ESPN College Football

Happy Pac-12 media day! We're getting an early start on links because there's going to be a lot going on here starting around 9 a.m. PT, when commissioner Larry Scott gives his "state of the conference" speech.

• Former Arizona RB Nic Grigsby is headed to Miami.
• Is Arizona State the sleeper in the South? The Sun Devils pick up a commitment.
• A couple of former California players agreed to NFL free-agent deals.
• Colorado coach Jon Embree is ready to face low expectations.
• Don't expect Oregon coach Chip Kelly to open up about Willie Lyles at media day. Even then, there's plenty for Kelly to talk about.
• Our best wishes go out to Oregon State AD Bob De Carolis, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
• A look at Stanford decision making on fourth down.
• More on a recent UCLA commitment.
• Tennessee to NCAA: Don't look at us! It was all Lane Kiffin's fault.
• A Utah preview and ranking. The Utes will talk today, but bigger tests are ahead.
• There's a new book about Tyrone Willingham's tenure at Washington that figures to be controversial.
• Washington State's setup at media day.
• Lots of change for the conference as it heads into media day. An update on the Pac-12 Network. And there's good and bad news for the conference.

I got laid off when they closed that asbestos factory, and wouldn't you know it, the army cuts my disability pension because they said that the plate in my head wasn't big enough.

• Former Arizona running back Nic Grigsby eyeballs the NFL draft, and the Wildcats pick up a quarterback commitment: All that here!
• Arizona State has an impressive true freshman quarterback.
• Former California defensive end Cameron Jordan leads the Bay Area draft prospects.
• Colorado is aiming to sell 25,000 season tickets.
• Oregon has star power, but it will beat -- or lose to -- LSU because its offensive line grew up fast. What are the prospects for NFL prospects from the state?
• Former Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers has to prove himself again. The Beavers backup quarterbacks show off their stuff.
• Cal's Shane Vereen and Stanford's Owen Marecic have gotten to know each other.
• Checking in with former UCLA safety Rahim Moore.
• Noting the new USC depth chart.
• The move to the Pac-12 bolstered Utah's recruiting.
• Washington running back Chris Polk feels faster this spring. Some notes from Huskies practice.
• What did Washington State coach Paul Wulff have to say during his online chat?

The Pac-10 produced six 1,000-yard rushers in 2010 -- seven if you include Colorado's Rodney Stewart -- and all seven could have returned in 2011 if Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers and California's Shane Vereen had not opted to enter the NFL draft a year early.

Still, the returning collection of rushers is impressive.

Here's the list. Each is good enough to earn All-American and/or All-Conference consideration.

1. LaMichael James, Oregon: James was a Heisman Trophy finalist, a unanimous All-American and was the Doak Walker Award winner as the nation's top running back. He also has a fine singing voice and cooks a mean batch of oatmeal cookies. Rushed for 1,731 yards and 21 TDs in 2010. Only thing that might cramp his numbers is a backfield that is crowded with talent. Two 1,000-yards rushers in 2011?

2. Chris Polk, Washington: Polk may be the favorite to lead the Pac-12 in rushing in 2011. Why? For one, the Huskies are breaking in a new quarterback, so it's unlikely they will pass 30 times per game. Second, Polk is a workhorse -- see 1,415 rushing yards in 2010. Third, the offensive line figures to be improved after surging late last year. Still, there is good depth behind Polk, so he might not get 260 carries again.

3. Rodney Stewart, Colorado: Stewart rushed for 1,318 yards last year, his 109.8 yards per game ranking 12th in the nation. "Speedy" -- that's what Stewart is called in Boulder -- at 5-foot-6, 175 pounds, is built a bit like Jacquizz Rodgers. Coach Jon Embree wasn't thrilled with the depth behind Stewart this spring, which could mean plenty of touches. But can Stewart stay healthy with another 290 carries, particularly in a 13-game season with no off weekends?

4. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA: Franklin rushed for 1,127 yards last year and would have had a lot more if not for continuing fumbling issues. And if Franklin holds onto the ball this fall, it's a good bet that he'll be in the All-Conference mix.

5. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford: Taylor quietly rushed for 1,137 yards last year and has shined this spring -- coach David Shaw calls him a "stud." The Cardinal, however, is deep in the backfield. Taylor likely will share touches, particularly with talented sophomore Anthony Wilkerson.

And who are the top candidates to crash the 1,000-yard party? Consider:

Keola Antolin, Arizona: He no longer has to share the backfield with Nic Grigsby. But can he stay healthy?

Cameron Marshall, Arizona State: Marshall likely will split carries with Deantre Lewis, but Lewis has missed spring practices after being the victim of a random shooting in his hometown.

Isi Sofele, California: Cal always has a 1,000-yard rusher, but this year there's plenty of uncertainty in the backfield. Sofele is a clear No. 1, according to coach Jeff Tedford, but a strong incoming recruiting class might produce a challenge.

Terron Ward, Oregon State: Ward is a 5-foot-7, 190-pound grayshirt from powerhouse program De La Salle, and I know little about him. But Jacquizz Rodgers is high on him and that's good enough for me.

D.J. Morgan, USC: Marc Tyler rushed for 913 yards last year, but he struggles to stay healthy. Coach Lane Kiffin -- and reporters -- are gushing about Morgan. Of course, last preseason, everybody was gushing about Dillon Baxter.

Thretton Palamo, Utah: The former rugby star has been turning heads in Salt Lake City and may be the surprise winner of the RB competition.

Rickey Galvin, Washington State: Galvin, who broke his arm in the Cougars season-opener last year at Oklahoma State, is the Cougars most dynamic back. The Cougs passing game should be strong, which might create opportunities in the running game when defenses over-commit.

While I was snaking my way through his bowels, I don't know, I... I must have dislodged some sort of intestinal blockage. And, yes, he's in a much better mood now. So can we move on? I would really like to go home.

• Former Arizona running back Nic Grigsby tries to impress NFL scouts.
• Arizona State already has its spring practice schedule. Forgot to link this the other day about No. 3 QB Samson Szakacsy leaving the Sun Devils for other interests.
• California coach Jeff Tedford is keeping busy. There is concern at linebacker for the Bears.
• Rip Scherer is Colorado's new QBs coach. Academics is now a big part of recruiting at Colorado.
• Oregon safety Javes Lewis' decision to enter the NFL draft early is a big surprise. This list suggests he will go undrafted.
• Some Oregon State players are hoping to catch the eyes of NFL scouts in Arizona.
• A look at which former Stanford players are in postseason all-star games.
• The heat is on UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel. More on the awkward situation with Norm Chow.
• USC's most important recruits.
• Washington may lose a recruit to academics.
• A look at a potential TE-LB recruit for Washington State.
• Oversigning in recruiting is not a good thing.
• Jon Wilner stacks up the Pac-12 North and South.

Arizona kicks off the Pac-10 bowl season on Wednesday with a big test against Oklahoma State in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

The Wildcats are underdogs against a Cowboys team that was hoping for a BCS bowl berth until it lost its season finale against rival Oklahoma 47-41. The Cowboys own one of the most potent offenses in the nation. They have really only been slowed down once this year: during a visit to Kansas State when the Cowboys played was without the services of Justin Blackmon, who is only the nation's best receiver.

But let's ask this question: Who might dramatically change this game if he -- or they -- stepped up with a marquee performance?

Running backs Keola Antolin, Nic Grigsby and Greg Nwoko: This is fairly simple. What if Arizona can consistently run the ball against the Cowboys? Well, that would be a game-changer for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it would shorten the game and help play keep-away from the potent Oklahoma State offense. Further, if the Cowboys are forced to commit more bodies to stopping the run, it also would open things up downfield for quarterback Nick Foles. The reason three guys are listed here is all three will get carries, and each brings something different to the attack. Antolin is the starter and the most consistent. Nwoko brings a power element. Grigsby is a home run threat who's struggled with injuries. Of course, these guys need the Wildcats to win battles on the line of scrimmage, but it's up to the backs to turn those creases into big plays. If this troika manages to combine for around 180 or 200 yards -- significantly more than the season average of of 135 -- then expect Arizona to be in pretty darn good shape.

I will let you go, Ricky. But first, I want you to say..."I... love... crepes."

• Arizona expects to get QB Matt Scott and RB Nic Grigsby back for the Oregon game on Nov. 26.
• QB Brock Osweiler gets some looks with the No. 1 offense during Arizona State's bye week.
• California running back Shane Vereen needs to carry a big load in the Big Game.
• The Oregonian reports that fake injuries were part of California's game plan, according to a source within the Bears football program, but there's nothing officials can do about it.
• Oregon State is looking for inspiration. A practice report. Coach Mike Riley stands by his assistants.
• It's seemingly more likely that Stanford QB Andrew Luck will enter the NFL draft this spring as a redshirt sophomore.
• UCLA isn't afraid of the bad weather in Seattle (for all my friends in Seattle: It's going to be 79 and sunny in Scottsdale on Thursday). Talking points for UCLA.
• USC RB Marc Tyler is happy to be hurting. QB Matt Barkley is still a work in progress.
• Washington QB Jake Locker has been cleared to play as the senior plays his final game in Husky Stadium.
• Washington State RB James Montgomery is hoping the NCAA gives him a sixth year.

You know, we always called each other good fellas. Like you said to, uh, somebody: You're gonna like this guy. He's all right. He's a good fella. He's one of us. You understand? We were good fellas. Wiseguys.

• When Arizona hired Mike Stoops in 2003, it could have hired Dan Hawkins. Nic Grigsby is banged up.
• Arizona State backup QB Brock Osweiler is going to play basketball, too. Not a stretch: He originally signed to play hoops at Gonzaga.
• California is eager for its shot at No. 1. A familiar face is back on the offensive line for California.
• Oregon isn't worried about the Sports Illustrated cover jinx.
• Mike Riley says Oregon State is down, but not out.
• Stanford's Owen Marecic is a two-way player who is old-school humble. The Cardinal offense has a lot of weapons.
• UCLA remains banged up.
• USC QB Matt Barkley is still looking for elite consistency. Lots of Trojans on the injury report.
• Washington is trying to correct special-teams shortcomings.
• Washington State coach Paul Wulff likes his team's fight.

Arizona's biggest mistake in 2010 might be being pretty darn good in a year when Oregon and Stanford are very good.

If the Wildcats win the rest of their games, which would include a victory over the top-ranked Ducks on Nov. 26, they will post a special season.

And if they win two of their final three games, including a loss at Oregon, and finish 9-3, they will post still a pretty darn good season. The program's best, in fact, since 1998.

Wildcats fans, could you be satisfied with the program's best season in 12 years? Heck, Arizona has already earned its third consecutive winning season, which hasn't happened since 1993-95.

In other words, as humbling as the 42-17 loss at Stanford was, and as hard as it is to surrender dreams of a first Rose Bowl berth again, there remains a lot to play for.

"We're still a good football team," coach Mike Stoops said. "We're still a top-20 team. There are a lot of possibilities out there. One game is not going to make or break us."

Of course, the Wildcats are wounded, figuratively and literally.

The literal: What once seemed like a wealth of productive quarterback talent is now questionable. Matt Scott, who so capably filled in for injured starter Nick Foles, has a wrist injury that will make him unavailable to play against USC on Saturday. Meanwhile, Foles, who started against Stanford after missing two games with a dislocated knee cap, is also nursing a bruised left, non-throwing, shoulder.

Further, tailback Nic Grigsby and receiver Juron Criner are battling sprained ankles.

The figurative: The Stanford loss was humbling, particularly for the Wildcats defense. Stoops found the Cardinal's final scoring drive particularly hard to stomach. Stanford went 83 yards in 11 plays -- taking 5:39 off the fourth-quarter clock -- for a final touchdown that killed any long-shot hopes for a Wildcats comeback.

All the plays were runs.

"The last nine minutes were kind of frustrating," Stoops said. "They were able to control the ball and just run it at us. That was the only part that was disappointing to me."

The key for the Wildcats is moving on. A visit from the Trojans on Saturday should help the focus. Stoops beat USC for the first time last year, and he and his players surely would prefer to head to Oregon with some momentum.

It will be a chance for the defense to regain its bite. Yielding 510 yards and recording no sacks against Stanford has stung a unit that was already aware of claims that it was "overrated" and that its impressive numbers were the result of a weak schedule. And luck , not the Andrew kind.

USC will certainly offer a stout challenge. Sure, these aren't the Trojans of 2002-2008, but they rank 14th in the nation in both scoring (36.44 points per game) and total offense (470.8 yards per game). Quarterback Matt Barkley's performance has dipped in the past two games -- see four interceptions after throwing four in the first seven games and none in the previous three -- but he's still one of the nation's best passers. He's also only been sacked 13 times, so Wildcats ends Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore, muted by Stanford, should be eager to get in some licks.

As for the offense, Foles should be more in sync playing at home in his second start back. Further, the USC defense isn't what it once was, particularly versus the pass. The Trojans surrender 276 passing yards per game, which ranks last in the Pac-10 and 114th in the nation.

Stoops said his team is in "survival mode right now." But that's better than a lot of other Pac-10 teams, which are in critical condition.

Noted Stoops, "There are a lot of people who wish they were in our spot, I promise you that."

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The prevailing wisdom among the punditry is that Arizona won't be able to handle a big, physical Iowa squad, particularly the Hawkeyes' outstanding defensive line.

Maybe. Perfectly reasonable.

But they also said that about Arizona State before it visited Wisconsin, and the Sun Devils played the Badgers to a physical stalemate before losing 20-19.

Apples and oranges? Perhaps (And beware of mixing Wildcats and Sun Devils in supporting roles with each other). But it's also possible that the faster Wildcats will be another step quicker at home, and that could be trouble for the Hawkeyes.

Quick-hit passes on the perimeter from Nick Foles, one of the nation's most accurate passers (83 percent), could turn into big plays. And those big plays outside, could create inside creases for Nic Grigsby.

On the other side of the ball, Iowa's offensive line is uncertain. The Hawkeyes ranked 99th in rushing last year, and quarterback Ricky Stanzi isn't the same player on the road as he is at home.

Stop the run, make Stanzi throw into a better secondary than he's used to seeing.

Moreover, the Pac-10 likes playing the Big Ten at home. Since 1990, Pac-10 teams are 25-6-1 at home against Big Ten teams. Both teams were ranked in seven of those 32 games, and the Pac-10 team won all seven. Since 2004, the Pac-10 is 15-8 against the Big Ten (including bowls).

On the downside, three of those Pac-10 losses have been by Arizona. The Wildcats have lost seven straight against Big Ten teams, last winning in 1998 against Iowa.

It's going to be hot. It was about 106 today, and it will still be in the 90s much of the game. That could be a factor in the fourth quarter of a close game.

Iowa won last year's meeting 27-17, and it wasn't as close as that final score indicated. The Hawkeyes seemed physically superior.

But that doesn't mean we're in for a repeat. That game was pre-Foles. And it was not in front of the 'Zona Zoo on a hot night in the desert.

A new Rose Bowl access rule could prevent the traditional Big Ten-Pac-10 matchup Jan. 1 in Pasadena, but at least the two leagues will get to know one another very well on Saturday. Three Big Ten-Pac-10 games are on the slate, as No. 18 USC visits Minnesota (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET), Arizona State visits Wisconsin (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) and No. 9 Iowa visits No. 24 Arizona (ESPN, 10:30 p.m. ET).

Bloggers Ted Miller (Pac-10) and Adam Rittenberg (Big Ten) break down the three matchups.

Adam Rittenberg: Ted, it's been too long, my friend. The Rose Bowl seems like decades ago, although they're still celebrating in Columbus. Given the likelihood of Boise State or TCU crashing the party in Pasadena this year, it's nice to have some Pac-10-Big Ten flavor this Saturday. Let's start off with Arizona State-Wisconsin. The name Steven Threet still makes people shudder in Madison after he led Michigan to a historic comeback against Wisconsin in 2008, triggering the beginning of the end for the Badgers that year. It also turned out to be the beginning of the end for Threet in a winged helmet. He seems to be settling in very nicely so far in Tempe. What should Wisconsin expect from Threet and the Sun Devils on Saturday?

Ted Miller: An offense with extraordinary firepower! See an average of more than 500 yards and 47.5 ppg. Oh, wait. The Sun Devils played not one but two FCS foes. Hmm. And according to this box score, they rushed for just 56 yards on 29 carries against the hearty Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona. Double-hmm. Still, the early returns are fairly positive on Threet and new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone's spread attack. The Sun Devils' offense was so bad last year that merely being mediocre would be a huge improvement. A bigger issue than Threet: the offensive line. It wasn't consistent against FCS foes, so you'd think the Badgers front-seven might pose a problem. But, to me, the more interesting matchup is a fast Sun Devils defense versus an experienced, physical Badgers offense. What's your take?

Rittenberg: Totally agree that the game likely will come down to Arizona State's dynamic defense and Wisconsin's power run game, led by John Clay. He's the Big Ten's version of Toby Gerhart, except bigger. Clay has looked great this year, but Wisconsin needs to clean up some sloppy play on offense against the Sun Devils. The Badgers already failed on three red-zone scoring chances, matching their total from all of the previous season (53-for-56), and they've committed three turnovers inside the red zone. They have little trouble moving the ball and boast what I believe to be one of the nation's most balanced offenses, but they're not good enough to survive these mistakes much longer. Arizona State will have its hands full with Clay and a mammoth offensive line, but if the Sun Devils can use their speed and force turnovers, they'll have a shot in this one.

Let's move on to the other afternoon affair, USC at Minnesota. The Trojans haven't exactly been dominant this year, but at least they haven't lost to South Dakota. At home. Giving up 41 points and 444 yards. Yeesh. Your thoughts?

Miller: Here are two teams that are muddling along, though the Trojans surely feel better about 2-0 -- no matter the way they got there -- than the Gophers do with 1-1, including the loss to a team from the Dakotas. Adam, I have no idea about the Trojans. They still look great getting off the bus. They still have NFL prospects at every position. In Week 1 at Hawaii, the offense looked great, the defense terrible. In Week 2 at home versus Virginia, it was mostly the opposite. Is it a question of fire and focus in the face of NCAA sanctions? I think we won't really be able to answer that question until the Pac-10 schedule starts. As for this one, I think the Trojans are going to roll. But I wrote that the previous two weeks and ended up being wrong. So what do I know?

What's your take?

Rittenberg: This is an odd matchup. In some ways, USC is just asking to get beat. But how can Minnesota take down Troy if it can't keep South Dakota to fewer than 40 points? The Gophers defense obviously is a major question mark, and I fully expect Matt Barkley to attack downfield a lot on Saturday. Minnesota gets a boost as safety Kyle Theret returns from suspension, giving the defense one returning starter from 2009. The other thing here is if things go back for Minnesota at the start, any sort of home-field edge will disappear. They're not too pleased with coach Tim Brewster right now in the Twin Cities. Minnesota's only chance is to control the clock with Duane Bennett and its power run game, and keep Barkley and Dillon Baxter off the field. A huge challenge.

OK, we've saved the best for last: Iowa at Arizona. Both teams look great so far. Iowa won last year's game, but trips out West haven't been kind to the Hawkeyes lately. What happens in Tucson?

Miller: First off, it's a great offense-defense matchup, with Nick Foles and an experienced UA offense taking on one of the best defenses in the nation. The cautionary tale for Wildcats fans is that also seemed like the case heading into the Holiday Bowl versus Nebraska, which became a complete disaster. Foles has a good offensive line, but the Hawkeyes have an NFL defensive front. If the Wildcats can get any sort of running game -- and Nic Grigsby is an explosive guy who can make a big play out of a small crack -- then things will be far easier for Foles and a quick-hit passing game. Foles is extremely accurate and he has a deep receiving corps. Yet to me the game turns on the Wildcats' rebuilt front seven. The unit replaced both tackles and all three linebackers and has played better than expected, but Iowa is a different sort of beast. If the Hawkeyes can run power effectively, then the Wildcats will be in trouble. If Iowa has to throw, I like the Wildcats secondary's chances versus Ricky Stanzi, who as you well know, Adam, hasn't always been the manzi.

What do you see from this one?

Rittenberg: Should be a great one in the desert. Iowa knows Arizona has come a long way since last year's meeting in Iowa City, when Foles hadn't yet emerged as the starter. The game could come down to whether Arizona can get Grigsby going and protect Foles against the Hawkeyes, who boast arguably the nation's best defensive line. Star defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been a bit quiet so far this season, but he usually plays his best in big games. Arizona typically has some outstanding defensive backs, but don't underestimate The Manzi, who has yet to throw an interception this year. So love it or leave it, pal! Iowa can stretch the field with receivers Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, and the run game has looked good so far with Adam Robinson and Jewel Hampton. The Hawkeyes won in State College, Madison and East Lansing last year, but they haven't fared well historically in these trips out West. Arizona definitely has some built-in advantages.

OK, prediction time. Who wins in the three Pac-10-Big Ten matchups?

Miller: Somehow I knew you were going to ask that.

I think USC will handle Minnesota fairly easily: Trojans 41, Gophers 20.

I think Arizona State will be competitive at Wisconsin but the Sun Devils will struggle to score -- and possess the ball -- and the defense will wear down: Wisconsin 27, Arizona State 17.

As for Arizona-Iowa: I go back and forth, but I'm going to risk the ire of the Wildcats faithful and pick Iowa 28, Arizona 24. I just don't think the Arizona defense will be able to hold up all night, and that will allow the Hawkeyes to take a lead at some point in the second half and then play keep-away with the run game.

So, for what REALLY is going to happen... Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Rittenberg.

Rittenberg: Why thank you, good sir.

The Gophers save face a bit against USC and hang around for a while before Barkley and his receivers prove too much for a young defense. Trojans win 35-23.

Wisconsin controls the clock as always and cleans up some of its mistakes in the red zone. Threet leads two first-half scoring drives before the Badgers take control and win 30-20.

Iowa-Arizona should be a great one. The elements will be tough for the Hawkeyes, and they'll fall behind early. But I've got to go with the better defense and the more battle-tested team. Iowa wins 26-21.

So we agree. We'll have to fight over the Rose Bowl pick this year. I've got Boise State!

Ten issues to consider heading into the third week of games.

1. Cal's defense will be tested at Nevada: California presently ranks No. 1 in the nation in total defense, giving up a scant 160 yards per game. So kudos to new coordinator Clancy Pendergast. But Nevada ranks No. 1 in total offense, rolling up a monstrous 592 yards per game. So who wins: The irresistible force or the immovable object?

2. Arizona's O-line vs. Iowa's D-line: The Wildcats have a good offensive line, probably among the top three or four units in the Pac-10. But Iowa probably has the best defensive line in the country, led by end Adrian Clayborn. All four starters are back from 2009's stingy unit that combined for 27 sacks and allowed just 3.5 yards per rush. The first question is can the Wildcats line do enough to create any sort of run threat or occasional creases for Nic Grigsby? The second is, failing that, will the line give QB Nick Foles enough time to throw the ball?

3. Locker on the big stage: There is a bizarre crew that haunts the Pac-10 blog and constantly calls Washington QB Jake Locker "overrated," meaning they disagree with Mike Bellotti, Pete Carroll, every Pac-10 coach, every NFL scout, LSU's players (who called Locker the best player they saw in 2009) and just about everyone who makes a living around football. Of course, they have the right to call the world flat. But guess what? If Locker doesn't turn in an impressive performance vs. Nebraska, his Heisman Trophy candidacy will end before it gets started. So this is his big moment to either lead an upset or take a step back in national stature.

4. Vontaze Burfict vs. John Clay: Arizona State's 245-pound linebacker Vontaze Burfict is one of the most talented and aggressive LBs in the country. Wisconsin's 248-pound running back John Clay is one of the best power runners in the country. When these two meet, the violence of the impact should be dynamic. But who knocks the other backwards? Burfict and the ASU defense is looking to make a national statement. To do so, it needs to contain Clay.

5. Can USC put it together? USC's offense looked great in the opener at Hawaii. The defense looked terrible. The offense looked terrible vs. Virginia. The defense looked pretty good. The cumulative affect is we really don't know who these Trojans are. Will they put it all together at Minnesota's expense? Or will it be another piddling effort?

6. Luck through the air: Stanford QB Andrew Luck looked great running, but, despite two TD passes, didn't throw terribly well at UCLA. He completed just 11 of 24 passes for 151 yards. Wake Forest's secondary didn't look great while giving up 358 passing yards and four touchdowns to Duke in a wild 54-48 victory. You'd think Luck would feast on that at home and revert back to his accurate, playmaking self.

7. How will UCLA's offense bounce back? Stanford shut out the Bruins and held them to 233 total yards last weekend. That had many screaming for QB Kevin Prince's head. But Prince's biggest problem is he's barely seen practice time due to a back injury and then a shoulder injury. He's practiced all this week. Moreover, Houston's defense isn't anything like its offense. The Cougars are surrendering 26 points and 393 yards per game. Expect the Bruins to be much better on offense Saturday.

8. Jacquizz should break out vs. Louisville: Dating back to last season, Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers hasn't eclipsed 100 yards rushing in three games. That's a mini-slump for him. Louisville gave up 230 yards rushing to a mediocre Kentucky team in week one. So expect for Rodgers to get his 100 yards. And also expect him to get some touches in the passing game, which he didn't vs. TCU.

9. Cougs stepping forward? Does the comeback win vs. Montana State turn a page for Washington State? Sure, it was just an FCS opponent, but showing some backbone feels meaningful. SMU has a high-powered, balanced offense and is one of the favorites in Conference USA. Moreover, the Mustangs will be plenty motivated after losing at Washington State last year. But if the Cougars pull the upset, the entire tenor of their season could change.

10. How did the Pac-10 measure up? It wasn't the most creative name or anything, but "Measuring Stick Saturday" is real. The Pac-10's place in the pecking order among BCS conferences largely will be based -- at least during the regular season -- on what happens Saturday. A winning weekend will earn it consideration with the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12. A losing one? It falls to the bottom half of the six. Considering the Pac-10 is an underdog in five of the nine games, the conference needs for all its favorites to prevail and at least one underdog to come through with an upset.

On the spot in Week 3? Nic Grigsby for Arizona and Vontaze Burfict for Arizona State.

It's easy to imagine a Hollywood version of Arizona's Nick Foles coming off the bench against Iowa last year. Mike Stoops, played by Russell Crowe, would toss his headset to the ground in frustration over the Wildcats' offensive ineptitude. And as he picked it up, amid the din of Kinnick Stadium, he'd catch sight of Foles, played by Kip Pardue, looking chill but also engaged.

"Foles!" Stoops/Crowe would bellow. "Son, the Wildcat nation is depending on you!"

Cue inspirational music.

And, of course, Foles would lead the Wildcats to a comeback win, all the while looking chill but also engaged.

Not what happened. The unsentimental reality: A coach -- Foles doesn't remember who -- told him to warm up after Iowa took a 20-10 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

"And as I was warming up, they said, 'you're going in'," Foles recalled.

He led the Wildcats to a first down. And then they punted. After an 8 1/2-minute touchdown drive from Iowa made it 27-10, Foles led the Wildcats 62 yards for a TD that made the score more respectable. That was it.

Foles would arrive at the football offices early the next day, a Sunday. He watched film. After that, he went out to throw into a net on the practice field. Then he was summoned by then-offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, who told him he would make his first start at Oregon State. Against the Beavers, Foles completed 25 of 34 passes for 254 yards with three TDs and no interceptions in a 37-32 victory.

And away he went. Nothing Hollywood about it, really. But by remaining chill and engaged and not letting the frustration of initially losing out a close quarterback competition to Matt Scott drive him to distraction, Foles set himself up to be ready when called.

"I was just continuing to work hard, preparing like I was a starter," Foles said. "I knew at any moment I could get an opportunity to play. My big thing was just staying focused, staying ready. I didn't get frustrated because I knew I might eventually get a chance."

Now Foles is something of an X factor in the rematch with Iowa on Saturday in Arizona Stadium. A lot of the same players will be on the field for both teams, but Foles went on to become one of the nation's best quarterbacks after the Iowa game.

Of course, the Iowa defense, which welcomes back eight starters, including all four members of what is probably the nation's best defensive line, is a year older and a year scarier.

"They are very disruptive," Stoops said. "They took away a lot of stuff we thought we would be able to do [last year]. We've got to come up with a better game plan. But they do that to a lot of people. They are so good inside and up front they limit what you can do."

Stoops even specified what Iowa does: While most defenses need seven (or eight) guys to stop the run, Iowa can do it with six, which is not unlike what Nebraska did in the Holiday Bowl -- sorry for bringing that up, Wildcats fans. More guys playing in space makes it harder to throw the ball.

"[Foles] is going to have to play much faster," Stoops said. "Things have to happen a lot faster this week. The windows are going to be a lot tighter to throw in. So we're going to need his accuracy and our players are going to have to make a lot of tough, competitive catches."

Accuracy? Foles is completing 83 percent of his passes.

But Foles is going to need plenty of help. He's going to need his receivers to be aggressive with the ball in the air, his line to stand up to the Hawkeyes' front and he needs running back Nic Grigsby to be a threat on the ground. Also, he needs his guys to remain chill but engaged, because Iowa is going to make big plays on defense. The unit, led by future NFL first-round draft pick Adrian Clayborn at end, is too talented not to.

Foles is the right guy to role model that state of mind.

"I just try to keep it level. I think that's the key to being successful," he said. "You are going to have highs and you are going to have lows but you've got to keep steady. I tell the guys all the time during a game you can have some bad plays and you have some great plays, but the key is to stay steady, to stay mentally focused. That's how I go about it every day. Just have fun. That's a key. Play the game. Just let it come to you."

Arizona defensive end Brooks Reed let the Iowa game come to him last year. It gave him a high ankle sprain early in the second half that pretty much ruined his season. Remember that long, back-breaking Iowa drive at the beginning of the fourth quarter that made it 27-10? Reed tried to come back and play during it. Bad idea.

"I think they noticed I was limping around, and they started running power to my side," Reed said. "Got a few yards, and I got taken out."

Reed and fellow end Ricky Elmore are the best DE-tandem in the Pac-10, and the Wildcats' secondary is good enough to mute Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi and his solid crew of receivers. But the big question is how the two new tackles and three new linebackers will handle the power running game, which is Iowa's primary mode of travel.

"They like to run guys over -- that's their deal," Reed said. "This is our first real test as a defense. The first two games kind of got us warmed up."

Reed has seen encouraging signs in the first two games, in which Arizona gave up eight points (two came on a safety) and just 177 yards per game. It reminds him of his first year as a starter in 2008 when the Wildcats had to replace eight starters on defense and ended up ranked 24th in the nation in total defense.

But this is a major step up in competition. And opportunity. The Wildcats have become a top-25 program under Stoops. The next step means entering a rarefied atmosphere.

"That's a hard place to get, but we're fighting like mad to get there," Stoops said. "This is another opportunity. Hopefully, we take advantage of it."

It's now clear: Arizona's game with Iowa is going to be a big one.

The Wildcats went on the road and outclassed Toledo 41-2 Friday night, outgaining the Rockets 518 yards to 183.

Nick Foles, Juron Criner and Nic Grigsby were the story for the offense. Foles completed 32 of 37 passes -- 86 percent -- for 360 yards. He threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another score. His lone interception came when the ball bounced off running back Taimi Tutogi's hands.

Foles was completely in control. After Matt Barkley through five touchdown passes for USC, it's already looking like a mad dash for first-team All-Pac-10 at quarterback.

Criner caught 11 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown, while Grigsby's 36-yard touchdown run was the highlight on the ground.

But the dominant defensive performance was perhaps even more impressive.

With seven new starters -- including all three linebackers -- the Wildcats were in completely control of the Rockets formerly potent spread offense, which was tops in the MAC last year.

Coach Mike Stoops lost both his coordinators in the offseason and replaced them with co-coordinators. It appears the four-coordinator system is working, at least based on the opener. Other than a lull in the first half when things looked as if they'd be competitive, the Wildcats had a well-conceived plan -- and made good adjustments -- on both sides of the ball.

The Wildcats play The Citadel next weekend. On Sept. 18, No. 9 Iowa comes to town.

A Rose Bowl preview? The way the Wildcats looked Friday night ... maybe.

Here's Ryan Finley's take: Yes, the defense was a bit of a surprise.

You could argue the Pac-10 not only has the best quarterbacks in the country, it also has the best running backs.

Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers and Oregon's LaMichael James both ranked in the top-20 in the nation in rushing last season and have been put on various preseason All-America teams. Two other returning running backs -- Washington's Chris Polk and California's Shane Vereen -- rushed for more than 950 yards. Arizona's Nic Grigsby eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2008.

If you were to have that argument, you might want to start with the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the nation's best running back and includes only Rodgers on its initial watch list.

Feel free to be stunned.

There are 49 players on that watch list. James rushed for 1,546 yards last season as a redshirt freshman. Only four players on the watch list rushed for more.

This doesn't seem to be a case of "East Coast bias" -- Stanford's Toby Gerhart won the award last season. It does seem to be a case of not knowing what's happening on the West Coast.

I called the Doak Walker Award's home office and left a message looking for a bit of clarity on the oversights. Will let you know when I get a call back.

Obviously, once the Doak Walker folks are clued in that they missed a candidate -- James -- who's without question among the top four or five best running backs in the country, as well as three other backs who have better resumes than 20 or so of their selected players, they will adjust their list.

Semifinalists will be selected Nov. 10, and finalists will be announced on Nov. 22. The 2010 recipient will be announced live on ESPN on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Dec. 9.