Power Rankings: Week 7

Before I get into my Week 7 Power Rankings, I wanted to share something I have been able to experience the last couple days.

On Sunday, I came up to Pinetop, Ariz., to get a quick taste of true fall weather. The temperatures here are dropping, and the leaves are beginning to turn magnificent shades of red, orange and yellow.

Despite the chill in the morning air and the beauty of the fall colors, what has stood out the most in my first 24 hours here is the number of people talking about the Arizona football victory on Saturday. I’ve bumped into at least a half-dozen people since yesterday afternoon that have seen a Block A on my shirt or jacket and given a “Bear Down!”, immediately followed by talk of how fun the game was on Saturday.

I spent two weeks this summer, as I often do, enjoying the cooler weather in the White Mountains. But in July, there wasn’t much interest or enthusiasm when talking Wildcat football. Now, only a couple months later, anyone wearing red or blue up here goes out of their way to talk about the latest game.

Let’s hope that keeps up not only a couple more months, but into the new year as well.

Week 6 Recap

The first week of October was much like September: some surprises and close calls around the country, but little shakeup for the Top 10.

Part of the stability at the top was teams like Clemson and Alabama having bye weeks, but otherwise the top teams continue to take care of business.

An exception was in the SEC, where Florida handed Auburn its first loss of the season. The reward for the seventh-ranked Gators is a trip to No. 5 LSU this week, so the SEC will lose another unbeaten team as it begins to cannibalize itself the way other conferences – like the Pac-12 – have been doing for several weeks.

The Week 7 slate features several other ranked vs. ranked games, including:

#6 Oklahoma vs. #11 Texas
#1 Alabama at #24 Texas A&M
#10 Penn State at #17 Iowa

In the Pac-12, Oregon avoided a scare against stingy California, while Arizona upended Colorado in Boulder. The Ducks and Wildcats are the only remaining teams without a conference loss in the Pac-12.

Meanwhile, Washington fell to Stanford. That not only puts the Huskies in a hole two losses behind Oregon in the North, but it means Oregon State is in second place following a win at UCLA. The Cardinal, California and Washington all have two conference losses.

Down south, the Bruins are the only team with multiple losses in conference play. While Arizona is the lone unbeaten, USC, Utah, Arizona State and Colorado all have just one loss.

The Trojans, who are 2-1 in the league, venture to South Bend this week for a crack at No. 9 Notre Dame. A win would do little to boost USC in the conference, but it would be a welcomed feather in the cap of the Pac-12. It would also knock the Irish out of the playoff hunt.

Pac-12 Power Rankings – Week 7

South Division

1. Utah (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won vs. Washington State, 38-13 (Sept. 28)
Next Game: Saturday at Oregon State

Rested off a bye, the Utes head to Corvallis against an Oregon State team gaining confidence. Avoiding an upset here sets up a closing stretch with four of six at home the rest of the way.

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

The bye week came at a good time for the Trojans, who can help out the Pac-12 Conference this week. It will be interesting to see if quarterback Kedon Slovis is back from a concussion; if he is, USC’s chances to win in South Bend increase.

3. Arizona (4-1, 2-0 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won at Colorado, 35-30
Next Game: Saturday vs. Washington

The return of Khalil Tate sparked the Wildcats to a much-needed road win. Now at 2-0 in the league, Arizona becomes one of the hunted despite being considerable home underdogs against an inconsistent Washington squad.

4. Colorado (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost vs. Arizona, 35-30
Next Game: Friday at Oregon

Since a thrilling win over Nebraska, the Buffaloes have dropped two straight at Folsom Field. They hit the road for a Friday night game in Eugene, which will be more difficult than their most recent road win at Arizona State a few weeks ago.

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

The Sun Devils are back in action against a struggling Washington State team also coming off a bye. This is an important one at home for ASU, which hits the road for three of four after this.

6. UCLA (1-5, 1-2 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost vs. Oregon State, 48-31
Next Game: Oct. 17 at Stanford

The Bruins have a bye week, and that’s about the best news they could expect.

North Division

1. Oregon (4-1, 2-0 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won vs. California, 17-7
Next Game: Friday vs. Colorado

The Ducks’ defense continues to impress, while the offense has scored more than 21 points just twice this season. Oregon needs to avoid looking ahead against Colorado, as a trip to rival Washington awaits on Oct. 19, though the game lost a bit of its national significance over the weekend.

2. Washington (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost at Stanford, 23-13
Next Game: Saturday at Arizona

Any chance the Huskies had to make a run toward the College Football Playoff went out the window with a disappointing performance at Stanford. Unranked now, Chris Peterson must re-focus his group for a long road trip to surging Arizona.

3. Stanford (3-3, 2-2 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won vs. Washington, 23-13
Next Game: Oct. 17 vs. UCLA

Don’t look now, but David Shaw and Co. may have righted the ship. Stanford still has plenty of questions, but after a bye week, the schedule begins to set up favorably for the Cardinal.

4. California (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost at Oregon, 17-7
Next Game: Oct. 19 vs. Oregon State

It was a valiant defensive effort at Oregon, but the Golden Bears just can muster enough offense to hang with the league’s best following the loss of quarterback Chase Garbers. Still, the defense will keep Cal as a pesky foe against anyone.

5. Washington State (3-2, 0-2 Pac-12)
Last Game: Lost at Utah, 38-13 (Sept. 28)
Next Game: Saturday at Arizona State

After consecutive losses, Mike Leach lost his defensive coordinator during the bye week. Maybe the week off will get this team back on track, but the trip to Tempe won’t be easy.

6. Oregon State (2-3, 1-1 Pac-12)
Last Game: Won at UCLA, 48-31
Next Game: Saturday vs. Utah

The Beavers finally put a complete game together and broke through with a conference win at UCLA. Back at home, life will get tougher with a rested Utah squad coming to Corvallis.

National Top 10

1. Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 Big 10 East)
Last Game: Won vs. Michigan State, 34-10
Next Game: Oct. 18 at Northwestern

Another week, another convincing win for Ohio State, which has its first bye of the season this week.

2. Georgia (5-0, 2-0 SEC East)
Last Game: Won at Tennessee, 43-14
Next Game: Saturday vs. South Carolina

It was a sluggish start, but the Bulldogs took care of business in Knoxville. Georgia should be able to avoid a major upset at home the next two weeks (South Carolina, Kentucky), then it’s on to Jacksonville for a showdown with Florida in early November.

3. Clemson (5-0, 3-0 ACC Atlantic)
Last Game: Won at North Carolina, 21-20 (Sept. 28)
Next Game: Saturday vs. Florida State

Coming off a bye, Clemson will need to be ready for the Seminoles, who have won two in a row and will be hungry for a major upset.

4. Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC West)
Last Game: Won vs. Ole Miss, 59-31 (Sept. 28)
Next Game: Oct. 12 at Texas A&M

While Texas A&M has yet to show it can hang with the big boys, don’t think the Aggies won’t put everything on the line against Alabama. The Crimson Tide cannot afford a stumble before November clashes with LSU and Auburn.

5. Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
Last Game: Won at Kansas, 45-20
Next Game: Saturday vs. Texas

This is the week we find out if Jalen Hurts and the Sooners are true playoff contenders. Points should be aplenty in the latest edition of the Red River Showdown.

6. LSU (5-0, 1-0 SEC West)
Last Game: Won vs. Utah State, 42-6
Next Game: Saturday vs. Florida

The Tigers’ defense did well against a Utah State team that can score points, but the competition ramps up big time this week with a visit from surging Florida. Can Joe Burrow and the LSU offense keep things going against the vaunted Gators’ defense?

7. Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0 Big 10 West)
Last Game: Won vs. Kent State, 48-0
Next Game: Saturday vs. Michigan State

The Badgers’ defense continues to dominate, having pitched three shutouts and allowing just 29 points all season. They shouldn’t face much of a challenge from the Spartans’ offense this week, but Wisconsin needs to avoid looking ahead to the Oct. 26 showdown at Ohio State.

8. Notre Dame (4-1, Independent)
Last Game: Won vs. Bowling Green, 52-0
Next Game: Saturday vs. USC

If the Irish are going to push to become a 1-loss CFB Playoff contender, they need to impress against the likes of USC and Michigan over the next couple weeks. Could the rested Trojans’ pull of an upset in South Bend?

9. Florida (6-0, 3-0 SEC East)
Last Game: Won vs. Auburn, 24-13
Next Game: Saturday at LSU

The Gators impressed at home against Auburn, but the schedule only toughens from here starting with a trip to Baton Rouge. Can Florida’s defense carry it through a stretch against the Tigers, at South Carolina and Georgia in the next three games? That is asking a lot.

10. Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten East)
Last Game: Won vs. Purdue, 35-7
Next Game: Saturday at Iowa

The Nittany Lions have been a little off the radar, but like Wisconsin, have a strong defense and an offense that can score points. A difficult stretch looms, beginning this week at Iowa.

Dropped Out: (7) Auburn – The Tigers will have a chance to climb back into the Top 10, but it’s hard to see them surviving a schedule that still includes LSU, Georgia and Alabama.

View last week’s rankings here.

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