USC to look like the complete team many expected in dispatching Washington State in Salt Lake City.

Oregon, which was idle in Week 5, remains the top contender with its lone loss coming in the opener to an Auburn team that is looking better and better each week. The Ducks are one of three Pac-12 schools without a loss in a conference game this season. The other two – Colorado and Arizona – meet in Boulder this Saturday.

On the national landscape, the aforementioned Tigers steamrolled Mississippi State, including the Bulldogs’ live mascot, Bully (watch here). This week, Auburn heads to the Swamp to take on Florida in a marquee SEC game. A loss here makes it unlikely the Tigers or Gators have a path to the playoff, but either way one of these teams emerges as a true contender.

Otherwise, it’s another pretty tame slate for the nation’s top 10, with Clemson and Alabama both off this week.

Speaking of the Clemson Tigers, I have moved them to No. 3 in my rankings this week. After a month of games all across the country, there is enough sample size to gauge the teams on actual on-field performance instead of projection. From that standpoint, no team has been more dominant and more impressive in all phases of the game than Ohio State. So, the Buckeyes emerge as my No. 1 team heading into October.

Now for the rest of the Pac-12 Power Rankings and the National Top 10.

Pac-12 Power Rankings

South Division

Utah (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won vs. Washington State, 38-13
Next Game: Oct. 12 at Oregon State

The Utes got back on track, shoring up their pass defense while opening up their offense in a convincing victory over Washington State. A bye week and then a trip to Corvallis should give Utah a chance to settle into the top spot here for a few weeks.

USC (3-2, 2-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost at Washington, 28-14
Next Game: Oct. 12 at Notre Dame

Despite the loss at Washington, the Trojans are still 2-1 in the Pac-12 and will hold that mark for couple more weeks. They receive a much-needed bye to open October, then venture to South Bend for an annual national spotlight game.

Colorado (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won at Arizona State, 34-31 (Sept. 21)
Next Game: Saturday vs. Arizona

Fresh off a bye week, the Buffaloes can improve to 2-0 in the league with a Homecoming victory this week. Colorado is one of three Pac-12 without a conference loss, including this week’s opponent, Arizona, and Oregon.

Arizona (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won vs. UCLA, 20-17
Next Game: Saturday at Colorado

A steady performance from true freshman quarterback Grant Gunnell and another strong defensive effort offset injuries to Khalil Tate and J.J. Taylor. Winning on the road against a hungry Buffaloes squad will be harder, especially if the two aforementioned playmakers remain sidelined.

Arizona State (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won at California, 24-17
Next Game: Oct. 12 vs. Washington State

The Sun Devils bounced back with a Friday night upset of No. 15 California. The offensive line has shown steady improvement, and a bye week could advance that development further.

UCLA (1-4, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost at Arizona, 20-17
Next Game: Saturday vs. Oregon State

The thrill of the Washington State comeback faded quickly with another lackluster effort at Arizona, which won despite starting a true freshman quarterback. It seems weird to say, but Saturday could be a must-win game against Oregon State. Another loss and things get ugly in Westwood.

North Division

Oregon (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won at Stanford, 21-6 (Sept. 21)
Next Game: Saturday vs. California

The Golden Bears’ loss to ASU takes a little of the luster off this week’s game, but it was going to be a defensive struggle either way. Playing at Autzen gives the Ducks a decided edge, but Cal already has road wins at Washington and Ole Miss.

Washington (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won vs. USC, 28-14
Next Game: Saturday at Stanford

The Huskies have bounced back nicely following a surprise loss to Cal, but they cannot afford to give away anymore ground if they want to keep pace with Ducks.

California (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost vs. Arizona State, 24-17 (Friday)
Next Game: Saturday at Oregon

Cal was rounding into a solid team with the development of quarterback Chase Garbers. His health is a chief concern for this team going forward, which means the defense needs to step up its play to an even higher level.

Washington State (3-2, 0-2 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost at Utah, 38-13
Next Game: Oct. 12 at Arizona State

After consecutive losses, the Cougars have plenty of questions. A bye week affords them time to search for answers, but a difficult road remains if they are to challenge in the North.

Stanford (2-3, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won at Oregon State, 31-28
Next Game: Saturday at Washington

The Cardinal squeaked out a road win in Corvallis without KJ Costello, but doing so again this week is asking a lot.

Oregon State (1-3, 0-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost vs. Stanford, 31-28
Next Game: Saturday at UCLA

The Beavers rallied but came up short in an upset bid against Stanford. Now they get a crack at UCLA in a battle of basement teams in the respective Pac-12 divisions.

National Top 10

Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big 10 East)
Last Game: Won at Nebraska, 48-7
Next Game: Saturday vs. Michigan State

Simply put, no team has looked more complete this season than the Buckeyes. A full month of football is in the books, so it’s time to let the performances speak for themselves. Ohio State is No. 1 heading into October.

Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC East)
Last Game: Won vs. Notre Dame, 23-17 (Sept. 21)
Next Game: Saturday vs. Tennessee

The Bulldogs’ win over Notre Dame will continue to resonate nationally if the Irish continue to play well. Meanwhile, Georgia should not have much trouble until November when the schedule stiffens up.

Clemson (5-0, 3-0 ACC Atlantic)
Last Game: Won at North Carolina, 21-20
Next Game: Oct. 12 vs. Florida State

Sliding the Tigers to No. 3 this week because, quite frankly, they just haven’t looked as sharp as a No. 1 team should. The close call at North Carolina should be a welcomed wake up call to get things back on track. It will continue to be written here: complacency is the biggest enemy for Clemson.

Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC West)
Last Game: Won vs. Ole Miss, 59-31
Next Game: Oct. 12 at Texas A&M

We have yet to see this Alabama team challenged, and if Texas A&M doesn’t do that in two weeks, we will have to wait until November to know how good this Nick Saban squad is.

Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)
Last Game: Won vs. Texas Tech, 55-16
Next Game: Saturday at Kansas

Jalen Hurts and the Sooners’ offense continues to roll. Don’t expect much of a challenge this week from Les Miles and Kansas, unless Oklahoma is looking ahead to Texas in two weeks.

LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC West)
Last Game: Won at Vanderbilt, 66-38
Next Game: Saturday vs. Utah State

It may be asking too much for Utah State to truly challenge LSU, but it’s an intriguing matchup. Can the Tigers regain their offensive momentum from before the bye and can the defense solidify itself to position this team as a true contender?

Auburn (5-0, 2-0 SEC West)
Last Game: Won vs. Mississippi State, 56-23
Next Game: Saturday at Florida

We learn a lot about both of these teams – and the SEC – this Saturday. It should be fun.

Wisconsin (4-0, 2-0 Big 10 West)
Last Game: Won vs. Northwestern, 24-15
Next Game: Saturday vs. Kent State

After a quiet performance against Northwestern, the Badgers step away from Big 10 play.

Notre Dame (3-1, Independent)
Last Game: Won vs. Virginia, 35-20
Next Game: Saturday vs. Bowling Green

The Irish were impressive in following up their losing effort at Georgia with a convincing win over a nationally-ranked Virginia squad. After Bowling Green this week, USC comes to South Bend in two weeks.

Florida (5-0, 2-0 SEC East)
Last Game: Won vs. Towson, 38-0
Next Game: Saturday vs. Auburn

Since escaping Lexington with a narrow victory, the Gators have allowed three total points. It will be an epic defensive battle this week against Auburn, with the winner remaining a CFB Playoff contender.

Dropped Out: None.

View last week’s rankings here.

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