Affiliate Disclosure This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a commission.

Vilardo: 2023 Week 7 SuperWest Football Power Rankings

After last week's games involving the Pac-12, Mountain West & BYU, we see how they stack up
Following another week of football for the 25 SuperWest teams from the Pac-12, Mountain West, and BYU, it’s time to see how they stack up.

As always, these updated Power Rankings look at where each team stands at this moment in time. They are likely to fluctuate from week to week as some squads get hot and others struggle through slumps.

Here’s is a look at where each team heading into Week 7.

Oregon Ducks Logo Pac-12

1. Oregon (5-0, 2-0) ◄►
Oregon’s 51.6 points per game are the second highest in the nation.

The big thing for this team is the play of the defense. The Ducks are fifth in the nation allowing just 11.8 points per game, tied with Utah for the best mark in the Pac-12 or SuperWest footprint.

The only other team to be in the Top 10 in both is Georgia. The Duck defense will get tested this week against Washington.

Washington football pac-12

2. Washington (5-0, 2-0) ◄►
Washington has now won 12 straight games, the second-longest active streak in the nation.

In their win against Arizona, the Huskies had to shift things around but still produced.

The Wildcats took the big pass play away from UW, but Michael Penix was able to connect with his talented receivers on short quick routes. UA’s strategy proved to slow the Huskies but not stop them.

This high-powered attack will face its toughest test this week with Oregon. The Ducks offense will also be the best that UW has faced.

usc logo

3. USC (6-0, 4-0) ◄►
The Trojans hosted Arizona and got a win, but they did not look like a playoff-caliber team in doing so.

Caleb Williams willed USC to victory making every play his team needed.

The defense, which has become dependent on forcing turnovers, has to get better. The Trojans have just forced eight on the season and have just two takeaways in the last two games.

4. Air Force (5-0, 3-0) ▲3
Air Force has won 10 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in the nation. The last time Air Force started a season 5-0 was in 2003.

The Falcons have a good formula and have a favorable schedule. Air Force is eighth in the nation in scoring defense. Coupled with the physical punishing run offense, the Falcons are a tough out.

If they can get by Wyoming this week they have a real good chance of entering the season finale against Boise State unblemished.

5. Oregon State (5-1, 1-1) ◄►
Oregon State put up 52 points on California in their win. That was the highest total in a Pac-12 game for the Beavers since 2019.

The troubling part for OSU was the 40 points they gave up.

This is a defensive-oriented team and Cal was able to put up big numbers against them.

6. UCLA (4-1, 1-1) ▲3
UCLA’s defense faced a Washington State offense that entered the game as the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the nation and the Bruins limited them to just 17 points in the win.

The offense still has some issues to work out, but you have to think Dante Moore and that side of the ball will continue to improve as the season progresses.

7. Wyoming (5-1, 2-0) ▲3
I said last week that the Cowboys are sneaky good. After knocking off Fresno State I am not sure there is anything sneaky about them anymore.

Wyoming has a huge game with Air Force coming up, the second in a three-game gauntlet that concludes with Boise State following next week’s bye.

Harrison Waylee is banged up and questionable for this week’s game. This is the kind of game in which the Pokes will need him and his big play ability.

8. Utah (4-1, 1-1) ◄►
The bye week for Utah came at a good time. The Utes needed to get healthy and regroup after the loss to Oregon State.

Cam Rising’s status is still uncertain, but there is a chance he could play against Cal this week.

His return—whenever it happens—should stabilize an offense that has been sputtering this season.

9. Washington State (4-1, 1-1) ▼5
Washington State is still averaging 40.0 points per game, 12th-most in the nation but the UCLA defense caused the Cougars all sorts of issues last week.

The formula the Bruins used was to get a lot of pressure on Cam Ward.

Was this a case of UCLA’s front being that good or will it become a blueprint against the Cougs?

10. Fresno State (5-1, 1-1) ▼4
Fresno State lost for the first time in a year at Wyoming, ending the Bulldogs’ 14-game win streak.

Fresno State could not get their run game going against the Cowboys and a slow start proved to be more than they could overcome.

11. BYU (4-1, 1-1) ◄►
BYU comes out of their bye with momentum following their first Big 12 Conference win.

This week they will look for their first road win in the Conference as they head to TCU. BYU has a good chance of leaving Fort Worth with a win. TCU has been up and down and now will turn to freshman QB Josh Hoover who will start for the injured Chandler Morris.

This would be a huge win for BYU on the road and would get them a game away from a bowl.

Arizona football Pac-12

12. Arizona (3-3, 1-2) ◄►
Arizona once again looked really good against USC, taking the Trojans to triple overtime in the L.A. Coliseum before falling.

The Wildcats are 1-2 in Pac-12 play and quite honestly looked great in the two losses and terrible in the win. The Wildcats will need to be more consistent in their play.

This week they have a chance to get a ranked win at Washington State. Noah Fifita has played himself into a position where maybe he should remain the starter when Jayden de Laura returns.

13. Colorado (4-2, 1-2) ◄►
Colorado’s push to win six games and become bowl-eligible almost took a drastic nosedive last week against Arizona State.

The Buffs face a must-win against Stanford this week in order to reach that goal. The future is bright for CU, no question, but for this season, success may ride on beating Stanford.

And when that is the case you have a program that still has a ways to go before they are among the elite.

14. UNLV (4-1, 1-1) ◄►
Barry Odom is the first Rebel head coach to win four of his first five games at UNLV since Tony Kemp in 1976. UNLV has scored at least 40 points in each of their last three games.

The Rebels’ lone loss this season was at Michigan.

There’s still a lot of season left to play, but the Rebels may be one of the most improved teams in the country.

15. Boise State (3-3, 2-0) ▲1
Boise State once again is at .500 on the season after coming back for the win against San Jose State.

Can the two-QB system with Maddux Madsen and Taylen Green work? They came away with a win against the Spartans and we will see it once again this week.

If it works, it could be what saves this Broncos season.

16. Cal (3-3, 1-2) ▼1
Cal got some things figured out against Oregon State.

The Bears were able to put up 40 points against a good Beavers defense. The issue was letting OSU put up 52 while DJ Uiagalelei completed 76 percent of his passes on the day.

Another tough opponent awaits and Cal will have to prove they can score against Utah as well.

17. Utah State (3-3, 1-1) ▲1
Utah State has been outscored 84-10 in the first quarter this season. That needs to change.

After falling behind and struggling in the opening quarter last week, the Aggies finished the game outscoring Colorado 41-7 and outgaining them 593-235.

Can you imagine if USU played a full four quarters?

18. Colorado State (2-3, 0-1) ▲1
Colorado State looks better this season than last and it starts with the offensive line.

The Rams gave up more sacks than any team in the nation last season. This season they are allowing 3.5 fewer sacks per game than in 2022.

The Rams had a chance to get a big win against Utah State but let the early lead slip away.

Should the Rams miss out on a bowl game the finish in the Colorado game and the terrible final three quarters against USU could be the culprits.

19. San Diego State (2-3, 0-2) ◄►
The Aztecs are in the midst of a four-game losing streak in which they have been outscored 144-60.

The Aztecs did not look good in their win over Idaho State, either. This is a team that has not played well in any of their last five games.

They need to turn things around against Hawai’i this week.

20. Hawai’i (2-4, 0-1) ◄►
Hawai’i’ has looked better this season.

They are getting good production at QB from Brayden Schager. The Rainbow Warriors are going to throw the ball and there is no hiding that.

The run game has to get more production, though. Hawai’i needs to use the run game to pop some big plays. That has not happened enough this season.

21. Arizona State (1-5, 0-3) ◄►
Arizona State has lost some close ones over the last few weeks.

The Sun Devils may be okay in the future, but this season is going to continue to be a long one.

Each of their next five games will be against ranked opponents.

22. San Jose State (1-5, 0-2) ◄►
It is becoming a broken record—the Spartans have got to start winning some games, no matter how good the opposition might be.

San Jose State looked like they were going to notch a big one over Boise State but the Broncos outscored them by 28 down the stretch.

23. New Mexico (2-3, 0-1) ◄►
New Mexico has lost its last 13 Mountain West games, the second-longest conference losing streak in the nation.

Will a week off to prepare for San Jose State be enough to stop that slide?

We will see but the Lobos need some positive results to truly measure their improvement.

24. Stanford (1-4, 0-3) ◄►
Stanford has struggled this season, and the Cardinal have a lot of issues.

Like New Mexico, Stanford is riding a long Pac-12 losing streak, having lost seven in a row in the conference. Stanford had one extra week to get ready for Colorado. Unfortunately, Stanford does not play ASU this season.

Is this week the last real chance for the Cardinal to pick up their final Pac-12 win ever?

25. Nevada (0-5, 0-1) ◄►
Nevada has lost 15-straight games, the longest active streak in the nation.

And for what it’s worth, that streak is nearly double the next closest.

The Wolf Pack have looked better in recent games, but are still searching for their first win since September 3, 2022.