2020 Pac-12 Football Power Rankings: Week 2

Our three senior Pac-12 football writers rank the teams based on recent performances

Posted on November 10, 2020


  By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports

Week 1 saw just eight teams play after positive COVID-19 tests for the Bears and Utes led to the cancellation of two games.

Hopeful that the entire Conference will see action in Week 2, we once again offer Power Rankings for the entire Pac-12, based on our senior football writers’ composite rankings, which appear in a table at the bottom of this page.

Rankings can and will change rapidly in this shortened season, so if you don’t like where your team stands, a win this week could dramatically change things next week as the wild ride continues.




1. Oregon (1-0)

The long awaited reveal of the Ducks’ starting quarterback was finally made known on Saturday, and Tyler Shough didn’t disappoint. The redshirt sophomore completed 65% of his passes for 227 yards, and tacked on 85 more on the ground, as Oregon handily defeated Stanford 35-14. With four total rushing touchdowns on the night, plus a 105-yard performance from CJ Verdell, the UO offense ran the ball as potently as expected. Mario Cristobal looks to continue the momentum this weekend against the Cougars in Pullman.

2. USC (1-0)

usc logoIt’s unclear if the Trojans’ struggles were early-season jitters or a fundamental flaw, but plenty of questions abound heading into the matchup with Arizona this weekend. After turning the ball over four times against the Sun Devils, the sloppy play nearly cost them the game. But Bru McCoy saved the day with a touchdown and onside kick recovery late in the fourth quarter, and Drake London sealed the USC win with the game-winning catch. Still, the Trojans must take better care of the ball moving forward.

3. Arizona State (0-1)

The primary question regarding the Sun Devil offense during the offseason was who would replace Eno Benjamin at running back. After the opener with USC, the question appears to be answered. Freshman DeaMonte Trayanum put up 84 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground, while transfer Rachaad White rushed for 76 yards to go along with 70 yards receiving and a touchdown reception. Even in a heartbreaking loss, ASU must feel good about its chances the rest of the season.

4. California (0-0)

There’s nothing more deflating than the cancellation of Cal’s opener with the Huskies due to COVID-19, but the Bears must remain focused as they take on Herm Edwards and Arizona State this Saturday. Though the matchup with Washington would’ve likely had significant implications for the North Division race, there’s nothing Justin Wilcox can do but prepare his team for the Sun Devils. Chase Garbers and company still have the entire season ahead of them, and a win in Tempe would be worth the wait.

5. Washington (0-0)

After what’s been reported as a single positive test on Cal’s roster, the Dawgs scheduled opener was taken away from them. For purposes of the Huskies’ long-shot hopes at the Playoff, the cancellation was devastating. But Jimmy Lake is tasked with refocusing his team for their matchup with Oregon State, and it’s not difficult to imagine the extra motivation to start the game off strong. The question at quarterback remains, though the Beaver defense presents a much more manageable challenge.

6. Utah (0-0)

The Utes were prepared to face Arizona on Saturday, but the Coronavirus had other plans. Now, the game with UCLA this weekend is in question. Nobody can predict how many more Pac-12 contests will be cancelled, but it doesn’t make it any less painful for the teams involved. Assuming the matchup with the Bruins goes forward, Kyle Whittingham faces another opponent with a questionable defense. Chip Kelly’s offense did put up 42 points against Colorado, but the Utah defense should do a much better job of containing Dorian Thompson-Robinson.




7. Washington State (1-0)

True freshman Jayden de Laura ran the Run-and-Shoot to near perfection against Oregon State, posting three total touchdowns and more than 250 total yards. The clever play calling allowed Deon McIntosh to rush for 147 yards and a touchdown, as the Cougars shined in Corvallis. The victory was even more impressive considering the absence of Max Borghi. This weekend, however, presents a much more challenging matchup. To beat the Ducks, the Cougs will need to be even more efficient on offense and generate turnovers on defense.

8. Colorado (1-0)

Karl Dorrell started his tenure in Boulder on the right foot. For the entire first half, the Buffs looked to be in a different league than UCLA. Things got shaky in the second half, but CU finished with a victory on the back of Jarek Broussard’s 187 yards rushing and three-touchdown performance. Perhaps more importantly, Sam Noyer efficiently ran the offense and proved why he is the starter. Noyer’s leadership and willingness to put his body on the line, evidenced by his 64 yards rushing, should bode well for Colorado in their matchup with Stanford.

9. Stanford (0-1)

The Tree were without Davis Mills in their opener with Oregon, but that may not have mattered. Despite putting up 413 total yards, Stanford only managed to score twice against the Duck defense. Uncharacteristically, David Shaw’s squad was penalized ten times for 100 yards and went a ghastly 4-for-13 on third down. If Mills is active for Saturday’s tilt with Colorado, the Cardinal should find the end zone enough times to give them a chance to win. But with the unpredictability of the Coronavirus, it’s anyone’s guess who’s available this time around.

10. Oregon State (0-1)

Jonathan Smith and the Beavers appeared to be asleep at the wheel in the first half of the opener against Washington State. Tristan Gebbia struggled to get anything going, and OSU scored just once. The second half was a different story, but by then Oregon State had dug itself too deep a hole to get out of. The Beavs need a faster start against Washington, and a second option to Jermar Jefferson must emerge. Though it was only one game, the season hangs precipitously in the balance without another winnable matchup for several weeks.

11. UCLA (0-1)

Another game, another poor performance on defense. Some things just don’t change in the Chip Kelly Era, apparently. Despite the Buffs starting a quarterback without any meaningful experience and down their All-Conference caliber running back, the UCLA defense surrendered 48 points to a coach in his first game. Dorian Thompson-Robinson posted over 400 total yards and five total touchdowns, but the Bruin defense gave up 525 yards and didn’t force a turnover. Kelly’s defense must find a way to play better this week against Utah, or his tenure in Westwood could be rapidly coming to a close.

12. Arizona (0-0)

Sometimes you can do everything right, and forces beyond your control ruin your plans. For Kevin Sumlin and the Wildcats, all they can do is focus on what they can control. That means preparing for a USC team that is turnover prone, and copying the defensive game plan that ASU executed perfectly for 55 minutes. Nobody is expecting Arizona to pull off the upset, all the more reason for Grant Gunnell to come out firing. There’s nothing more dangerous than a team with nothing to lose.

How Our Senior Football Writers Voted
RankDane MillerJack FollmanNick Bartlett
1OregonOregonOregon
2USCUSCUSC
3CalASUASU
4ASUCalWashington
5WashingtonWashingtonCal
6UtahUtahUtah
7WSUWSUStanford
8ColoradoColoradoWSU
9StanfordOSUColorado
10OSUUCLAOSU
11UCLAStanfordArizona
12ArizonaArizonaUCLA







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