A recap of the Week Three motion throughout the Pac-12 …
Theme of the week: Huge wins
Washington and Oregon thumped No. 11 Michigan State and No. 12 Brigham Younger, respectively, by a mixed rating of 80-48, giving the Pac-12 two wins over ranked non-conference opponents on the identical day for the primary time since Sept. 14, 2013. (Again then, ASU beat Wisconsin and UCLA dealt with Nebraska.) There have been quite a few victories over ranked opponents prior to now 9 seasons, however the Saturdays by no means aligned.
Theme of the season: Northwest energy
Oregon, Washington, Oregon State and Washington State are collectively undefeated towards groups not named Georgia, and each the Geese and Huskies are ranked on this week’s AP ballot. In the meantime, how’s this for a nugget: That is the primary time the Cougars and Beavers have been 3-0 in the identical season since 1915.
Staff of the week: Washington
For quite a lot of causes that embody the identify and rating of the opponent, the resounding nature of the efficiency, the resurgence of this system beneath a brand new coach and the backdrop of Huge Ten growth, the Huskies earned our vote. In 4 quarters, they went a good distance towards wiping away the previous three years.
Recreation of the week: Notre Dame 24, Cal 17
With apologies to UCLA, which beat South Alabama on a subject purpose as time expired, and to Arizona, which edged North Dakota State, the wild end in South Bend made for essentially the most entertaining viewing. The Irish appeared to clinch the victory with an interception within the remaining minute, besides a concentrating on name gave Cal a second likelihood — and the Bears had been oh-so-close to changing on a Hail Mary.
Blown name of the week: ACC officers
The offside penalty on Cal was so dangerous, so inconceivable, that the NBC broadcast crew and the officiating skilled (Terry McAuley) had been unflinchingly important. It was nearly just like the officers had been seeing a unique actuality than everybody else. And the whiff proved pricey. As a substitute of a missed subject purpose, the Irish acquired a second likelihood and transformed a landing — the last word distinction within the scoreboard.
Coach of the week: UW’s Kalen DeBoer
A shrewd rent who didn’t generate the eye heaped on Oregon’s Dan Lanning or USC’s Lincoln Riley, DeBoer has shortly reworked the underachieving Huskies right into a contender within the Pac-12. Two elements stand above the remaining: The creativity on offense and the bodily, swarming play of the protection.
Scorching seat of the week: Arizona State’s Herm Edwards
Following a horrific loss to Japanese Michigan, ASU president Michael Crow appeared to point a training change may very well be coming in Tempe. “We’ll should resolve the place we’re going from right here,” Crow instructed azcentral, “and resolve what the problems are and see the place we’re headed.” On the dimensions of in-season statements from college presidents go, that’s an 11. (They hardly ever say something, and once they do, they sometimes say nothing.) At this level, the Hotline is declaring the Edwards Watch formally underway.
Offensive participant of the week: UW quarterback Michael Penix
Sure, the Huskies are claiming an outsized share of the honors right here, however while you soundly defeat a ranked Huge Ten opponent on ABC in an East Coast primetime window, the accolades will comply with. And Penix was excellent within the 39-28 victory, finishing 24-of-40 passes for 397 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Defensive participant of the week: WSU linebacker Daiyan Henley
Inside one other stout defensive efficiency by the Cougars, Henley stood out. He recorded 13 tackles and three sacks and compelled two fumbles as WSU held Colorado State to seven factors — a single fourth-quarter landing lengthy after the result was secured.
Stat of the week I: Huge Ten woes
With Washington’s victory, the Pac-12 is now 27-10 towards Huge Ten opponents since 2000 in regular-season video games performed within the Pacific Time Zone. No one has struggled greater than Michigan State, which final gained beneath these circumstances in 1957.
Stat of the week II: Factors, factors, factors
Eight of the 11 groups in motion scored not less than 30 factors, and three went over 40, because the convention continues to indicate vital enchancment in play-calling and quarterback play. 4 passers (Utah’s Cam Rising, OSU’s Likelihood Nolan, USC’s Caleb Williams and UW’s Penix) rank among the many prime 30 nationally in effectivity score.
Stat of the week III: Arizona
The Wildcats have already got gained extra video games (two) than they did within the 2020-21 seasons mixed (one).
Stat of the week IV: Oregon State
The Beavers are 3-0 for the primary time for the reason that 2014 season.
Stat of the season: Utah
The Utes have scored 14 factors within the first quarter over three video games, and 120 factors within the remaining three quarters.
Recreation of subsequent week: USC at Oregon State
The 6:30 p.m. kickoff on the Pac-12 Networks stands as USC’s hardest check but and can present readability on whether or not the Beavers are able to contending for the convention title. OSU’s revamped, aggressive protection will face an offense that ranks within the prime 10 nationally in scoring and yards-per-play. Honorable point out goes to Oregon-WSU, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on FOX.
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