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This week’s mailbag is just like last week’s. Only better!

Pete in Austin, Texas writes: Do you see any way the Beavers could get into the top 25 before they play Stanford?

Kevin Gemmell: The Beavers are slowly starting to rebuild their brand. But losing to an FCS team is a stigma that isn’t easily washed away. Stuff like that sticks with voters, and many will continue to punish the Beavers in the rankings long after it’s probably warranted. A slow start against Hawaii and a miracle win over San Diego State didn’t help the cause.

Let me ask you, Pete, even if Oregon State is 6-1 when the Stanford game rolls around, do you think they’d be worthy of a top 25 spot based on their six wins? Because I’m not sure that I do.

Oregon State’s first seven games were already seen as games they should win -- so dropping one of them is a dent in their perception. Dropping one to an FCS team (an FCS team that is now 2-2, by the way, following back-to-back road losses at Toledo and at Sam Houston State) is a gash in the side of the hull.

I give a ton of credit to Mike Riley for holding this thing together amid all of the defensive injuries. He’s got Sean Mannion playing like a first-round draft pick and he’s convinced his team that the Week 1 snafu was more aberration than actuality.

But top 25? They may pick up a few votes at 6-1, but I don’t see enough to get them back in the rankings. Beat Stanford, and then we’ll talk.

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Richard in Fort Hood, Texas writes: Marion Grice of ASU seems to get no national attention why is that? He leads the nation in total touchdowns rushing/receiving combined. He had 4 against Stanford and 4 against USC. Is he the most underrated player in the conference? Also DJ Foster also seems to be lost in the conversation around the PAC12 but he’s just as deadly.

Gemmell: I wouldn’t say Grice is underrated in the conference. People in these parts know who he is and what he’s capable of.

Nationally? That’s a different story. It’s a bit like how folks treated De'Anthony Thomas the last couple of years. Is he a running back? Is he a receiver?

Yes.

Grice is a hybrid. A hybrid that has an outstanding nose for the end zone. But he only averages 3.9 yards per rush. And he only has 256 yards. But then again, he’s also got eight rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns.

If “hybrid” was a defined role, I think we’d hear a lot more about Grice nationally. But when you look at the top running backs, does he fit? Maybe, but he doesn’t have the same measurables as some of the other backs in the league. Same for receiving numbers. His lack of national hype is a product of the system Arizona State runs and the role he plays within that system.

Some national recognition would be nice. But the folks in the Pac-12 know what they are up against when going against Grice. And league-wide respect goes a lot further than glancing national recognition.

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Clemson fans everywhere write: Idiot, dummy, grumble, gumble, fool, nitwit, nincompoop – how could you rank Georgia ahead of Clemson -- grumble, grumble. Ted Miller is a genius. Grumble, grumble, pinhead, ninny, imbecile, dork.

Gemmell: I threw in nincompoop on my own, but that’s the gist of multiple notes.

Everyone has their own system of ranking. Personally, I don’t give as much weight to Week 1 games as some others might (the exception being losses to FCS teams, see above). Teams have had extra time to prepare for that game and it’s not always the strongest measuring stick. Just to localize it a little bit from a Pac-12 perspective, Washington’s Week 1 win over Boise State isn’t quite as signature today as it was three weeks ago now that Broncos are 3-2. (Oh yeah, for everyone who ripped me for not having Boise in my Week 1 top 25, all I'm hearing are crickets …).

I remember last year when I took heat for being one of the first to put Clemson back in the top 10 and not punishing them as much for the Florida State loss as some others did. Where were you guys then? Huh!? Huh!?

To me, Clemson’s three-point win at home in the season opener doesn’t carry as much weight as what Georgia has done since then. It lost to Clemson, a top 10 team, on the road and I rightfully dropped the Bulldogs (I think 10 spots). But since then Georgia has beaten two top 10 teams in South Carolina and LSU. It's 3-1 with three of four games against top 10 teams. That’s bought them enough credibility, for now, to overtake Clemson, which has done nothing but paste South Carolina State and Wake Forest and dispose of a so-so NC State team.

Right now, in my mind, Georgia has the more impressive resume. But that doesn't mean things will stay the same a month from now. If Clemson is still undefeated after its two week stretch against Florida State and Maryland, it will have an argument for moving up. Especially because Georgia’s schedule ramps down with Tennessee, Missouri and Vanderbilt -- all games Georgia should win. If all things are equal on Halloween -- an undefeated Clemson team and a one-loss Georgia team -- that would mean Clemson has added two top 25 wins and is still undefeated. And then you’ll see them -- at least on my ballot -- ahead of Georgia.

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Brett in Price, Utah writes: I came across this article from 2010 written by Pat Forde. As a Utah fan, it is a shame to see USC fall this far. Although, I am not sure what exactly they were thinking with when they hired Kiffin. Another interesting fact, Kyle Whittingham is the only coach to have survived the PAC 12 South since its inception. No real questions, just observations. Thanks for the blog! I love reading it. Go Utes!!

Gemmell: Thanks Brett. I recall reading that piece too with great interest. I was still at the San Diego paper at the time, but had made a few trips up to UCLA and USC for some offseason features, etc. And I remember thinking Pat was either going to eat a lot of crow in a few years or look pretty darn smart. Right now, he’s looking pretty darn smart.

Good observation on Whittingham. Crazy to think that we’re only in the third season of “Pac-12” and there are no holdover coaches from that division from the Pac-10 days. Coaching continuity is huge. And I think Utah has already made significant strides this season. In another couple of years, they’ll be ready to make a push into the tier of South contenders.

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Oscar in Irwindale, Calif. writes: Hey Kevin! I know it’s just rumors and the details are sketchy but what’s the deal with the whole leaving Lane Kiffin at the airport deal! I just hope it’s not true and USC has more class then that! Just saying.

Gemmell: Not true. His car was at the airport, per Chris Huston at Heismanpundit.com I know Chris. I consider him a friend and I trust his reporting.

Right now it's open-season schadenfreude for anyone and everyone that Kiffin directly or indirectly offended, tweaked and irked. And they aren’t shy about coming out of the woodwork to make an already uncomfortable situation look even worse.

As for the timing? Meh. Makes no difference in my mind if it was at 3 a.m. or 7 a.m. Gone is gone.

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Brady in Seattle writes: Admit it Kevin. You've been hoping for a long time for Kiffin to get fired just so you could refer to it as "Operation changing Lanes". Well played, my friend. Kudos.

Gemmell: Thanks Brady. It’s funny you brought that up. My wife -- a high school English teacher and the hardest editor I’ve ever had -- sent me an email Monday morning indicating that since I used “Lanes,” plural, that would indicate that another person named Lane would have to be the new coach.

It’s a fair criticism from my significantly better half. The only Lane I could come up with was Lane Meyer? (I want my $2).

There's nothing like being unbeaten in college football. Food tastes better. The air smells sweeter. Love pervades the campus community, enveloping the football team with warm fuzzies.

It's been a long time since Colorado could feel good about its football team, but the Buffaloes will enter Pac-12 play Saturday at Oregon State at 2-0, feeling pretty darn good about themselves, particularly after a dismal, 1-11 campaign in 2012.

"It's the energy and the spirit around this place, not only with the football team but with the school," defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe said. "You're getting a lot more students coming up to you, wishing you good luck and congratulating you on the 2-0 start. It makes you want to practice even harder."

Of course, there's a catch for the Buffs. They've been riding a 2-0 high for almost three weeks, as they last played on Sept. 7. So the euphoria has died down a bit. Moreover, their Sept. 14 game with Fresno State was canceled due to serious flooding, which led to loss of life and significant property damage.

Instead of playing a revenge game against the Bulldogs, who pummeled the Buffs 69-14 in 2012, the Colorado players served meals to emergency personnel and flood victims. It became a moment for perspective. There are emotional swings with 2-0 as well as 0-2, but real-world events possess a far greater gravity.

Some players were directly affected by the flooding, so coach Mike MacIntyre gave his team a couple of days off to get things back in order in their personal lives.

Now, attention turns back to football. MacIntyre's chief task is rebooting the early momentum so his team doesn't look rusty and out of sorts against the Beavers.

"It seems like three years ago since we last played," he said. "We've been trying to do everything we can to keep up the speed of the game. This is almost like another opening game for us."

The early returns from the 2-0 start suggest that MacIntyre has his team's attention. In both games, a squad that seemed to lack mental toughness a year ago took control in the fourth quarter. Colorado has outscored foes 39-10 in the fourth quarter this season. Last year, despite being hopelessly behind in most cases, the Buffs were outscored 112-59 in the fourth.

"I think it's the coaching," said Uzo-Diribe, when asked what the biggest difference from last year is. "A lot of the guys playing now are the same guys who played last year, but with this coaching staff, we are starting to take on an identity on defense and on offense. We really all bought into a system and schemes."

The Buffs seem more detail-oriented. For example, the biggest play of the victory over Colorado State was cornerback Greg Henderson's 53-yard scoop and score in the fourth quarter, which made Colorado's lead 33-24. Uzo-Diribe caused the fumble.

Not only had the defense taken a renewed focus on creating turnovers during spring and preseason practice, they'd scouted tendencies from Rams running back Kapri Bibbs, who sometimes was careless with ball security. That popped into Uzo-Diribe's head as he came up behind Bibbs.

"We came into the week after watching the film knowing that their running back's ball security wasn't great," Uzo-Diribe said. "Last season, both [running backs] showed that they fumbled the ball a lot. It was something we had in our mind that when we saw that running back -- get a strip attempt on the ball."

Turnovers could be critical Saturday because it's likely both defenses will have their hands full. Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion ranks second in the nation with 401 yards passing per game. Colorado quarterback Connor Wood is fourth with 370.5. Wood's go-to guy is Paul Richardson, who leads the nation with 208.5 yards receiving per game. Beavers receiver Brandin Cooks is second with 159.8 yards per game. Cooks leads the nation with 10.8 receptions per game; Richardson is second at 10.5.

So it's a heck of a matchup of pass-catch combinations playing against defenses that remain works in progress.

Of course, it's likely the game will come down to who gets more out of their seeming weaknesses. Both teams have struggled to run the ball this year. Oregon State has 11 sacks in four games. Colorado has just three in two games. Both teams are positive so far in turnover margin. The Beavers are down three starters on their offensive line because of injury.

For the Beavers, a victory would set them up at 4-1 and 2-0 in Pac-12 play, with four consecutive wins putting some distance between them and an opening weekend loss to Eastern Washington, an FCS team. With a bye next week, the conference's most injury-ravaged team also could start to get healthy.

For the Buffaloes, an upset road victory would probably win over more than a few folks who have been slow to jump on the bandwagon in Boulder. At 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference, it would be reasonable to speculate about potential bowl eligibility, particularly if the school is able to schedule a patsy to replace the lost Fresno State game.

Uzo-Diribe said the Buffs locker room already believes.

"The past couple of seasons we've said that, but as the season went on, we didn't really believe it," he said. "I feel like this season, guys see it, guys believe it. They are working towards it."

Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks has so far proven that he’s more than capable of carrying the load as the Beavers No. 1 target. Heading into Saturday’s game at San Diego State, he ranks first in the country in receiving touchdowns (7) and receptions (29) and he’s second in receiving yards (498). And quarterback Sean Mannion has done a great job getting him the ball. Cooks has been targeted 32 times -- giving Mannion a 90-percent completion percentage when he looks to Cooks. The receiver took a few minutes this week to chat with the Pac-12 blog.

Do you get the sense that this team is getting its footing back after what happened in Week 1?

Brandin Cooks: Definitely. After that, we felt like we had a lot to prove, which we did. That lit our fire. We’re ready to go and get this thing back on pace like it should be.

That loss could have sunk you guys and set a real negative tone for the season. But you bounced back to beat Hawaii and Utah in overtime. How proud are you of this team’s resiliency.

BC: The resiliency with this group is amazing. I go back to my freshman year when we lost to an [FCS] team and we had a bad season. This time, the captains and the guys who were on that team weren’t going to let that happen this year. When we had that loss, we went back to work. We know who we are. And Week 1 wasn’t who we are.

In terms of momentum, how much do you guys have coming off of that overtime win?

BC: I feel like we have a lot of momentum. A lot of confidence. That’s what you need in this game. It’s good to have that going into the week and going down to San Diego and keep building on win after win. To have that confidence and momentum and knowing that we’ve got guys that will not lay down no matter the situation is a good thing for our team.

You’re putting up fantastic numbers so far. What’s different about your game this year?

BC: To be honest, I feel like I’m bigger and stronger and faster than I was last year. I’m a smarter player this year. I’m learning to read defenses and picking up on little things better than I did last year. Then you’ve got someone like Sean Mannion that is playing lights out right now. He has a lot to do with my success.

Since you brought up Sean, talk about what he’s been able to do so far. Just a few weeks ago we didn’t know if he would be the starter.

BC: He’s been amazing so far. Once he was named the starter, I could see in his eyes that he had that same confidence that he had the first four weeks last year. He’s working hard. He’s working his tail off. The best part of his game this year is being a great leader.

One of the things Markus Wheaton always talked about was studying defenses and tendencies. What are some of the things you learned playing alongside him the last couple of years that you’re applying to your game now?

BC: His football IQ is off the charts. The things he would look for when watching film were things I never would have thought to look for. Learning underneath him helped my game and it’s helping me teach others. By him being here, he was that role model and that extra coach on the side to teach me some things I didn’t know.

Coach [Mike] Riley is coming back down to Qualcomm Stadium this weekend. He joked he doesn’t have many good memories from when he was the Chargers coach. Does he talk about his time in the NFL much?

BC: Not really. Sometimes when we have team meetings and he’s telling a story, he’ll talk about being back in San Diego. But he doesn’t really bring it up that often.

What’s something about you that would surprise people?

BC: I can sing. I love to sing.

When are you doing this? Pregame, just walking around campus? During practice?

BC: I sing all over the place. In the locker room. Pregame. Ask my teammates. They wouldn’t be shocked about that.

What are you singing?

BC: R&B most of the time. I like Michael Jackson.

Old-school Michael or the later stuff?

BC: Old-school Michael. I love the old stuff.

Sean Mannion emerged in August from one of the nation's most closely watched preseason quarterback competitions as the Oregon State starter over Cody Vaz. That competition was particularly noteworthy because it featured two players with significant experience who had mostly played well when behind center.

Mannion's winning the job, however, became a secondary story when the 25th-ranked Beavers lost their opener to Eastern Washington, an FCS team. While Mannion's big numbers against the Eagles merited note -- the 49-46 defeat certainly wasn't the offense's fault -- it was the inglorious defeat that dominated the conversation, including plenty of handwringing over a horrible defensive performance.

But after the Beavers seemingly righted themselves with wins over Hawaii and an overtime triumph at previously unbeaten Utah, it might be worthwhile to check in and see what Mannion has been doing and whether he was a good QB choice as the Beavers prepare for a visit to San Diego State.

Hmm. Mannion is averaging 412 yards passing per game, which ranks second in the nation. His 12 touchdown passes is tied for first in the nation. He has thrown just one interception. He ranks 11th in the nation in passing efficiency, according to the NCAA, and also is 11th with ESPN Stats & Information's Total QBR rating.

So, yeah. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound junior is mostly validating his selection as the starter.

Mannion thus far has corrected his biggest problem in 2012 -- throwing interceptions in bunches. He hurled 11 of his 13 total picks in just three games, including four-interception performances against Washington and Oregon.

A lot of those is just growth, coach Mike Riley said.

"He's confident, he's seeing things real well, been making good decisions," Riley said. "He's been very accurate with the ball."

Mannion also is not forcing things anymore. He's not afraid to go with short pass in a check-down or even just throw the ball into the stands when nothing is open.

Mannion, the son of a high school coach, also feels like the competition with Vaz helped him.

"It helped me focus on the things that I can control and not worry about anything else," he said." Throughout the competition, I tried to not worry about what other people were thinking or saying and just focus on becoming the best player I could be. I definitely feel like the competition helped me become a better player."

Riley said Mannion was "really obsessive about getting ready for this season."

The loss to Eastern Washington knocked the Beavers off the national radar, but the schedule still sets up for them to get back into the national rankings, starting with a date Saturday with 0-2 San Diego State. While the widely projected 7-0 start no longer is possible, 6-1 certainly seems possible, though a road trip to Washington State on Oct. 12 certainly looks a bit tougher than it did in the preseason. At that point, it will be up to Oregon State to break through against a homestretch that goes: Stanford, USC, Arizona State, Washington and Oregon.

Ah, but that's looking ahead or underestimating the present task. That wouldn't be smart. The good news is there has been experience in the locker room handling dispiriting opening losses. Many of the present Beavers suffered through a season ruined by a loss to an FCS team in the opener -- 2011's 3-9 finish that began with a gag-job versus Sacramento State. Mannion said that loss taught some hard lessons.

"When guys have been through it before, I think there is a more conscious effort [to stay focused]," Mannion said. "The guys who were young there have become leaders of our team. Everyone was really conscious of that."

As for being second in the nation in passing, Mannion isn't focused on that.

"I never really look at stats, but it's something you hear about," he said. "It's not something I actively care about. The only stat that matters is winning."

That said, the guy who had to fight to win back his starting job decides to add, "But, it is cool, I guess."

While Oregon State’s injury-plagued defense continues to try to find its footing, it appears to be full steam ahead for the offense.

Quarterback Sean Mannion posted a career-high 443 passing yards with five touchdowns in Oregon State’s 51-48 overtime win at Utah. The most important stat: zero interceptions.

The five scoring strikes matches a school record and gives Mannion 43 for his career, moving him into fourth place on OSU’s all-time list. It was the fourth-highest passing yardage game ever by an OSU quarterback, and he’s now tied for the national lead with 12 touchdown passes and is second nationally in passing yards per game.

Of course, this prestigious Pac-12 blog honor, which Mannion will no doubt be telling his grandchildren about, could easily go to his top receiver. Brandin Cooks caught nine balls for 210 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Cooks and Mannion have connected for 14 career scores, which ties them for third on OSU’s all-time list of QB-WR hookups.

The road victory gives the once-ranked Beavers a little more stability after a shaky start to the season.

“It’s really big,” said head coach Mike Riley. “It’s a chance to build some momentum and confidence, obviously, and you don’t want to fall in a hole early. It’s great to win an opening conference game. Maybe this is an indicator of how our conference is going to go this year. It’s going to be really, really competitive.”

When Oregon State and Utah open conference play Saturday, both teams will be looking for momentum.


For the Utes, who are 7-11 in Pac-12 games since joining the league two years ago, it could be a quality win against a North Division foe that started the season ranked.

For Oregon State, which saw its popularity in the rankings slip away in the wake of its Week 1 loss to Eastern Washington, this game could be the next step in restoring its image.

And while no coach ever wants to over- or under-play the importance of a single game -- both head coaches recognize that the outcome Saturday could influence the trajectory of the season for both squads.

“There’s no doubt that early momentum is a good thing,” said Oregon State coach Mike Riley. “As you reach a new threshold, depending where your team is, these games always loom bigger and bigger. We’ve been through some stuff already that has set us back; a loss to a team that we were supposedly supposed to beat and then with some injuries. We’ve already been through a bunch and to be able to overcome that and maybe win the opening conference game, there’s a lot to that.”

Three weeks ago, this one looked like just another step in Oregon State’s projected 7-0 start: “projected” being the operative word. Few saw the Week 1 loss coming for the Beavers while the Utes offense has been as explosive as its defense has been gritty.

Utah, which is 2-0 after a hard-fought win in Week 1 against Utah State and an easy-day victory over Weber State last week, knows it has to maximize a schedule that’s heavy on the home games early. Five of the Utes’ first six games are at Rice-Eccles -- and they don’t even need to leave the state for their one road trip, a trek about 45 minutes South to Provo and BYU. That sets the stage for four of their final six on the road.

“We know that the front half of the schedule is loaded with home games and we’re going to try to take advantage of that,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “When we got the schedule several months ago, that was very apparent. We have a lot of home games early and a lot of road games on the back end so we have to try to make the most of the home schedule we have early.”

Two of the league’s top passers will be on display with Utah’s Travis Wilson and OSU’s Sean Mannion. Through the first two weeks they rank second and third, respectively, among Pac-12 starters. Wilson has completed 31 of 47 balls for 566 yards with five touchdowns and no picks. Mannion has completed 68 of 86 passes for 794 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception.

While the Beavers might be a little down after their unexpected start -- the loss to Eastern Washington and the struggles against Hawaii -- Wilson says he has to be prepared for Oregon State’s best.

“You never know how they are going to play and react each game,” Wilson said. “We just have to make sure we’re prepared as well as we can be on our end.”

Riley has leaned heavily on his seniors and veteran players to guide the Beavers through what has been a trying first couple of weeks.

“I’ve been impressed by the fact that nobody blinks,” Riley said. “We have some good leadership on this team and some tremendous older guys and a stable group of coaches that are working to try to get a win. We’ve already been through quite a bit two games into the year. But I’ve been impressed with their reaction."

I will ask him for my place again, he shall tell me I am a drunkard. Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast.

• Concussions catching up with the Wildcats.
• A list of ASU predictions for the 2013 season.
• Some Cal injury notes.
• A good start for Colorado's offensive line, but they aren't getting complacent.
• A video discussion of Oregon's trip East.
• Neither Mike Riley nor Mark Banker have lost faith.
• What does Stanford have to do to beat San Jose State?
• Dietrich Riley staying close to the Bruins despite medical retirement.
• USC's quarterback drama continues.
• Utah's history vs. FCS teams.
• Is Keith Price back? It looked like it against Boise State.
• WSU's defense prepping for both USC quarterbacks.
• Per Athlon, some Pac-12 predictions and storylines this week.

After he sliced and diced Oregon State's defense last Saturday, Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams recalled his team's dispiriting conclusion to an otherwise good 2012 season. Just like the Beavers, the Eagles had seen their strong campaign a year ago end on a down note against a team from Texas.

The Eagles lost to Sam Houston State in the FCS semifinals, a massive comeback from a 35-0 halftime deficit falling just short, 45-42. The Beavers self-immolated in the fourth quarter and lost to Texas in the Alamo Bowl, 31-27.

Sort of a vast distance betwixt the two, eh?

So Eastern Washington, after beating the then 25th-ranked Beavers 49-46, moves on to the Big Sky Conference -- Cal Poly, Weber State, UC Davis -- with big intentions in the FCS playoffs, while Oregon State … well, does what?

Serves as a national punch line? Suffers through another season like 2011, when a loss to another FCS team -- Sacramento State -- presaged a horrid 3-9 campaign that had folks calling for coach Mike Riley's head?

Or Oregon State rights itself and redeems its season, transforming the inglorious opener into a fluke, a tough lesson that can be later referenced after a bowl victory as the touchstone for ultimate and satisfying success.

"[Cornerback] Rashaad Reynolds said something great in the locker room," quarterback Sean Mannion told reporters after the defeat. "He said that there are two ways that we can go about this: We can either lay down or stand up and overcome this by working harder than we ever have. Obviously, that is the route that we are going to take.”

Of course, that's also pretty obvious. The same thing was said after the Sacramento State loss, though it's worth noting the Beavers were riven after that game by the QB switch from the popular Ryan Katz to Mannion, then a redshirt freshman.

Still, the perception of Oregon State has taken a hit. Again. The preseason take on the Beavers was they were headed for a 7-0 start and potential top-10 ranking that would make the Oct. 26 visit from Stanford a red-letter date nationally. Now the visit from woeful Hawaii on Saturday doesn't feel like a sure thing.

Oregon State welcomed back seven starters from one of the nation's best defenses in 2012, yet it yielded ludicrous numbers against the Eagles -- 625 total yards, 8.8 yards per play, 31 first downs, 448 passing yards, etc. The big preseason question for the Beavers was the quarterback competition between Mannion and Cody Vaz, but Mannion was lights-out and the offense rolled up 46 points, which would have been enough to win every game the team played since 2006, other than matchups with Oregon in 2008, 2011 and 2012.

Think of all the great offenses Oregon State has faced over the past few years. Yet when the Beavers gave up 29 first-half points, it was the most they'd yielded since 2008 against Oregon. The Eagles’ 23 second-quarter points were the most the Beavers have surrendered in any quarter since UCLA scored 28 in the fourth on Sept. 29, 2007.

No matter how dynamic Adams was, this probably ranks as one of Oregon State's worst defensive performances of the modern era, particularly when you factor in that the foe was from a lower division.

So what was the problem?

"We got totally disrupted," Riley said. "We were way out of sorts in pass rush, pass-rush lanes, we were misaligned defensively. We made some crucial technical errors, just playing Cover 3 and giving up a deep ball right down the middle of the field. Just kind of simple football mistakes, whether it's just lining up or maintaining a pass-rush lane or maintaining position on a receiver."

Throw in poor tackling and that just about covers it. The defensive failure was a total team effort. All-Pac-12 defensive end Scott Crichton was invisible, recording just two tackles.

"The quarterback gave us fits," Riley said. "Scott could never quite get there or finish a play."

The Beavers were the only ranked team to lose to an FCS foe on the opening weekend, but they certainly weren't the only AQ conference team to get toppled. Kansas State, the defending Big 12 champions, lost to North Dakota State. Folks aren't going to start questioning Bill Snyder's coaching acumen, at least not anyone with a brain.

Stuff happens.

The question now is whether this is just one of those games -- an anomaly -- where things go haywire. The answer to that only will be revealed in coming weeks. But know that the visit to Utah in Week 3 suddenly seems freighted with far more meaning than in the preseason.

Not that the Beavers should be overlooking anyone at this point.

"I think everybody takes it on themselves, coaches, players," Riley said. "Everybody has to take responsibility."

You just got lesson No. 1: Don't think; it can only hurt the ball club.

• Who is Arizona's No. 1 all-time player?
• Arizona State and Todd Graham are talking contract extension.
• Big numbers from freshman QB Jared Goff give California some hope.
• Colorado looked like a different team while whipping Colorado State.
• Oregon's touted freshman running back, Thomas Tyner, might play at Virginia.
• Another embarrassing season-opening stumble for Oregon State, but Mike Riley hasn't lost faith in defensive coordinator Mark Banker.
• Stanford's position battles have resolved themselves.
• UCLA's young secondary played well against Nevada.
• USC coach Lane Kiffin still won't talk about his quarterbacks.
• Utah has plenty to work on as it gets ready for Weber State.
• Washington is happy with the win over Boise State but it has plenty to work on.
• Washington State's players think they blew it at Auburn.

Well I guess it all started the first time I went through the second grade. I caught my reflection in a spoon while I was eating my cereal, and I remember thinking "Wow, you're ridiculously good looking, maybe you could do that for a career."

• Arizona's Week 1 injury report.
• ASU will be looking to Alden Darby for a little inspiration.
• Don't panic, Cal fans, Jared Goff has everything under control.
• Colorado's first priority (as it should be) is to stop the run.
• Oregon's linebacker duo is nasty and nice.
• This is a must read from Lindsay Schnell about the last couple of years behind the scenes of Mike Riley's life.
• What does Stanford have to do to win a national championship?
• Jordan Zumwalt has a history with Nevada's quarterback.
• What if Lane Kiffin had stayed at Tennessee?
• The Pac-12 reporters aren't the only ones predicting a Utah victory tonight.
• Some behind-the-scenes-video of the new Husky Stadium.
• Logan Mayes leaving Washington State?
• Some Week 1 storylines and predictions from Athlon.

It's prediction time! Wheeee!

Last year, Kevin and Ted tied at the end of the regular season with 66-25 records. Ah, but then came the bowl season, and -- cough, cough -- by virtue of Ted going 5-3 and Kevin going 4-4, the old guy prevailed by a single game.

Let's hear it for the old guys!

And you know who won it for Ted? Texas! How about that fudge?

Thursday

UTAH STATE at UTAH

Kevin Gemmell: First game, and I’m already conflicted. This one is scary with Chuckie Keeton back at QB for Utah State and all five of his linemen back to protect him. I think Utah is going to be better than it was last season, and the Utes will be looking for revenge from last year’s loss. In close games, go with the home team. Utah 21, Utah State 17

Ted Miller: This is an interesting one. Utah State changed coaches but has a lot of guys back. The Utes have preseason injury issues -- paging Brian Blechen; your defense needs you -- and those issues have made coach Kyle Whittingham grumpy. But you know why I'm picking Utah? Because I think the Utes are angry about how folks have written them off, and angry often translates well in football. And I like the MUSS being loud. Utah 24, Utah State 21

USC at HAWAII

Kevin Gemmell: A good chance for both USC quarterbacks to get a lot of work against a nonthreatening opponent. Trojans should roll. USC 35, Hawaii 14

Ted Miller: USC is going to win this game, but it would be good for coach Lane Kiffin if the Trojans looked good doing it. Want to be goofy about your QB situation? Fine. You just better look good on offense. The biggest news in this one is which QB starts and, subsequently, who sets himself up to start against Washington State next week. USC 35, Hawaii 20

Friday

NORTHERN ARIZONA at ARIZONA

Kevin Gemmell: How many Arizona quarterbacks will we see in this game? I’m putting the over/under at three -- and I’m leaning toward the over. Arizona 42, NAU 17

Ted Miller: I actually think B.J. Denker is going to be the man for the Wildcats, even if other guys play. The issue is whether he remains that way. I think the only guy who would unseat him is Jesse Scroggins, and he has struggled to stay healthy. Arizona 40, NAU 14

Saturday

NICHOLLS STATE at OREGON

Kevin Gemmell: The only concern here is that Marcus Mariota tweaks a fingernail pulling off his shoulder pads at halftime. Oregon 48, Nicholls State 7

Ted Miller: I'm actually afraid for Nicholls State. Oregon 101, Nicholls State 3

EASTERN WASHINGTON at OREGON STATE

Kevin Gemmell: Eastern Washington is a pretty good Football Championship Subdivision team. And Oregon State fans know better than to overlook FCS teams. But I see no reason the Beavers don’t roll in this one. Oregon State 35, Eastern Washington 10

Ted Miller: The Beavers have some nagging injury issues, so they just want to win this one and get out of the game healthy. And they want Sean Mannion to justify his winning a high-profile QB competition. Oregon State 41, Eastern Washington 17

NEVADA at UCLA

Kevin Gemmell: A good tuneup game for the Bruins against a team that has some bite. I really like what Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo is capable of. But I like Brett Hundley better. Should be a decent game, but ultimately not enough to give UCLA a real scare. UCLA 35, Nevada 17

Ted Miller: Sitting here making this pick, I realize how Jim Mora has changed things at UCLA in just one year. For a decade or so previous to him, this is exactly the sort of game that you'd pause over, going, "Hmm ... UCLA is better but, man, do the Bruins know how to blow it!" Mora inspires confidence in terms of his team coming out in a businesslike fashion and playing like the superior collection of athletes that it is. UCLA 40, Nevada 24

BOISE STATE at WASHINGTON

Kevin Gemmell: Should be one of the closest, most competitive games in the country in Week 1. And in close games, sticking with my personal doctrine, I’ll go with the home team. Washington 24, Boise State 21

Ted Miller: These teams were tightly contested in the Las Vegas Bowl, and the Huskies look like a better team than they were last season, while the Broncos have a lot of guys to replace. Still, it comes down to Huskies QB Keith Price. If he's his 2011 self again, Washington will roll. Washington 30, Boise State 21

NORTHWESTERN at CALIFORNIA

Kevin Gemmell: I think the Bears will show a little backbone and Jared Goff will gain some confidence. But probably not enough to beat a ranked team in his first career start. However, it’ll be closer than people think. Northwestern 35, California 28

Ted Miller: Hello, Cal fans. It's me again. I've got bad news. I think you're going to win this game. Of course, that probably means you're going to lose, because the Bears never do what I think they'll do. Or was that just a Jeff Tedford thing? I'm so conflicted. Maybe if someone brought me a calabrese from Top Dog I could make sense of it all? California 27, Northwestern 24

WASHINGTON STATE at AUBURN

Kevin Gemmell: I got burned by the Cougs in the season opener last year when they were two-touchdown dogs on the road, and it haunts me to this day. Lesson learned. Auburn 28, Washington State 21

Ted Miller: Both teams went 3-9 last season, but the Tigers have a lot more size and athletes. I think the Cougars are going to put a scare into Auburn and its fans, but the Tigers' athleticism and, perhaps, the Southeastern humidity will wear WSU down in the fourth quarter. Auburn 33, Washington State 24

COLORADO STATE vs. COLORADO

Kevin Gemmell: The Rams bring back nine starters on offense. But Paul Richardson is due for a multitouchdown game. Colorado will get a little vengeance from last season. Bring on the Mac attack. Colorado 27, Colorado State 17

Ted Miller: I stared at the Colorado depth chart Tuesday and had an interesting reaction that surprised me: maybe. The Buffs should have won this game last season, and I think they're better than in 2012. Colorado 30, Colorado State 27

It all seemed so simple before Week 1 of last year. Six quarterback competitions, six resolutions before the first game of the year.

Taylor Kelly had won the gig at ASU. Jordan Webb set foot on campus and was almost instantly Colorado’s starter. Marcus Mariota outdistanced Bryan Bennett. Josh Nunes was Andrew Luck’s successor. Brett Hundley was an exciting unknown, and Jeff Tuel was the guy to lead WSU’s Air Raid.

Of course, simplicity doesn’t always last. Be it injury or performance, Webb and Nunes weren’t the starters at the end of the season and Tuel went back-and-forth with Connor Halliday. Mariota, Kelly and Hundley, however, went on to be three of the four most efficient quarterbacks in the league.

The moral of the story: Don’t fear the unknown. But don’t be too comfortable with it, either.

Which leads us to this year’s crop of quarterback competitions. It’s not as cut-and-dried as it was a year ago. At least two of them are ongoing and will probably stretch into the first weeks of the season.

The No. 24 Trojans open against Hawaii with Cody Kessler and Max Wittek still in the hunt for the right to replace Matt Barkley. Coach Lane Kiffin, however, said he has zero concerns that the competition hasn’t been resolved.

“I see it as completely opposite,” Kiffin said during Tuesday’s Pac-12 conference call. “I think they have both performed so well. We feel great about both of them running our offense. I see it as a positive. I think they've really worked on their weaknesses … that way we don’t have to call the game any different based on who is in. We can do all of our stuff.”

Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez hasn’t picked his guy yet, either. Though he did say he has seen some recent progress from B.J. Denker, Javelle Allen and Jesse Scroggins. A week ago, it was thought that as many as four or five guys could still be in the mix.

“I’d be more concerned if none of them made progress,” Rodriguez said. “In the last week and a half, they have all made some pretty good progress. B.J. Denker and Javelle Allen, the guys that have been in the program, have made pretty good progress. And Jesse Scroggins has gotten better as well. I feel good about that. There’s no question there is always more concern when you don’t have experience there. B.J. has been in the system for a year and Javelle has been in the system for a year. We feel pretty confident they can run the whole entire offense and with Jesse it’s just a matter of time.”

And time is on Arizona’s side. The Wildcats don’t exactly have a pressing first month of the season. They host Northern Arizona this weekend, followed by a trip to UNLV before hosting UTSA on Sept. 14. Then it’s a bye week before opening league play at Washington.

One report last week had Oregon State playing the quarterback shuffle heading into Week 1. But Mike Riley put that to rest yesterday when he named Sean Mannion his starter.

“I had told some stories in the past of experience with two quarterbacks playing, but never intended to start a rotation situation here at all,” Riley said. “We intended to name a starter and then have kind of left it up in the air … Sean is the starter and we’ll go into the game like that.”

Connor Wood won the job at Colorado -- ending a QB competition that started with six but dwindled after injuries and transfers.

"He's big, he's athletic, he's got a strong arm, and he's a talented athlete," said coach Mike MacIntyre, who noted he was also very pleased with the progress of freshman Sefo Liufau. "He really started capturing the essence of our offense and understanding where to go with the ball and where to go with our run game. He kept improving."

Cal coach Sonny Dykes took a different approach, naming Jared Goff his starter as soon as he could.

“Anytime you have a starting quarterback, I think everyone is more comfortable,” Dykes said. “The quarterback is more comfortable. The skill-position players can start to get on the same page. You develop a relationship with the center and quarterback and their ability to communicate with each other and the sense of timing that needs to exist there. I think what it does is settle everybody down.”

After all the Vaz-Mannion, Mannion-Vaz -- or both! -- Oregon State coach Mike Riley ended the high-profile competition between Sean Mannion and Cody Vaz by naming Mannion the starter against Eastern Washington on Saturday.

Or did he?

That now becomes the question -- one that could linger -- about a QB competition that was interesting because it was between a pair of veteran players with experience as successful starters for a nationally ranked team.

The conventional wisdom was Mannion, now fully healthy, was the favorite. He's bigger and has a better arm and he's a junior compared to the senior Vaz. And the conventional wisdom may have played a role in Mannion getting tapped. The tag goes to talent and youth, of which Mannion had more of both.

"Sean's attributes are obviously his ability to get the ball just about wherever you want on the field," Riley told reporters on Monday. "Along with his knowledge about where we're going and what he should do with the ball."

Mannion's issue has been interceptions. When he throws them, he throws them in bunches. In six games last year, he threw just two picks. In three others, he threw 11. Some of that could be traced to a knee injury. Mannion got hurt during a three-pick game against Washington State, and probably came back too soon in a four-pick game at Washington.

But not all of it. Some of his interceptions were true head-scratchers, particularly if you witnessed his brilliant early work in road victories over UCLA and Arizona.

Mannion threw for 2,446 yards and 15 touchdowns with eight starts in 10 appearances, while Vaz, hampered late in the season by his own ankle injury, threw for 1,480 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven games with five starts.

Riley said he isn't sure whether Vaz will see action against Eastern Washington, but much of that is up to Mannion.

Riley won't play two quarterbacks -- at least during significant action -- if Mannion is lights-out. Or even just productive and efficient. But if Mannion throws a couple of picks, it will be hard to not give Vaz a look.

And therein lies the challenge: You don't want Mannion wincing with every bad throw, worried he'll get the hook. That will make him tentative. But you also don't want to stick with Mannion too long if he struggles.

Put it this way: Say Oregon State is tied with Stanford 10-10 at halftime, but the Beavers left points on the field because Mannion threw two red zone picks. Does Vaz get the call to start the third? Or if not, what if Mannion leads two three-and-outs to start the second half and Stanford goes up 13-10? And Riley hears muttering from his players.

Hard choice.

Further, the Beavers have an incredibly back-loaded schedule. That Stanford game is Week 9. The Beavers likely will be favored in their first seven games, so they could play host to the Cardinal at 7-0. That could be a critical top-10 matchup with North Division ramifications. And every game thereafter sets up to be against a potentially ranked team.

So this could get complicated, even well into the season.

On the one hand, the Beavers have a luxury: two competent, experienced QBs. On the other, they have a potentially divisive situation that could become a locker room distraction.

Oregon State Beavers coach Mike Riley's recent history with quarterbacks is interesting to say the least.

He's presently presiding over "The Great Sean Mannion versus Cody Vaz Competition," one that features two players with successful starting experience and few hints about whom Riley favors. Riley's most recent statement on the competition is both will play in the opener against Eastern Washington on Aug. 31. And then a new chapter will be written in this twisting drama.

This QB quandary was preceded by the surprising Ryan Katz to Mannion switcharoo in 2011, and everybody remembers the back-and-forth between Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao previous to that.

Yet if Beavers fans are worried Mannion vs. Vaz has the potential to get truly weird, well, maybe they should be. Riley was ringmaster for one of the all-time odd QB carousels in Pac-10 history: USC in 1995.

Riley, then the Trojans offensive coordinator, was sitting in his office during the preseason when John Robinson stopped by to say he wanted to resolve their QB competition between Brad Otton and Kyle Wachholtz. His idea was to play both. Otten would start, Wachholtz would play the second quarter. The idea was to alternate by quarter.

"That makes for an interesting dynamic in the QB room," Riley said.

USC was 8-2-1 that year. Successful season? The Trojans lost to both of their major rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, so not really. On the plus side, in a game with major Rose Bowl implications, they came back from a 21-0 fourth-quarter deficit to tie Washington. The Huskies then lost the following week to Oregon, essentially giving the Trojans the conference title, even with the crushing 24-20 loss to the Bruins in the regular-season finale in Terry Donahue's final battle for the Victory Bell.

Northwestern was the Cinderella in the Rose Bowl, making its first appearance since 1949. USC was the Evil Stepmother. The Wildcats were on the cusp of something magical! And many of the folks relating that with flowery terms went to journalism school at Northwestern before becoming sportswriters.

As for the game itself, guess what one of the only coaches in the Pac-12 who doesn't presently run an up-tempo offense did to surprise Northwestern? Yep. He used no-huddle, two-minute offense on the first two series -- a pair of TD drives -- that was the cornerstone of what would become a 24-7 lead.

That fast start, however, presented a problem. Otton was in the zone.

"I went to John and said, 'I don't think we should change quarterbacks right now.' We didn't," Riley recalled. "Still to this day, I regret that."

That shows you two things about Riley you may already know: 1. He's willing to make tough decisions: 2. He's not the sort of hard case who can block out the human repercussions of those tough decisions.

Wachholtz had been every bit the match for Otton all season, seeing action in every game. In fact, entering the Rose Bowl, his numbers were slightly better. But on this grand stage -- The Granddaddy of Them All -- he stewed on the bench and didn't play.

Otton went on to complete 29 of 44 passes for 391 yards, much of that going to Keyshawn Johnson, who caught 12 balls for 216 yards and was named Player of the Game. The Trojans nearly blew it, as the Wildcats stormed back, but they ended up winning 41-32.
From the LA Times game story:

Robinson, too, saluted the 6-6 Otton, a junior, but also expressed sympathy for senior Kyle Wachholtz, the other half of USC's two-quarterback offense who never got in the game.

"It's unfortunate Kyle didn't get to play, but Brad was playing so well we just couldn't," Robinson said.

Otton appeared before the media with his right shoulder wrapped in ice. Wachholtz dressed quickly and left.

"I'm sure Kyle's terribly disappointed," offensive coordinator Mike Riley said after the first game this season when one quarterback went the distance when both were sound. "I felt Brad had a good grasp of the game, and I didn't want to make a change."

A few weeks ago, Riley admitted that Wachholtz didn't take the decision well -- "He shouldn't have," Riley said -- and that the emotions of that decision remain with him.

He repeated, "I personally have regrets about that game."

Otton would go to start in 1996 -- how many Weber State transfers start two years for USC? -- but the Trojans went a mediocre 6-6. Wachholtz, who would sell his Rose Bowl ring, admittedly due to his bitterness, would become a tight end in the NFL, though injuries cut his promising career short.

Riley has said he doesn't want to play two quarterbacks this fall, but he obviously isn't afraid to do so, or to make a change if he thinks it will help his team. It's also clear that he knows making a tough call has emotional consequences.

Nonetheless, there is a cold bottom line in all quarterback competitions.

Said Riley, "Who can we trust to be the most consistent player?"

What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

• Arizona's Richard Morrison is a man of many positions.
• Arizona State RB D.J. Foster has stepped up his game.
• An unofficial California depth chart.
• Colorado coach Mike McIntyre isn't ready to say who is starting QB is.
• Oregon is strong at receiver.
• Oregon State coach Mike Riley says he'll play both Cody Vaz and Sean Mannion in the opener against Eastern Washington.
• Stanford OT Andrus Peat is ready to break out.
• UCLA OLB Anthony Barr is "doing fine," which should be interpreted as making him questionable of the opener against Nevada.
• USC's QB competition continues, but is there already a clear winner?
• Utah is expecting help from some old dudes.
• Washington's freshmen receivers are impressive.
• Mike Leach reminds reporters to not report on injuries.