By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports
September 12, 2022
Each week during the 2022 college football season, I’ll give you my 10 quick thoughts about what happened in the previous weekend’s games here in the West.
Week Two brought clarity on some things we were uncertain about and confirmed some things we already knew.
But as always, there were some surprises, both positive and negative.
All told, eleven SuperWest teams were winners last week, with five (counting our latest addition of Fresno State) losing over the weekend.
Here are my quick takes on the weekend’s action.
1. USC Looks Good
The Cardinal might not be very good this year, but that doesn’t’ USC’s shredding of them in Palo Alto doesn’t show the Trojans at least pass the eye test really well so far under Lincoln Riley.
2. Caleb Williams Does Too…
He certainly looks ready to impress in the Conference and possibly even be the first West Coast player since Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, in 2014, to be a major Heisman candidate.
3. Washington State Can Play Defense
Winning big nonconference games on the road is so hard and the Cougars did it in a new way—out touching a big-time Big Ten opponent with stifling defense.
The Cougs look to be a problem in the North yet again.
4. Don’t Sleep on Oregon State.
Opening with wins over two perennial Mountain West powers is a statement in a day and age where Pac-12 teams have regularly struggled against those teams.
5. Hold on Arizona for Now
They instead showed that they’re a better team that likely has a long way to go.
Getting to a bowl game in a deep Pac-12 will be a challenge.
6. Oregon and Utah Can Take Care of Business
The Ducks and Utes put the past behind them by obliterating lesser opponents and it’s exactly what both programs needed to do.
7. Is Colorado Gonna Give Up Football?
Doing it against Air Force is another.
The Buffs are at risk of going 0-12 this season and the future looks incredibly bleak.
8. ASU is Probably OK
They showed some fight on the road against a good Oklahoma State team and I think showed they probably aren’t going to be a dumpster fire.
9. Cal Still Looking the Same
Nothing seems different after they slugged out a low-scoring win over perennial punching bag UNLV.
10. We Find out About Washington This Week
We will truly know how good they are or aren’t in his first season when Michigan State comes to Husky Stadium on Saturday.
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Jack Follman’s 10 Thoughts on 2023 Week 1 in the Pac-12
> The Conference was at its best with every member team winning—most of them handily - September 5, 2023 -
Jack Follman’s 2023 Pac-12 Season Predictions: Weeks 9-13
> Scores for every game with commentary on top contests, plus projected standings and title game - August 17, 2023 -
Jack Follman’s 2023 Pac-12 Season Predictions: Weeks 5-8
> Early picks with scores for every game and commentary for top contests & projected standings - August 16, 2023