2013’s Penultimate Pac-12 Power Rankings

As rivalry weeks go, we had some tight games in the North, and blow outs in the South. Stanford regained conference pride after USC and ASU fell to Notre Dame earlier this year. The conference standings are finalized, but what impression did these teams each present to the ACU Staff?
Well, the end is neigh, and we can really let you know what we think.

Nov 29, 2013; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Josh Huff (1) catches the ball against Oregon State Beavers linebacker D.J. Alexander (4) at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

12. California – (6) (1-11, 0-8)

Bears, enjoy your hibernation, we will see you come signing day.

11. Colorado – (12) (4-8, 1-8)

Colorado just did not show up this year. Storms gave a brief reprieve from on field disaster, but the players just were not there for a Pac-12 slate of games.

10. Utah (18) (5-7, 2-7)

Similarities to its “rival” Buffs, Utah just did not know what to do with a big time conference schedule, especially outside of the Beehive State. Utah will always have Stanford to hang their hat on, however.

9. Oregon State (25) (6-6, 4-5)

The angry Beavers showed up for the anti-fashion show. I realize that we called for teams to each wear their home uniforms in last week’s rankings, and we may have been hasty. A good beginning to a season for the Beavs, but being winless since mid-October is a horrible way to end a year.

8. Arizona (29) (7-5, 4-5)

The single quality win was impressive, but like Utah, the win against Oregon is all the Wildcats can hang their hats on. Tough to really hold positive impressions when the out of conference schedule does not include a BCS team.

7. USC (40) (9-4, 6-3)

Big waves at Southern Cal this week as they poached their new leader from Washington. I remind the excited Trojan fan base that Sarkisian boasted an average of 1 game over .500 during his time in Seattle. Just saying. Best wishes to Orgeron, who clearly deserved better treatment after delivering that product.

Nov 29, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington State Cougars running back Teondray Caldwell (34) rushes against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

6. Washington State (41) (6-6, 4-5)

Tip of the hat to the War Eagle. Coug fans could tell you that Auburn could play this year, although Bama continues to belittle the victory three days later. Best game we have seen in decades.

That being said, Cougs played well on Friday, but the consolation prize of keeping our coach will have to do. Which leads us to . . .

5. Washington (46) (8-4, 5-4)

So your coach left for his dream job? A highly successful coach has used that term to describe that job at Washington. This is a no-brainer, right? Sorry, Washington.  Basically, we learned that Washington is not the elite program they consider themselves.

Speaking of which . . .

4. UCLA (54) (9-3, 6-3)

The win in holding onto Mora is more important than the win against SC on Saturday. Mora has shown that he is the man for the job in Los Angeles. Terry Donahue retired in 1995 having only coached in Westwood. Mora could make this his only head coaching stop and become a legend. With Sark across town, this scenario becomes more likely by the day.

3. Oregon (60) (10-2, 7-2)

Spoiled seems to be the rule for the Ducks. If they aren’t going for a national championship, they do not seem to care. Too bad the Cougs couldn’t have arrived in Eugene following the Duck defeat to Stanford.

2. Stanford (67) (10-2, 7-2)

Stanford is trying to prove that demolishing the Sun Devils was who they are, not the team that lost in Utah and Troy. Tune in kids, this one could be fun.

1. Arizona State (71) (10-2, 8-1)

Our congratulations ASU for achieving the top record in the conference, and if the Irish had been playing in Tempe rather than Texas, they may have fallen to you as well. You have never played in a BCS game, winning on Saturday is your only chance.