Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
What did we learn from Week 10 of Pac-10 action?
1. The Pac-10 is out of the nation title hunt (again): With Oregon's defeat at Stanford, every Pac-10 team now has at least two losses. That's not going to get a team to the late game in Pasadena. Athletic directors and conference administrators might want to think about two things: 1. Less ambitious nonconference scheduling; 2. End the nine-game, round-robin conference schedule. The way to remain unbeaten -- or to maximize win potential in the conference, top to bottom -- is to play schedules like most of the teams that are presently unbeaten play. On the positive side, the Oregon vs. Boise State rankings debate is likely solved. At least in terms of its meaning within the BCS picture.
2. Stanford has turned the corner under Jim Harbaugh: Stanford improved to 6-3 with the win over Oregon, which made the Cardinal bowl eligible for the first time since 2001. But Harbaugh wasn't celebrating. He still thinks his team can win the Pac-10 title. And if it manages to win at USC on Saturday, who knows? But his program is clearly on the uptick. Did we mention that his outstanding quarterback Andrew Luck is a redshirt freshman? Think that may help the Cardinal recruit some skill on offense?
3. Oregon State is surging (again): The sun sets and then it rises. Oregon State starts slowly and then it makes a run. The Beavers have won four of five since a 2-2 start, the lone loss a nail biter at USC. The previous three seasons, they started 2-3 but ended up with bowl wins and final national rankings. Déjà vu anyone? Know what's the most exciting thing about the slow-start, fast-finish dynamic for me? I get to ask Mike Riley about it next preseason. And he'll start his answer with this: "That's a good question." I love how he does that. (It's not a good question, but Riley isn't the sort to tell reporters that).
4. USC hasn't solved its issues, but it still may rise again for No. 8: Freshman quarterback Matt Barkley had his worst game at Arizona State. The defense gave up yards to a Sun Devils offense that has struggled much of the season. Injuries have piled up. And yet, with Oregon's loss at Stanford, the Trojans join a gaggle of teams that could end up atop the conference. If they win out, chances are reasonable that they will at least earn a share of the conference title. And who knows how a tiebreaker might play out? Rematch with Ohio State in the RoZZZZZZZe Bowl?
5. A Pac-10 running back should be a top-five Heisman Trophy candidate: Whether you're a Jacquizz Rodgers guy or a Toby Gerhart adherent, it's a shame that neither is getting as much Heisman hype as less-deserving candidates. The key number: Both have accounted for 16 touchdowns this season. How many running backs who don't play for Navy have done that?
What did we learn from Week 10 of Pac-10 action?
1. The Pac-10 is out of the nation title hunt (again): With Oregon's defeat at Stanford, every Pac-10 team now has at least two losses. That's not going to get a team to the late game in Pasadena. Athletic directors and conference administrators might want to think about two things: 1. Less ambitious nonconference scheduling; 2. End the nine-game, round-robin conference schedule. The way to remain unbeaten -- or to maximize win potential in the conference, top to bottom -- is to play schedules like most of the teams that are presently unbeaten play. On the positive side, the Oregon vs. Boise State rankings debate is likely solved. At least in terms of its meaning within the BCS picture.
2. Stanford has turned the corner under Jim Harbaugh: Stanford improved to 6-3 with the win over Oregon, which made the Cardinal bowl eligible for the first time since 2001. But Harbaugh wasn't celebrating. He still thinks his team can win the Pac-10 title. And if it manages to win at USC on Saturday, who knows? But his program is clearly on the uptick. Did we mention that his outstanding quarterback Andrew Luck is a redshirt freshman? Think that may help the Cardinal recruit some skill on offense?
3. Oregon State is surging (again): The sun sets and then it rises. Oregon State starts slowly and then it makes a run. The Beavers have won four of five since a 2-2 start, the lone loss a nail biter at USC. The previous three seasons, they started 2-3 but ended up with bowl wins and final national rankings. Déjà vu anyone? Know what's the most exciting thing about the slow-start, fast-finish dynamic for me? I get to ask Mike Riley about it next preseason. And he'll start his answer with this: "That's a good question." I love how he does that. (It's not a good question, but Riley isn't the sort to tell reporters that).
4. USC hasn't solved its issues, but it still may rise again for No. 8: Freshman quarterback Matt Barkley had his worst game at Arizona State. The defense gave up yards to a Sun Devils offense that has struggled much of the season. Injuries have piled up. And yet, with Oregon's loss at Stanford, the Trojans join a gaggle of teams that could end up atop the conference. If they win out, chances are reasonable that they will at least earn a share of the conference title. And who knows how a tiebreaker might play out? Rematch with Ohio State in the RoZZZZZZZe Bowl?
5. A Pac-10 running back should be a top-five Heisman Trophy candidate: Whether you're a Jacquizz Rodgers guy or a Toby Gerhart adherent, it's a shame that neither is getting as much Heisman hype as less-deserving candidates. The key number: Both have accounted for 16 touchdowns this season. How many running backs who don't play for Navy have done that?
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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
4:00 PM ET Arizona State UCLA 5:00 PM ET 19 Oregon State Washington State 7:30 PM ET 25 California 17 Stanford 8:00 PM ET 11 Oregon Arizona
