Sizing up CU and the rest of the Pac12 at the quarter pole

A familiar theme has emerged in the Conference of Champions a quarter of the way into the college football season: The North Division is the class of the Pac12, while South appears to have skipped class.

One could argue five of the top six teams in the conference reside up North, with the Colorado Buffaloes the lone Rose Bowl threat in the South. While it’s tempting to make such a proclamation, especially in light of Arizona State’s face plant at San Diego State, this prognostication isn’t quite ready to be so bold.

There’s only so much that can be learned from three weeks of football.

Still, with only four outofconference games left on the Pac12 schedule, now feels like as good a time as any to take stock of where each team stands. The leaves are changing colors, and the first weekend of fall is almost here.

12. UCLA (03):

There was a strong sentiment going into the season that Chip Kelly’s makeover of the Bruins might take some time. But who could have predicted 03 punctuated by an embarrassingly inept showing against Fresno State? Things are a bit different, at least so far, in Westwood for Kelly than they were in Niketown, when he coached the Ducks.

11. Arizona (12):

At first glance, the Wildcats’ 6231 beatdown of Southern Utah might look impressive. But look a little closer and you’ll see that Khalil Tate ran just four times for 18 yards, and the U of A defense surrendered 463 yards to an FCS featherweight. And remember, Tate was being touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate coming into this season. He rushed for 327 yards and accounted for five touchdowns against the Buffaloes last season in Boulder.

10. Oregon State 9. Utah (21, 01): (12):

The Beavers were a missed 33yard field goal away from beating a solid Nevada team in Reno last week. Oregon State can put points on the board. Unfortunately for the Beavers, so can their opponents.

As tough and physical as the Utah defensive front is, it’s hard to beat good teams with an offense that can’t throw, catch or hold on to the football. It’s looking like another sixor sevenwin season.

8. Washington State (30):

The Cougars easily dispatched three nonconference cupcakes, including a betterthanyou’dthink Eastern Washington squad on Saturday. We’ll find out if that was just window dressing when Wazzu visits USC Friday night at the Coliseum.

7. Southern Cal (12, 01):

Freshman quarterback J.T. Daniels showed flashes of brilliance in a competitive first half at Texas. But the Trojans can’t run the ball or stop the run right now. That’s a problem.

6. Arizona State (21):

After two weeks, it appeared head coach Herm Edwards had an elite defense on his hands. Then San Diego State shoved the ball down the Sun Devils’ throats (311 rushing yards) in Ron Burgundy country last Saturday.

5. Cal (30):

The Golden Bears’ win over BYU is looking pretty darn good after the Cougars went into Madison and beat perennial Big Ten power Wisconsin. Cal’s defense is legit. If head coach Justin Wilcox can settle on a quarterback, the Bears will make some noise in conference play.

4. Oregon (30):

The Ducks are unbeaten after playing the softest non conference schedule of any Power 5 team in the country. Highly touted quarterback Justin Herbert has already thrown five interceptions while completing just 56.8 percent of his passes. That won’t fly against the visiting Stanford Cardinal on Saturday.

3. Colorado (30):

If we were putting together allconference teams right now, Steven Montez would be the firstteam quarterback hands down. The Buffs have a bye before hosting UCLA to start conference play.

2. Washington (21, 10):

If you haven’t seen Jake Browning’s interception against Utah last week, find it and take a look. His play is probably why the Huskies won’t run the table and make the College Football Playoff.

1. Stanford (30, 10):

Running back Bryce Love wasn’t on the field last week against UC Davis, and the onetime Heisman hopeful has yet to get fully untracked early on this season.