1. Oregon (4-1, 7-1) ◄►

Another game, another result where the Ducks fail to meet expectations.

Was it the rain that created the close final score? Or was it something more fundamental?

There are too many questions surrounding Dan Lanning’s team at this point in the season. How many times has Oregon failed to cover this year? What is the Duck’s best win?

Go look at their schedule and tell me yourself. Because I’m not seeing it. That’s not a good sign at this point in the year.

2. BYU (5-0, 8-0) ◄►

Maybe BYU is a team of destiny. Or perhaps the Cougars are so well coached that they force mistakes and take advantage of them. Who knows? It might even be a combination of both.

Whatever it is, Kalani Sitake’s group is elite. At this point, BYU has a case to eclipse Oregon as the No. 1 team in the West. But it’s still a game-by-game approach, and the schedule to finish the year is tough.

After this week’s bye, the Cougars play at Texas Tech, TCU, at Cincinnati, and UCF. There’s no time to rest on laurels.

If BYU gets to the Playoff, they will have absolutely earned it.

3. Utah (3-2, 6-2) ◄►

Message delivered. That was an impressive showing against Colorado.

But in the grand scheme of it all, the historic domination is relatively meaningless. You beat up on a bad CU team. So what? The Utes have crushed the teams they were supposed to and stumbled against the top tier of the Big 12.

Still, the result provides plenty of optimism heading into this week’s game against Cincinnati. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say it: Kyle Whittingham and the Utes will beat the Bearcats Saturday night at Rice-Eccles.

You heard it here first.

4. Washington (3-2, 6-2) ▲2

Washington has arrived. The victory over then-No. 23 Illinois may have finally captured the nation’s attention, if not the acknowledgement of AP voters.

The defense remains good enough to win games, and the offense is elite. Demond Williams Jr. is one of the top quarterbacks in the country, and Husky Stadium is emerging as a legitimate home-field advantage in the Big Ten.

The bye week comes at an ideal time, allowing Jedd Fisch extra preparation for Wisconsin.

The Dawgs can’t lose to the Badgers, or all the momentum will vanish.

5. USC (3-1, 5-2) ◄►

The Trojans had a bye week to move on from their loss to Notre Dame. With only two defeats this season, USC is in a reasonable position.

But the only acceptable outcome for the remainder of the year is to finish no worse than 4-1.

Nebraska, Northwestern, Iowa, and UCLA are all “must-wins.” If Lincoln Riley falls short in any of those matchups, it’s a problem.

In a perfect scenario, USC is 8-2 with its Playoff hopes on the line at Oregon on November 22.

6. Arizona State (3-2, 5-3) ▼2

How long is Jordyn Tyson going to be out? How many games is Sam Leavitt going to miss?

Those are two defining questions at the most critical juncture of Arizona State’s season.

The team can’t win without them. From getting blown out by Utah to losing to unranked Houston at home, the Sun Devils are not the same team without their stars.

And while the path to the Big 12 Championship Game technically still exists, it’s highly unlikely that ASU gets to Arlington.

7. San Diego State (3-0, 6-1) ▲1

The Aztecs are arguably the Mountain West’s best shot at making the Playoff.

The path to the Promised Land widened after South Florida lost to Memphis over the weekend. The American Conference probably still holds the edge, but if San Diego State were to win out, the perception might change.

Sure, Boise State is the biggest brand in the MWC and has pull with the Selection Committee. Yet, the results on the field matter.

And Sean Lewis’s team has been posting impressive result after impressive result.

8. Boise State (4-0, 6-2) ▼1

That wasn’t exactly what we need to see at this point in the season.

A road win is a road win. But Boise State did not look overly impressive against lowly Nevada. The turnovers forced were the deciding factor in the game.

Not an impressive offensive performance or a clear pass of the eye-test. It was the turnovers forced. Against Nevada. It’s only one game, and to be fair, the Wolf Pack are much better than their record.

Still, we need to see more out of the Broncos.

9. UNLV (2-1, 6-1) ◄►

Realistically, UNLV should win out and reach the Mountain West Championship Game.

The only road games left on the schedule are at Colorado State and at Nevada. The home game against New Mexico this week and then Hawaii on November 21 are quality tests, but winnable.

The Rebels should not lose another regular season game this year. Whether that comes to fruition is anyone’s guess.

Dan Mullen’s team has escaped with numerous wins this season and was blown out by the only good team they have played.

10. Arizona (1-3, 4-3) ▲NR

Arizona has the definition of “quality losses.” The Wildcats have dropped games to BYU, Houston, and Iowa State, a group of teams with a combined record of 20-4.

Two of the three defeats were by a single-possession, one in double-overtime and the other on a field goal as time expired.

The Cats are not that far off. Coming off a bye, this week’s game at Colorado is a “must-win.”

Brent Brennan might be coaching to keep his job.

Dropped Out: Cal