ESPN College Football

Recognition is so important for an offense. Think Andrew Luck -- or Peyton Manning -- wildly gesticulating at the line of scrimmage.

Or, for that matter, Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas doing the same thing.

That was something that stuck with me after I chatted with Oregon sophomore center Hroniss Grasu a couple of weeks ago. We were talking about how he improved at making line calls during the 2011 season, but he went out of his way to note how good Thomas was at helping out, at identifying last-second changes a defense made that perhaps hinted at its ill intentions.

The point: Centers and quarterbacks are the brains of an offense. The center typically makes the calls at the line of scrimmage that make sure everyone is accounted for. And quarterbacks communicate to both the skill players and the line about check and audibles.

The QB and center work in tandem. They need to be in sync. And having smart, experienced signal-callers and centers is a big deal for an offense. It means an offense can go to the line with more options, and it can check into the right option more often than not. That breeds confidence, both among players and with their coaches.

So which Pac-12 teams are experienced at QB and center? Who has both back, one back or neither?

Thanks for asking.

Arizona: Center
Skinny: While Nick Foles was the Wildcats' quarterback last year, Matt Scott has started five games, so the offense is not in inexperienced hands. Senior center Kyle Quinn did a solid job in 2011, earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors. On the downside, the Wildcats are installing a new offense with coach Rich Rodriguez, so past experience isn't as helpful.

Arizona State: Neither
Skinny: QB Brock Osweiler is gone as is center Garth Gerhart. Kody Koebensky likely takes over at center, while the quarterback competition continues to be wide-open. Of course, the Sun Devils are installing a new offense under new coach Todd Graham, so being green isn't as much of an issue.

California: Both
Skinny: QB Zach Maynard should be much more in control as a second-year starter. While center Dominic Galas is back, he's sitting out spring due to a shoulder injury, and it appears he will switch over to guard. Galas, some of you Bears fans might recall, did have some issues with shotgun snaps last year. Chris Adcock or Mark Brazinski could end up winning the job.

Colorado: Center
Skinny: Tyler Hansen is almost certainly going to be replaced at quarterback by Texas transfer Connor Wood, a sophomore with no game experience. It should help Wood, however, to have junior Gus Handler back making the line calls. Daniel Munyer, who's slated to start at guard, also has starting experience at center.

Oregon: Center
Skinny: Center Grasu's first start as a redshirt freshman was against LSU's beastly defensive front. That was a baptism by fire, but he consistently improved throughout the season. QB Bryan Bennett has some experience, including one start, but he will be challenged this spring by redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota.

Oregon State: QB
Skinny: Sean Mannion is back at QB, but center Grant Johnson is gone. The frontrunner to win that job is sophomore Roman Sapolu. The Beavers have injury issues on the line this spring, and that likely will slow down the unit's -- and Sapolu's -- development.

Stanford: Center
Skinny: You might have heard that Andrew Luck is gone. Brett Nottingham and Josh Nunes look like the favorites to replace him, but neither has significant experience. Senior Sam Schwartzstein did a fine job stepping into Chase Beeler's shoes in 2011, but life was, naturally, easier with Luck at QB. More will fall on Schwartzstein in 2012.

UCLA: QB
Skinny: The Bruins have two quarterbacks with significant starting experience back: Kevin Prince and Richard Brehaut. But redshirt freshman Brett Hundley might end up winning the job. All three are learning a new offense this spring under new coach Jim Mora and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone. Sophomore Jacob Brendel -- or perhaps junior Greg Capella, who mostly started at guard last year -- are the frontrunners to replace Kai Maiava at center.

USC: Both
Skinny: You've maybe heard of Trojans QB Matt Barkley and his receivers, Robert Woods/Marqise Lee, being the best pass-catch trio in the nation. Well, Barkley and senior center Khaled Holmes are the perhaps the best QB-center combination in the nation. Holmes was second-team All-Pac-12 in 2011, and he's probably the best center in the conference.

Utah: Both
Skinny: Junior Jordan Wynn, a three-year starter, only needs to stay healthy for the Utes to get at least solid QB play. Center Tevita Stevens is solid, but he will be breaking in a pair of new OTs.

Washington: Both
Skinny: Junior QB Keith Price was a revelation last year as a first-year starter, far eclipsing the production of his celebrated predecessor, Jake Locker. Senior center Drew Schaefer is a 30-game starter. So this is a strong combo for the Huskies.

Washington State: Both
Skinny: Jeff Tuel feels like a decided frontrunner to retain his starting job at QB, while junior Matt Goetz returns at center. A junior-college transfer in 2011, he started the final nine games of 2011. A year of seasoning -- and in the weight room -- should help Goetz in 2012.

Pac-12 spring preview: South Division

Spring practice is almost here. Here's a snapshot at what to expect from the Pac-12 South in the coming weeks.

ARIZONA

Spring practice starts: March 4

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Hello, my name is ... Like the other two teams in the South Division with new head coaches (Arizona State and UCLA) much of Arizona's first few weeks will be Rich Rodriguez evaluating his personnel and getting to know what he has to work with. Likewise, the players are going to have to figure out what this new coaching staff is about. Everything from how they do pre-practice stretches to how they call the cadence is going to change.
• New scheme and a new scheme: A spread option on offense and a 3-3-5 on defense. That's a lot of new material to digest on both sides of the ball. Until Rodriguez can recruit the players he likes into his scheme, he's going to have to make it work with the players he has. Fortunately on the defensive side of the ball, Arizona has good depth in the secondary with Cortez Johnson, Marquis Flowers, Shaquille Richardson, Jourdon Grandon and Tra'Mayne Bondurant. The Wildcats should also get a boost with the return of injured players Jake Fischer (LB), Jonathan McKnight (CB) and Adam Hall (S).
• Perfect fit? Former starter Matt Scott, who was beaten out by Nick Folesin 2009, is expected to reprise his starting role under Rodriguez. He redshirted the 2011 season and -- magically -- Foles never got hurt last year despite taking 23 sacks and countless hits. Scott is considered the more versatile quarterback and should fit nicely into the new run-based spread attack.

ARIZONA STATE

Spring practice starts: March 13

Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• QB competition: We know what kind of offense new coach Todd Graham is going to run; now it's a matter of figuring out who is going to run it. Graham has his choice of three players -- Mike Bercovici, Taylor Kelly or Michael Eubank -- to replace NFL-bound Brock Osweiler. Graham said earlier this month that there are no favorites heading into the competition and each one brings his own skill set to the table. Eubank has the size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), Bercovici (6-1, 205) is a mechanic and Kelly (6-1, 202) is a little bit of everything.
• Get the locker room: By the end of the 2011 season, ASU's locker room wasn't just divided, it was completely splintered. Graham's task -- and that of his new coaching staff -- is to pick up the pieces, mend internal fences and find some chemistry on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Brandon Magee, long considered a great locker room leader, should help get the Sun Devils back on track as he returns from a season-ending Achilles injury.
• Hands competition: The Sun Devils lose three of their top four wide receivers from last season -- Gerell Robinson, Aaron Pflugrad and Mike Willie. Jamal Miles returns after finishing second on the team last season with 60 catches and six touchdowns. Rashad Ross figures to be the No. 2 guy, but establishing depth in that corps -- especially if Graham wants to be up-tempo -- is key.

COLORADO

Spring practice starts: March 10

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Momentum, maybe? For as rough as 2011 was for the Buffs, they ended the year on a high note, winning two-of-three down the stretch -- including a 17-14 win over Utah in the season finale. But there is also the possibility that things might get worse before they get better. With just four returning starters on offense, spring in Boulder will likely be more about teaching and less about refining.
• Where to start (offense)? Well, quarterback might be a good place. In the court of public opinion, Connor Wood, a transfer from Texas, seems to be the favorite. Nick Hirschman appeared in five games last season, mostly in mop-up time when the game was already out of hand. It's also possible a starter could be named by the end of spring ball. Finding offensive weapons to surround the new quarterback will also be a challenge. Wide receiver Paul Richardson caught 39 balls last season, and running back Tony Jones showed a flare for catching the ball out of the backfield. He'll likely step in as the new workhorse back for the departed Rodney Stewart.
• Where to start (defense)? Last in this. Last in that. Last in almost every team statistic the Pac-12 has to offer. But there are some intriguing youngsters on the roster. Cornerback Greg Henderson was all-conference honorable mention as a freshman with a team-high nine passes broken up. Jered Bell also returns from injury after blowing out a knee last preseason. If healthy, he's expected to be a big contributor in the secondary. Linebacker Jon Majorreturns as the team's leading tackler, and if Doug Rippy is fully recovered from his knee injury, he'll look to build on what was a pretty good season last year before getting hurt.

UCLA

Spring practice starts: April 3

Spring game: May 5

What to watch:

• QB up for grabs: Like the majority of the conference, UCLA enters spring with a quarterback competition. New offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said he doesn't care how much experience (or lack thereof) a player has -- if he can play, he wins the job. So don't be surprised if Brett Hundley passes Kevin Prince and Richard Brehautas the new man leading the Bruins. Fans have been clamoring for a change. Hundley might be it.
• Attitude adjustment: One of the first things new head coach Jim Mora did was slam the team for its tradition of going "over the wall," a time-honored senior ditch day, saying if they want to jump the wall, they should just keep on going. How's that for sending a message? UCLA has earned a reputation for being soft and underachieving despite good talent. Attitude and toughness is needed -- and so far, Mora appears to be hammering that point home.
• Speaking of toughness ... The defense has to get tougher. No two ways about it. It was weak against the run last season, allowing more than 190 yards per game on the ground; couldn't get to the quarterback; and couldn't get off the field almost 50 percent of the time on third down. It's time for potential all-conference players such as defensive end Datone Jones to start living up to the hype and the defense as a whole to stop getting pushed up and down the field. At 6-5, 275 pounds, Jones has the physical makeup to be a major force in the conference and catapult himself into the elite class of collegiate defensive players.

USC

Spring practice starts: March 6

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Ignore the hype: Few teams ended last season hotter than USC and returning quarterback Matt Barkley. The Heisman talk has already started, the way-too-early rankings already have the Trojans as national championship contenders, and the public perception is that the offense is unstoppable. Nice to hear, but hype is a double-edged sword. Head coach Lane Kiffin has a knack for deflecting hype. This season will be his toughest test to date.
• Insurance? The Trojans are loaded on both sides of the ball with returning players. But after the starting 22, things start to get dicey. Developing depth and keeping the starters healthy is a top priority -- particularly on the offensive and defensive lines and at running back, where experience is thin outside of the starters. The entire back seven returns on defense -- headlined by hard-hitting safety T.J. McDonald. Stopping the pass has been a major priority for Kiffin, and if this group stays healthy it should see the pass-efficiency numbers improve even more.
• Other options: Along those same lines, wide receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee make up the most feared receiving duo in the conference -- maybe the country. But who are the Nos. 3 and 4 receivers behind them? George Farmer? Victor Blackwell? De'Von Flournoy? Don't overlook the tight end duo of Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, which should rival Stanford's Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo as the best tight end tandem in the conference.

UTAH

Spring practice starts: March 20

Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• Youthful approach: Head coach Kyle Whittingham turned some heads by naming former Utah quarterback Brian Johnson as his offensive coordinator. Johnson, who recently turned 25, said he's not looking to make wholesale changes to the offense, though he wants to put his stamp on it and continue to build around running back John White IV, who had a breakout season in his first year of major college football. Having quarterback Jordan Wynn back healthy should also help as the team transitions to Johnson running the offense.
• Fixing the line: Who is going to protect Wynn (if he does indeed win back the starting job) and make holes for White? That's a major concern heading into spring as the Utes have to replace a pair of all-conference linemen in Tony Bergstrom and John Cullen. The Utes should be set at the interior but have to adjust to a new position coach, with Tim Davis leaving for Florida after just one season and Dan Finn -- a former Utah graduate assistant who was brought on to help Davis -- taking over the whole line following a one-year stint at San Diego State.
• Work the experience: The defensive line should be one of the best in the conference, especially with the return of Star Lotulelei, who won the Morris Trophy last season as the conference's best defensive lineman. With the Kruger brothers returning to the line -- Joe at defensive end and Dave at tackle -- Derrick Shelby is the lone starter who has to be replaced. There's also some pretty good depth in the secondary that was tops in the conference last season in pass-efficiency defense.

Stanford's recent success just about Andrew Luck? That's just silly talk.

If ESPN NFL draft guru Todd McShay is on target with his mock 2012 NFL draft, plenty of evidence to the contrary will be produced on draft day.
McShay projects that Luck will be the No. 1 overall pick, of course, but he also projects that Luck will be joined by three teammates in the first round.

How many other teams will produce that many first-round picks? One: National champion Alabama.

The Pac-12 has seven first-round picks in McShay's mock draft.

Here's how McShay sees things, with some comments included.

1. Andrew Luck, QB Stanford (Indianapolis Colts)

2. Matt Kalil, OT, USC (St. Louis Rams)

13. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford (Arizona Cardinals)
This might seem a bit high for a guard, but DeCastro was the most dominant interior offensive lineman in the nation in 2011 and has a chance to develop into one of the elite NFL players at his position. Offensive tackle is also a need area, but DeCastro is a much better overall player than the top available tackle. Cornerback could also be a consideration, but both Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama) and Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama) carry off-field baggage.

18. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (San Diego Chargers)

20. Nick Perry, DE, USC (Tennessee Titans)
The Titans have three defensive ends set to become free agents and need a dynamic pass-rusher to complement Derrick Morgan. While Perry is raw, he has good initial burst and natural pass-rush skills. Cornerback, safety and offensive line are also need areas, but Perry makes the most sense in this situation.

26. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford (Houston Texans)
The Texans would rather get a wideout here to complement Andre Johnson, but Rutgers' Mohamed Sanu and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery would be reaches at this point. A difference-maker at tight end would help, though, and Fleener is a reliable target with toughness, a competitive nature and underrated speed/athleticism. He could draw some attention to the middle away from Johnson, and with a deep wideout class Houston could find a quality receiver in the next couple of rounds.

29. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State (Baltimore Ravens)
Burfict is a physical freak with tremendous athleticism and explosive power. He's a top-20 talent, but questions about his discipline on and off the field are hurting his stock. However, Burfict could contribute immediately and would benefit greatly from the leadership and guidance of Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis. And you have to wonder whether the Ravens would press their luck and take another player with character flags after bringing cornerback Jimmy Smith into the fold last year.

Here's McShay's player rankings.

Here's Kiper's Big Board.

And here's Kiper's top-five by position, which is chock full of Pac-12 players.

Most interesting: Kiper ranks former Arizona State's Brock Osweiler No. 3 among the quarterbacks, ahead of former Arizona's Nick Foles, who is fifth. Luck, of course, is No. 1 and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is No. 2.

If Osweiler ends up getting picked on the first day -- first two rounds -- it certainly will validate his surprising decision to enter the NFL draft.

First thoughts ...

The 2012 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, aka the January NFL Combine, could have as many as five first-round draft picks on the field when the Stanford Cardinal and Oklahoma State Cowboys meet on Jan. 2.

Four of them come from Stanford: quarterback Andrew Luck, offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and David DeCastro and possibly tight end Coby Fleener.

Oklahoma State boasts – hands down -- the nation's best wide receiver in Justin Blackmon. He has 113 catches, 1,336 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Cardinal have seen Blackmon-esque wide receivers this season -- Juron Criner, Michael Floyd, Robert Woods, etc. Big, fast, physical wide receivers who can use their bodies to create separation. But seeing players like Blackmon isn't the same as seeing Blackmon.

“The first time I saw him getting ready for Arizona, I put on the Oklahoma State game,” Stanford head coach David Shaw explained. “I’m trying to watch Arizona’s defense but I kept watching Justin. I had to go back to the sheet that had all of the heights and weight on it. Is he really that big? Can he be that big and that fast and that quick? A guy that will catch a 50-yard post and then come back again on the next play and it doesn't look like he's out of breath. He's a phenomenal athlete and an outstanding football player.”

The Cardinal have seen Weeden-esque quarterbacks before -- Nick Foles, Matt Barkley, etc.; quarterbacks with arms who can deliver with pinpoint accuracy. But seeing quarterbacks like Brandon Weeden isn't the same as seeing Weeden.

Oh yeah … did I mention they have Blackmon?

“That guy wearing No. 81 is something special,” Shaw said. “And the combination of those two guys is formidable. It has been. They have other guys. They have good running backs and other wide receivers that make big plays also. But Justin Blackmon I think is a special, special player. Being who I am, that's where my eye gravitates towards when I watch a team like this. I studied receivers for so long in the NFL. This guy is ideal. He's what you're looking for.”

We have a month to pore over statistics, scrutinize every position and every individual battle. But my first thought is that this is an incredibly even matchup.

• Both teams have marquee quarterbacks.
• Both teams have strong passing games – a clear edge to Oklahoma State’s receivers and a clear edge to Stanford’s tight ends.
• Both teams have strong running games, though the Cardinal are a little more balanced and methodical.
• Both have defenses that have taken their share of criticism, but ultimately make plays when they need to.

Of all of the BCS bowl games, this is the headliner. It might not be for the national championship -- both teams had a shot at it, though Oklahoma State has the bigger gripe -- but at first glance this looks to be the most entertaining game on the docket. If my DVR has space for only one of the BCS bowl games, this is the one I'd record.

“I think this game is going to be great for college football,” Shaw said. “I think it's going to be exciting. It has a lot of what you're looking for ... You've got one of the best teams in the nation, won their conference. Have an outstanding quarterback, outstanding receiver and an outstanding system; an opportunistic defense that gets turnovers and plays at a fast tempo with a lot of speed.

“Then you have this little team from the West Coast that runs the football with a prototypical quarterback with a balanced offensive attack and attacking style defense. I think it's going to be exciting. I think it's going to be one of the best bowl games this year.”

Question from reporter: Do you think it will be better than the national championship?

Shaw, with a laugh: “I didn't say that.”

Question from reporter: Will it be higher scoring?

Shaw, with a bigger laugh: “I didn't say that, either.”

Shaw doesn’t have to say it. We’re all thinking it.

Who gets a helmet sticker for a job well done?

Matt Barkley, USC: The Trojans quarterback completed 35 of 42 passes for 423 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions in a 50-0 victory over rival UCLA. He set a new conference record with 39 TD passes this season. He might have played well enough to earn himself an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Chase Thomas, Stanford: The Cardinal outside linebacker had five tackles, two sacks, three tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and two QB hurries in Stanford's 28-14 win over Notre Dame.

Colorado: Instead of mailing it in, the Buffaloes' 26 seniors, who had never won on the road, went out with a bang. The defense held Utah to 274 yards and the offense did just enough Friday in a 17-14 victory, which ended a 24-game losing streak outside of the state of Colorado.

Zach Maynard, California: The Bears QB completed 19 of 26 attempts for 237 yards and a touchdown and rushed five times for 40 yards and another score in the 47-38 win over Arizona State. His numbers aren't spectacular, but no player has improved as much over the past four weeks, when he's throw five TD passes and just one interception. Recall that after throwing four picks in a loss to UCLA, Maynard looked like a disaster.

Darron Thomas, Oregon: The Ducks quarterback completed 27 of 40 passes for 305 yards with four TDs and no interceptions in the 49-21 win over Oregon State.

Nick Foles, Arizona: The Wildcats QB, playing in his final game in Tucson, completed 33 of 43 for 352 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the 45-37 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette. He overcame a rib injury that looked like it might knock him out of the game early in the week.

Keith Price, Washington: A week after mostly sitting out the Oregon State game with a knee injury, the Washington QB completed 21 of 29 passes for 291 yards with three TDs and no interceptions in a 38-21 victory over Washington State in the Apple Cup.

Taking stock of the 12th week of games in the Pac-12.

Team of the week: USC ended Oregon's 21-game home winning streak as well as the Ducks' 19-game conference winning streak with a 38-35 victory, giving coach Lane Kiffin and QB Matt Barkley a signature victory.

Best game: Unlike most weeks this season, four Pac-12 games came down to the waning moments, but the Trojans' win in Autzen Stadium was thrilling and meaningful, featuring a pair of ranked teams. The Trojans jumped ahead 38-14 but the Ducks stormed back with 21 unanswered points. The game would have gone to overtime if Ducks kicker Alejandro Maldonado hadn't missed from 37 yards on the game's final play.

Biggest play: Hey, Cougs, did Marquess Wilson score?

Washington State was inches short from beating Utah in regulation, and more than a few folks in Pullman -- including coach Paul Wulff -- believe the 6-yard pass Wilson caught in the waning moments from QB Connor Halliday was actually a 7-yard TD pass. As it was, Mo Lee's tackle stopped Wilson from getting the go-ahead TD and, after two incompletions, the Cougars settled for a tying field goal that sent the game into overtime. Utah prevailed 30-27.

This from Howie Stalwick explains the situation:

The Cougars were out of time-outs, so Wulff could not call for a review. The upstairs review official had the option to review the play. A touchdown would have given WSU the win, but Wulff wound up going for a field goal.

NCAA rules permit the reversal of on-field rulings only if evidence is abundantly clear that an error was made. Television replays were inconclusive regarding whether Wilson broke the plane of the goal line. Snow on the field complicated matters.

Wulff said a photo he observed, combined with video he watched, convinced him that Wilson scored.

Offensive standout: Barkley completed 26 of 34 passes for 323 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the Trojans' 38-35 win at Oregon.

Defensive standout: Oregon State defensive end -- and Washington native -- Scott Crichton had two sacks, three total tackles for a loss and forced a key fourth-quarter fumble in the Beavers' 38-21 win over Washington.

Special-teams standout: Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against USC. He also caught a 29-yard TD pass.

Smiley face: Little has gone right for Arizona this year. Heck, it fired its head coach, Mike Stoops, before the season was over. But things are a little brighter in Tucson after a 31-27 upset win at Arizona State. QB Nick Foles and WR Juron Criner -- the Wildcats' two biggest stars -- turned in strong performances and the defense did just enough to win. In a tough situation, interim head coach Tim Kish has done a good job keeping things together and giving his seniors a great memory.

Frowny face: Arizona State. The Sun Devils have lost four of five, and their three-game losing streak came against teams that have less talent and less reason to play hard. Not much to say, but I'm guessing Sun Devils fans can think of plenty.

Thought of the week: Utah plays Colorado on Friday. The Utes should beat the woeful Buffaloes and finish the regular season with a five-game winning streak and an 8-4 record. Then the Utes will watch Arizona State play host to California that night and UCLA visit USC on Saturday. If the Sun Devils and Bruins both lose, the Utes will win the South Division in their first year in the conference. And they'd deserve it more than UCLA or Arizona State, which have meandered through a year that might get both head coaches fired.

Questions for the week: Are there any upsets left? Will Stanford beat Notre Dame and earn an at-large BCS bowl berth? Or will Oregon fall to Oregon State at home and allow the Cardinal to slip into the Rose Bowl -- win or lose versus the Fighting Irish? Will UCLA whip suddenly hot USC and save Rick Neuheisel's job? What about the Apple Cup: If Washington State beats rival Washington, will that be enough to save Wulff's job? Or might Colorado rise up and end its 24-game losing streak outside its home state at Utah? Lots of intrigue for the final weekend of the regular season.

Who gets a helmet sticker for a job well done?

Scott Crichton, Oregon State: The true freshman defensive end -- and Washington native -- had two sacks and forced a key fourth-quarter fumble in the Beavers' 38-21 win over Washington.

John White, Utah: The Utes running back rushed for 186 yards on 42 carries with two touchdowns in the 30-27 overtime win over Washington State.

Kevin Prince, UCLA: The Bruins quarterback completed 15-of-19 for 225 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 45-6 win over Colorado. He also rushed 10 times for 84 yards.

Matt Barkley, USC: The Trojans quarterback completed 26 of 34 passes for 323 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the Trojans 38-35 win at Oregon.

Foles & Criner: Arizona quarterback Nick Foles and wide receiver Juron Criner were supposed to be the Pac-12's best pass-catch combination. Things didn't got their -- or the Wildcats' -- way this season. But Foles completed 35-of-51 for 370 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, and Criner caught nine passes for 134 yards with a touchdown in the 31-27 upset win at Arizona State.

Colorado senior running back Rodney Stewart, playing in his last game on Folsom Field, made sure the Buffaloes wouldn't go winless in their first year of Pac-12 play.

Stewart rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries as the Buffs rolled over Arizona 48-29.

Colorado outrushed the Wildcats 273 yards to 60.

Arizona quarterback Nick Foles threw for 352 yards but also tossed three interceptions.

The Buffs improved to 2-9 on the season and 1-6 in conference play, while the Wildcats fall to 2-8 and 1-7 as they battle to avoid the South Division basement.

Colorado is at UCLA next weekend. Arizona visits archrival Arizona State, the Wildcats' final conference game. They conclude their season on Nov. 26 against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Issues to consider heading into the 11th week of games.

Luck & James: We've said -- and typed -- this before and we will say -- and type -- it again: Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. Stanford QB Andrew Luck and Oregon running back LaMichael James are big-time players. They were both Heisman Trophy finalists in 2010. Luck finished second; James won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back. Luck is the overwhelming Heisman favorite at present. James leads the nation in rushing. Who makes more big-time plays on Saturday? The one who does likely will play for the winning team, and he might end up hoisting the bronze stiff arm trophy.

Barkley makes Sarkisian seem brilliant: Washington coach Steve Sarkisian made headlines this week when he said he'd pick Trojans QB Matt Barkley over Stanford QB Andrew Luck. Maybe he was hoping Barkley would be so flattered that he'd take it easy on a Huskies pass defense that yields 283 yards per game? Don't count on it. In fact, expect Barkley to eclipse 30 TD passes this season -- he enters the game with 28 -- and perhaps move within sniffing distance of Matt Leinart's conference record of 38 with two games to play.

Chow down? It seems like Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow plays one of his former teams every other week, but this time it's different. He was UCLA's offensive coordinator the previous three seasons, so he knows the Bruins personnel on both sides of the ball extremely well. That could be invaluable, particularly with two teams that are limited offensively.

For the defense? Arizona and Colorado own the two worst defenses in the conference. You'd think that Arizona then would have an advantage because it has a much better offense -- Colorado ranks last in the conference in scoring and 11th in total offense. But the Buffaloes are healthier than they've been in weeks, and two cornerbacks return from suspension (Parker Orms and Paul Vigo). Plus there has to be a sense of urgency and desperation at the thought of going winless in their first year of Pac-12 play, while the Wildcats seemed to take a step back last weekend at Utah. While Nick Foles against the Colorado defense seems like a bad matchup, and two poor performances in a row for Foles seem doubtful, don't be surprised if the Buffs come out playing with as much fire as they have in their final home game.

Good Bears or Bad Bears? In terms of matchups, you have to like California's defense against Oregon State, as well as the Bears ability to run and stop the run while playing at home. But it's difficult to focus on X's and O's with the Bears, because it seems like so much goes on -- right and wrong -- in their collective heads. They won three in a row to start the season. Then lost three in a row. They won a game, looking great against Utah. Then lost a game, looking terrible against UCLA. They then looked good again while pounding Washington State last weekend. So does that mean it's time for the Bad Bears to reappear? Cal should beat the Beavers. It's more talented and playing at home. But you never know which team will show up.

Sun Devils should be hot under the collar: Arizona State blew a special season at UCLA. That should bother them. As should tweaks from fans and the media. But they can still win the South Division, go to a good bowl game and have a good season. Nine or 10 wins isn't out of the question. So they need to bring their best focus and intensity to Pullman to face a desperate Washington State team. It's going to be a bit chilly. It may snow. But QB Brock Osweiler and linebacker Vontaze Burfict need to make sure that the locker room is in a frenzy and ready to make a statement against the Cougars.

Red zone, turnovers, third down: Stanford is a perfect 52-of-52 in the red zone this year (with a stunning 41 TDs). It also is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in red zone defense. The Cardinal is No. 2 in the conference in turnover margin, and has given the ball away just seven times this season. Finally, Stanford is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in third-down conversions and second in third-down defense. Oregon is strong by these three measures also. Whoever is better in two of three categories on Saturday is probably going to end up smiling when the clock strikes zero.

The Price of playing defense: Last year, lots of folks were down on USC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, and for good reason. The Trojans, so long a dominant defensive team, played soft and tentative and put up bad numbers. But, without a lot of fanfare, USC has significantly improved on D. For one, it's held six of nine foes to 17 or fewer points. The Trojans rank fourth in the conference in total defense. Still, they aren't great against the pass. They give up 271 yards passing per game and rank sixth in pass-efficiency defense, with foes completing 63 percent of their throws. Washington QB Keith Price started the season hot, but has cooled off of late, tossing six interceptions in his past three games after throwing four in his first six. The Trojans have been tough to run against, so Price won't be able to just lean on running back Chris Polk. He's going to have to make plays in the passing game. Like he did in the first six games.

Went 3-3 last week -- yeesh -- and the season record is now 51-19.

Oregon 35, Stanford 30: All season long I was a Stanford lean, in large part due to homefield advantage, which will allow Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck to communicate however he pleases throughout the game. But after watching the Ducks defense seem to grow up versus Washington, it just seems like Oregon has too much overall team speed on both sides of the ball.

Colorado 33, Arizona 28: It seems like a bad matchup: Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles versus a beaten up, bad Buffaloes secondary. But the Buffs are getting healthier, and their final home game of the season will produce their first Pac-12 win.

USC 35, Washington 27: Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley will turn in another Luck-like performance and end the Huskies two-game winning streak in the series.

California 28, Oregon State 24: Cal never beats Oregon State. And I never pick either of these teams correctly. But Cal is at home -- sort of at AT&T park -- and seemed to figure out last week against Washington State that it needs to run the ball and play defense to win.

Utah 24, UCLA 20: The Utes have the sort of front seven that can stop UCLA's pistol attack. And Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow will have some nice inside info to help game plan.

Arizona State 41, Washington State 31: The Sun Devils are 1-3 on the road this year, but they should have the right amount of desperation to be focused and intense after blowing one at UCLA. News of a Bruins defeat also figures to trickle into the locker room.

Here's a quick look at Week 11 in the Pac-12.

All times are ET.

Arizona (2-7, 1-6) at Colorado (1-9, 0-6) 2:30 p.m. FCS: Is Colorado going to win a Pac-12 game? This might be its best chance, considering its final two games are on the road, where the Buffaloes never win. The Buffs lead the series 12-1, but the Wildcats won the last game 24-21 in 1986. Arizona quarterback Nick Foles needs 84 yards of total offense to break Willie Tuitama's school record of 8,727 set from 2005-08. Last week against USC, Buffs running back Rodney Stewart set a new school record for all-purpose yards (4,466), passing his offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy.

Washington (6-3, 4-2) at USC (7-2, 4-2) 3:45 p.m. FX: USC leads the series 49-28-4, but Washington has won the last two, including a 32-31 win last year. Huskies quarterback Keith Price needs four touchdown passes to eclipse the school record of 28 thrown by Cody Pickett in 2002. USC has blocked six kicks this year. Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley threw a school record six touchdown passes in the win over Colorado, and he leads the conference with 28 touchdown passes.

Oregon State (2-7, 2-4) at California (5-4, 2-4) 6:30 p.m. CSNBA: California leads the series 33-30-0, but Oregon State won last year 35-7. After posting their first losing season under coach Jeff Tedford, the Bears need one win to become bowl eligible. The Beavers are already assured a second consecutive losing season. Oregon State's redshirt freshman quarterback Sean Mannion has thrown for 200 or more yards in eight consecutive games, most for the program since Derek Anderson went 13 in a row in 2003. Cal receiver Keenan Allen took nine games to reach 1,000 yards receiving, the fastest of any receiver in school history. Cal is ranked 19th in the nation in total defense.

UCLA (5-4, 4-2) at Utah (5-4, 2-4) 6:30 p.m. KJZZ: The winner becomes bowl eligible. UCLA leads the series 8-1 but Utah won the last meeting, 44-6 in 2007. The Utes have been to a bowl game the last eight seasons, and they are 7-1 in those games. Utes running back John White is the 11th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing. He had his fifth 100-yard rushing game against Arizona. The Utes are 5-0 when he rushes for 100 yards. The Bruins are ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (186.4 yards per game).

No. 4 Stanford (9-0, 7-0) at No. 7 Oregon (8-1, 6-0) 8 p.m. ABC: It looked like the Pac-12 game of the year in the preseason and it turned out to be exactly that. Stanford leads the series 44-29-1, but Oregon won 52-31 last year. Oregon running back LaMichael James leads the nation in rushing with 151.57 yards per game. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck ranks fifth in passing efficiency. Both were Heisman Trophy finalists last year. The Ducks have won 18 consecutive conference games. Stanford has won 17 games in a row, the nation's longest winning streak. This is the Cardinal's first 9-0 start since 1951. Stanford leads the nation in red zone efficiency. It's perfect at 52 of 52. The Ducks lead the Pac-12 with 29 sacks, or 3.22 per game. Stanford has yielded the fewest sacks in the conference, just four, which is tied for fewest in the nation.

Arizona State (6-3, 4-2) at Washington State (3-6, 1-5) 10:30 p.m. Versus: Arizona State leads the series 23-12-2, and the Sun Devils won 42-0 last year. After a 3-1 start, the Cougars have lost five in a row. Sun Devils running back Cameron Marshall leads the Pac-12 with 13 touchdowns. Sun Devils defensive tackle Bo Moos is the son of Washington State AD Bill Moos. Cougars wideout Marquess Wilson needs 26 yards to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving this year, which will make him just the second wideout in school history to post consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (Jason Hill, 2004-05). Cougs kicker Andrew Furney is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award.

Don't cry for Nick Foles. For one, the Arizona quarterback isn't doing it for himself.

"There are a lot worse things I could be doing than playing football," he said. "It's a dream I'm living. I'm playing college football. I'm not going to take it for granted. No matter what, I'm going to enjoy it."

Sure, it's been a disappointing year. No team wants to be 2-6, especially one that's coming off three consecutive winning seasons. No team wants to see its coach fired.

Well, we can't say that for sure, but Foles will say it about the termination of Mike Stoops on Oct. 10.

"It was shock. He put his heart and soul into this program," Foles said. "It is a business, but when something like that happens, it took me couple of days to let it sink in. It was tough. You lose your head coach and you're part of the reason you lose your head coach. I'm a player. I'm the quarterback. I didn't play well enough. Part of it goes on me. We have to take ownership of that, too."

Of course, Foles has played pretty darn well under tough circumstances. The Wildcats, who play host to Utah on Saturday, are bad on defense. They can't run the ball. The special teams have been awful. Foles, however, ranks third in the nation with 366.75 yards passing per game, which is on pace to set a new conference record. He also ranks 21st in the nation in passing efficiency, even though everybody knows he's the Wildcats' only weapon.

"He's had an outstanding season," interim coach Tim Kish said. "He's just a tremendous competitor. He's been a great leader for us. He's remained cool under a lot of pressure here."

It's been far from easy on anyone. On Nov. 6, 2010, the Wildcats headed to Stanford ranked 15th in the BCS standings with a 7-1 record. A 42-17 thumping, however, became the first of 10 consecutive defeats to FBS teams, a streak that didn't end until a 48-12 win over UCLA on Oct. 20. And that was too late for Stoops. And probably for the season.

"It definitely hasn't gone the way we wanted to," Foles said. "It's probably been the toughest year since I've played this game, since my first year of Pop Warner. But the team's really stuck together."

Foles has nothing bad to say about Stoops or anyone else at Arizona. It's fair to say he has been a good soldier during trying times. He said he uses a 24-hour rule: He has 24 hours to get over a defeat, then it's time to move on.

Speaking of moving on, Foles is certainly going to get drafted after rewriting the Arizona passing record book. At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, NFL scouts are going to love his size and production. The way he has handled a bad situation this year also will speak to his makeup and leadership. If he has good workouts and a good combine, he could be a first-day pick.

But Foles has no interest in talking about his NFL future.

"I'm still playing," he said. "I've got four games left in the season and I expect to win these things. My future in this game is this Saturday, our next practice. That's how I've always approached it."

He then added: "After the season, when it's done, we'll see where my future is, and if I'm fortunate enough to keep going, that's what I'll do."

It's been a disappointing season. The NFL awaits. But Foles isn't looking back at what went wrong or forward to a big payday. Utah has his complete attention.

Issues to consider heading into the 10th week of games.

Is Oregon sharp and efficient at QB? The first question here is: Who? If Darron Thomas is healthy, it's almost certain he starts. But is his knee 100 percent? Will he be able to pose a legitimate running threat? Will he be sharp throwing the ball? Even before the injury, Thomas was off-and-on as a passer this year. And then if Thomas gets replaced by Bryan Bennett, how will the redshirt freshman react to a potentially competitive game on the road against Washington? He was outstanding against Arizona State at home and solid on the road at Colorado, but this game should be more taxing. Oregon's offense can score so many ways that it doesn't have to be perfect in the passing game. Heck, sometimes it doesn't need to throw at all. But the Huskies chances of recording the upset go up substantially if the Ducks are running at 75-80 percent at QB.

Are USC and Stanford going to have letdown games? After a triple-overtime thriller, it's hard to imagine that USC and Stanford will bring their "A-games" to road dates with Colorado and Oregon State, respectively. For one, both games look like mismatches, so it's possible that players won't be as focused and intense as they normally would. And, second, both could be running on half-tanks of energy after a physical, emotional game. Don't be surprised if they both start slowly and perhaps look a little sloppy. The question is can they pull it together enough to secure a comfortable win or will they allow the Buffs and Beavs to keep things interesting?

Good Cal or bad Cal? Good Maynard or bad Maynard? California has been all over the place this year, and so has QB Zach Maynard. It appeared that he'd found his groove during a 34-10 win over Utah, but then he lost it when he threw four interceptions in a 31-14 loss at UCLA. It's certainly not all his fault. Cal has been fickle for a while, looking like a top-25 team one week, then like an FCS one the other. The Bears should beat Washington State at home. But they will have to show up to do so. And Maynard needs to be on-target or he could lose his starting job.

Will Neuheisel and/or Wulff pick up a signature win? UCLA and Washington State fans have been waiting for Rick Neuheisel and Paul Wulff to turn their sagging programs around for four years. Neither has produced results that have fans happy. Neither has a meaningful, A-list conference victory that provided a strong indication that better things were ahead (the Bruins beating Texas last year proved a mirage and was a nonconference game). If Neuheisel and the Bruins can beat Arizona State, they will take control of the Pac-12's South Division. That would seem like a win that could resonate. If Wulff and the Cougars could pick up a fourth win at Cal, then it would keep bowl hopes alive and, at worst, show the program was making clear progress.

Foles versus the Utah D: While Utah's first season in the conference has been disappointing, it's played good, consistent defense. It ranks first in the Pac-12 in total defense and second in scoring. While Arizona's season has been disappointing, QB Nick Foles can fling the rock. He ranks first in the Pac-12 in passing yards per game with 366.1, 80 more than anyone else. That matchup alone makes this game worth watching.

Washington's run defense: Oregon is No. 1 in the conference and No. 4 in the nation in rushing offense (309 yards per game). Washington's defense is best against the run. Of course, that requires qualification. Good running teams -- Nebraska and Stanford -- ran all over the Huskies. And, as a whole, the Huskies defense had been rotten, surrendering 430 yards and 33.4 points per game. If Washington is to have any chance, it must 1. find a way to at least slow down the Ducks running game; 2. force turnovers. Time for coordinator Nick Holt to earn his paycheck.

Arizona needs to run, stop the run: Utah is second in the conference with 23 sacks. That suggests that it's in Foles' best interest to hand the ball off at least a few times to slow down the Utes' pass rush. So the Wildcats shouldn't abandon the run. Meanwhile, the Wildcats defense has mostly struggled this year, but the Utes offer a limited, one-dimensional offense that relies on running back John White. That means Arizona should gang up on the line of scrimmage and force Jon Hays to throw the ball. While the Wildcats have been worse against the pass this year than the run -- opponents are completing 69 percent of their throws -- Hays has yet to show he can throw consistently and move his team down the field.

Do Colorado and/or Oregon State have anything left? Colorado is 1-8. Oregon State is 2-6. Both are coming off blowout losses. Both will be at home in front of uninspired crowds. Both are playing foes with a lot more talent than them. Both look like candidates to take a whipping. And yet. Football is a funny game. If one or the other or both come out playing with fire, they might keep things competitive. And when a game gets into the fourth quarter, crazy things can happen.

Went 5-1 last week -- Cal! Man! What. Is. UP? -- and the season record is now 48-16.

And, yes, the Washington-Arizona prediction looks a lot like the final score.

Friday

USC 44, Colorado 24: If Colorado, indeed, gets RB Rodney Stewart and WR Paul Richardson back, the Buffaloes will pose a far stiffer challenge than their 1-8 record suggests. Don't be surprised if USC is a little flat after all the emotions of last weekend against Stanford. Trojans had better not be too flat.

Saturday

Washington 41, Oregon 38: Got to pick an upset every once in a while, right? At some point, Washington is going to beat Oregon again. Maybe it's this weekend, which would mess up the Pac-12's big show at Stanford on Nov. 12.

Stanford 44, Oregon State 20: Not unlike USC, it wouldn't be surprising if the Cardinal start slowly and allow the Beavers to hang around. But having a leader like Andrew Luck likely prevents a slow start from enduring too long.

California 28, Washington State 24: I'd really prefer to not pick games involving California, but my bosses said I had to (insert whine). If this game were in Pullman, I'd pick the Cougars, but the Bears play better at "home," even if that's AT&T Park.

Arizona 33, Utah 24: Nick Foles and the Wildcats playing at home is the difference here. The Utes have a good defense but won't be able to keep up on offense.

Arizona State 38, UCLA 28: The Bruins are going to fight hard -- they understand that this game could transform their season -- but the Sun Devils should assert themselves early in the fourth quarter.

California coach Jeff Tedford noted this week, as many coaches have before, "Always the most popular guy in the stadium is the backup quarterback."

That, of course, is only true if the starting QB is stinking up the joint. Many Stanford fans have no idea who Andrew Luck's backup is. There's no doubt that Keith Price is about as popular as a guy can be in Seattle at present. Arizona fans aren't dumping the Wildcats woes on QB Nick Foles.

But when a QB tosses four interceptions, as Cal QB Zach Maynard did in the Bears' humbling 31-14 loss to UCLA last weekend, it's understandable why fans would start eyeballing the backup, in this case Allan Bridgford.

Further, when your QB ranks 81st in the nation and 11th in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency, as Maynard does, and a team has lost four of five, as Cal has, then fans start wondering about potential changes.

And guess what? So has Tedford. On Saturday and Sunday, he intimated a change at the position might be forthcoming, or at least an increased competition between Maynard and Bridgford.

On Tuesday, however, Maynard was tapped as the starter against Washington State. But barely.

"Zach is starting," Tedford said. "Unless something were to happen through the week."

As for Bridgford: "He's a quality guy and may at some point deserve some playing time if we're not more consistent at that position," Tedford said.

Maynard's issues are accuracy, consistency and turnovers, major problems for a QB. He played well during a 3-0 start, then got progressively worse during a three-game slide. Then he seemed to figure things out in a 34-10 win over Utah on Oct. 22. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 255 yards with a TD and no interceptions and ran for 36 yards.

But he only completed 14-of-30 for 199 yards against the Bruins. His previous interceptions were mostly about poor reads and trying to force passes into coverage. This time, he was making the right read but just missing guys.

And, yes, you can tell Tedford is paying attention to every detail.

"[The first one] was more of a ball just outside and tipped off a hand," Tedford said. "The other one, a guy breaking off when he thought he was breaking different, that was an overthrown ball that went right to the safety. There was another one -- there was a 'backer right in his face -- and he throws it too early and we're not out of the route yet and it goes over his head."

Tedford could see each pick in his mind's eye.

One can assume Tedford senses the urgency his 4-4 team faces, particularly against a foe, the once-again struggling Cougars, his fan base would become apoplectic about losing to at home. So it's clear he still believes Maynard gives his team its best chance to win. This isn't about being nice or not wanting to hurt Maynard's feelings.

Said Tedford, "The week before he played excellent."

Maynard needs to find that level of play and then maintain it. If he doesn't find it before halftime Saturday, he may not start the third quarter.