The Rose Bowl picture has cleared. Most other things are muddy.
And the end result might not make some folks happy.
When I pencil out the rest of the season -- for what that is worth in this sometimes nutty conference -- I project four teams will finish with 6-3 conference records: USC, California, Oregon State and Stanford.
In that scenario, no way the Holiday Bowl passes up USC. The Trojans will sell tickets. They will boost TV ratings. And, at 9-3, USC probably will be back in the top-half of the national rankings.
The Sun Bowl then likely would take Cal, even though it lost to Oregon State. The Bears will have a better overall record -- 9-3 vs. 8-4 -- and, most of all, the Beavers played in the Sun Bowl last year.
The Emerald Bowl then would grab Stanford, hoping that the local connection will boost local coverage and ticket sales. Not to mention that Heisman Trophy candidate Toby Gerhart would be a good guy to put on the game posters.
So Oregon State heads to the Las Vegas Bowl. Arizona then goes to the Poinsettia Bowl.
As for UCLA, the Bruins are now the Pac-10's seventh bowl-eligible team. But the Pac-10 only has six bowl contract, so the Bruins will need to find an at-large berth with a bowl that has a vacancy. I just said Humanitarian because that's what Mark Schlabach said last week, and rumor has it Schlabach owns a crystal ball.
Here's a handy bowl schedule. And other bowl projections.
And the end result might not make some folks happy.
When I pencil out the rest of the season -- for what that is worth in this sometimes nutty conference -- I project four teams will finish with 6-3 conference records: USC, California, Oregon State and Stanford.
In that scenario, no way the Holiday Bowl passes up USC. The Trojans will sell tickets. They will boost TV ratings. And, at 9-3, USC probably will be back in the top-half of the national rankings.
The Sun Bowl then likely would take Cal, even though it lost to Oregon State. The Bears will have a better overall record -- 9-3 vs. 8-4 -- and, most of all, the Beavers played in the Sun Bowl last year.
The Emerald Bowl then would grab Stanford, hoping that the local connection will boost local coverage and ticket sales. Not to mention that Heisman Trophy candidate Toby Gerhart would be a good guy to put on the game posters.
So Oregon State heads to the Las Vegas Bowl. Arizona then goes to the Poinsettia Bowl.
As for UCLA, the Bruins are now the Pac-10's seventh bowl-eligible team. But the Pac-10 only has six bowl contract, so the Bruins will need to find an at-large berth with a bowl that has a vacancy. I just said Humanitarian because that's what Mark Schlabach said last week, and rumor has it Schlabach owns a crystal ball.
Here's a handy bowl schedule. And other bowl projections.
- Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi: Oregon vs. Big Ten
- Pacific Life Holiday: USC vs. Big 12
- Brut Sun: California vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame
- Emerald: Stanford vs. ACC
- MAACO Las Vegas: Oregon State vs. Mountain West
- San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia: Arizona vs. Mountain West
- Roady's Humanitarian: UCLA vs. WAC
What we learned in the Pac-10: Week 12
November, 22, 2009
Nov 22
11:00
AM ET
What did we learn from Week 12 of Pac-10 action?
1. It all comes down to the Civil War: After a frenzy of a race, the smoke has cleared and two teams are still standing: The Ducks and Beavers, who will do battle on Dec. 3 in the biggest Civil War in state of Oregon history. The winner in Autzen Stadium goes to the Rose Bowl. The loser must watch its rival celebrate with a rose between its teeth. Both teams are off this weekend, so there will be plenty of time to get healthy and prepare. And think.
2. It all comes down to the Civil War, part 2: Who's the first-team All-Pac-10 quarterback? Oregon State's Sean Canfield entered the weekend as the frontrunner and he played fairly well at Washington State with two touchdown passes, which gives him 19 for the year. But Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli made a statement with six touchdowns -- three running, three passing -- at Arizona. Masoli doesn't have the passing numbers Canfield has, but he has 12 rushing TDs to go along with 14 TD passes. That's a lot of production. The quarterback who comes out on top in the Civil War might be the one who comes out on top for postseason honors.
3. It ain't easy being the Pac-10's hot team: Stanford is the latest "hot" conference team to face-plant. It did so against California, which knows all about it. Oregon started things off with a terrible performance at Boise State after an appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated and a loss at Stanford following its big win over USC. Remember when road warrior USC was reloading, not rebuilding? Arizona was nationally ranked until it fell at Cal two weeks ago. The only contender that hasn't been the flavor of the week is Oregon State, which might become the "it" team at exactly the right time: The final weekend of the season.
4. The Rose Bowl is easy, the rest of the pecking order is hard: Consider the Pac-10 standings. Sure, things have cleared up at the top, but the rest is a muddle. Four teams -- Arizona, California, Stanford and USC -- have three conference losses, and an Oregon State loss in the Civil War would be the Beavers' third. Stanford is done with its conference schedule. Arizona and USC have two more conference games, including one against each other on Dec. 5. Cal will be favored at Washington on Dec. 5. The ultimate pecking order in completely unsettled and won't be decided until the final weekend of the regular season, and even then there may be some hurt feelings when the bowls pick teams they want for reasons other than pure merit.
5. The Pac-10 sure can put on a show: The past college football weekend was mostly a yawner -- except in the Pac-10, which produced a pair of thrillers featuring three ranked teams and a fourth, Arizona, which is pretty darn good. The Pac-10 blog is obviously not a fan of the eight-game conference schedule because it hurts the conference's national perception. But it does make every weekend of the regular season pretty darn fun, though Jim Harbaugh and Mike Stoops -- who both want to revert to an eight-game schedule -- probably aren't enjoying their Sunday.
1. It all comes down to the Civil War: After a frenzy of a race, the smoke has cleared and two teams are still standing: The Ducks and Beavers, who will do battle on Dec. 3 in the biggest Civil War in state of Oregon history. The winner in Autzen Stadium goes to the Rose Bowl. The loser must watch its rival celebrate with a rose between its teeth. Both teams are off this weekend, so there will be plenty of time to get healthy and prepare. And think.
2. It all comes down to the Civil War, part 2: Who's the first-team All-Pac-10 quarterback? Oregon State's Sean Canfield entered the weekend as the frontrunner and he played fairly well at Washington State with two touchdown passes, which gives him 19 for the year. But Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli made a statement with six touchdowns -- three running, three passing -- at Arizona. Masoli doesn't have the passing numbers Canfield has, but he has 12 rushing TDs to go along with 14 TD passes. That's a lot of production. The quarterback who comes out on top in the Civil War might be the one who comes out on top for postseason honors.
3. It ain't easy being the Pac-10's hot team: Stanford is the latest "hot" conference team to face-plant. It did so against California, which knows all about it. Oregon started things off with a terrible performance at Boise State after an appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated and a loss at Stanford following its big win over USC. Remember when road warrior USC was reloading, not rebuilding? Arizona was nationally ranked until it fell at Cal two weeks ago. The only contender that hasn't been the flavor of the week is Oregon State, which might become the "it" team at exactly the right time: The final weekend of the season.
4. The Rose Bowl is easy, the rest of the pecking order is hard: Consider the Pac-10 standings. Sure, things have cleared up at the top, but the rest is a muddle. Four teams -- Arizona, California, Stanford and USC -- have three conference losses, and an Oregon State loss in the Civil War would be the Beavers' third. Stanford is done with its conference schedule. Arizona and USC have two more conference games, including one against each other on Dec. 5. Cal will be favored at Washington on Dec. 5. The ultimate pecking order in completely unsettled and won't be decided until the final weekend of the regular season, and even then there may be some hurt feelings when the bowls pick teams they want for reasons other than pure merit.
5. The Pac-10 sure can put on a show: The past college football weekend was mostly a yawner -- except in the Pac-10, which produced a pair of thrillers featuring three ranked teams and a fourth, Arizona, which is pretty darn good. The Pac-10 blog is obviously not a fan of the eight-game conference schedule because it hurts the conference's national perception. But it does make every weekend of the regular season pretty darn fun, though Jim Harbaugh and Mike Stoops -- who both want to revert to an eight-game schedule -- probably aren't enjoying their Sunday.
Drubner takes in all the sights and sounds from Tucson as one of the biggest Pac-10 matchups of the year lives up to the hype.
Who stood out in Week 12?
Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon: Masoli accounted for all six of Oregon's touchdowns in the Ducks' thrilling, 44-41 double-overtime win at Arizona. He ran for 61 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner. And he passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns, including the one that tied the game with 6 seconds left in regulation.
Shane Vereen, RB, California: Vereen, starting for the injured Jahvid Best for a second time, rushed for 193 yards on 42 carries -- 42 carries! -- with three touchdowns in the Bears' 34-28 Big Game win over Stanford. Last week in a win over Arizona, Vereen rushed for 159 yards.
Brian Price, DT, UCLA: Price had had four tackles for a loss and two sacks, one of which caused a fumble that became one of two Bruins defensive touchdowns in UCLA's 23-13 win over Arizona State, which made the Bruins bowl eligible. He also was second on the team with six total tackles. Price leads the Pac-10 with 20.5 tackles for a loss. He has seven sacks.
Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon: Maehl caught a career-high 12 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the Ducks' victory -- and many of the catches were spectacular.
Jeff Tedford, California: His team was a national punchline after it went from No. 6 in the nation to a 72-6 loser to Oregon and USC on consecutive weekends. But, very quietly, and despite the loss of their star running back the past two games, the 8-3 Bears have crawled back to respectability by winning five of their last six games, the lone loss coming to Oregon State when Best was knocked out on the field.
Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford: The Big Game loss certainly wasn't Gerhart's fault. The Heisman Trophy candidate scored four touchdowns -- he now leads the nation with 23 -- and rushed for 136 yards against a sturdy Bears defense. He also had a tough 29-yard reception that put the Cardinal in position to win the game at the end before Cal iced things with an interception near the goal line.
Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon: Masoli accounted for all six of Oregon's touchdowns in the Ducks' thrilling, 44-41 double-overtime win at Arizona. He ran for 61 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner. And he passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns, including the one that tied the game with 6 seconds left in regulation.
Shane Vereen, RB, California: Vereen, starting for the injured Jahvid Best for a second time, rushed for 193 yards on 42 carries -- 42 carries! -- with three touchdowns in the Bears' 34-28 Big Game win over Stanford. Last week in a win over Arizona, Vereen rushed for 159 yards.
Brian Price, DT, UCLA: Price had had four tackles for a loss and two sacks, one of which caused a fumble that became one of two Bruins defensive touchdowns in UCLA's 23-13 win over Arizona State, which made the Bruins bowl eligible. He also was second on the team with six total tackles. Price leads the Pac-10 with 20.5 tackles for a loss. He has seven sacks.
Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon: Maehl caught a career-high 12 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the Ducks' victory -- and many of the catches were spectacular.
Jeff Tedford, California: His team was a national punchline after it went from No. 6 in the nation to a 72-6 loser to Oregon and USC on consecutive weekends. But, very quietly, and despite the loss of their star running back the past two games, the 8-3 Bears have crawled back to respectability by winning five of their last six games, the lone loss coming to Oregon State when Best was knocked out on the field.
Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford: The Big Game loss certainly wasn't Gerhart's fault. The Heisman Trophy candidate scored four touchdowns -- he now leads the nation with 23 -- and rushed for 136 yards against a sturdy Bears defense. He also had a tough 29-yard reception that put the Cardinal in position to win the game at the end before Cal iced things with an interception near the goal line.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- There were big plays. There were strange plays. There were seemingly huge gaffes that really didn't mean much. An Oregon cheerleader got knocked out by a water bottle hurled from the stands. There were expectant Arizona fans on the field, encircling this drama like a red ribbon, who ended up standing in stunned silence after Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli generated his sixth and final touchdown to conclude the second overtime of this thrilling and nearly four-hour evening.
"It got quiet really fast," Masoli said after Oregon prevailed 44-41 and took one step closer to its first Rose Bowl since the 1994 season.
Masoli scored three touchdowns running, including a 1-yard carry that won it. He also passed for three touchdowns, including an 8-yard toss that tied the score with six seconds left in regulation.
Oregon jumped to a 14-0 lead. Then Arizona scored 24 unanswered points. Both defenses were in control at times. And at times, both offenses seemed unstoppable. The score then was knotted at 24, 31 and 38, at which point Arizona's field goal in the second overtime fell short of the Ducks touchdown.
Both teams had 22 first downs. Oregon's 459 total yards was just 18 more than the Wildcats. It was about as closely contested as a game can be.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of," said Arizona quarterback Nick Foles, who passed for 314 yards and four touchdowns.
But the mood in the two locker rooms couldn't have been more different.
"I have no words for it," said jubilant Oregon running back LaMichael James, who rushed for 117 yards and set a new Pac-10 freshman rushing record with 1,310 yards.
The 11th-ranked Ducks (9-2, 7-1) now pause for a moment to collect themselves and before beginning earnest preparation for a Civil War showdown with Oregon State on Dec. 3 that has very simple stakes: The winner goes to the Rose Bowl.
James, by the way, broke the record Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers set last year.
The Wildcats (6-4, 4-3), meanwhile, will try to regroup for a visit to archrival Arizona State on Saturday.
Said Arizona's senior safety Cam Nelson, "I can sit here and say we're not going to let it [get us down] but at the end of the day, we all know it is. It's something that is going to stick with us the rest of our lives knowing we let this opportunity slip out of our hands. I can sit here and say 'no, we're going to put it behind us,' but I'm not."
Some game oddities:
Perhaps most curious was when Kelly decided to go for a fourth-and-4 from his 45-yard line with 6:26 left with Arizona ahead 31-24. The Ducks failed to convert, at which point the Wildcats fans started their plan to storm the field.
"We never flinched," Kelly said, bringing up the call before he was even asked about it. "I went for it on fourth down because I was confident we could get a stop and get another chance."
Which is exactly what happened. Foles threw his only interception in the end zone on a third and 16 play from the Ducks 40, which mostly functioned as a punt.
Masoli and company took over with 3:11 left.
"That's a lot of time for us," Kelly said.
Oregon went 80 yards in 15 plays. It converted a third-and-11 from the Arizona 46 with an 18-yard run up the middle from James. It converted on a fourth-and-4 from the Wildcats 22 with a 7-yard pass from Masoli to Jeff Maehl, who had a career-best 12 receptions for 114 yards with two touchdowns.
The drive was vintage Masoli. A little out-of-control. A little unconventional. Lots of things getting made up as he went along.
"He's unflappable," Kelly said. "Nothing bothers him."
That take was seconded by Arizona defensive coordinator Mark Stoops.
"The plays he made in critical situations are remarkable," he said.
It was a remarkable game that was worthy of simplifying what had been a complicated Pac-10 race.
A Civil War on Dec. 3 will send one Oregon program to the Rose Bowl.
[+] Enlarge
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesJeremiah Masoli threw for three scores and ran for three more to rally the Ducks.
"It got quiet really fast," Masoli said after Oregon prevailed 44-41 and took one step closer to its first Rose Bowl since the 1994 season.
Masoli scored three touchdowns running, including a 1-yard carry that won it. He also passed for three touchdowns, including an 8-yard toss that tied the score with six seconds left in regulation.
Oregon jumped to a 14-0 lead. Then Arizona scored 24 unanswered points. Both defenses were in control at times. And at times, both offenses seemed unstoppable. The score then was knotted at 24, 31 and 38, at which point Arizona's field goal in the second overtime fell short of the Ducks touchdown.
Both teams had 22 first downs. Oregon's 459 total yards was just 18 more than the Wildcats. It was about as closely contested as a game can be.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of," said Arizona quarterback Nick Foles, who passed for 314 yards and four touchdowns.
But the mood in the two locker rooms couldn't have been more different.
"I have no words for it," said jubilant Oregon running back LaMichael James, who rushed for 117 yards and set a new Pac-10 freshman rushing record with 1,310 yards.
The 11th-ranked Ducks (9-2, 7-1) now pause for a moment to collect themselves and before beginning earnest preparation for a Civil War showdown with Oregon State on Dec. 3 that has very simple stakes: The winner goes to the Rose Bowl.
James, by the way, broke the record Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers set last year.
The Wildcats (6-4, 4-3), meanwhile, will try to regroup for a visit to archrival Arizona State on Saturday.
Said Arizona's senior safety Cam Nelson, "I can sit here and say we're not going to let it [get us down] but at the end of the day, we all know it is. It's something that is going to stick with us the rest of our lives knowing we let this opportunity slip out of our hands. I can sit here and say 'no, we're going to put it behind us,' but I'm not."
Some game oddities:
- Arizona kicker Alex Zendejas made a career-long 47-yard field goal just before the half, despite two timeouts from Oregon coach Chip Kelly intended to ice him. After which, he jawed at the Ducks sideline with amusing abandon. He also missed a 24-yard chip shot in the third quarter.
- Oregon kicker Morgan Flint tied the game at 24-24 in the fourth quarter when his line-drive field goal bounced off the crossbar and decided to go through the uprights anyway.
- Arizona receiver David Douglas fumbled right before he scored a touchdown in the first quarter, but Juron Criner turned a short bubble screen into a 71-yard touchdown despite seeming to be surrounded the entire run.
Perhaps most curious was when Kelly decided to go for a fourth-and-4 from his 45-yard line with 6:26 left with Arizona ahead 31-24. The Ducks failed to convert, at which point the Wildcats fans started their plan to storm the field.
"We never flinched," Kelly said, bringing up the call before he was even asked about it. "I went for it on fourth down because I was confident we could get a stop and get another chance."
Which is exactly what happened. Foles threw his only interception in the end zone on a third and 16 play from the Ducks 40, which mostly functioned as a punt.
Masoli and company took over with 3:11 left.
"That's a lot of time for us," Kelly said.
Oregon went 80 yards in 15 plays. It converted a third-and-11 from the Arizona 46 with an 18-yard run up the middle from James. It converted on a fourth-and-4 from the Wildcats 22 with a 7-yard pass from Masoli to Jeff Maehl, who had a career-best 12 receptions for 114 yards with two touchdowns.
The drive was vintage Masoli. A little out-of-control. A little unconventional. Lots of things getting made up as he went along.
"He's unflappable," Kelly said. "Nothing bothers him."
That take was seconded by Arizona defensive coordinator Mark Stoops.
"The plays he made in critical situations are remarkable," he said.
It was a remarkable game that was worthy of simplifying what had been a complicated Pac-10 race.
A Civil War on Dec. 3 will send one Oregon program to the Rose Bowl.
Pac-10 blogger Ted Miller analyzes Oregon’s 44-41 double OT win at Arizona on Saturday night.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Wow. Great game. But, of course, you saw it.
Got to rush to the field for postgame. But you know I'll be back.
In a sentence: It's going to be a big Civil War.
The Rose Bowl is the stakes.
Fun fun.
Got to rush to the field for postgame. But you know I'll be back.
In a sentence: It's going to be a big Civil War.
The Rose Bowl is the stakes.
Fun fun.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- When Oregon desperately needed it, Jeremiah Masoli delivered.
He led Oregon 80 yards in 15 plays for the tying TD and we're headed to overtime.
Masoli connected with tight end Ed Dickson for the 8-yard scoring pass with six seconds left, but the big play was a fourth-and-5 completion to Jeff Maehl for eight yards to the Wildcats 15 with 17 seconds left.
Arizona will play defense first in OT.
Buckle up.
He led Oregon 80 yards in 15 plays for the tying TD and we're headed to overtime.
Masoli connected with tight end Ed Dickson for the 8-yard scoring pass with six seconds left, but the big play was a fourth-and-5 completion to Jeff Maehl for eight yards to the Wildcats 15 with 17 seconds left.
Arizona will play defense first in OT.
Buckle up.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Let the debate begin among Oregon fans.
Instead of punting, Oregon coach Chip Kelly opted to go for a fourth down and 4 play from his 45 with 6:32 left.
If it worked, it would have been brilliant.
It didn't.
The Ducks defense went on to make a stand. Oregon will get the ball back with plenty of time to score.
But that call likely will inspire spirited second-guessing.
Instead of punting, Oregon coach Chip Kelly opted to go for a fourth down and 4 play from his 45 with 6:32 left.
If it worked, it would have been brilliant.
It didn't.
The Ducks defense went on to make a stand. Oregon will get the ball back with plenty of time to score.
But that call likely will inspire spirited second-guessing.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Wow, the momentum swung hard to Oregon just when it seemed to be going all Arizona's way.
Ducks answer Wildcats TD with an 80-yard TD drive of their own, then force a three and out.
Then they tie the game with the ugliest 43-yard field goal in history -- the line drive bounced off and over the cross bar.
So it's 24-24 with eight minutes left.
Stats are fairly even.
So: Will it be a mistake or big positive play that decides this?
Ducks answer Wildcats TD with an 80-yard TD drive of their own, then force a three and out.
Then they tie the game with the ugliest 43-yard field goal in history -- the line drive bounced off and over the cross bar.
So it's 24-24 with eight minutes left.
Stats are fairly even.
So: Will it be a mistake or big positive play that decides this?
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-10. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
PAC-10 SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 11/21
Final Arizona State 13 UCLA 23 Final 19 Oregon State 42 Washington State 10 Final 25 California 34 17 Stanford 28 Final/2OT 11 Oregon 44 Arizona 41
