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1. Washington (6-0, 3-0) ◄►

In one of the biggest games of the Pac-12 era, Washington and Oregon arguably set themselves apart from the rest of the league in a close and physical showdown that came down to the final play.

UW’s 36-33 victory over the Ducks made waves nationally and solidified Michael Penix Jr. as the Heisman front-runner.

Entering Week Seven as the Conference’s lone undefeated team, the Huskies have the inside track to the Playoff. However, UW must still overcome USC, Utah, and Oregon State—two of them on the road—while also winning the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Former Athletic Director Jennifer Cohen certainly hit a home run when she hired Kalen DeBoer in 2021. The Dawgs are on a 13-game winning streak dating back to last year and are one of the top teams in the country.

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2. Oregon (5-1, 2-1) ◄►

A last-second loss to a Top 10 team doesn’t define a season. And in this year’s version of the Pac-12, one defeat doesn’t knock a team out of Playoff contention. Unlike in seasons past, Oregon is still alive and in control of its destiny.

But like Washington, the Ducks must pull off the trifecta of Utah, USC, and Oregon State—hosting two of them—before getting a potential rematch in the Championship Game.

If UO wins out, the Selection Committee will likely have no choice: As the best-performing conference in the nation this season, the Pac-12 is all but assured of sending its champion to the CFP.

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3. Oregon State (6-1, 3-1) ▲1

Good teams win, great teams cover, or so goes the cliché. Oregon State did what it needed to do against a freshman quarterback, reaping the benefits of their second win over a ranked opponent.

Entering a bye week, the Beavers control their own destiny. But to get to the Promised Land they will have to go through Washington and Oregon to finish the year. The upcoming road contest against Arizona won’t be easy, either.

Jonathan Smith’s offense has exceeded expectations this year and puts the program in position to battle for a shot at the Pac-12 Championship Game.

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4. USC (6-1, 4-0) ▼1

Everyone saw it coming. USC had underperformed over the last few games and it finally caught up to them.

The Trojans were embarrassed in South Bend and have arguably been taken out of Playoff contention. Sure, SC is still undefeated in Pac-12 play and could run the table. But the damage has been done.

USC’s reputation seems too harmed. And for perhaps the first time in the Lincoln Riley era, the blame can’t be laid entirely on the defense. Caleb Williams had the worst game of his career, and his offensive teammates didn’t provide much help.

While the result from one weekend can be forgotten quickly, the final score from South Bend could be hard to overcome at the end of the year.

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5. Utah (5-1, 2-1) ◄►

Another week of rumors that Cam Rising would return, another week of disappointment. It didn’t matter against California, though, with Morgan Scalley’s defense containing the Bears’ elite ground game.

Jaydn Ott was limited to just 46 yards rushing and Cal as a whole was only able to move the ball 66 yards on the ground.

Bryson Barnes ran the offense effectively, too, opening up the ground game with eight scampers for 50 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Utah’s season has been remarkable considering the injuries that have plagued this year’s team. But facing USC, Oregon, and Washington over the next few weeks, the Utes’ ceiling will be revealed.

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6. Arizona (3-3, 1-2) ▲2

The Wildcats’ victory over Washington State in Pullman makes the path to bowl eligibility much clearer. Moreover, with a break or two against Washington and USC, Arizona could easily be 5-1.

Needing just two more wins to return to the postseason for the first time since 2017, UA can see the light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, six wins might suddenly seem too low.

The Cats have a proven history of upsetting Top 25 teams in Tucson, and with Noah Fifita playing like a seasoned veteran and Johnny Nansen’s defensive schemes clicking, Arizona could go 2-1 or better at home against Oregon State, Utah, and UCLA.

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7. UCLA (4-2, 1-2) ◄►

Chip Kelly and the Bruins have problems. Dante Moore once again struggled on the road and threw a Pick-Six for the third-straight game. Playing a true freshman quarterback was always a risk and the mistakes are to be expected.

But it has the effect of making this season somewhat of a bridge year to 2024 and the Big Ten. The experience Moore is gaining is invaluable and will substantially benefit the program in the long run.

Yet, that comes at a cost now. It doesn’t help that UCLA’s offensive line is 114th nationally in sacks allowed per game. True freshmen quarterbacks are already overwhelmed as it is. Combined with a poor offensive line, that’s a recipe for disaster.

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8. Washington State (4-2, 1-2) ▼2

Ben Arbuckle’s offense is broken. Just a few weeks ago the Washington State “O” was Top 5 nationally in points per game. But three games into conference play, the system has dropped to 29th in the FBS and falling.

Turnovers have arguably been the primary reason why. Cam Ward and the Cougars were taking care of the ball to start the year only to fall off a cliff. Wazzu has committed seven TOs over the past two games and is averaging just 11.5 points per game over the stretch.

That’s not going to get it done in the Pac-12. And when the Cougars allow 30 points or more in the Jake Dickert era (like they did against Arizona), the team is 1-5.

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9. Colorado (4-3, 1-3) ◄►

The honeymoon is over. Teams with strong cultures don’t collapse in the second half the way Colorado did last Friday.

Shedeur Sanders posted a link for fans to buy his merchandise at halftime and the entire team played with minimal effort. Those are cultural problems that start at the top.

Deion Sanders is a master motivator and comes off as a genuine person. But when your quarterback is in the locker room promoting himself on the internet at halftime and your team gives up a 29-point lead, changes need to be made.

With all the noise the program has made so far this season, the Buffs have a target on their back for all the remaining games on their schedule.

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10. California (3-4, 1-3) ◄►

In a season with problems on both sides of the ball, quarterback Fernando Mendoza is a beacon of hope. The redshirt freshman has provided the spark California needed to regain a semblance of optimism.

Mendoza engineered a respectable first-half performance against Utah that had the Bears within striking distance. But Cal had no answer for the Utes’ stifling run defense and left Salt Lake City with a 20-point loss.

Still, the newfound leader of the offense puts a five-win season within reach. Facing Washington State at home and Stanford on the road in November, there are slivers of potential for California to salvage its season.

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11. Stanford (2-4, 1-3) ▲1

It was a tale of two halves in Boulder. The Cardinal were getting run off the field after the first two quarters but engineered the greatest comeback in school history in the second half.

The upset win on the road is a program-building result for Troy Taylor. Recruiting has been somewhat on a knife’s edge with a few decommitments after the slow start to the year. A victory like that will certainly change the momentum.

Wins on the road are tough to come by in the Pac-12 and the result changes the analysis of the rest of the year. Suddenly, the games against UCLA, Washington State, and California appear more winnable.

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12. Arizona State (1-5, 0-3) ▼1

The bye week was needed in Tempe. Dealing with a plethora of injuries to both sides of the ball, the time off couldn’t have come sooner.

But Arizona State’s front half of the schedule was the easy part and now the heat is turned up. The Sun Devils face Washington, Washington State, Utah, UCLA, and Oregon before finishing the year against Arizona.

Two wins over that stretch is probably the ceiling and an 0-6 record to end the year is within the realm of possibilities.

At the same time, the program has been reborn since Kenny Dillingham took over playcalling duties. Assuming the team keeps taking steps forward, an upset or two to finish the season wouldn’t be all that surprising.