Division clarity, bowl math, QB whiffs and coaching stability
Recapping the best and worst of Week 13 in Pac-12 football ...
Theme of the week I: Blowouts
Six of the seven games were decided by at least two scores. We had hoped for drama but received very little on the final weekend of conference play. Thankfully, rivalry games in other conferences (Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC) produced an epic Saturday.
Theme of the week II: Coaching news
Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson reportedly told the Sun Devils that coach Herm Edwards would return for 2022. Meanwhile, WSU removed the interim tag from Jake Dickert and Oregon State locked up Jonathan Smith through 2027. There is much to be said for stability, especially when the supply of quality options in the marketplace is limited. What might have been a massive amount of turnover at the top should be limited, perhaps only to USC and Washington.
Theme of the season I: Bowl bids
The Pac-12 has six bowl-eligible teams (ASU, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah and Washington State), meaning it won’t fill the seventh slot in its lineup: the ESPN atlarge bowl. It’s the lowest total since the 2016 season, when there also were six eligible teams.
Theme of the season II: Twin collapses
It wasn’t long ago that Stanford and Washington owned the North: from 2015-18, the programs traded division titles. But things have fallen apart, quickly. The Cardinal finished the 2021 season with three wins, its worst
record in 15 years. The Huskies finished 4-8, their worst mark since 2008.
Theme of the season III: QB whiffs
Jayden de Laura’s sensational play down the stretch is a reminder that he didn’t start the season opener. If he had, the Cougars might have beaten Utah State. So let’s be sure to include WSU on the list of schools that whiffed on the selection of the Week One starter. Stanford, Utah, Oregon State and WSU are the most prominent. But Arizona and USC arguably began the year with their best option on the bench, as well.
Team of the week: Oregon
The Ducks recovered impressively from their meltdown in Salt Lake City, grabbing an early lead against OSU and churning to a division-clinching victory. Coach Mario Cristobal and the gang are one victory, in Las Vegas, from a likely rematch with Ohio State (in the Rose Bowl). After the victory over OSU, Cristobal hopped on a plane to visit his ailing mother in South Florida. We wish him the best.
Game of the week: BYU 35, USC 31
It didn’t mean much
outside of extinguishing USC’s bowl hopes, but it sure was an entertaining watch. The Trojans rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to grab a 31-28 lead in the fourth quarter, only to have the Cougars score the game-winner with four minutes remaining.
Player of the week: WSU QB de Laura
The WSU quarterback carved up the top pass defense in the country, completing 27-of-32 passes for 245 yards and leading the Cougars to their first Apple Cup victory since 2012 — and their largest margin of victory ever in the rivalry.
Coach of the week: Dickert, Washington St.
The interim tag was removed approximately 24 hours after Dickert guided Washington State to its first Apple Cup victory in nine years. What impressed us the most was WSU’s ability to play with a high level of emotion but avoid turnovers and major mistakes on special teams. That’s not an easy feat in the heat of a rivalry game.
Stat of the week: Tavion Thomas
The Utah tailback scored one touchdown against Colorado, bring his total to 12 over the past four games. In that stretch, Thomas is averaging 143.3 yards per game. He has been the best back in the conference over the final month.
Stat of November: Stanford
The Cardinal scored three first-half points for the entire month. That’s right: Eight quarters over four games resulted in three points. And each ended in a blowout loss.
Stat of half century: Arizona State
The Sun Devils beat Arizona for the fifth consecutive time, their longest winning streak in the Territorial Cup since the early 1970s.
Game of next week: Utah vs. Oregon
A rematch of the Dec. 6, 2019 conference championship (Oregon won handily) and the Nov. 20, 2021 regular-season duel (Utah dominated). The Ducks are playing for their third consecutive Pac-12 title while the Utes are playing for their first-ever trip to the Rose Bowl. Utah is an early 3-point favorite. It’s tough to beat a team twice, especially in such a short window. We like the Ducks, 27-23.
And if you’re planning to attend the game, here’s a statement from the conference office on COVID-19 protocols in Allegiant Stadium:
“The Pac-12 Football Championship Game will follow local health authority protocols in Las Vegas. Currently, all fans must wear masks at public indoor venues, and that includes Allegiant Stadium.”