Immediate response to Pac-12 on-the-field developments …
1. Seven stellar hours
The Pac-12 couldn’t have requested for way more on the third and last weekend of the non-conference season.
We’ll get to the collective efficiency momentarily, however let’s begin with the marquee, back-to-back victories by the bitter rivals alongside I-5: Oregon thumped No. 12 Brigham Younger 41-20, then Washington hammered No. 11 Michigan State 39-28.
The present of drive by the Pacific Northwest powers marked the primary time the Pac-12 has recorded two wins over ranked groups on the identical Saturday since Sept. 14, 2013, when ASU took down Wisconsin and UCLA beat Nebraska.
With first-year coaches searching for signature wins, switch quarterbacks enjoying at a excessive stage and swarming defenses, the Geese and Huskies have been equally dominant in benchmark video games.
It’s far too early for grand pronouncements, nevertheless it seems each positioned for profitable years.
Care to guess the final time Washington and Oregon have been good … actually good … in the identical season? Again in 2000, once they completed in a three-way tie (with Oregon State) for the convention title.
That’s good for the Pac-12. The convention is finest when its prime manufacturers are successful, and as of this second, it certain seems just like the top-three soccer packages (USC, Oregon and Washington) are related regionally and nationally.
They aren’t the one ones. We gained’t ignore Utah, the defending champions, or the undefeated trio of Oregon State, Washington State and UCLA.
However identical to the Massive Ten is finest when Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State are elite, the Pac-12’s picture shines brightest when its conventional powers are good.
The convention wanted Washington and Oregon to point out effectively as we speak, in back-to-back video games in opposition to ranked opponents on community tv. And each delivered.
It was a reminder, too, that if the Geese and Huskies stick round, Pac-12 soccer isn’t destined for the wilderness as soon as USC and UCLA go away for the Massive Ten.
2. Playoff speak
Sure, we’re going there. Why? As a result of for now, the maths calls for it.
Let’s handle Washington’s state of affairs first. Although the Huskies have been unranked to begin the season, their School Soccer Playoff components is not any totally different than Utah’s components or USC’s components (or Washington State or Oregon State’s, for that matter).
Any group that wins the Pac-12 title and finishes the season with a 13-0 or 12-1 report should be thought-about a playoff candidate. And if that group’s resume features a victory over a ranked non-conference opponent, its prospects are even higher.
After all, the trick is the 13-0 or 12-1 piece, and we’re hardly satisfied the Huskies have what it takes to clear that bar. The identical goes for WSU and OSU — neither group has the personnel to return near 13-0 or 12-1.
From our vantage level, USC owns the perfect shot of ending the Pac-12’s six-year playoff drought. The Trojans possess the expertise and, in contrast to Utah, have the mandatory margin for error. The Utes can not lose once more due to the stumble at Florida, whereas USC can afford a loss in league play (however would wish to beat Notre Dame).
Oregon has little hope, even with a stellar run by way of the Pac-12. The 49-3 loss to Georgia stained the Geese’ resume for the rest of the season.
3. Non-conference mastery
Now, a number of phrases in regards to the collective.
By means of three weeks, the Pac-12 is 24-9 in non-conference play — a considerable enchancment over final yr’s 16-16 mark at this level.
The convention has overwhelmed two ranked Massive Ten groups (Michigan State and Wisconsin), is undefeated in opposition to the FCS and has simply two losses to Group of 5 opponents. (Extra on these in a second.)
There are three non-conference video games left: Stanford and USC face Notre Dame, whereas the Cardinal additionally performs BYU in late November.
At worst, the Pac-12 will end with a 24-12 mark — a mean of two wins per group, which is vital: Win twice exterior of league play, and also you want simply 4 convention victories to qualify for the postseason.
Notably, not less than 4 groups will conclude non-conference play with a 3-0 report: Washington, Oregon State, Washington State and UCLA. (USC might, as effectively.)
And it might have been 5, given how shut Cal got here to victory at Notre Dame.
The Bears missed a number of possibilities however have been on the fallacious aspect of a preposterous offsides name (by ACC officers) on an errant Notre Dame subject objective within the second quarter.
Given a second likelihood, the Irish scored a landing that supplied the successful margin.
4. General improve
Every part in regards to the Pac-12’s postseason stays muddled, however we've loads of readability on the common season: The standard of play throughout the convention is best than it was final by an order of magnitude.
Why?
Teaching modifications have resulted in main upgrades at two of the Pac-12’s premier packages, USC and Washington.
The quarterback play is the same as, or higher than it was, at most faculties (USC and Washington prime that record, as effectively).
Transfers have made an enormous influence, and never simply on the quarterback place.
And the COVID hangover — the dearth of follow and recreation expertise in 2020 that affected efficiency firstly of the 2021 season — has been fully flushed from the system.
From right here, it seems the Pac-12 is headed for its finest common season since 2017, when it positioned 4 groups within the last AP ballot and had two (USC and UW) take part within the New 12 months’s Six.
5. The outliers
We talked about above that two groups have suffered losses to Group of 5 opponents.
These groups could be Colorado, which was thumped at Air Pressure in Week Two, and Arizona State, which misplaced at dwelling to Japanese Michigan on Saturday night time.
The winless Buffaloes have been outscored 128-30 in three video games and are clearly the worst group within the convention, if not your complete Energy 5. They're unwatchable. (We all know that as a result of we've watched.)
In the meantime, the Solar Devils are in a fragile state of affairs on and off the sector because of the mix of an undisciplined group and the NCAA investigation.
Add crucial personnel deficiencies — Japanese Michigan rushed for 305 yards — and a brutal upcoming schedule, and ASU might rapidly be a part of Colorado as a season-long backside feeder.
The Solar Devils are 1-2 and now face Utah, USC and Washington in succession.
Due to coach Herm Edwards’ seemingly wobbly future, it’s not arduous to ascertain the gamers shedding curiosity and urgency if the losses mount.
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