ESPN College Football

USC-Oregon, Oregon-USC. Ducks-Trojans. Kiffin-Kelly! Barkley-Black Mamba!

Golly, doesn't anybody else have a chance in this Pac-12 conference? Should we just call off the regular season and have the Ducks and Trojans settle things in a 13-game series?

(That actually might be fascinating to watch. Think about all the interesting weekly coaching adjustments).

Well, that's not happening.

So then the question before us is a radical one. It might very well split up the space-time continuum and send us spinning into a massive black hole: Which team possibly might shock the world? Which team could break up this apparently preordained marriage at the top of the conference, one reportedly written in gold leaf onto the granite facade of Mount Rushmore?

It's a dangerous question, I know. Not the sort of one entertained by the meek. But if you are brave, read on.

Hey, you in the gray shirt, you're not brave! Better stop reading.

We warned you.

Kevin Gemmell: The general consensus is that Oregon and USC will meet for the Pac-12 title. But which team could put a wrinkle in that plan?

Whenever you are dealing with a could question, you always have to stipulate with ifs. X could happen if Y and Z fall into place. The team that strikes me as having the fewest ifs is Utah.

My first thought was to go wayyyyy out there and tinker with the idea of Oregon State being the team to shock the Pac-12. The Beavers could be the surprise team if they get the running game in order, and if the offensive line holds up, and if Sean Mannion continues to mature, and if all of that experience from last season pays off. But that's just too many ifs, and way too far to reach.

Utah, however, has a lot of pieces in place already to be the surprise team this season. First, its schedule helps, because the Utes don't have dates with Oregon or Stanford. Their first three games are in-state, and the fourth is at ASU, which will likely still be adjusting to life under a new head coach. That's potentially 4-0 out of the gate.

Then they get an extra week to prepare for the big showdown -- at home -- with USC. That game will be high-noon in the Pac-12 South, and Rice-Eccles will be jumping. If the Utes can somehow get over that hump, they have four more winnable games before traveling to Washington, which could be a hiccup. That notion alone, however, is one major if. USC also has extra time to prepare, because it's a Thursday game.

Another reason to be encouraged is that all reports are that quarterback Jordan Wynn is healthy. He's chock full of experience, and has shown he can be an elite quarterback when he gets his rhythm. The only reason to think the running game will take a step backwards is that Utah has to replace two stud offensive tackles in Tony Bergstrom and John Cullen. But John White IV has shown to be a very capable -- if not special -- running back. He shouldn't have any trouble adapting.

Also, unlike a lot of other teams with new coordinators, the transition to Brian Johnson should be silky, since he's a veteran of the system and has worked with Wynn since Day 1.

The Utes have one of the top -- if not the best -- defense in the conference. With plenty of returning starters and the most feared defensive lineman in the Pac-12, they should be able to win a game or two on defense alone.

Given the way their schedule is laid out -- combined with returning talent on both sides of the ball and an outstanding coaching staff -- it's not outside the realm of possibility that the Utes could emerge from the South.

Ted Miller: One word: Plastics.

No, wait. That's something else. Our word is "schedule."

Now we have four words: California Freaking Golden Bears! You're back. Welcome. You remember where everything is, right, up here in the national rankings? No, coach Tedford, you don't have to sleep on that twin mattress in your office. You have the view suite down the hall. Yes, it has been a while. Yes, breakfast is included. Eggs Benedict? Well, your wife did tell us about your cholesterol. You want us to stick it? Well, then, Eggs Benedict it is!

The Bears have the schedule to upset the Trojans-Ducks destination wedding. And the talent, by the way.

Schedule? Cal plays host to Oregon, Stanford and Washington, the likely three top teams in the North Division. Plays host, by the way, at an awesomely cool renovated Memorial Stadium that will put the Strawberry back in the Canyon. The Bears went 30-9 in Memorial Stadium between 2005-2010 before playing their home games in AT&T Park in 2011, including 7-0 marks in 2006 and 2008.

Every team is better at home. Cal fans would tell you their team is better-er at home. Sure, it's had its share of mega face-plants in front of the home fans -- Oregon State in 2007 (altogether now "ouch"), USC in 2009, and that three-game home losing streak to end 2010 with a whimper. But there is no doubt it will be better to play the Ducks, Huskies and Cardinal at home, particularly with the Ducks and Cardinal breaking in new quarteracks.

And Cal isn't breaking in a new quarterback. What if, just maybe, Zach Maynard plays the entire season like he did the final four games of the 2011 regular season? And what if offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik works his magic with the line his second year back in Berkeley? And what if all that young talent -- Mustafa Jalil, Stefan McClure, Todd Barr, Viliami Moala, Brennan Scarlett, David Wilkerson, Chris McCain, Michael Coley, Avery Sebastian, Cecil Whiteside, etc. -- breaks through on defense?

We'll probably get a pretty good measure of the Bears early on. They will take a 2-0 record to Ohio State on Sept. 15. That is a winnable game, but it will require the Bears to go East and show some fire. You might recall that they didn't exactly do that in recent years at Tennessee and Maryland.

Then they visit USC. Jeff Tedford is 1-9 against USC, losing those nine by a combined count of 291-144. The Bears can afford to lose at USC, though a poor showing might cause the team to question itself and make it seem like these are the "same ole Bears." That, however, is not a divisional game. The larger issue is holding serve at home, which would give Cal an advantage in the event of a tie atop the North.

As Kevin noted above, we have a surfeit of "ifs" for both scenarios. It just feels as though Oregon and USC are that far ahead of everyone else.

But you do know that you never know until you do know.

A glimpse at the future ...

On the evening of Jan. 17, an Arizona State pep rally broke out in the most unlikely of places -- at a basketball game.

With the Sun Devils cruising to a win over Northern Arizona, the Sun Devils' newly minted head football coach, Todd Graham, took the microphone at halftime.

"One of the things I can guarantee you is we will be blue collar, hard-nosed and physical," Graham told the spirited crowd. "We are going to restore the Best of the West!
We will work to bring Pac-12 championships, BCS bowl championships and a national championship to Arizona State!"

The above is plagiarism. Apologies. It's a paraphrase of Graham's introduction from his official bio on the website of the Pittsburgh Panthers, where Graham bolted Wednesday for Arizona State after just one 6-6 season.

College football is a crazy business. Sometimes it makes you want to take a shower. But to employ a hackneyed term that has become so because it's so convenient: It is what it is.

Graham is going to get hammered in Pittsburgh and all points outside -- and some points inside -- Tempe. Graham, for a second time in his career, is one-and-done. He previously bolted Rice for Tulsa after a single season in 2006. Not only did Graham suddenly leave the Panthers in the lurch, but he announced his decision to his players via a secondhand text message.

That won't play well with many folks. Panthers players are blistering him on Twitter. And it will stick to Graham for a while. It looks cowardly and reminds folks of the horrible transition for Randy Edsall from Connecticut to Maryland, where his first year was an absolute disaster. When the media comes calling this spring and next fall, it will be a central part of their "Meet Todd Graham at ASU" stories.

It will mostly be malarkey. But it will be everywhere, which is often how malarkey becomes accepted truth.

Look, folks: Being a college football coach is a job. It is not a charitable calling. Loyalty? There are going to be more than 25 coaching changes next fall. There are 120 FBS teams. The nature of the business is to get fired or to climb. It's best to do the latter.

Todd Graham wants to coach at Arizona State more than Pittsburgh. Most folks would. So instead of doing something he doesn't want to do, he's doing what he wants to. His only loyalty should be to his family and friends, not his bosses.

Some will throw around insults like "liar." They will say things like Graham told his players he was staying. Well, he was staying. Until he got a better offer. The lesson the players should learn from this is to be ambitious and to learn how the big-boy world works. In other words, Graham just helped them grow up.

By the way, this is not an inconsistent opinion from me. Some Arizona State fans might recall this about former Sun Devils coach Dennis Erickson when he left Idaho.

Is this a ringing endorsement of ASU's hiring of Graham? No.

Understand: The only Pitt game I watched this season was the Panthers' home date with Utah. The Utes won 26-14, manhandling what looked to me like a feckless team with the worst offense in the history of the world.

That said, Graham has a solid track record. Sure, he bolted Rice after one season. But he did so after taking a 1-10 team to its first bowl game in 45 years and winning Conference USA Coach of the Year.

At Tulsa, he went 36-17 and 3-0 in bowl games. His final season, 2010, he won 28-27 at Notre Dame.

He's a defensive guy -- he got his start in big-time college coaching working for new Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia -- who is known as much for potent offenses. To use his term, he likes "high-octane football." He's a longtime believer in the no-huddle, spread-option.

He had some clumsy media moments this past season. He's a fast talker who doesn't shy away from taking shots at players. But the general feeling among Pitt fans was positive. Until he left. Now he's the second coming of Lane Kiffin.

How's the third coming of Lane Kiffin going?

Still, it's impossible to ignore the reality that being a perceived mercenary climber brings baggage that will make Graham's job more difficult.

It's likely some Sun Devils will greet any early talk of "family" and "the Sun Devil way!" with eye rolls. Graham's reputation will make it more difficult for him to mend a fractured locker room. Selling loyalty and commitment to recruits will not be easy. It also will make it harder for school administrators to get boosters to open their wallets.

The first question some will ask: "What's his buyout?"

Here's a statement from Arizona State:

"Criteria for our head coach was established, and the word that was at the forefront of discussions was `energy'...energy towards promoting our program in the community and with former players. Energy towards instilling discipline, leadership and in recruiting. Energy towards representing our brand in every facet of the program," notes Love. "In Todd, we have not only hired a young and sitting head coach, but one with a history of success on the field and in hiring top-notch assistant coaches. For the first time in his career, he will be taking over a program with a strong nucleus at the beginning. We are excited to watch Coach Graham take over a very well-positioned program and elevate it to the next level."

So: boilerplate.

Arizona State's coaching search was sloppy. Graham was well down the list of top candidates. And the June Jones debacle -- no matter how the school has tried to spin it afterward -- was embarrassing.

But the ultimate measure of this coaching search is no different than the ultimate measure of Todd Graham. And it is devoid of sentimentality: wins and losses. Stay out of trouble with the NCAA. Graduate players who stay off the police blotter. Yes, in that order.

Happy Friday.

If you follow me on Twitter, you will help bring sexy back. Again.

To the notes:

Kaleb from Afghanistan writes: Ted, I am a beaver faithful and i always listen to Coach Riley's decisions with no questions, but this QB controversy is not what we need before a trip to Wisconsin, i mean even Peyton Manning has a bad game every now and then.

Ted Miller: First of all, thanks for your service. And stay safe.

I hear you. If you had said Ryan Katz's starting job would be at-risk before the Beavers went to Wisconsin in the preseason, I would have been my most smugly dismissive, which is really, really smugly dismissive.

I think this article lays things out pretty well.

1. Yes, Katz is shocked and unhappy that he will share the ball in Madison with redshirt freshman Sean Mannion.

2. But the foundation for coach Mike Riley's decision is simple: competition. Mannion has been playing better than Katz on a consistent basis.

This isn't about Riley scapegoating Katz or being disloyal. This is about him watching practices, noticing a pattern and concluding that it's possible the offense will be better off with Mannion.

Am I surprised by that? Yes. But I haven't watched a bunch of Beavers practices. This quote from Riley, speaking to his beat writers -- who have watched practices -- is telling.

"You guys saw it. You saw what was going on," Riley said.

That reads a bit like an appeal from Riley to his beat reporters to get the message out: This isn't personal. It's a business decision for the sake of the program.

Does this have the potential to blow up? Absolutely. Is it possible Mannion's alluring upside won't actually match Katz's experience when the screws tighten? Absolutely.

But this isn't Riley's first square dance. And just because he's a nice guy doesn't mean he can't make tough decisions.

Katz needs to win back his job at Wisconsin. And if Mannion outplays him, the Beavers might make a permanent switch.

---

Ken from Berkeley writes: Isn't Lou Holtz correct that a conference with 16 teams is just two 8-team conferences? With 7 division games, do you play a random and unbalanced 2 or 3 teams from the other division or play 4 of the other 8 and one warm-up game against Div. I-AA? Do division games only count towards division champ?

Ted Miller: Yes, a 16-team league will feel less like a conference and more like an alliance. The leading theory of how it would come together for the Pac-16 -- with a West Division old Pac-8 and an East Division Big 12 plus Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State -- would create divisions that were distinctly different in geography and culture -- academic and otherwise.

As to how things would play out with scheduling, I don't know. First you get the teams, then you start that debate, which is what happened when the conference added Utah and Colorado -- recall the geography versus zipper debate, which geography (North-South) won.

It would seem that in a 16-team league, particularly if there is widespread, national consolidation and multiple 16-team leagues appear, that the conference schedule could be expanded. You could play a 10- or 11-game conference schedule -- seven divisional games and three or four cross-over games -- which would make scheduling easier for athletic directors. It's also possible that with a confederation of 16-team leagues, the regular season schedule could be increased to 13 games, though expanding the length of the season was always one of the reasons (excuses?) that playoffs got the kibosh from school presidents.

We don't know how the landscape would change if, say, we ended up with four 16-team leagues. It would seem the distance between the haves and have-nots would grow larger. What that might mean for nonconference scheduling is unclear. There are always unintended and unexpected consequences after major changes in previously stable systems.

And, while we're telling you we have no idea what's next, we might as well add that the BCS system doesn't seem workable with four 16-team leagues. To me, such a dramatic landscape change would almost inevitably lead to a playoff.

---

Rob from Phoenix writes: So I would like to know how the potential expansion would play out from a divisional standpoint. I cannot see the Arizona schools, Colorado, and Utah going along with expansion if it means that they would have to play away from their alumni bases and, with the exception of Texas, paired with schools that are academically and culturally a very bad fit.

Ted Miller: The Arizona schools, Colorado and Utah are likely the least excited folks about a potential Pac-16. But if Texas and Oklahoma opt to join the Pac-12, and Texas Tech and Oklahoma State come along to make 16, it's 100 percent going to happen, no matter the objections.

Why? Well, for one, it will further enrich the conference. I'm not sure how many more million per team, but it will be a few.

Second, it likely will be a necessity. If the conference expands to 16, it will be because the national landscape is dramatically shifting again and the conference will be making -- forced to make, in fact -- strategic moves that benefit it long-term.

We can all agree Larry Scott is smart, right? He thinks this is the inevitable future. He didn't come to that decision on a whim. He studied a lot of data, talked to a lot of experts and used his Harvard-educated brain to make an informed deduction.

And my feeling is the conference presidents will still say: "In Larry, we trust."

---

John from Maui writes: Regarding the Oregon vs. LSU game, where LSU fielded a more experienced & bigger team compared to Oregon, which is rebuilding in many of its key positions. The game showed that currently Oregon is not a top-5. However, Oregon may find themselves at year end in a similar situation as UCLA did in 1975 when they lost to Ohio State (under Woody Hayes) early in the season, 41-20. At year end, UCLA won the 1976 Rose Bowl against undefeated and No. 1 ranked Ohio State, 23-10 (which featured 2X Heisman winner Archie Griffin). Great game for Bruin fans! It took a whole season for UCLA to develop into a top-5 team (I believe they finished No. 3). Same could happen to Oregon, they could improve into a top-5 team.

Ted Miller: That is certainly a scenario that would be appealing to the Ducks. And not completely ridiculous.

Of course, UCLA's then-coach Dick Vermeil bolted after that season for the Philadelphia Eagles. So I'm sure there are certain parallels Ducks fans would want to avoid.

---

Micah from Berkeley writes: A lot has been made of the new conference members, especially Utah, "validating" themselves as quality teams. My question is, what would be both Utah and Colorado's ideal conference records (who they would beat/lose to and by how much) so that the Utes and Buffs look like quality additions to the conference without making the "old" Pac-10 look weak?

Ted Miller: Not sure there is a correct answer to this. Or if it really matters that much, long term.

While Utah and Colorado fans would love to win double-digit games, if one or both did so this fall, it would inspire some derisive talk about the old Pac-10.

And if Utah and/or Colorado were to lose double-digit games, it might make the old Pac-10 look strong, but it would inspire derisive talk about the conference adding a couple of weaklings.

But, really, one season won't tell the story on the addition of Colorado and Utah. Both these programs have won before -- the Utes recently; Colorado in the not-to-distant past -- and will again. If one -- or both -- are giving the Pac-12 a second BCS bowl berth over the next five years, it will be a win for that team and a win for the conference. Shortly, we will all be one big, happy family with no looking back to old affiliations.

---

Jacob from Vancouver, Wash., writes: What do you think are the chances of Oregon and Maryland opening next season with a neutral site game in Milan, with the winner being declared fabulous for the rest of the season?

Ted Miller: Ladies and gentlemen, Jacob wins note of the week.

While fans tend to swing with toward wild extremes -- we're awesome! we stink! -- you get a sense that California fans are trying to be measured about what happened last weekend.

Keenan Allen.

Sure, any 52-3 win feels good, but UC Davis didn't offer much of a test.

Keenan Allen.

And the Bears have been here before with a fast start. They were an impressive 3-0 last year and ranked sixth in the country before consecutive blowout losses to Oregon and USC stuck a needle in high hopes.

Keenan Allen.

They were 2-0 in 2008 before an inexplicable flop at Maryland. And they were 5-0 and ranked No. 2 in 2007 before a home loss to Oregon State triggered a swoon that included six losses in seven games.

Keenan Allen.

Would you stop it with the Keenan Allen stuff!

No.

"He's pretty special with the ball in his hands," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said.

Allen is the 6-foot-3, 195-pound true freshman receiver who caught four passes for 120 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown against UC Davis. He also rushed three times for 38 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown. It doesn't matter who the competition was, Allen's performance was impossible to ignore.

When you consider that most bits of preseason punditry centered on whether quarterback Kevin Riley would break through his senior year, a question that on a deeper level hung on the apparent lack of quality among Cal's receivers, you then can start to see dots connecting that lead toward... what?

Well, hope. And the possibility the Bears are better than the seventh-place spot they were relegated to in the preseason Pac-10 media poll.

Allen's presence means defenses can't gang up on junior Marvin Jones -- and vice versa -- as well as tight end Anthony Miller, so suddenly there are passing game weapons that will stop defenses from solely focusing their attention on running back Shane Vereen. That could be a game-changer for Riley and the Bears offense, which has been wildly inconsistent the past few seasons.

"You've got to be very aware of where they are at all times," Riley said of Allen and Jones.

Colorado, fresh off a surprisingly easy whipping of rival Colorado State, will offer a far stiffer test Saturday than UC Davis, particularly for Allen and Jones. Buffaloes cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown are both returning senior starters who are over 6-feet.

In fact, with 17 returning starters, more than a few folks -- including Phil Steele -- are projecting a Buffaloes turnaround in embattled coach Dan Hawkins fifth year in Boulder.

An added level of intrigue: Either next year or in 2012, Colorado will leave the Big 12 and join the Pac-12. This is a preview of a future conference game.

Riley said Cal has no plans to be terribly welcoming in Strawberry Canyon.

"You definitely want to show them what they're going to come to in the Pac-10, show them what type of conference we are, how we play football," he said. "I feel the Pac-10 gets a bad rap every single year, West Coast football in general. We've just got to show them what Cal football is all about and what the Pac-10's all about. That's all you can really do, and it's exciting because it's kind of a preview."

Hawkins doesn't see things the same way. Coaches often adopt tunnel vision, and what the Buffaloes do this season likely determines whether Hawkins ever coaches a game in the Pac-12.

“I think we just look at it as a game against Cal," he said. "We’re not in that league now. We’re still in the Big 12, so for us it’s not so much that we’re trying to make a big statement in the Big 12. It's that we’re trying to make a statement this weekend in this game.”

Cal fans are hoping for a statement, however. It goes something like this: "There's a new sheriff in town. And his name is Keenan Allen. So y'all be cool. Right on."

Washington State has hired Dave Ungerer to coach running backs and special teams, the school announced Tuesday.

Ungerer has previously coached at Oregon State, Alabama, California and Maryland. He coached at Elon College in North Carolina last season.

“We are very fortunate to have Dave join our staff,” coach Paul Wulff said in a statement. “He has a tremendous knowledge of the game, is a great communicator and motivator, and his reputation as a special teams coach is second to none. He will make a huge impact on our special teams play as well as our running game.”

The Edison, N.J., native is a 1980 graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health.

For more information, go here.

Stanford signed a class of 22 that ranked 18th in the nation and featured three players ranked among the ESPNU 150.

Coach Jim Harbaugh was pleased, to say the least.

"The afterburners have ignited, and we are excited for the talented and ambitious newcomers who have made the decision to come to Stanford," he said. "Across all positions, this signing class is full of playmakers that possess athleticism and explosiveness that will help us reach multiple Pac-10 championships and a national championship."

Golly.

Top prospects: Defensive end Blake Lueders, a former Notre Dame commit, leads a class that should bolster the Cardinal defense. Harbaugh compared him to Brian Urlacher. Safety Devon Carrington should immediately compete for playing time. Harbaugh was able to lure quarterback Brett Nottingham away from a UCLA commitment.

Under the radar: Offensive lineman Dillon Bonnell is expected to be ready this fall after missing the 2009 season due to a knee injury.

Issues? The class took a hit when committed linebacker Jordan Zumwalt opted to sign with UCLA. Linebacker was a need area and the class didn't include one who was highly rated. Two other committed players signed elsewhere: cornerback Louis Young (Maryland) and running back Brandon Bourbon (Kansas). It will be interesting to see who ends up at cornerback, a position in which the Cardinal need an athletic upgrade.

Notes: Quarterback Dallas Lloyd is expected to go on a Mormon mission and won't enroll until 2012 ... Harbaugh said his father, Jack, won't stay on staff as running backs coach, a position the elder Harbaugh served in during the Sun Bowl ... The class features athletes from 12 states.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Perhaps California's season will end up following a classical dialectic path.

Cal is good -- see a 3-0 start and No. 6 ranking (Thesis).

The Bears whipped Maryland and Eastern Washington and then proved they can win on the road with a victory at Minnesota.

Cal is terrible -- see consecutive losses by a 72-6 count (Antithesis).

Oregon and USC dominated the sloppy, predictable Bears.

Cal is pretty good but not great (Synthesis).

That final qualitative transformation was hinted at by the Bears' fairly impressive 45-26 win at UCLA.

Offensive MVP: Running back Jahvid Best is no longer a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, but he still ranks 20th in the nation with 103 yards rushing per game, and his nine rushing TDs rank third in the conference. He's averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Defensive MVP: Defensive end Tyson Alualu ranks sixth in the conference with 4.5 sacks. His 27 total tackles ranks first among Pac-10 defensive linemen.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller and Adam Rittenberg

Holy Rose Bowl! It's another Big Ten-Pac-10 weekend, with No. 8 California visiting Minnesota and Arizona headed to Iowa. All four teams are 2-0. Seems like a good time for another blogger debate.

Ted Miller: You again! Adam, we need to stop meeting like this. Or at least the Big Ten should stop meeting like Ohio State did with USC. Perhaps there will be some redemption on Saturday when California visits Minnesota and Arizona takes a gander at Iowa.

	Icon SMI/US Presswire
	Golden mascots square off in the Twin Cities on Saturday.

Let's start with your game Saturday in fancy pants TCF Bank Stadium. (Nice job, Minnesota.)

I look over Minnesota's particulars and I can't get a good vibe about what Cal should expect, particularly after the Gophers struggled to beat Syracuse and Air Force. Who are these guys ... and whose mascot is more golden?

Adam Rittenberg: Ted! Buddy! Good to be with you again. OK, full disclosure here. I grew up in Berkeley, attended pretty much every Cal home game between 1994 to 1999. Witnessed the one Mariucci season in '96 (still have nightmares about the Pat Barnes fumble at Washington State) and the insufferable Tom Holmoe era. But I was never a huge Oski the Bear fan. Too subdued of a mascot. Looked like a glum professor who hadn't had his sweater ironed in 50 years. And he doesn't wear pants, which is perfect for Berkeley (I grew up there, so I can say that!) So Goldy Gopher gets my vote. He's goldier.

As for Minnesota, they did struggle against the Cuse, but the Air Force win is pretty solid in my book. The defense has been the big plus so far, especially the three linebackers (Nate Triplett, Lee Campbell and Simoni Lawrence). Triplett has gone from special teams all-star to major playmaker. The offense has struggled quite a bit, as Minnesota incorporates a new pro-style system under Jedd Fisch. It's a pretty dramatic departure from what they did the last two seasons, and it has taken a bit of time to click. Quarterback Adam Weber has loads of experience and can be effective when he limits interceptions, and Eric Decker is a freaking stud. Might be the best wide receiver in America that no one talks about. The problem is Minnesota hasn't found many weapons other than Decker. The Gophers need to spark their rushing attack behind Duane Bennett and DeLeon Eskridge and hope a No. 2 wide receiver emerges, possibly speedster Troy Stoudermire.

I saw Cal is flying in Thursday for the game. Will the Bears be ready to play this time around for a 9 a.m. Pacific kickoff, and can anyone slow down Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen? How has Kevin Riley looked so far?

	Paul Jasienski-US PRESSWIRE
	Cal QB Kevin Riley ranks eighth in the nation in pass efficiency.

TM: Gosh, Cal coach Jeff Tedford HATES being asked about the 9 a.m. PT kickoff, because that was the prime excuse for the Bears' terrible effort last year at Maryland, an excuse, by the way, that Tedford has rejected from the get-go. Still, it's obvious he's doing everything he can to get his team ready for the early start, changing his previous plan and flying in on Thursday.

As for Best and Vereen, they are a great combination for sure. Best is going to make a play or two, mostly because he always does. The question is whether he can be such a bothersome threat that he forces Minnesota to load up the box. If that happens, a much-improved Kevin Riley and a receiving corps that has grown up could make big plays down field. Riley ranks eighth in the nation in pass efficiency and has yet to throw a pick, so he's started off as a completely different quarterback from the guy who was so inconsistent last last season.

The big issue for Cal is playing on the road: They've lost four in a row on the road. Moreover, they've not been challenged by a team so far that can approach them physically. Minnesota will be a far tougher test, and we just don't know whether Riley and the Bears can maintain their cool efficiency away from Berkley.

As for the other game: Iowa seems to have righted itself with the big win over Iowa State. But Arizona has a fast defense. Can quarterback Ricky Stanzi and running back Brandon Wegher lead an effective attack against the Wildcats?

AR: As I like to say, Stanzi is the Manzi. Actually, Stanzi has been inconsistent throughout his time as the starter, mixing big plays with too many picks. But he has more targets this year with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Tony Moeki, Trey Stross and Marvin McNutt. The running game has been a bit messy this year because of departures (Shonn Greene) and injuries (Jewel Hampton, Jeff Brinson). Brandon Wegher likely would have redshirted but stepped up big last week. He and another freshman, Adam Robinson, will get most of the carries Saturday. It's rare to see Kirk Ferentz play so many young players, but these guys seem up to the task. The offensive line could be without star left tackle Bryan Bulaga (illness) again, so those two speedy Arizona pass-rushers will have their ears pinned back for sure.

Let's talk about the Wildcats offense. How good is Nic Grigsby and does Arizona have a passing game to complement the nation's second leading rusher?

TM: Grigsby is off to a fast start, but the Iowa defense will offer a far tougher test than Central Michigan and Northern Arizona. Also, Grigsby had some fumbling problems a year ago -- he got benched a couple of times and capable back Keola Antolin took over -- but that has yet to be an issue in 2009. My guess is the Hawkeyes load the box, gang up on Grigsby and will dare Arizona's new quarterback, sophomore Matt Scott, to pass, which is never easy on the road.

Gronkowski

And therein lies a huge issue for this game. Arizona's best player, tight end Rob Gronkowski, is out with a back injury. Gronkowski is a beast. More than a few folks in the Pac-10 believe he's every bit the player that Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham is. Think having a 6-foot-6, 265-pound safety valve would help a young QB? It also doesn't help that No. 1 receiver Delashaun Dean has been slowed by a hamstring injury, though he will play.

So, the Wildcats passing game, with Scott making his first road start, is a huge question.

Speaking of road games, seems like all the Big Ten owns home field advantage in all these matchups with the Pac-10 ... no fair. But, seriously, which place will be more difficult for a visitor from the West Coast? I love Minnesota's new digs but I've heard a lot about pink bathrooms and the nutty horde at Kinnick Stadium.

AR: Well, you guys do have this game called the Rose Bowl. If memory serves, it's in Pac-10 country. Like in USC's backyard. That reminds me, Ted, can you find a way to make sure the Trojans don't go to Pasadena this year? The Big Ten would like a break from the Trojans after all these years of punishment. I stayed on the same floor as Pete Carroll last week in Columbus but forgot to ask him myself. Let me know what they say over at Heritage Hall. Thanks, dude.

	AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
	Ricky Stanzi has passed for 439 yards and five touchdowns so far this season.

TCF Bank Stadium is pretty freaking awesome, and I'm excited to see the finished product in person. But I'd have to go with Kinnick Stadium as a tougher place right now. Iowa always sells it out and the fans are right on top of the field. It's a tremendous atmosphere, one of my favorites in the league. The early start time at Minnesota could be tougher for a Pac-10 team, but Kinnick definitely is less hospitable.

OK, prediction time. Who you got in Minnesota-Cal? Arizona-Iowa?

TM: Rose Bowl in Detroit, which is beautiful in midwinter!

I don't think anyone wants to see USC in the Rose Bowl again -- even USC's fans and players. The Trojans, however, wouldn't mind being in Pasadena again this January, if you catch my drift (nudge, nudge).

As for the predictions: For folks who read the Pac-10 blog, they know I've been advocating Cal as the team that might challenge USC's seven-year run atop the conference. They also know that for weeks I've been ranting about how underrated Arizona is.

So I've got pick a road warrior weekend for the Pac-10.
Let's say: Cal 35-21
And: Arizona 24-21.
Now, for the pick you should take to Vegas ...

AR: Call me a homer, but I've got to go with Cal. Minnesota has really struggled to make plays on offense, and while the Gophers' defense looks much improved, it'll be hard to contain Best and Vereen for 60 minutes and keep Cal off the scoreboard. Minnesota will have its crowd going and should keep things relatively, close, but I have Cal winning by 11, 34-23.

We'll probably see a defensive struggle at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa's defense is always solid under Norm Parker, and the front seven should prevent Grigsby from going nuts. I think Iowa got its mojo back last week and pulls this one out, 21-17 Hawkeyes.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

A rough road game experience? Shoot, Syd'Quan Thompson can tell his California teammates all about that. The humbling the Bears took at Maryland last year? That was nothing.

In 2006, Thompson was a redshirt freshman thrust into duty because starting cornerback Tim Mixon had suffered a season-ending knee injury. Thompson, sporting a bulbous cast on an injured hand, walked out in front of 107,000 orange-clad fans at Tennessee and looked across the line at future NFL first-round draft pick Robert Meachem.

Yikes.

	James Lang/US Presswire
	Since 2006, Jeff Tedford's Bears are just 5-11 on the road.

And Meachem just flat cleaned Thompson's clock as the Volunteers jumped ahead 35-zip. The 35-18 final count doesn't do justice to just how horribly wrong the day went for what turned out to be a good Cal team, one that finished 10-3 and then would stomp the Vols the next year in Berkeley.

That game, however, is Point A of Cal's road woes.

In coach Jeff Tedford's first four seasons -- 2002 to 2005 -- the Bears were 14-9 on the road. Away from the West Coast, they were 5-2.

But, including that ill-fated date in Knoxville, the Bears are 5-11 on the road since 2006, including a pair of beatdowns in the (cue shower scene music from "Psycho") Eastern Time Zone.

In both 2006 and 2008, the Bears' only defeats came on the road.

Now might be a good time to mention that No. 8 Cal visits Minnesota on Saturday, which is in the Central Time Zone, but the kickoff time -- noon EST -- means it will feel like breakfast for the Bears.

Yikes.

That "yikes" is not about the game time. That's about asking Tedford about what appears to be his least favorite topic this week.

"I think whatever the announcers say on TV gets on everybody's mind," he huffed.

Tedford doesn't buy the notion that his team struggles on the road or the idea that the Bears were still asleep at kickoff against Maryland, a 35-27 defeat that wasn't as close as the score suggests.

"We got down 14 points early and it must have been because we were sleeping," he said. "We were sleeping, but it wasn't because of when we flew in. I don't believe that."

Ah, but Tedford isn't stubborn. The Bears will fly into Minneapolis on Thursday in order to get an extra day to adapt to the mysterious effects a couple of hours difference on a clock can make on a Pac-10 team.

"I don't want to be hard-headed about it," Tedford said. "I want to give it a shot and see what that's all about and see if it's better."

Thompson is fairly chill about the whole thing. In fact, Thompson is fairly chill about nearly everything. That goes a long way toward explaining why he shook off that horrible debut and became a 41-game starter, a first-team All-Pac-10 player and an All-American candidate.

"Playing that first game -- that was the loudest place I've played in -- but having that experience helped me a lot," he said. "Now I have the ability to cancel the fans out and concentrate on my technique and my assignments."

Experience helps on the road. Cal has seven starters back on offense and eight back on defense as well as both specialists. So there will be no excuse if they go splat against the Golden Gophers.

"We’ve just got to focus," running back Jahvid Best said. "We’re not going to have our crowd backing us, and it’s not going to be our atmosphere, but at the end of the day the only thing that matters is what happens on the field. It shouldn't be too much of a difference for us.”

Minnesota is an experienced team, too. It welcomes back 17 starters, including Eric Decker, who is one of the best receivers in the country.

Thompson figures to see plenty of Decker, who, at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, has a big size advantage on the 5-foot-9, 191-pound senior. In fact, Meachem and Decker are almost exactly the same size.

Hmm.

Thompson didn't seem too worked up.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," he said.

Thompson, now a wily veteran, understands road woes. So do his veteran teammates. It remains to be seen whether they can avoid them and live up to the high expectations that surround their team.

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

Jahvid Best will be the fastest guy on the field when California plays host to Eastern Washington, a FCS program, on Saturday. But at least one EWU player might be able to keep up with him.

Back in 2007, Eagles running back Taiwan Jones and Best were track rivals.

As a high school seniors, Jones ran against Best for the 100-meter title at the California Interscholastic Federation Championships. After they finished with the two best times in the preliminaries, Best won the title with a wind-aided time of 10.31. Jones settled for fourth with a 10.58 clocking, but during the year had a 10.53 time to his credit. Best's best was a 10.36 clocking.

Jones, by the way, beat Best in something last weekend. Best went 73 yards for a touchdown against Maryland, but Jones took his first carry of the game against Western Oregon 87 yards for a score.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

California quarterback Kevin Riley, Arizona State linebacker Mike Nixon and Stanford kick returner Chris Owusu have been named Pac-10 Players of the Week.

Riley, a junior from Portland, Ore., directed California to a 52-13 win over Maryland. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 298 yards and a career-high four touchdowns with no interceptions. His touchdown passes covered 3, 39, 42 and 15 yards. The Golden Bears offense piled up 542 yards of total offense (244 rushing, 298 passing) with no turnovers.

Nixon, a senior from Phoenix, had three interceptions, returning one of them 34 yards for a touchdown, in the Sun Devils' 50-3 win over Idaho State. The Arizona State defense limited Idaho State to four first downs, minus-5 yards rushing, 37 yards total offense and just 1-of-13 on third-down conversion attempts.

Owusu, a sophomore from Westlake Village, Calif., sparked Stanford in a 39-13 win at Washington State. Owusu returned three kickoffs for 143 yards (47.7-yard average), including an 85-yard return for a touchdown.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, Arizona running back Nic Grigsby, Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers and freshman quarterbacks Kevin Prince of UCLA and Matt Barkley of USC. Also nominated on defense were linebackers Vuna Tuihalamaka of Arizona and Chris Galippo of USC; safeties Rahim Moore of UCLA, Lance Mitchell of Oregon State and Delano Howell of Stanford; and end Cameron Jordan of California. Nominated for special teams play were kickers Alex Zendejas of Arizona, Thomas Weber of Arizona State, Justin Kahut of Oregon State and Vince D’Amato of California, punter Reid Forrest of Washington State and return man Terrence Austin of UCLA.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Happy birthday Matt Barkley!

• Arizona got its kicks against Central Michigan.
• Dennis Erickson reflects on Arizona State's romp over Idaho State.
• California sent a message with its win over Maryland.
• Was suspending LeGarrette Blount for an entire season too harsh?
• Oregon State doesn't have a walkover at UNLV.
• Stanford gets its report card.
• UCLA gets ready for SEC country.
• USC's offensive line gets high praise. Some notes from practice.
• Washington is still looking for answers in its secondary.
• Taking the measure of Hawaii, Washington State's next foe.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Oregon falls and Washington gets a hard look but stays put in this week's Pac-10 power rankings -- the idea is a team probably should win before it gets a promotion.

1. USC: The Trojans looked dominant in a 56-3 bludgeoning of San Jose State, with freshman quarterback Matt Barkley not looking like a freshman and a rebuilt defense looking not unlike the 2008 crew. Of course, a visit to Ohio State should be more revealing of whether the Trojans are again national title contenders.
2. California: A blowout 52-13 victory over Maryland, which beat Cal a year ago, was impressive, particularly because quarterback Kevin Riley was sharp while throwing four touchdown passes. Coupled with Oregon's defeat at Boise State, the Bears now are the clear top challenger to USC's supremacy.
3. Oregon State: Hard to make much of the Beavers 34-7 win over Portland State, an FCS team. The Rodgers brothers, Jacquizz and James, looked good, as did quarterback Sean Canfield. The rebuilt secondary yielded some yards but only a single TD. We'll get a better measure of the Beavers, who are trying to avoid another slow start, this weekend at UNLV.
4. Arizona: While the offense struggled to get into the endzone with quarterback Matt Scott, the Wildcats defense was dominating and looked very fast, according to the Chippewas themselves. The big question is will tight end Rob Gronkowski be ready to play on Sept. 19 at Iowa?
5. Oregon: The 19-8 embarrassment at Boise State -- and all that happened afterwards -- was terrible. But if the Ducks bounce back over the next two weekends at home against Purdue and Utah, a lot of that sting will go away before Cal comes to town.
6. Stanford: The Cardinal whipped Washington State, as expected. They can make a big step forward as a program with a win at Wake Forest, which fell to Baylor over the weekend.
7. UCLA: The Bruins whipped San Diego State, as expected. They can make a big step forward as a program with a win at Tennessee, which will be out for revenge after losing at UCLA last year. How will the young Bruins handle one of the nation's toughest stadiums?
8. Arizona State: The Sun Devils dominated Idaho State, but Idaho State is an FCS team -- and a bad one at that. Still, they played well enough, particularly on defense, to stay ahead of Washington. ASU is off this weekend before Louisiana-Monroe comes to town, a game the Sun Devils shouldn't take lightly. The WarHawks won at Alabama in 2007.
9. Washington: The Huskies lost impressively to LSU, piling up 478 yards against a super-ferocious SEC defense. Still, as new coach Steve Sarkisian said, there are no moral victories. The Huskies should end their 15-game losing streak on Saturday against Idaho.
10. Washington State: It says a little about where the Cougars are as a program -- baby steps to respectability -- that a 39-13 loss to Stanford is mostly billed as progress. Of course, they lost 58-0 to the Cardinal a year ago. The Cougars play Hawaii in Seattle on Saturday, one of the few games this year in which they won't be a huge underdog.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Quick Sunday trip around the conference.

• It was about defense at Arizona. As for quarterback, Matt Scott played the whole game and completed 19-of-30 for 202 yards and rushed for 83 yards on nine carries.
• Arizona State's defense dominated and the Sun Devils rushed for 199 yards.
• California made it look easy against Maryland. Couple of notes.
• Oregon must replace LeGarrette Blount and, maybe, safety T.J. Ward.
• Oregon State got to look at some youngsters against Portland State.
• Stanford may have found a playmaker, and we're not talking about Toby Gerhart or Andrew Luck.
• UCLA won big but it suffered the day's worst injury: cornerback Aaron Hester. Don't know how I missed this last night: safety Rahim Moore had three interceptions, tying a school record.
• Some thoughts from USC's win over San Jose State.
• Washington earned respect from LSU.
• Everything you'd want to know about Washington State's encouraging effort vs. Stanford.