ESPN College Football

The final coaches poll ballots are out.

My favorite: Outgoing Louisiana-Monroe coach Charlie Weatherbie didn't rank LSU.

Oregon fans can get mad at Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, Texas A&M's Mike Sherman and New Mexico State's DeWayne Walker. They voted the Ducks 10th.

Arizona, Oregon State and Stanford will find plenty of opportunities for annoyance.

Pac-10 coaches will love Jim Harbaugh's vote: He ranked Oregon fifth, his Cardinal 12th, Oregon State 13th, Arizona 14th and USC 25th.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Arizona State won't have the services of one of the nation's best kickers for as long as six weeks.

An MRI late Monday revealed Thomas Weber, the 2007 Groza Award winner, will be out at least until late October with a groin injury.

Weber didn't kick in the Sun Devils 38-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe. He was replaced by freshman Bobby Wenzig, who converted all five PATs and kicked a 24-yard field goal.

On Monday, coach Dennis Erickson said he wasn't sure what he was going to get out of Wenzig.

"To be perfectly honest, he had not kicked that much, so I wasn't sure what to expect," he said. "He didn't jump out at me at camp, by any means, but he is who we had and I thought he did a good job. He came in and he kicked off good. He knocked through all the extra points and knocked through the field goal when he had a chance, so it's pretty hard to complain. It might be a little different for him kicking down there than it was here."

"Down there" is No. 17 Georgia, where the Sun Devils visit on Saturday.

Another interesting option: Erickson said starting linebacker Mike Nixon also could kick.

"He's got a real strong leg," he said.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Stanford, UCLA and Arizona State held serve as favorites before Pac-10 play begins.

UCLA 23, Kansas State 9: Johnathan Franklin rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, and the UCLA defense turned in another strong performance, holding the Wildcats to just 263 yards. The Bruins improved to 3-0, winning without starting quarterback Kevin Prince, who's out three to four weeks with a broken jaw. Kevin Craft, who started the week No. 3 on the depth chart, competed 13 of 24 passes for 184 yards with an interception and a touchdown. Up next: off.

Arizona State 38, Louisiana-Monroe 14: The Sun Devils' defense held the Warhawks to less than 200 yards, while the offense managed to score 38 points with just 275 total yards. Omar Bolden returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and picked off a pass. Up next: The Sun Devils take a step up in competition with a visit to Georgia on Saturday.

Stanford 42, San Jose State 17: Chris Owusu returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, and Toby Gerhart rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries as Stanford rolled. The Cardinal defense bounced back from a poor second half at Wake Forest to hold the Spartans to just 250 total yards. Up next: Stanford plays host to Washington.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Happy Friday.

• How much will Arizona get out of receiver Delashaun Dean at Iowa? Coach Mike Stoops will be familiar with his surroundings at Iowa.
• It appears the recruiting rankings were right about linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
• California could be down a fullback at Minnesota.
• Oregon cornerback Walter Thurmond is now a vocal leader. LeGarrette Blount participated in an entire practice and won't leave school.
• Oregon State is rooting for Jacquizz Rodgers' ankle to feel great Saturday morning. It looks like receiver Darrell Catchings will play.
• Stanford and Notre Dame may end their series. Notes on Cardinal's game with San Jose State.
• UCLA's defense is looking for a strong start.
• USC's run under Pete Carroll is the best in Pac-10 history.
• USC's former assistants, now running the show at Washington, want to impress Pete Carroll.
• Most agree that quarterback Jeff Tuel is the future for Washington State.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.

• Rob Gronkowski won't play for Arizona at Iowa due to his back problem, and his status for the season is starting to be an issue. Maybe one day this smart Cat will cure back problems.
• Some say there is safety in numbers, but Arizona State has a number of safeties.
• It's a rugged road ahead for California. Some questions at fullback.
• Oregon is still figuring things out at running back. How will the Ducks respond to mistakes? Speaking of mistakes, the O-line is a work in progress.
• Oregon State kicker Justin Kahut likes to keep things interesting. Should Beavers fans be concerned that Jacquizz Rodgers is resting a sprained ankle?
• Stanford receiver Ryan Whalen wasn't a walkon for long. Stanford's series with cross-town rival San Jose State is on life support.
• Who starts at cornerback for UCLA? Sophomore linebacker Akeem Ayers is an up-and-comer for the Bruins.
• USC has issues at punter, and the answer might be a surprising one. Taylor Mays isn't second-guessing his decision to return for his senior season.
• Washington defensive coordinator Nick Holt talks about USC and his defense.
• More on why Washington State receiver Jeshua Anderson quick football to concentrate on track.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Pac-10 had a good week; I did not, going 6-3 with the picks, which makes me 13-4 for the season.

Huge weekend for the conference in terms of national perception, as a number of writers have noted.

The Pac-10 is 13-4 in nonconference games so far and 6-2 vs. BCS teams, but the lineup this week features visits from two ranked teams and pair of road games at Big Ten destinations.

California 35, Minnesota 21: This game should make Cal fans nervous, if only because the Bears have not of late been the same team on the road. Minnesota is experienced, with 17 starters back from a crew that went 7-6 in 2008 and the Gophers are playing in their new stadium in front of what figures to be a raucous crowd. Still, you look at Cal's roster and the Bears have such a speed advantage it's hard to pick against them.

Arizona 24, Iowa 21: I'm on-record believing that many are underestimating Arizona. That take, of course, included the presence of tight end Rob Gronkowski, one of the Pac-10's biggest difference-makers, but he will be out again with a back injury. Too bad. Arizona's defensive speed, however, should hold the Hawkeyes in check, and if sophomore quarterback Matt Scott doesn't make any big blunders, the Wildcats should figure out a way to score enough to win.

USC 30, Washington 17: The Huskies are much improved but, unlike many, I don't expect the Trojans to have a letdown after the win at Ohio State. For one, the players recall what happened last year at Oregon State. Second, they know that their former coaches, Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt, are standing on the opposite sideline. Finally, the Trojans' veteran offensive line and speed at the skill positions are a terrible matchup for the young and beaten-up Husky defense.

Oregon 27, Utah 24: These aren't the same Ducks as last year. Yet. And these aren't the same Utes as last year. Yet. But here's a guess that Oregon takes another step forward after the Boise State debacle.

Cincinnati 34, Oregon State 30: The Bearcats have a veteran quarterback in Tony Pike and they like to spread the field with four and five receivers. The Beavers haven't generated much of a pass rush yet and are rebuilding their secondary. Oregon State should be able to score, but Cincinnati is built for a track meet, even away from home.

UCLA 21, Kansas State 17: This one will be a grind. The Bruins will be missing starting quarterback Kevin Prince because of a broken jaw and are down two cornerbacks due to injury and suspension, as well as three other offensive players due to suspension. They will survive but barely.

SMU 38, Washington State 30: Is this the Cougars' last chance for a win in 2009? Will they draw a line in the sand, dig deep and get the W? Maybe, but scrap and claw as they might, the guess here is they again fall short against a run-and-shoot offense.

Stanford 30, San Jose State 13: Stanford gets the ball back in running back Toby Gerhart's hands, which sets up a couple of big plays in the passing game, and the defense regroups after a poor second-half showing at Wake Forest.

Arizona State 24, Louisiana-Monroe 17: The Warhawks, who won at Alabama in 2007, have athletes. This is not a gimme, but the Sun Devils likely learned last year against UNLV that there are no gimmes.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

"Measuring Stick Saturday" is two days away. With two nonconference games on the road at Big Ten sites and two home games against ranked teams, the Pac-10 can make a statement that could reverberate in December when it's time to see which conference gets two BCS bowl teams. Or it could flop.

This week, what to watch is like Jeopardy. It's posed as a question.

1. Can California win on the road? The Bears are riding a four-game road losing streak. Their lone road victory last year came at Washington State, which doesn't count. The last time they faced an early a.m. PDT start, such as they face Saturday at Minnesota, they sleepwalked through the first three quarters at Maryland. If Cal wants to take the next step and move up from a Top-25 program to a top-10 program, it must learn to consistently win on the road.
2. Is Arizona a Top-25 team? A victory at Iowa and a 3-0 start would clearly demonstrate to the Pac-10 and the country that last year's eight-win season was just a start and that Arizona is a program on the rise. It also would make it hard to leave the Wildcats out of the nation's Top 25. Moreover, doing it with a sophomore quarterback, Matt Scott, making his first road start and without their best player, tight end Rob Gronkowski, would be even more impressive.
3. Can Oregon State's rebuilt defense thwart Cincinnati's challenge? The Bearcats arrive in Corvallis with an offense that averages 571 yards and 59 points per game. The Beavers counter with just three returning starters on defense. Yikes. Of course, the Beavers only had three returning starters on defense last year and that unit pitched a shutout in the Sun Bowl. The big question here is can Oregon State's pass rush, muted in the first two games, get to Bearcats quarterback Tony Pike?
4. Does Steve Sarkisian have secret knowledge that can trip the Trojans? Sarkisian has said all week that he won't over-analyze what he knows about USC's coaching staff and players based on his tenure as a Trojans assistant coach. It may not matter because talent wins most of the time and the Trojans have way better talent. But if Washington is going to keep this one close and even, perhaps, pull the upset, let there be no doubt that part of that will be Sark and defensive coordinator Nick Holt exploiting some area where they believe the Trojans are vulnerable.
5. Is Washington State's season on the brink? The answer is yes. It's not just that SMU, which went 1-11 last year, is the Cougars' best chance for a win this year. It's that the program is presently in a fragile state. Paul Wulff inherited a huge rebuilding job, but fans feel like they are owed more than they are presently getting out of the program. If the Cougs get drubbed at home by the Mustangs' run-and-shoot, it will take a heck of a coaching job for Wulff to hold this together.
6. Will Jeremiah Masoli and the Oregon offense break through? The Oregon offense improved substantially from Week 1 to Week 2, but it certainly wasn't vintage Ducks spread-option under Chip Kelly, and it certainly didn't approach the magic Masoli produced over the final three games last year. Utah probably can identify. While the Utes are 2-0, they haven't exactly been a finely tuned machine. They needed a big fourth quarter to beat San Jose State, and the defense gave up 221 yards rushing to Utah State.
7. Will Stanford remember Toby Gerhart is a dominating RB? Gerhart only got six carries in the second half at Wake Forest, and that shouldn't sit well with the coaching staff. Enter San Jose State, which ranks 119th in the country in run defense. It's good that redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Luck gives the Cardinal a boost in the passing game, but Gerhart is the guy who sets the tone and grinds down foes. Give him the rock.
8. Can UCLA maintain its focus and win with a backup quarterback? The Bruins are coming off a big win at Tennessee, but they followed up a big win over Tennessee last year with a 59-0 loss at BYU. What's more, the Bruins face Kansas State without quarterback Kevin Prince, who broke his jaw in the waning moments against the Vols. His likely replacement is true freshman Richard Brehaut. While true freshman QBs suddenly seem all the rage, most coaches get nervous seeing one breaking the huddle. Moreover, four players were suspended this week, including a cornerback who was only starting because the starter is hurt. In other words, the Bruins have a lot going on.
9. Will Arizona State take Louisiana-Monroe lightly and get embarrassed? Louisiana-Monroe infamously beat Alabama in 2007 and inspired Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban to compare the loss to Pearl Harbor. The Sun Devils should win this one comfortably, but only if they show up focused, intense and ready to play. If they need any reminders of what can happen when you don't do that against an underwhelming nonconference foe, they only need to look back a year ago at what happened when UNLV visited.
10. If the Pac-10 rolls this week, will pundits notice? Know that if the Pac-10 flops this weekend in these marquee nonconference games, the gadflies will cackle and swarm. But in the event of a string of victories, it will be interesting to see how the polls react. If Oregon, Oregon State and Arizona all win, do they jump into the AP poll? And what about UCLA? Will such success lay the groundwork for a second BCS berth for an 11-1 or even 10-2 team? Don't expect a rolling thunder of a weekend and a sweep of these contests, but none of these tilts is out of reach. Which also means, of course, that all of them are losable.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

You know, Nickerson, you are not God! You're just a typing teacher!

• Arizona knows a visit to Iowa won't feel like a home game.
• He lost his job, but now Arizona State center Thomas Altieri gets a second chance.
• California isn't sure what it will get when it visits Minnesota.
• Oregon will try to work talented tight end Ed Dickson into the offense.
• Oregon State wants to redeem itself after a dismal performance in 2007 at Cincinnati, but quarterback Sean Canfield is much better than the guy who hurled three picks that night.
• Stanford's run defense is an issue.
• True freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut is expected to start for UCLA against Kansas State.
• This story won't sneak up on USC fans, who know all about one of the Trojans' most potent weapons. If Matt Barkley isn't ready to start at quarterback at Washington, Aaron Corp is.
• Lots of good notes from Washington's practice. This Huskies tight end has an awful memory that he can't forget.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

There are some high-profile injuries in the conference right now. Here's an update.

• Arizona TE Rob Gronkowski (back): He's trying to practice this week in order to play at Iowa but the guess here is the best-case scenario is Gronkowski seeing only a handful of snaps. Coach Mike Stoops might opt to rest him hoping he'll be ready when the Pac-10 games start on Sept. 26. And, if Gronk plays, keep in mind he missed almost all of preseason camp. As good as he is, there should be some rust.
• Arizona State DT Lawrence Guy (biceps): It appears Guy will play against Louisiana-Monroe. Dennis Erickson told the Arizona Republic on Tuesday: "I don't think he's 100 percent, but he's pretty close."
• Oregon FS T.J. Ward (ankle) & LB Spencer Paysinger (elbow): While Oregon coach Chip Kelly calls all his injured players "day-to-day" -- thereby forcing all haggard sportswriters to reply, "Aren't we all, coach?" -- Ward seems far closer to doubtful than questionable for the Utah visit. Paysinger practiced Tuesday, so he sounds probable.
• Oregon State WR Darrell Catchings (wrist): Catchings was catching Tuesday, so let's upgrade his status to questionable. If he's ready to go that should elevate the Beavers passing game with a tough Cincinnati squad coming to Corvallis. Some other injury info here.
• Stanford DT Matt Masifilo: Masifilo suffered a knee injury at Wake Forest and will be out six weeks. The good news is backup Sione Fua has experience.
• UCLA RB Christian Ramirez (ankle), DE Reginald Stokes (knee), OL Nick Ekbatani (knee) & WR Gavin Ketchum (hamstring): Though it's unlikely any of these four will be available for Saturday's game with Kansas State, all four are at least doing light running, meaning they could be ready after the bye week for the Pac-10 opener vs. Stanford on Oct. 3.
• USC QB Matt Barkley (shoulder) & FS Taylor Mays (knee): Barkley didn't throw during Tuesday's practice, so it's becoming increasingly possible that sophomore Aaron Corp will start at Washington. That might make things interesting if Corp is lights out. Mays is a senior and a two-time All-American who came off the bench in his first game as a true freshman and has started every game since. He's from Seattle. Odds are that Mays will play, even if he sits out all week.
• Washington DT De'Shon Matthews (knee) & DE Darrion Jones (knee): Both are decidedly questionable and closer to doubtful. The reason that this is big is because USC has a dominating offensive line -- one that is surely unhappy with how it performed at Ohio State. The Huskies aren't deep on the D-line in any event.
• Washington State LB Andy Mattingly (concussion, thigh): The Cougars are banged up -- it was too complicated to list here. With another run-and-shoot offense -- SMU -- coming to town, the defense can't afford to be missing many starters, such as Mattingly, who is questionable.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Nobody puts Baby in a corner.

RIP Patrick Swayze.

• Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski practiced Monday. In other news, there has been an outbreak of crossedfingers-itis in Tucson.
• Lots of personnel shuffling for Arizona State. The Sun Devils promise they won't take Louisiana-Monroe lightly.
• California is going to Minnesota early so it can wake up fresh on Saturday. Sophomore linebacker Mychal Kendricks looks like the real deal.
• Fact is we don't really know what we have with Oregon -- George Schroeder notes that we felt the same nearly halfway through the 2008 season, too. The key this week for the Ducks is tackling.
• Oregon State isn't there yet, but the Beavers might want to hurry up their pace because a good Cincinnati team is coming to town.
• Stanford will face a San Jose State squad starting a new quarterback.
• UCLA can't have a letdown against Kansas State.
• Don't expect USC to take Washington lightly -- not after last year and not with who's standing on the opposite sidelines.
• Washington coach Steve Sarkisian gets ready for his old team, USC. The Huskies are irritated with Stanford.
• Jim Moore is flummoxed by his Washington State Cougars, who face a 2-0 but beat up SMU team.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Lining up this week's action.

No. 3 USC (2-0) at Washington (1-1)

USC beat the Huskies 56-0 last year ... USC leads the all-time series 49-26-4 ... USC is riding a 12-game winning streak ... Washington ended a 15-game losing streak vs. Idaho last weekend ... Washington coach Steve Sarkisian spent seven years on the USC staff, while Huskies defensive coordinator Nick Holt also held the same post at USC before being hired by Sarkisian ... USC ranks 14th in the nation in scoring defense (9 points per game) ... Huskies quarterback Jake Locker is 14th in the nation in total offense (321.5 yards per game).

No. 8 California (2-0) at Minnesota (2-0)

California leads the all-time series 3-2, last beating the Golden Gophers 42-17 in 2006 ... Minnesota welcomes back 17 starters from a team that went 7-5 in 2008 ... Cal is riding a five-game winning streak, but the Bears have lost four in a row on the road ... Minnesota is showcasing a brand new stadium, and the Bears will be the first BCS conference foe to play there ... The Bears have yet to turn the ball over ... Cal leads the Pac-10 in sacks with 10 ... Gophers receiver Eric Decker ranks third in the nation with 296 receiving yards in two games ... Running back Jahvid Best ranks sixth in the nation with 140.5 ypg and is averaging 10.4 yards per carry ... Linebacker Mychal Kendricks leads the conference with 13 tackles per game.

No. 18 Utah (2-0) at Oregon (1-1)

Oregon leads the all-time series 17-8, but Utah won the last meeting 17-13 in 2003 ... Utah owns the nation's longest winning streak at 16 games ... Ducks linebacker Casey Matthews ranks second in the conference with 11 tackles per game ... Utah welcomes back 12 starters from last year's 13-0 team ... Oregon ranks last in the conference in rushing offense, passing offense, total offense and is ninth in scoring offense ... Utah has rushed for 242 yards per game ... Ducks DE Kenny Rowe leads the conference with 2.5 sacks.

No. 17 Cincinnati (2-0) at Oregon State (2-0)

They've met only once, with Cincinnati rolling 34-3 in 2007 ... Oregon State has won 26 consecutive nonconference home games dating back to 1996, and coach Mike Riley has never lost a nonconference home game ... The Beavers have not turned the ball over ... Cincinnati is fifth in the nation with 571 yards per game ... Quarterback Sean Canfield ranks 14th in the nation in passing efficiency. He has completed 79 percent of his passes so far ... Bearcats quarterback Tony Pike is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency. He's completed 77 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and one interception ... Jacquizz and James Rodgers have combined for 597 rushing/receiving yards and six touchdowns ... Cincinnati has only one returning starter on defense ... The Beavers have only one sack this year, while they have surrendered five. In 2008, they ranked second in the conference and fifth in the nation with 39 sacks, while they yielded only 21 sacks.

Arizona (2-0) at Iowa (2-0)

Arizona leads the all-time series 6-5 and last beat Iowa 35-11 in 1998 ... Wildcats running back Nic Grigsby is No. 2 in the nation in rushing with 162.5 yards per game ... The Hawkeyes welcome back 16 starters from last year's 9-4 team ... Both head coach Mike Stoops and defensive coordinator Mark Stoops played safety at Iowa and started their coaching careers with the Hawkeyes ... Arizona's four-game winning streak is its longest since 2000 ... Iowa has give up five sacks in its first two games ... The Wildcats rank first in the conference and fifth in the nation with 305.5 yards rushing per game.

Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) at Arizona State (1-0)

This is their first meeting ... Arizona State had a bye last weekend and now plays 11 consecutive Saturdays ... After dominating Idaho State in the opener, the Sun Devils rank first in the conference is rushing, passing, total and scoring defense ... Louisiana-Monroe beat Alabama 21-14 in 2007.

Kansas State (1-1) at UCLA (2-0)

This is there first meeting ... UCLA's win at Tennessee was the Bruins fourth consecutive victory vs. the SEC ... Kansas State welcomes back 14 starters from a team that went 5-7 last year ... Bruins QB Kevin Prince is out 3-4 weeks with a broken jaw ... The Wildcats lost at Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend ... Bruins safety Rahim Moore is No. 1 in the nation with five interceptions ... The Wildcats have recorded only one sack this season ... Bruins defensive tackle Brian Price leads the conference with five tackles for a loss ... The Wildcats have totaled 36 points against UMASS and ULL.

San Jose State (0-2) at Stanford (1-1)

Stanford leads the all-time series 48-14-1, last winning 23-10 in 2008 ... San Jose State lost to USC 56-3 and Utah 24-14 .... The Cardinal has not allowed a first-half touchdown in two games ... The Spartans rank last --120th -- in the nation in total defense ... Stanford's redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Luck is fourth in the conference in pass efficiency ... Stanford ranks ninth in the Pac-10 in rush defense.

SMU (2-0) at Washington State (0-2)

This is their first meeting ... Washington State ranks last in the conference in total, scoring, rushing and passing defense as well as scoring offense ... SMU broke a 17-game Conference USA losing streak with a win at UAB last weekend ... Cougars punter Reid Forest leads the Pac-10 with a 47-yard average ... SMU, which is 2-0, welcomes back 16 starters from a team that went 1-11 last year ... The Cougars are second in the conference with just 38 penalty yards per game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.

• Why is Air Zona grounded? Here are five reasons. As for TE Rob Gronkowski, there's "a decent chance he could play some type of role" against Iowa, Mike Stoops told the Arizona Daily Star. Oh, by the way, Stoops' Iowa roots couldn't be deeper.
• Meet Louisiana-Monroe, Arizona State's visitor Saturday.
• California turns its attention to a visit to Minnesota.
• Oregon feels relief because, as Gertrude Stein said, a win is a win is a win. Utah, the Ducks opponent Saturday, has some issues of its own.
• A gritty win on the road against an veteran, rising UNLV team was good for Oregon State, but the Beavers have some bad memories from playing Cincinnati.
• Grading Stanford, which was great in the first half not so good in the second at Wake Forest.
• The LA Times said true freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut, not Kevin Craft, is likely to start against Kansas State with Kevin Prince out. Grading the win at Tennessee.
• USC quarterback Matt Barkley is nursing a sore shoulder and safety Taylor Mays a sprained knee.
• Washington, riding a 1-game winning streak, turns its attention to USC. FYI... there's some familiarity between the coaching staffs.
• On tape, Washington State's loss to Hawaii was even uglier than it was live, and as many as four more starters are injured.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

UCLA makes a move -- even with an injured starting quarterback -- and our top two are solid. And eyeballing each other.

1. USC: The Trojans, after posting the season's most impressive victory -- will anyone else win a nonconference road game against a top-10 team this year? -- are now squarely in the national title hunt. A true freshman quarterback and a rebuilt defense have grown up quickly. The Oct. 3 visit to California could become the Pac-10 -- and national -- game of the year.
2. California: Cal is clearly a good team. But great teams win on the road. So if the Bears, losers of four in a row on the road, want to be ranked among the elite, they've got to win their next two -- Minnesota and Oregon -- on the road. And then? Only -- only? -- a showdown with USC stands between Cal and national title contention.
3. Oregon State: The Beavers are 2-0 -- they haven't been that way since 2005; curiously, the last time they posted a losing record -- but Cincinnati will pose a big test in Corvallis on Saturday. The No. 17 Bearcats are the Big East's top team, and a Beavers victory would announce them as a conference contender.
4. Arizona: The Wildcats can make a national statement on Saturday at Iowa, but this team is far from its best as long as tight end Rob Gronkowski is on the sidelines. Of course, if the Wildcats win without Gronk, well, just imagine what they might become when -- if? -- he comes back from his back issue.
5. UCLA: The Bruins are rising. That win at Tennessee wasn't done with smoke and mirrors. It was done with a hungry, physical, well-coached team. Now the question is: How will UCLA deal with success, not to mention the loss of starting quarterback Kevin Prince for three to four weeks?
6. Oregon: Any kind of win is good after what Oregon went through at Boise State, but the Ducks are still looking for consistency -- they shouldn't have been fretting at the end against an outmanned Purdue team. Still, a win over No. 18 Utah on Saturday would certainly smooth things out for first-year coach Chip Kelly.
7. Stanford: Let's pause for a moment and exchange knowing looks over that "clipping" call by ACC officials -- a yellow hanky that was sent airborne only after Toby Gerhart broke into the Wake Forest secondary. Upon further review that penalty was indefensible. Now, Stanford, look in the mirror and know the Demon Deacons completely outplayed you in the second half and deserved to win even without that call.
8. Arizona State: Warning! Warning Sun Devils! If you look past Louisiana-Monroe, a team that beat Alabama two years ago, know that you will experience a feeling of deja vu as you prepare for the visit to Georgia on Sept. 26. Recall how the preparation for the Bulldogs wasn't nearly as fun in 2008 after being yoked with a loss to UNLV.
9. Washington: The Huskies are now riding a 1-game winning steak. And USC is coming to town. Drat. Or maybe USC is wide-open for a trap game after its marquee win at Ohio State? Or maybe the mentor will underestimate the pupil? Truth is, from what we've seen out of Steve Sarkisian Huskies, we're this close to putting the Trojans on upset alert.
10. Washington State: There isn't a way to sugarcoat where the Cougars are right now after a blowout loss in Seattle to Hawaii. Better than 2008? Perhaps. But not by much. SMU heads to Pullman this weekend. Time to pull the chin straps tight and scrap and claw for a win, because the schedule ahead is brutal.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

This is a ranking of the Pac-10 nonconference schedules from toughest to easiest.

Got to be honest, though: After switching these around for 30 minutes or so, I just threw them into the air.

Because just about every conference team plays at least one traditionally challenging foe, it's hard to differentiate.

Is it more difficult to play two mid-level BCS teams -- say Maryland and Minnesota (California) -- or one against a nationally ranked foe, say Georgia (Arizona State) or Iowa (Arizona)?

And what about the home-road variable? For example: Would you rather play at Ohio State (USC) or have LSU (Washington) come to town?

Anyway... away we go.

1. Oregon (at Boise State, Purdue, Utah): Boise State and Utah will be ranked in the preseason. Boise State never loses at home on the Smurf Turf. Purdue is a BCS foe. And there's the added element of Boise State and Utah being non-BCS, which puts further pressure on the Ducks.

2. USC (San Jose State, at Ohio State, at Notre Dame): Two road games against BCS foes, including the Buckeyes, likely a preseason top-10 team.

3. Washington (LSU, Idaho, at Notre Dame): It was really stupid for Huskies administrators to invite LSU to town, but... oh well. The upside is the nation's longest losing streak (14 games, then 15 after the Tigers pack up for Baton Rouge) ends against Idaho.

4. UCLA (San Diego State, at Tennessee, Kansas State): Tennessee and Kansas State are breaking in new coaches (or new-old, in K-State's case), but they are still legit BCS foes. And it's never easy to play in front of 110,000 orange-clad crazies.

5. Stanford (at Wake Forest, San Jose State, Notre Dame): This slate nips California's because San Jose State is FBS team. That visit to Wake should be particularly interesting -- it might define the Cardinal's season.

6. California (Maryland, Eastern Washington, at Minnesota): None of these teams figures to earn a preseason ranking, but Maryland and Minnesota will be good test for a Bears team with big goals. The Terrapins embarrassed Cal last year, while the Golden Gophers are breaking in a fancy new stadium.

7. Arizona (Central Michigan, Northern Arizona, at Iowa): While most will look at the visit to Iowa as a measuring stick game for the Wildcats -- and, perhaps, the Pac-10 -- I'd advise the Wildcats not to overlook a good Central Michigan team.

8. Arizona State (Idaho State, Louisiana-Monroe, at Georgia): The Sun Devils scheduled themselves a 2-0 start with at least a puncher's shot Between the Hedges.

9. Oregon State (Portland State, at UNLV, Cincinnati): Hardly easy. There's a road game and Cincinnati is the defending Big East champion. Still, the Beavers should get a rare fast start vs. this slate. 

10. Washington State (Hawaii in Seattle, SMU, Notre Dame in San Antonio): This is a solid schedule for the Cougars, who could win two of these games.