On a typical Monday, the Hotline devotes this part of the Pac-12 energy scores to developments from the weekend or rising traits that affect the collective.
However for the primary time in six years, the convention has a top-10 matchup looming. Our focus right here, is there.
When No. 9 UCLA visits No. 10 Oregon on Saturday afternoon, it's going to mark the primary time top-10 groups have collided in a Pac-12 regular-season convention sport since September 2016, when No. 10 Washington blasted No. 7 Stanford on a Friday night time in Seattle.
The matchup is a giant deal — large enough that ESPN’s ‘Faculty GameDay’ will make its first look on a Pac-12 campus since … the UCLA-Oregon sport final 12 months.
The truth is, the showdown in Autzen Stadium is simply the sixth duel of top-10 groups because the Pac-12 expanded in 2011 and solely the 14th such event this century.
Right here’s the listing, offered by the convention workplace, with the winner in italics and asterisks noting the 2 Pac-12 championship video games (impartial discipline).
2000: No. 5 Oregon at No. 8 Oregon State
2001: No. 10 Washington at No. 7 UCLA
2003: No. 6 Washington State at No. 3 USC
2004: No. 7 Cal at No. 1 USC
2007: No. 9 USC at No. 5 Oregon
2007: No. 6 Arizona State at No. 4 Oregon
2009: No. 4 USC at No. 10 Oregon
2010: No. 9 Stanford at No. 4 Oregon
2011: No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Stanford
2013: No. 2 Oregon at No. 6 Stanford
2014: No. 8 Arizona vs. No. 3 Oregon ***
2016: No. 7 Stanford at No. 10 Washington
2016: No. 9 Colorado vs. No. 4 Washington ***
Probably related for this weekend …
— The upper-ranked staff is 8-5.
— The house staff is 10-1.
— Oregon is 6-2.
— UCLA coach Chip Kelly was 3-0 throughout his tenure with Oregon (from 2009-12).
To this week’s energy scores …
* Disclaimer: The Hotline energy scores don’t essentially observe with the order of groups listed on my Related Press top-25 poll, which relies on tips offered by the AP.
1. Oregon (5-1/3-0)
Final week: 2
End result: DNP
Subsequent up: vs. UCLA (12:30 p.m. on Fox)
Remark: Quarterback Bo Nix this season towards groups not named Georgia: 12 landing passes, one interception and a completion share of 73.8. Oh, and 9.2 yards per carry. The Geese have causes to worry this week, however Nix isn’t certainly one of them.
2. UCLA (6-0/3-0)
Final week: 3
End result: DNP
Subsequent up: at Oregon (12:30 p.m. on Fox)
Remark: Invoice McGovern, UCLA’s first-year defensive coordinator, is reportedly incomes $900,000 yearly. In accordance with a little-known clause within the contract found by the Hotline’s crack analysis staff, McGovern’s per-game cost plan is as follows: $450,000 for USC, $449,999 for Oregon and 10 cents for every of the opposite 10 opponents.
3. USC (6-1/4-1)
Final week: 1
End result: misplaced at Utah 43-42
Subsequent up: idle
Remark: Upcoming USC opponents are frantically rewriting their playbooks to make sure the tight finish is focused a minimum of 20 occasions per sport. Opponents with out tight ends at present on the roster can be holding tryouts.
4. Utah (5-2/3-1)
Final week: 5
End result: beat USC 43-42
Subsequent up: idle
Remark: On the brief listing of massive moments in a sport filled with them: Early second quarter, Trojans up 21-7 and driving, with fourth-and-5 at Utah’s 38 … and the protection held.
5. Oregon State (5-2/2-2)
Final week: 6
End result: beat Washington State 24-10
Subsequent up: vs. Colorado (5 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Remark: OSU’s defensive entrance and linebackers are strong, however now we have but to identify a greater secondary wherever within the convention.
6. Washington (5-2/2-2)
Final week: 7
End result: beat Arizona 49-39
Subsequent up: at Cal (7:30 p.m. on ESPN)
Remark: How occasions have modified: By means of seven video games, the Huskies have allowed 17 passing touchdowns. Throughout all the 2017-18 seasons — that’s 27 video games — they allowed 22.
7. Washington State (4-3/1-3)
Final week: 4
End result: misplaced at Oregon State 24-10
Subsequent up: idle
Remark: The one factor the Coug Raid and the Air Raid have in widespread is a four-letter phrase: Dwelling. As a result of the previous doesn’t wish to journey, apparently.
8. Arizona State (2-4/1-2)
Final week: 9
End result: DNP
Subsequent up: at Stanford (1 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Remark: Win this week, and the postseason turns into a really actual risk for a program that lately misplaced 4 consecutive video games and its head coach.
9. Arizona (3-4/1-3)
Final week: 10
End result: misplaced at Washington 49-39
Subsequent up: idle
Remark: It’s greater than a month away, however by no means within the lengthy historical past of the Territorial Cup have the Wildcats and Solar Devils mixed for 100 or extra factors. Can’t think about why I felt compelled to look that up.
10. Stanford (2-4/0-4)
Final week: 11
End result: received at Notre Dame 16-14
Subsequent up: vs. Arizona State (1 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Remark: Not unrealistic to suppose the defensive collapse towards Oregon State will find yourself costing Stanford a bowl berth. The second-half schedule is filled with mediocrity.
11. Cal (3-3/1-2)
Final week: 8
End result: misplaced at Colorado 20-13 (OT)
Subsequent up: vs. Washington (7:30 p.m. on ESPN)
Remark: The Hotline wouldn’t be shocked to see employees adjustments in Berkeley this week or subsequent. The state of affairs has reached Defcon 1 ranges on offense.
12. Colorado (1-5/1-2)
Final week: 12
End result: beat Cal 20-13 (OT)
Subsequent up: at Oregon State (5 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Remark: We thought-about slotting the Buffs forward of Cal, however solely briefly. Can’t low cost the earlier 5 video games for every staff, and in that regard, the Bears maintain a transparent benefit.
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