ESPN College Football

Kicker is typically a strong position in the Pac-12. That is not the case -- at least based on preseason appearances -- this fall.

Just five teams welcome back experienced kickers. The pickings is so slim in terms of quality that Phil Steele named Arizona's Alex Zendejas third-team All-Pac-10 in his preview magazine.

So how does this thin group stack up? Read on.

Great shape

Washington: Erik Folk was perfect on 33 PATs last year while also connecting on 13 of 20 field goals with a long of 54 yards. Most years, these numbers would rate as "good" rather than "great," but having the best returning kicker in the conference, even if his numbers aren't scintillating, is a significant boost.

Good shape

Oregon: Rob Beard made 10 of 13 field goals last year -- coach Chip Kelly doesn't like field goals -- and was 63 of 64 on PATs.

Arizona: Zendejas had some, er, notable issues -- we won't even bring up the PATs in the Arizona State game -- but he did make 14 of 19 field goals with a long of 47. His 73.7 percent field goal percentage ranked third in the Pac-10 in 2010, ahead, by the way, of UCLA's Kai Forbath.

Washington State: Washington State only attempted 11 field goals last year. It made seven of those, three from Andrew Furney, who tops the post-spring depth chart. He also was 18-of-18 on PATs.

California: Giorgio Tavecchio is probably not going to be a great kicker, but he's experienced. He made 11 of 16 kicks last year with a long of 53. He missed two of his 39 PATs.

We'll see

Stanford: Jordan Williamson and Eric Whitaker battled this spring to replace Whitaker's older brother, Nate, who was first-team All-Pac-10 in 2010. Williamson seemed to have a slight lead heading into the offseason, though Whitaker has more experience.

USC: True freshman Andre Heidari was the nation's top-rated prep kicker last year. It's unlikely he will do worse than last year's kicker, Joe Houston, who ranked last in the conference in field goal percentage, though he was perfect on 43 PATs.

UCLA: The post-spring depth chart included an "or" between junior Jeff Locke -- the Bruins' punter -- and redshirt freshman Kip Smith.

Oregon State: Trevor Romaine was ahead of Max Johnson after spring practices to replace Justin Kahut. Both missed two attempts in the spring game. Romaine showed a good foot on kickoffs.

Utah: Coleman Petersen beat out Nick Marsh, the Utes' kickoff specialist last year, this spring to replace Joe Phillips. He's never kicked in a game.

Arizona State: Thomas Weber is gone. His replacement looks like redshirt freshman Alex Garoutte, who wasn't consistent this spring.

Colorado: Justin Castor topped the depth chart this spring -- he wasn't terribly consistent -- but incoming freshman Will Oliver might give him some competition.

A year ago, Arizona State headed into spring practices with lots of questions, and most projected the Sun Devils were bound for the bottom third of the Pac-10. This week, the Sun Devils begin spring practices with few questions and expectations that they should win the first Pac-12 South title.

Expectations do not win football games, but 18 returning starters from a team that went 6-6 and pushed three top-10 teams to the brink -- Wisconsin, Oregon and Stanford -- is a reasonable foundation for optimism.

Of course, there are still issues, starting with quarterback Brock Osweiler asserting himself as the leader of the offense after Steven Threet was forced to retire due to recurrent concussions. Threet is serving as a student assistant this spring.

"I'd love to have Steven, but without having him, I think it kind of identified who our leader is," coach Dennis Erickson said.

Some notes:

Who's out: Arizona Republic writer Doug Haller was at the first practice Tuesday and provided this list of players who were out or limited: "... defensive end Junior Onyeali, receiver Mike Willie, safety Keelan Johnson, safety Eddie Elder, cornerback Deveron Carr, receiver Aaron Pflugrad and running back Deantre Lewis. Linebacker Brandon Magee was with the baseball team and didn't practice."

Haller also provided a depth chart from the first day.

Osweiler then who? With Threet, Osweiler and Samson Szakacsy, the Sun Devils had three quarterbacks with starting experience. Without Threet and Szakacsy, who left the team to pursue other interests, the Sun Devils have a first-team quarterback with two career starts and no experience behind him. Redshirt freshman Taylor Kelly and big-armed true freshman Mike Bercovici are competing for the backup role, which is often a key spot seeing how often starters get hurt and miss action.

O-line competition: If you're looking for a major reason the Sun Devils have high hopes, look no further than the line, which welcomes back, well, just about everybody from the two-deep. This will be a veteran unit led by senior center Garth Gerhart, younger brother of Toby. More than five guys have starting experience, so there may be some mixing and matching and shuffling as players fight for first-unit spots.

DT is the question: Both starting defensive tackles, Lawrence Guy and Saia Falahola, are gone. The ideal rotation would be Corey Adams and Will Sutton starting, with Bo Moos and Toa Tuitea providing depth. But can Adams stay healthy? Sutton was academically ineligible last year, so he's high on talent and low on experience. Developing depth this spring will be critical. And might the Sun Devils use more three-man fronts? Said Erickson, "We're a 4-3 team," while still leaving the option open.

Can Burfict be perfect? Of course, no one can be perfect, but Burfict, a junior linebacker likely spending his final season in Tempe, will play himself into becoming a first-round NFL draft pick in 2012 if he saves all his nutty behavior for between the whistles, not after. He needs to lead in word and deed, which means growing up and acting and playing like a man. The way-early returns this offseason are positive. "I'm trying to get us to a national championship," Burfict told the Republic, "and to do that, I feel like I need to become more of a leader."

Just for kicks? The Sun Devils must replace kicker Thomas Weber and punter Trevor Hankins. Alex Garoutte and Parker Flynn are competing at kicker, with Garoutte the front-runner. JC transfer Josh Hubner is expected to win the punting job. Will the Sun Devils get quality or merely warm bodies here?

There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?

• Former Arizona DE Ricky Elmore looks ahead to the NFL. Is a Savage QB considering a transfer to Arizona?
• Former Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber gets rewarded for his work in the classroom.
• Looking back on California's season: Falling short of preseason expectations.
• Some Colorado players get caught misbehaving, but on the plus side recruiting is picking up.
• Oregon season review: Offensive line. A parade for the Ducks.
• A first look -- with predictions! -- at Oregon State's schedule in 2011.
• UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel trusts his new offensive coordinator.
• A USC recruiting profile.
• Norm Chow doesn't expect a dramatic shakeup at Utah. A look at the Utes recruiting weekend.
• Has Washington found the next Jake Locker?
• You don't have to read far into this article to see that Washington State AD Bill Moos has high expectations.
• What did Jeremiah Masoli do this weekend?
• Jon Wilner is still thinking about Pac-12 football.

Washington running back Chris Polk, Arizona State defensive end James Brooks and Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber have been named Pac-10 Players of the Week.

Polk, a sophomore from Redlands, Calif., rushed for 285 yards on 29 carries -- setting career highs in both categories -- in the 35-28 win at Washington State in the 103rd Apple Cup. His rushing total was second best in Washington history, trailing only the 296 yards that Pro Football Hall of Famer Hugh McElhenny ran for versus Washington State in 1950. Polk also scored two touchdowns from two and 57 yards and caught two passes for 18 yards. He finished the regular season with 1,238 yards, giving him his second 1,000-yard season. He joins Napoleon Kaufman and Greg Lewis as the only Huskies to rush for 1,000 yards in a season twice.

Brooks, a junior from Flagstaff, Ariz., registered three tackles, a sack for minus 11 yards, and two blocked extra points in Arizona States 30-29 win over Arizona in double-overtime of the Territorial Cup. With the score tied at 20-20 and the Wildcats attempting an extra point to go ahead with :27 left, Brooks blocked the extra point attempt that sent the game into overtime. After the teams traded field foals in the first overtime with the score tied at 23, ASU scored a touchdown to make it 30-23 Sun Devils. Arizona scored a touchdown to make it 30-29, but Brooks blocked the extra point kick giving Arizona State the victory.

Weber, a senior from Downey, Calif., was perfect in Arizona State's 30-29 win over Arizona in the annual Territorial Cup game in Tucson. He booted four field goals in regulation and one in overtime, including a 52-yard field to put ASU on the scoreboard first. That kick was the fourth-longest field goal in ASU school history and the second-longest of his career. He added field goals of 36, 38, and 40-yards, the last that gave ASU a 20-14 lead. In overtime, Weber connected on a 40-yard field goal, tying the game at 23 and sending it to a second overtime period. He was perfect on the afternoon on extra points, including the eventual game-winner in the second overtime. On the day Weber was perfect on five-for-five field goals and two-for-two extra points.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were quarterbacks Brook Osweiler of Arizona State, running backs Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James of Oregon, and running back Allen Bradford of USC. Also nominated on defense were linebacker Casey Matthews of Oregon, linebacker Malcolm Smith of USC, and linebacker Mason Foster of Washington. Also nominated on special teams were place linebacker Michael Clay of Oregon, and Kiel Rasp of Washington.

Who deserves a sticker on his helmet for a job well done?

Allen Bradford: The USC running back, who spent time on the bench this year because of ball security issues, rushed for 212 yards and a touchdown and turned a screen pass into a 47-yard TD in the Trojans' 28-14 win over UCLA.

Kenjon Barner: The Oregon running back -- LaMichael James' backup -- rushed for 133 yards on just 15 carries -- 8.9 yards per rush -- with a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that iced the 37-20 Civil War win over Oregon State.

Thomas Weber: Arizona State beat rival Arizona on Thursday because it had a better kicker. While the Wildcats missed two PATs, Weber was 5-for-5 on field goals with a long of 52 yards and made his one extra point.

Chris Polk: Polk rushed for 284 yards on 26 carries with two TDs in the Huskies' 35-28 win over Washington State. It was the second-best single-game rushing total in program history.

You can't ever take the PAT for granted. If you don't believe that, check in with an Arizona fan.

Kicker Alex Zendejas' extra-point attempt, which would have given the Wildcats the lead with 30 seconds left in the Territorial Cup against Arizona State, was blocked. Then another PAT was blocked that would have tied the game in the second overtime.

The end result is Arizona State upset No. 23 Arizona 30-29 in a thriller on Thursday.

It appeared James Brooks blocked both kicks, which were low.

The entire game took place after halftime. In the first half, both offenses were completely ineffective, and the Sun Devils led 6-0 at the break. But from then on, things went back and forth, with big plays and big mistakes changing momentum multiple times.

The statistics were almost identical: Both teams had 19 first downs. Arizona had 391 total yards; Arizona State had 389.

But the kickers were a mismatch. Sun Devils kicker Thomas Weber, a former Lou Groza Award winner who has struggled this year, was 5-for-5 on field goals with a long of 52 yards and made his one extra point. Zendejas made a 19-yard field goal and missed the aforementioned PATs.

Both quarterbacks turned in strong performances -- at least after bad first halves. Wildcats QB Nick Foles completed 22-of-36 for 262 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. It appeared he had led his third game-winning drive of the season before the missed PAT late in the fourth quarter.

Arizona State's Brock Osweiler, who got the start because of a concussion suffered by starter Steven Threet against UCLA last weekend, began just 3-for-15, but he settled down and ended up completing 22-of-49 for 267 yards with a TD. He also rushed for 56 yards and frequently eluded tough pressure from the Wildcats.

It is worth noting that, particularly early in the game, the Wildcats dropped at least three fairly easy interceptions, which probably allowed Osweiler to get his feet under him in his first start this season.

What does the result mean?

It means that Arizona (7-5) will ride a four-game losing streak into the postseason. That likely will cost them a berth in the Valero Alamo Bowl if Washington beats Washington State on Saturday, which means they figure to make a return trip to the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl.

Arizona State improves to 6-6. It has applied to the NCAA for a bowl waiver, despite needing seven wins, per NCAA rules, because it played two FCS teams. The reasoning is the Sun Devils only played a second FCS team because San Jose State dropped out of a scheduled game late in the offseason, leaving the Sun Devils stranded and without options.

A further justification: The Sun Devils are probably the best 6-6 team in the nation.

With just two senior starters, you will hear from them in 2011.

Heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, Arizona State leads rival Arizona 6-0.

I know. Rich. Ha ha.

Hey, if you love punting, you're loving the Territorial Cup thus far: 14 punts. Just 219 yards of offense. For both teams combined.

We can say that Sun Devils kicker Thomas Weber's slump may be over: He's connected on field goals for 52 and 36 yards.

On the one hand, the defenses are playing great. On the other, the offenses look terrible, though the Sun Devils and QB Brock Osweiler showed signs of life late in the half.

Arizona QB Nick Foles was so good at Oregon last week, it's shocking that he started so out of sync at home. He's completed 7-of-16 for 49 yards, and coach Mike Stoops pulled him for a bit for Matt Scott.

Here's a guess we'll see more offense in the second half from both teams. But who will have the most?

On page 13 of Arizona State's weekly release you find the team's depth chart. You don't need to review it now. We'll come back to that in a bit. The immediate business at hand for the Sun Devils is their game Thursday with rival Arizona.

The matchup is meaningful, and not just because it's a rivalry game that divides the state. It's also meaningful because the Sun Devils are still angling for a bowl berth.

While there are already 70 bowl-eligible teams, and Arizona State can't win seven games, the amount required by NCAA rules on bowl eligibility when you play two FCS teams, as the Sun Devils have, they nonetheless have submitted a waiver to the NCAA Legislative Relief Committee for review, and the Pac-10 office is backing that appeal with "emails and phone calls," according to a conference spokesman, Dave Hirsch.

"It is our hope that the waiver receives full consideration," Hirsch wrote in an e-mail. This was first reported by the Arizona Republic.

So the Territorial Cup may or may not serve as a launching point for the Sun Devils in 2011. For one, they could lose; they are the underdogs in Tucson, where the 'Zona Zoo can be a bit of a problem. And, if they win, it might not be their last game, with the Holiday, Sun or Las Vegas bowls being potential options if the NCAA grants the waiver.

But now let's return to that depth chart. Just two likely starting position players against the Wildcats are seniors: receiver Kerry Taylor and defensive tackle Saia Falahola, who is listed as a co-starter with Bo Moos. In fact, the Sun Devils only have 13 total seniors. The only area in which graduations hits hard is with the specialists: both kicker Thomas Weber and punter Trevor Hankins are seniors.

That youth, coupled with a 5-6 record that includes four defeats by four or fewer points, suggests the Sun Devils could be pretty salty in 2011. As in: Top-25, top-third of the Pac-12 salty.

But, alas, coach Dennis Erickson wouldn't play along with this line of thinking -- Thursday as a potential launching point for promising 2011 campaign -- which is probably wise. He does have a game to get ready for, you know.

"I don't know if you can look at it as that. You've got to look at it as what it is," he said. "We're worried about what is going to happen Thursday, not next year. But when they're young like that, with some of the guys we've got coming back, you look forward to the next year -- when this year is over with."

As for the Wildcats, the present situation is they are headed to a good bowl game, but they'd like to show up at that game without a sign saying "Four-game losing streak!" blinking over their collective heads. A win, and they likely head to the Alamo Bowl. A loss, and they might end up the Holiday Bowl if Washington beats Washington State.

Coach Mike Stoops doesn't beat around the bush when assessing why his team's fortunes have been sagging of late after they played into the nation's top-10 earlier in the season.

"We've played better teams down the stretch, teams that emphasize running the football," he said. "Our inability to stop the run consistently has led a little bit to our demise."

The last three foes -- Stanford, USC and Oregon -- each rushed for more than 200 yards in wins over the Wildcats, including 389 yards on the ground from the Ducks. But the Sun Devils, not unlike the Wildcats, are a passing team. Arizona ranks No. 1 (314 yards passing per game) and the Sun Devils second (288.2 yards per game) in the Pac-10 in passing.

Speaking of passing, both teams have interesting quarterback situations, which will be interesting heading into the offseason and spring practices as well.

When Sun Devils starter Steven Threet suffered a concussion early against UCLA, Brock Osweiler came off the bench and was brilliant, passing for 380 yards and four touchdowns. He'll start Thursday, and if he plays well, expect there to be another tight QB competition in Tempe before the 2011 season.

As for the Wildcats, Nick Foles is one of the best quarterbacks in the country and likely will get preseason All-American attention in 2011. He threw for a career-high 448 yards at Oregon last week. Still, backup Matt Scott did enough in two starts while Foles was hurt to make a big impression on Stoops.

"It will be a conversation for another day how we move forward with both of these players moving into their senior year next year," Stoops said.

In other words, he wants Scott to anticipate playing a role next fall as more than a pure backup.

Last year's game between these two was a defensive-minded thriller, a 20-17 Arizona victory that was heartbreaking for the Sun Devils. ASU receiver Kyle Williams made a spectacular catch in the end zone to tie the game at 17, but just moments later he muffed a punt that set up the Wildcats' game-winning field goal. Afterwards, their was a brief fight at midfield as tempers flared.

Expect another tight one in this underrated rivalry.

"They are much improved football team than they were a year ago," Stoops said. "They are way better offensively. They have an identity."

If Stoops' team prevails, it figures to return to the national rankings -- it's already No. 23 in the BCS standings -- and then play in a quality bowl game against a nationally ranked Big 12 team.

It's not yet certain what a win would mean for the Sun Devils in terms of the postseason. But an upset victory might be viewed this way in the big picture: As a launching point for justifiable optimism heading into 2011.

Who's running with a bull market? Who's battling the bears (not the Golden ones)?

Stock up

Richard Brehaut: UCLA may have a quarterback controversy this spring. Brehaut, of whom expectations were not high when he stepped in for the injured Kevin Prince, has responded with poise. In the win over Oregon State, he completed 13 of 19 passes for 127 yards and -- most surprising -- ran for 61 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Cameron Jordan: The California defensive end had a career-high 12 tackles -- with a career-high three coming for a loss -- at Washington State. He also was projected as a first-round NFL draft pick this week by ESPN's Todd McShay.

Stanford's defense: While the Cardinal gave up some yards in the win over Arizona, it held the Wildcats to just 17 points. And that came a week after pitching a second shutout of the season at Washington. In its first year with coordinator Vic Fangio, the defense ranks third in the Pac-10 in scoring (20.8 points per game) and fourth in total defense (339.7 yards per game).

UCLA's defense: The Bruins defense has been hot and cold this year, but it heated up against Oregon State. They held the Beavers to just 267 total yards, the fewest the Bruins have allowed this season, in a 17-14 victory.

Omar Bolden: The Arizona State cornerback returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdowns vs. USC. It was his third interception of the season, which is tied for third in the conference. Bolden has bounced back from a mid-career slump and now looks like an NFL draft pick.

Stock down

Arizona's defense: The Wildcats went to Stanford ranked among the nation's elite on the mean side of the ball. But Andrew Luck and the Cardinal had their way, and piled up 510 yards and 42 points. Ends Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore, the best pass-rushing combination in the Pac-10, didn't record a sack.

Allen Bradford: Bradford's peculiar career -- the Pac-10 blog believes he's going to end up an NFL starter -- took a downturn with just one carry versus Arizona State. He's fallen behind Marc Tyler and true freshman Dillon Baxter in the pecking order, apparently, and ball security was the chief explanation given by coach Lane Kiffin.

Oregon State: The Beavers entered last weekend controlling whether or not they will appear in the Rose Bowl. Win out, and they were in. But after a shockingly feckless performance at UCLA, the 4-4 Beavers now face a challenging road to just get bowl-eligible. They must win two of their final four games, and the schedule isn't terribly forgiving: Washington State, USC, at Stanford and Oregon.

Thomas Weber: Weber missed what could have been a game-winning field goal at USC and had a PAT blocked and returned for a critical two points in a one-point loss. The former Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's best kicker has connected on just 10 of 17 field goals this season and has had two PATs blocked.

Pac-10 bowl contracts: The conference started the season with only nine eligible teams for six contracted bowl slots because USC is ineligible for the postseason due to NCAA sanctions. Washington State is already assured of a losing record. Washington and Arizona State needs to win-out to become bowl eligible. UCLA and Oregon State need two more wins. California needs one. It's almost certain that the conference won't produce six bowl-eligible teams. And if Oregon plays for the national title and Stanford manages to get a Rose Bowl invitation -- or at-large berth to another BCS bowl game -- then a number of contracted bowls could end up scrambling for replacement teams.

Happy Friday.

• Who is that Arizona player with the big hair? He's got a good story.
• Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber is slumping, but he's a stand-up guy.
• California quarterback Brock Mansion is excited that his second career start is against the No. 1 team.
• Oregon has a budding star at safety.
• Hard work has paid off for Oregon State linebacker Keith Pankey.
• Stanford's future at running back looks good.
• UCLA quarterback Richard Brehaut is learning to improvise.
• USC freshman receiver Robert Woods is close to full speed.
• Washington is struggling on the field, but recruiting is going well.
• The future looks better than the present for the Washington State defense.

A look back on the week that was.

Team of the week: Stanford rolled up 510 yards of offense against one of the nation's best defenses in a 42-17 win against Arizona. The Cardinal defense wasn't too shabby either while holding the Wildcats to 15.6 points less than their season scoring average. A Facebook page has been set up to promote the Cardinal's potential availability for an at-large BCS bowl berth.

Best game: USC's entertaining 34-33 win against Arizona State included: 1. Two long interception returns for TDs; 2. A 100-yard kickoff return for a score; 3. A blocked PAT returned for a critical 2-points for USC; 4. 46 second-half points after a rather slow first half; 5. A missed potential game-winning field goal by slumping Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber, a former Groza Award winner; and, 6. A personal foul penalty from linebacker Vontaze Burfict (again) that helped set up the Trojans game-winning field goal.

Biggest play: Call this the biggest "replay." With four seconds left in the UCLA-Oregon State game, Bruins quarterback Richard Brehaut completed a 12-yard pass to Randall Carroll to put the Bruins in position for a 51-yard field goal. But it appeared the play clock had expired, as the field officials ruled. But the Bruins challenged the call and won, getting 1 more second to play, and kicker Kai Forbath connected for a 17-14 win.

Offensive standout: Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck dominated a good Arizona defense, completing 23 of 32 for 293 yards with two TDs in the Cardinal's 42-17 win. He also ran for 25 yards on three carries and avoided getting sacked even once by a defense that led the Pac-10 in taking down quarterbacks.

Defensive standout: USC linebacker Malcolm Smith, who's missed two games with a knee injury, recorded seven tackles and a sack against Arizona State and he also returned an interception 74 yards for a TD in the Trojans' victory.

Special teams standout: Arizona State's LeQuan Lewis had a 100-yard kickoff return against USC. The return cut the Sun Devils deficit at USC to 29-21 and seemed to ignite a comeback that ultimately fell short.

Smiley face: California, UCLA and USC each have had their heart questioned this year. All three showed heart this weekend while winning games many thought they'd lose.

Frowny face: Arizona State and Oregon State. The Sun Devils mounted a nice comeback but (again) let a game slip away. Lots of what ifs (again). And we are as baffled as coach Mike Riley about the Beavers' spiritless performance at UCLA.

Thought of the week: If Stanford and Oregon keep winning, it seems likely that both Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck and Ducks running back LaMichael James will get invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. The Pac-10 sent two to New York in 2005 (USC's Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush), but the last time two different conference schools produced finalists was 1988 (USC's Rodney Peete finished second to Barry Sanders; UCLA's Troy Aikman was third).

Questions for the week: Is the Pac-1o going to end up top-heavy? It seems like there's a solid chance that Oregon and Stanford will win the rest of their games. But what about everyone else? Arizona is the only other ranked team, and it's got some tough games ahead (USC, at Oregon, Arizona State). It's possible the final rankings will feature two top-five Pac-10 teams and no one else. And could there really be five teams with losing records?

Well, I thought I overheard Miss Havisham answer -- only it seemed so unlikely -- "Well, you can break his heart."

• A freshman may be ready to help Arizona at cornerback.
• Arizona State needs kicker Thomas Weber to recover his consistency.
• California LB Mychal Kendricks is showing good form.
• While there are no reports on RB Kenjon Barner, the Ducks are going to be cautious with concussions.
• Oregon State's kicker is struggling and practice was bad. Harrumph.
• Check out some highlights of Stanford QB Andrew Luck.
• Maybe UCLA's losing to California was a good thing. QB Kevin Prince is hurting.
• In this USC notebook there's an item that strongly intimates that, yes, the time keeping at Stanford left something to be desired. Talking points for USC vs. Cal.
• Washington receiver Jermaine Kearse is eager to bounce back. Jake Locker is limited at practice.
• Washington State AD Bill Moos sees progress from the football program under Paul Wulff.

A Pac-10 QB is atop Mel Kiper's "Big Board," but it's no longer Washington's Jake Locker.

It's Stanford's Andrew Luck.

Here's what Kiper has to say about Locker's terrible game vs. Nebraska:

Still, it's hard to ignore the dreadful showing Jake Locker had against Nebraska. While I noted in Stock Watch that the totals were worse than the tape -- Locker was facing a loaded secondary, and was constantly harassed and forced to simply dump the ball -- he's still due for a fall. It's a developmental issue. NFL evaluators still see significant talent, but they are hesitant to take a QB as high as No. 1 overall if they think he needs significant tutoring at the NFL level. They simply can't have the patience because of the tenuous nature of their own jobs. So Locker takes a hit this week.

Kiper therefore drops Locker to No. 4, though he still lists Locker as the No. 1 senior QB.

Also on the Big Board: The UCLA duo of LB Akeem Ayers and S Rahim Moore are rated 18th and 24th, respectively.

Other top Pac-10 seniors:

• Stanford's Owen Marecic and USC's Stanley Havili rate as the top two fullbacks.
• USC's Ronald Johnson is the No. 2 receiver.
• USC's Kristofer O'Dowd is the No. 3 center.
• Oregon State's Stephen Paea is the No. 2 DT.
• UCLA's Kia Forbath is the No. 1 kicker. Arizona State's Thomas Weber is No. 3.
• Arizona State's Trevor Hankins is the No. 2 punter, while Washington State's Reid Forest is No. 5.

As for Pac-10 non-seniors:

• Luck is the No. 1 QB. Arizona's Nick Foles is No. 4.
• Kiper lists Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon's LaMichael James and California's Shane Vereen as the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 RBs.
• Cal's Anthony Miller, Oregon's David Paulson and USC's Rhett Ellison are the Nos. 2, 4 and 5 tight ends.
• USC's Jurrell Casey is the No. 3 DT. Arizona State's Lawrence Guy is No. 5.
• USC's Chris Galippo, who doesn't start, rates as the No. 5 inside linebacker.
• Ayers is the No. 1 OLB. Moore is the No. 1 safety.
• Washington's Erik Folk is the No. 2 kicker.
• Cal's Bryan Anger is the No. 1 punter

Some quick notes to get you through the hours until Saturday.

• Five Pac-10 players accounted for at least three TDs last weekend: California's Shane Vereen, Oregon's Kenjon Barner (5 TDs), USC Ronald Johnson (4 TDs), Arizona State's Deantre Lewis and Arizona State's Cameron Marshall.
• Three Pac-10 QBs rank among the nation's top seven in passing efficiency: Stanford's Andrew Luck at No. 3, USC's Matt Barkley at No. 4 and California's Kevin Riley at No. 7.
• Seven different Arizona receivers caught at least three passes last week at Toledo.
• Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber is 3 for 3 from beyond 50 yards in his career after booting a 52-yard field goal vs. Portland State. He was one of three conference kickers to connect from beyond 50 yards (Washington's Erik Folk, 54 yards, and Washington State's Nico Grasu, 56 yards).
• Cal is 2-2 all-time with Colorado, but this is its first meeting since 1982.
• Oregon is one of eight teams nationally that produced shutouts last weekend.
• Ducks CB Cliff Harris returned two punts for TDs -- for 61 and 64 yards -- in the win over New Mexico. Two punt returns for TDs has only been accomplished twice before by Pac-10 players: USC's Mike Garrett in 1965 vs. Cal; UCLA's Sam Brown in 1954 vs.Stanford.
• Oregon State safety Lance Mitchell leads the conference in tackles after recording 18 vs. TCU. Fellow safety Suaesi Tuimaunei is tied for third with 14.
• UCLA leads its series with Stanford 45-32-3.
• UCLA kicker Kai Forbath tied two NCAA records after going 3 for 3 vs. Kansas State. His 27 games with at least two field goals ties Georgia's Kevin Butler and his 13 with at least three ties Arizona State's Luis Zendejas. Forbath has made 40 consecutive field goals inside of 50 yards. His 75 career field goals are just 12 short of the NCAA record of 87.
• USC has won 31 consecutive night games (USC-Oregon kicked off at 5 p.m. last year).
• Washington QB Jake Locker made his college debut as a redshirt freshman at Syracuse in 2007. The Huskies won 42-12.
• Dating back to the last part of the 1975 season, the Huskies have gone 35-14 when playing at home the game after a loss on the road.
• Washington State is trying to snap a 10-game losing streak Saturday vs. Montana State. The Cougars are 6-0 all-time vs. the Bobcats.

Oregon running back Kenjon Barner, Oregon State safety Lance Mitchell and Oregon punt returner Cliff Harris have been named Pac-10 Players of the Week.

Barner, a sophomore from Riverside, Calif., carried the ball 17 times for a career-high 147 yards and four touchdowns covering 1, 25, 10 and 41 yards. He also added one reception for 60 yards and a touchdown in Oregon’s 72-0 win over New Mexico. He posted 225 all-purpose yards in the game’s first 21 minutes and nine seconds before taking the bench for the remainder of the game. Barner’s five TDs tied a school record and he currently leads the nation in scoring (30.0 points per game). Oregon rolled up a school record 720 yards in the victory.

Mitchell, a junior from Pasadena, Calif., collected a career-high 18 tackles, the eighth most in Oregon State history, in the 30-21 loss to TCU. He also added his second career interception which set up the Beavers’ first touchdown of the game.

Harris, a sophomore from Fresno, Calif., set a school record, and matched a Pac-10 record, with two punt returns for touchdowns that covered 61 and 64 yards, respectively. The two other times that was accomplished in the Pac-10 was in 1965 by Mike Garrett, USC vs. California; and 1954 by Sam Brown, UCLA vs. Stanford.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were wide receiver Juron Criner of Arizona, running back Cameron Marshall of Arizona State, wide receiver Keenan Allen of California, quarterback Andrew Luck of Stanford and quarterback Matt Barkley of USC. Also nominated on defense were linebackers Paul Vassallo of Arizona, Colin Parker of Arizona State, Mike Mohamed of California, Casey Matthews of Oregon and Max Bergen of Stanford. Also nominated for special teams play were kickers Thomas Weber of Arizona State, Kai Forbath of UCLA and Nico Grasu of Washington State, and punt returners Jeremy Ross of California and Ronald Johnson of USC.