ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Sorting out the Pac-10 pecking order after 10 weeks.

1. USC: The Trojans not only have the best defense in the country -- No. 1 in scoring and total defense -- the unit is starting to enter the historical discussion. USC has pitched three shutouts and has allowed seven TDs in eight games. The rest of the nation quakes in fear that somehow USC will work its way back into the BCS title picture. Up next: California.

2. Oregon State: The Beavers showed some grit in beating a feisty Arizona State team with backup quarterback Sean Canfield stepping in for Lyle Moevao, who's questionable for the visit to UCLA with an injury to his throwing shoulder. Now can they win on the road and keep their Rose Bowl dreams alive?

3. Arizona: The Wildcats will get their sixth win and earn bowl eligibility this weekend at Washington State and thereby dump a significant weight off their collective shoulders. The program hasn't played in a bowl game since 1998 and that was the preseason measure for whether Mike Stoops gets to keep his job. Now, will that satisfy them, or do they want more?

4. California: A nice win over Oregon bounced the Bears back into the national polls, but it will be another brief stay unless they notch the big upset at USC on Saturday. Cal has the defense to keep the Trojans in check, but can the offense score? And, speaking of offense, will it be Nate Longshore or will Kevin Riley return from the concussion that knocked him out of the Oregon game?

5. Oregon: When the Ducks make mistakes, they don't mess around. An interception and a fumbled punt forced Cal to drive all of nine total yards for two touchdowns. Guessing watching that game film won't be terribly fun. But they need to regroup quickly. Stanford and its power running game comes to town with intentions of securing bowl eligibility with a sixth win.

6. Stanford: Passing? We don't need no stinkin' passing! It appears Stanford has decided it's a power running team, period, and it will only throw if necessary or to change the pace. The Cardinal threw just 13 passes while blanking Washington State, 58-0. They might need to throw the ball, however, to secure that vital sixth victory at Oregon.

7. UCLA: Oregon State is coming to town, potentially without its starting quarterback. Upset opportunity? The chances of that depend greatly on whether the Bruins used their off week to hone some consistency out of quarterback Kevin Craft.

8. Arizona State: It's always darkest before the dawn Sun Devils! Or in this case, it's a six-game losing streak for the first time since 1929 before consecutive games with Washington and Washington State turn those frowns upside down! Starting with this weekend's visit to gloomy Seattle, the Sun Devils could start a run toward -- egad! -- potential bowl eligibility.

9. Washington: Since losing to Stanford 35-28 on Sept. 27, the Huskies haven't been within three touchdowns of an opponent. Fighting for Tyrone Willingham? Not happening. Surrender Huskies? Looks like it.

10. Washington State: We'll just let the AP story from the Cougs' 58-zip loss to Stanford speak for us:

The Cougars were shut out for the second straight game after going 280 straight contests scoring at least once. That streak ended two weeks ago in a 69-0 loss to Southern California and Washington State has now been outscored 172-0 since late in the first half against Oregon State on Oct. 11.

The Cougars set a single-season record for most points allowed in Pac-10 play at 350, surpassing the 2001 California team that gave up 333 points in conference action.