TrojanWire - Washington State

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:06:32 -0800

With four teams still legitimately contending for the Pac-10 title, there are plenty of reasons to watch.

1. Will Foles bounce back after struggling at Cal? Arizona sophomore quarterback Nick Foles wasn't terrible at California last week, but he wasn't as good as he has been -- read: really good -- running the Wildcats offense since he took over the starting job, and his surprising decision to try to throw the ball a second time after a deflection was sort of, well, not smart. He admitted that the loss and his performance -- and that odd play -- stuck with him for a bit. So how does he respond against a fast, aggressive Oregon defense? Does he bounce back or does he again struggle?

2. Toby Gerhart vs. the Cal run defense. Since giving up over 400 yards rushing against Oregon and USC, Cal's run defense has been stout, holding both Oregon State and Arizona -- good rushing teams -- under 100 yards. But Stanford's rushing attack is a whole different challenge. There's no finesse. It's just a physical offensive line, a physical fullback and a physical Gerhart, who's trying to earn himself an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. If the Bears can't at least slow Gerhart, it could be a long afternoon.

3. Will Samson topple the pillars of UCLA bowl hopes? UCLA needs one more win to become bowl eligible, and a home game vs. Arizona State seems a better chance to pick up that win than a visit to an angry USC team coming off a bye week. The Sun Devils' quarterback situation is unclear, but it appears sophomore Samson Szakacsy is likely to make his first career start. The Sun Devils need to win their final two games to become bowl eligible. Will Szakacsy's mobility -- he will be as fast as anyone on the field -- add a wrinkle for a struggling ASU offense?

4. Does Washington State have any chance? The obvious conclusion is Washington State has no chance against Oregon State. The Cougars are bad and they are beaten up. But everyone knows that monumental upsets happen every year in college football. If the Beavers think they can just yawn their way through Pullman, they might get taught a lesson about playing one game at a time and taking every opponent seriously.

5. Will the Wildcats defense approximate the first half or the second half of 2008 vs. the Ducks? Oregon scored 45 points in the first half of last year's game with Arizona. And the Ducks scored only 10 points in the second half as the Wildcats came roaring back. The word in Tucson was the Wildcats came out unfocused and didn't do their assignments in the first half, but that changed for the better in the second half. The Arizona defense probably won't start slowly playing at home. Or will it?

6. Kevin Riley's big chance: The Cal quarterback has been mostly solid this year but he still doesn't have that breakthrough moment. The junior could create a lot of momentum for the Bears if he turned in a sharp afternoon in the Big Game against a hot Stanford squad. A win would bolster the Bears' bowl positioning and probably would get them back into the national rankings. It also would bode well for 2010.

7. UCLA's O-line vs. Arizona State's D-line: UCLA's offensive line, a huge question entering the season, has played well of late. But Washington and Washington State can make an O-line look good. Arizona State's D-line is as good as any in the Pac-10. The Sun Devils rank 21st in the nation against the run. The Bruins will seek balance and try not to put the entire weight of the offense on quarterback Kevin Prince. The Sun Devils will want to achieve the opposite.

8. Big numbers for Rodgers and Canfield: Assuming that Oregon State is going to pound Washington State early and often, a big question will be how long Beavers coach Mike Riley plays quarterback Sean Canfield and running back Jacquizz Rodgers. Both are candidates for All-Pac-10 honors and maybe more. The Cougars defense will offer a good chance to pad some stats. Not Riley's style exactly, but those postseason honors are valuable to programs.

Headlinin': Don't bother tracking the friendly skies for Flying Irish

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:51:00 -0800

• Weis Watch. Another sign of Charlie Weis' impending demise: Notre Dame has blocked the university plane from appearing on flightaware.com (see for yourself), a proactive effort at cutting off the breathless surfers intent on tracking its path to Cincinnati or Gainesville or Vatican City or wherever ND's next coach is waiting. That comes on the heels of the athletic director assuring reporters that Weis' huge buyout won't affect whether he stays or goes and the two most notable Irish-centric newspapers both calling for his head almost simultaneously, completing the Holy Trinity of "You're Fired." [South Bend Tribune]

• Oh, to be a Knoxville lawyer. News leaked Tuesday that Tennessee freshman defensive back Nyshier Oliver was cited for shoplifting for allegedly walking out of a Dillard's with a $110 polo shirt just hours before the Vols' win over Memphis on Nov. 7, a relatively piddling misdemeanor that would usually pass without much notice if not for a) Last week's blockbuster armed robbery arrest involving three other UT freshmen, raising the legal antennae around Knoxville, and b) Coach Lane Kiffin's repeated statements just hours before the armed robbery news broke that his team had been entirely arrest-free over his 11-month tenure -- despite being fully aware of Oliver's shoplifting charge.

Kiffin may skate by charges that he blatantly lied on a technicality -- Oliver was cited, not arrested; his arrest warrant was issued Tuesday, and he won't be booked until Nov. 23 -- but he's certainly lost the "clean program" pitch for the next year or two. [Knoxville News-Sentinel]

• The good Cap'n a Cardinal? Hornswaggle! Weirdest coaching rumor so far in the early rounds of silly season: Mike Leach to Louisville? The Louisville Courier-Journal cites a radio interview with ex-Georgia and Marshall coach Jim Donnan, who thinks Cap'n Leach would be interested and would be "a good fit" if/when UL dumps current coach Steve Kragthorpe. That's better sourcing than CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd offers in his Leach-Louisville speculation, which seems based entirely on the pirate coach's no-buyout contract in Lubbock and the Louisville opening existing ... you know, probably, at some point in the near future. It's too strange to make up, frankly, although Leach has never lamented any extra attention. [Louisville Courier-Journal]

• Z-Rob still shaking out the cobwebs. It can't say for sure, but the Tulsa World believes that backup quarterback Alex Cate has been taking most of the snaps in Oklahoma State's preparation for Colorado Thursday night, though starter Zac Robinson is still expected to suit up and possibly be available for senior night in Stillwater despite being knocked silly by Texas Tech's Jamar Wall last Saturday. Think of it as an investment, Cowboy fans: It may be Robinson's last home game, but his presence is not mandatory for beating the sad-sack Buffaloes, and it can never hurt to get the quarterback of the future some live reps. [Tulsa World]

• No one snubs Urban's cubs. Urban Meyer will be "upset" if the Tebow Child isn't invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony for the third consecutive season: "Absolutely, yeah I’ll be upset. ... He's the quarterback of the No. 1 team in college football. I think the Heisman goes to the best player, and it’d be hard to argue that he’s not." Actually, it's fairly easy to argue: Florida is relying far more on its dominant defense to make up for a good-not-great offense averaging 50 fewer yards and 16 fewer points in SEC games than it did in 2008, and Tebow is well behind Ryan Mallett as the league's best statistical passer. But don't let semantics get in the way: Tebow will be in New York, because his exclusion from the proceedings will only hasten the horrors of the tribulation. The Downtown Athletic Club makes its decisions based on the relatively peaceful continuity of human civilization, not stats. [Palm Beach Post]

Quickly ... James Vandenberg is one poised quarterback. ... The victim in an alleged assault case against Auburn's Eric Smith is suing Smith and two unnamed Tiger players. ... Washington State linebacker Jason Stripling was arrested for assault and obstructing a public servant, both misdemeanors. ... Old hat Jerry Glanville resigns at Portland State. ... And yes, that is a 13-year-old middle-schooler being touted as "probably the most celebrated high school recruit in history" before enrolling in high school.

Who's going to win? Week 11 Pac-10 picks

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:13:48 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Went 4-1 last week -- if I could only pick Oregon games! -- and the season record stands at 43-15. And, as a few of you have generously noted, I'm on a bit of a run here -- 16-2 to be exact.

A couple of these games, however, gave me pause.

Stanford 33, USC 30: The Trojans have won 47 of 48 at home in the Coliseum, but the home loss that preceded that run and the defeat that interrupted its perfection both came vs. Stanford. That's just a quirky detail, though. What matters most is Stanford is hot, USC is not. And the Trojans are banged up. After seven years, there will be a new Pac-10 champion. Unless I'm wrong here. Which, you know, is possible.

Arizona 35, California 24: Bears will show some fight but, Arizona is rested and has been consistent on both sides of the ball throughout the season.

Oregon 40, Arizona State 17: The Sun Devils have issues on both sides of the ball -- a true freshman quarterback, a secondary thin on personnel -- and Oregon figures to be plenty motivated to right itself after the tough loss at Stanford. The Ducks defense, in particular, should be eager to bounce back.

Oregon State 41, Washington 24: The Beavers are surging, the Huskies are sagging. Sean Canfield and the Rodgers brothers should be in for a big day against the Washington defense.

UCLA 27, Washington State 14: It probably won't be pretty, but the Bruins will even their record at 5-5 and will set themselves up to become bowl eligible if they can beat either Arizona State at home or USC on the road over the final two games.

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:06:11 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

To paraphrase a great philosopher and renaissance man, Ric Flair, "This ain't no garden party, brother, this is the Pac-10, where only the strongest survive. Wooooooo!"

Folks, the screws are tightening.

1. Does USC's Pac-10 run end Saturday? It's fairly simple. If Stanford wins at USC, it's likely one of the great runs in the history of college football -- the Trojans' seven years atop the Pac-10 -- will come to an end. If the Trojans win, however, they head into a bye week when they can get healthy and rested and then fix their eyeballs on a conference race that remains within reach. Quick trivia question: How many Top-25 teams other than USC have played six of their last eight games on the road?

2. Will California be flat or inspired by Jahvid Best's absence? Arizona has a lot to play for at Cal. The Bears? Hard to say. It will be interesting to see which team shows up. The Bears have looked good at times this year. And very bad. Best, who suffered a concussion last weekend against Oregon State, was once a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. Now his season is likely over. Cal, which has clearly underperformed this fall, might come out yawning, a team just playing out the string. Or it might come out more focused than ever after learning how one unlucky moment could take the game away for good.

3. How will true ASU freshman QB Brock Osweiler respond to Autzen Stadium? Alright kid, go get 'em! What? Go get 'em! What? Osweiler will make his first career start in one of the nation's loudest and toughest venues against an extremely fast defense that was humbled last weekend at Stanford and will be plenty motivated for redemption. Osweiler, by the way, won't have Toby Gerhart or the Cardinal's smart, physical offensive line to help either. Good luck, though. What? The Pac-10 blog said good luck! What?

4. Sean Canfield vs. the Washington secondary: Canfield has been playing as well as any quarterback in the conference of late -- and that's saying something because a lot of quarterbacks are playing well. The Huskies' secondary has struggled throughout the season. It ranks ninth in the conference and 110th in the nation in pass efficiency defense. The idea of Canfield and his quick release dumping the ball to either of the Rodgers brothers in space has to keep Huskies defensive coordinator Nick Holt up at night. His secondary just doesn't have the speed to match up.

5. Might Pullman put a chill in UCLA? Good news for UCLA: It doesn't appear the Bruins will encounter a real mid-November day in Pullman. Reports say it may snow on Friday but it will be partly cloudy and pleasant -- mid-30s -- on Saturday. If the Cougars are to pull the upset, they need all the help they can get, and snow and cold might be a boon against the visitors from sunny southern California. Of course, the weather is often unpredictable. Maybe that snow will start Friday and keep coming?

6. Luck & Gerhart challenge the USC D: After piling up 505 yards against an Oregon defense that mostly shut down USC, Stanford will face those Trojans with a physical, balanced offense that can attack a defense by land (Gerhart) or by air (Andrew Luck). Whether the blame falls on youth or injuries, USC's defense has not been itself since the fourth quarter of the Notre Dame game on Oct. 17. Considering Stanford has scored 84 points the past two games against two of the nation's better defenses, this could be a humbling afternoon for the Trojans. Or it could be a turning point.

7. Will Nick Foles pick apart the Cal secondary? Before the season, Arizona had questions at quarterback, and California, with four starters returning, had one of the best secondaries in the nation. Now, the Wildcats have Foles, a sophomore who is completing 71.4 percent of his passes, and the Bears rank 93rd in the nation in pass efficiency defense. Go figure. Foles' quick release -- the Wildcats have surrendered only four sacks all season -- and accuracy will stress the Bears.

8. Jake Locker is due a big performance: Locker has been spectacular for Washington at times this year. Not so great at others. He's banged up. And his team has lost five of six. But there are reasons Pac-10 coaches fear Locker and the NFL covets him -- he's a great talent with superior playmaking ability. Washington can't win if he doesn't play well. It sometimes can't even if he does. But if he puts together a special game, the Huskies could pull the upset.

9. Oregon's O vs. Arizona State's D: The Sun Devils are suddenly hurting in the secondary, but they have been consistently tough on defense all season, particularly against the run where they rank sixth in the nation (87.4 yards per game). Oregon, of course, is one of the nation's best running teams (233.56 yards per game). It will be interesting to see who blinks in this strength-on-strength battle, or if the Ducks just try to attack through the air, sensing that's where Arizona State will be most vulnerable.

10. Will Matt Barkley's slide end vs. Stanford's defense? A few weeks ago, Barkley was running the USC offense with aplomb and was the toast of college football. But his last six quarters -- the second half at Oregon plus the visit to Arizona State -- haven't been sharp. It doesn't help that his two favorite targets, tight end Anthony McCoy and receiver Damian Williams, may not be available Saturday. But he's coming home, which should help, and it's hard to believe that he won't be eager to prove that his recent slump was just a momentary blip on his path toward becoming a superstar quarterback.

Pac-10 power rankings: Week 10

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:57:11 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

No changes this week, which may be a first this season.

1. Oregon: The Ducks left no doubt against USC. None. Zero. Now, can they maintain the focus that got them here -- the Pac-10 title within sight -- or will they start to do most-muscular poses in their bathroom mirror? Because if they start to get impressed with themselves, a physical Stanford squad will give them a whipping Saturday.

2. USC: Hello, police? Yes, this is the Pac-10 blog. Yeah, thanks. Every day! Cool. No, I'm not the greatest. Not always. No, Washington beating Oregon was not a great pick. Look, I'm calling to report a missing team. Yeah, the Trojans. I know! I knowwww! Well, if you see them, please get them tell them to call the Pac-10 blog. We're worried about them. There's a rumor they'll be in Tempe on Saturday, but we're not sure who will show up.

3. Arizona: Every team has at least two conference defeats. Except Oregon, which has none. And Arizona, which has one. That means that if the Wildcats can hold serve, they could steal the crown from the Ducks on Nov. 21 in Tucson. Of course, they'd also need to get a win in the season-finale at USC.

4. Oregon State: The Beavers held on against UCLA. Now, can they win at California? If so, they likely return to the national rankings and put themselves in good position for a nice bowl game.

5. California: The Bears have returned to the national rankings, but they won't officially move past their dreadful efforts vs. Oregon and USC until they beat top-half-of-the-Pac-10 teams. See above.

6. Stanford: The Cardinal sat at home this past weekend and watched their next two opponents play: Oregon and USC. Know this: Coach Jim Harbaugh and his players aren't afraid. They don't see an unstoppable offense coming to town this weekend. They see an opportunity.

7. Arizona State: The Sun Devils are fighting and clawing, but their bowl chances are dwindling. Of course, if they keep fighting and clawing, they might catch a flat USC team off its guard and reverse the trajectory of their season.

8. Washington: The Huskies are coming off a bye weekend knowing they have to win three of their final four games to become bowl eligible. While technically a visit to UCLA is not a must-win, know that it is. As it is for UCLA. In other words, one of these two teams will walk away with hope. The other, probably not.

9. UCLA: Losing five games in a row is a horrible way to start conference play. Fact is, though, the Bruins lost to five teams that are better than them. That's debatable about the next three foes, starting with the Huskies. If the Bruins hold together and win this weekend, their bowl hopes suddenly become better than decent.

10. Washington State: Notre Dame flicked the Cougars aside in San Antonio. And it only gets worse. Now the Cougs head to Tucson to play a rested and likely healthier Arizona squad that figures to be hungry. The challenge for coach Paul Wulff is to keep his team focused on getting better when it doesn't look like it can do much to improve the positive side of the win-loss ledger.

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:08:23 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

The big one is in Eugene but every game matters. Three teams are chilling at home.

1. Matt Barkley thinks Autzen Stadium is going to be a barrel of monkeys: Matt Barkley told the LA Times that he's looks forward to playing in Autzen Stadium -- "the energy is going to be awesome and it's going to be a cool atmosphere, especially on Halloween night," he said. Hmm. You know, maybe all this talk about how intimidating and loud Autzen Stadium is a bollocks. This whole, really cool "blackout" thing is just a rumor, after all. Hey, wear yellow! That will be scary. Oregon fans aren't really loud. They're very nice, actually. Cuddly even.

2. Were Arizona State's defensive numbers a mirage? Last weekend, Stanford piled up 473 yards -- 237 yards rushing -- against the Sun Devils, who entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in total defense (248 yards per game) and second vs. the run (58 yards per game). It's fair to ask if the Sun Devils' previously impressive defensive numbers were a function of the middling-to-poor offenses they faced during the early going. They can answer that question by shutting down -- or at least slowing down -- California and running back Jahvid Best.

3. Oregon State can't afford a "USC hangover:" The Beavers have a right to be disappointed with their close-but-no-cigar effort at USC last weekend. But if they spend too much time wondering what might have been, the Bruins might steal one in Reser Stadium. UCLA has enough athletes that, despite a 0-4 Pac-10 mark, it remains dangerous.

4. Washington State may shock the world: It's entirely possible that Notre Dame is going to run over the Cougars like a Mack truck rumbling through a garden party. And yet upsets -- even big ones -- happen all the time in college football. All it's going to take for the Cougars is a combination of their best effort and a team, such as the Fighting Irish, taking a victory for granted. At some point this season, that could happen, and it might as well be against a Notre Dame crew that has endured a series of emotional games and may be due for a letdown.

5. Who wins the trenches in Autzen? In terms of pure talent, Oregon doesn't match up on either line vs. USC. The Trojans' offensive line is athletic and experienced. It should be able to handle the Ducks' speedy D-front. The Trojans' defensive line isn't experienced, but neither is the Ducks' O-line. And the Trojans' front seven, despite its youth, has been dominant against the run and has been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks with just four pass-rushers. The Ducks have surrendered only 11 sacks this year. USC leads the nation with 29 sacks. This is one area where USC has a decided advantage. Or appears to.

6. Riley must be sharp in Tempe: Arizona State is going to gang up against Cal's run game, and the Sun Devils have enough talent and speed to make things hard on Best and the Bears' offensive line. That means, however, that there are going to be opportunities in the passing game. Can Cal QB Kevin Riley take advantage? He's been hot and cold much of the season. This would be a good time for some consistent execution. Of course, ASU ranks third in the nation with 13 interceptions.

7. Bruins try a two-quarterback system: It seems there's a split between UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel and his offensive coordinator, Norm Chow. Chow doesn't like to play two quarterbacks and he thinks Kevin Prince is the man. Neuheisel doesn't necessarily have a problem with Prince but the Bruins' offense is struggling and he wants to get a look at Richard Brehaut. So both will play at Oregon State. Who plays better? Or do both play badly? And what does it mean for the future? And are Neuheisel and Chow at loggerheads? We shall see.

8. Jeremiah Masoli must attack the USC secondary: No one has consistently run well against USC. The Trojans, however, have of late been fairly vulnerable against the pass. That may be due to playing against a couple of good quarterbacks in Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and Oregon State's Sean Canfield. Or maybe there are some things that a balanced offense can take advantage of. Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli isn't chopped liver, and he's thrown well over his past three starts (he missed the UCLA game with a sprained knee). He will need to make plays downfield in order to keep the Trojans defense honest.

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:53:17 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

A full slate of games -- nobody's sitting home this weekend eating Doritos.

1. It's going to be nasty fun in Husky Stadium: Oregon has beaten Washington five consecutive times. And by at least 20 points each time. What was once the most bitter rivalry in the Pac-10 has become a mismatch, which has been galling for the Huskies because, historically, they've dominated the Ducks and still lead the series 58-38-5. Yet this one figures to be more competitive than any of the recent games. Washington has rejuvenated itself under Steve Sarkisian, and that rejuvenation has include renewed energy in Husky Stadium. It should be pretty intense. Just like the old days.

2. Jacquizz Rodgers won't back down: The conventional wisdom is that USC is looking for a little revenge after Oregon State shocked the Trojans 27-21 last year in Corvallis. And the best way to get that revenge is to shut down Rodgers, who sliced and diced them for 186 yards. Folks on the Trojans' side whisper that they didn't know much about the diminutive then-true freshman in 2008. Now they do. And they will put a hurting on Rodgers. Not so fast on that, though. Rodgers has surged of late, and he's an ultra-competitive sort who will be eager accept the Trojans' challenge. Don't be surprised if Rodgers makes some plays against the rugged Trojans run defense.

3. UCLA's secondary will challenge Arizona QB Nick Foles: UCLA's secondary is much better than Stanford's secondary, so Arizona quarterback Nick Foles doesn't figure to find things as easy in the passing game against the Bruins as he did when he piled up 415 yards and three TDs vs. the Cardinal. While UCLA's run defense has sprung a leak -- or two -- of late, the pass defense ranks second in the conference, giving up just 169 yards per game. It's grabbed nine interceptions while surrendering just six TD passes.

4. Vontaze Burfict vs. Toby Gerhart: Burfict is Arizona State's hard-hitting true freshman linebacker. Gerhart is Stanford's 235-pound battering ram of a running back. Burfict looks as good as any young linebacker in the country, but he hasn't faced a back like Gerhart -- probably in his life. These two figure to have plenty of impressive collisions Saturday. So, who wins most of them?

5. Washington State should be motivated by 66-3: On Sept. 6 of last year, everyone found out how deeply down Washington State was when California delivered a stunning 66-3 beatdown in Martin Stadium. It was a humiliating home loss, the second game of the Paul Wulff era. The Cougars haven't suffered a whipping like that this year (though Oregon came close). They probably won't win at Cal on Saturday, but the Cougs should fight hard to earn the Bears' respect. They didn't get it last year.

6. Will Masoli or Locker rule the day? First things first: Will Jeremiah Masoli be 100 percent? The Oregon quarterback appears on track to start, but how much of a running threat he is depends on how close his knee injury is to fully healed. Before Masoli got hurt against Washington State, he was playing with the same dual-threat sharpness he showed late last season. Washington's Jake Locker, meanwhile, is only the most highly touted quarterback in the conference. At their best, both are spectacular playmakers. It will be interesting to see who makes more plays.

7. Does Barkley just keep getting better? USC's Matt Barkley seems to improve every week, and the true freshman already is a pretty good quarterback. While Oregon State's defense has improved of late, it still ranks ninth in the conference against the pass (275 yards per game). The Beavers have given up the most TD passes (11) in the conference and grabbed the fewest interceptions (3, curiously tied with USC). The Beavers are stronger against the run, so it makes sense that Barkley might put the ball into the air. Does he turn in another stellar performance, or does he finally reveal some freshman fallibility?

8. Stanford's defense needs to step up: Stanford's defense has given up 81 points and 1,016 yards in the past two games, which, not surprisingly, were both losses. However, Arizona State doesn't have the offensive weapons that Oregon State and Arizona do, and quarterback Danny Sullivan has struggled much of the season. The Cardinal probably won't be able to pile up points in bunches against the Sun Devils' stout defense, but they shouldn't have to if they muzzle ASU's struggling offense.

9. The Bruins are desperate: Arizona coach Mike Stoops described UCLA as "desperate," and it's true. The Bruins are riding a three-game losing streak, and it's hard to find the three wins necessary for bowl eligibility on the remaining schedule. That desperation should translate into an inspired effort at Arizona. The offense seems to be improving after a solid performance against California. Now, if the defense reverts to the way it played during the first three games, the Bruins should give the Wildcats all they can handle.

10. Jahvid Best should run wild: Washington State ranks last in the Pac-10 in run defense. It's surrendered 17 rushing touchdowns, seven more than any other Pac-10 team. This should be a great opportunity for Best, Cal's spectacular runner, to regain his mojo. While Best had a 93-yard TD run against UCLA, he's still been mostly muted of late -- he's dropped to third in the conference in rushing (102.7 yards per game) and might no longer be a sure-thing for first-team All-Pac-10. He rushed for 200 yards last year at Washington State, including an 86-yard TD. So it might be time for another spectacular game.

Pac-10 lunch links: Plenty of intrigue with OSU at USC

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:58:57 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open.

Nick Foles and the Arizona passing game are flowing because young receivers are stepping up.
Arizona State quarterback Danny Sullivan deserves your respect. Freshman LB Vontaze Burfict is a bad man, only he's perfectly capable of proving that before the whistle is blown.
California has some good and bad news at cornerback. By the way, why did Cal have only 10 men on the field for consecutive plays against UCLA?
With Jeremiah Masoli's knee improving, it appears Oregon's visit to Washington will be about a pair of good quarterbacks. The Ducks' image has upgraded because they are more grounded.
Plenty of subplots with Oregon State's visit to USC.
Stanford needs to shore up its defense or its bowl hopes will dim.
What's up with cornerback Aaron Hester at UCLA?
Tight end Anthony McCoy is becoming a weapon for USC. An injury update.
This Washington receiver has rebounded nicely, which should not be a surprise because basketball is his first love.
For once, Washington State's injury news is more good than bad.
Updated bowl projections for the Pac-10.

Pac-10 power rankings

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:28:45 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

We have a new No. 1, and California moves up. UCLA falls into the dreaded No. 9 spot after starting Pac-10 play 0-3.

1. USC: The Trojans have now beaten two ranked teams on the road and are back in national title contention, rising to No. 4 in both polls. While they made things unnecessarily interesting at Notre Dame, it's clear that they are elite on both sides of the ball.

2. Oregon: The idle Ducks fall out of the top spot, but their eyes shouldn't be focused on the Trojans. A visit to what figures to be a very angry Washington squad on Saturday will be a considerable obstacle. It's been a while since Washington had a chance in this bitter rivalry, and Husky Stadium is certain to be rocking.

3. Arizona: The Wildcats were fortunate to beat Stanford, but they will be quick to note they deserve some good fortune. If not for that "Immaculate Deflection" at Washington, Arizona would be comfortably in the Top 25 and tied atop the conference standings. As it is, quality wins over Oregon State and Stanford aren't too shabby.

4. Oregon State: Beavers fall a spot during their bye week -- recall Arizona won at Reser Stadium. They visit USC on Saturday. One school of thought is the Trojans will be focused and out for revenge after what happened last year in Corvallis. The other school might note that all those new Trojans starters might be emotionally spent after the win at Notre Dame.

5. California: It was only a win at sagging UCLA -- and the Bears are still only 1-2 in the conference -- but there was enough about the way Cal played to suspect this team is rising again. The Bears play three of their next four at home, with Washington State coming to town on Saturday.

6. Arizona State: Know why winning sloppy is so good? 'Cause it's winning! The Sun Devils' bowl hopes got a huge boost with the win over Washington. Now, how will that physical defense deal with a road trip to Stanford, a physical team that figures to be a bit angry this week?

7. Stanford: If someone had said the Cardinal was going to gain 584 yards at Arizona, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who would believe Stanford would have lost. But it did, in excruciating fashion. As dynamic as the offense is, the defense lacks the athleticism to consistently stop Pac-10 offenses, something Oregon State and Arizona exposed.

8. Washington: Win by the miracle, lose by the miracle. But this one fell heavily on coaching mistakes -- clock management and a horrible defensive breakdown. The Huskies are still a work in progress and so is the coaching staff. You know what, though? If the Huskies upset the Ducks, the fan base will be fairly forgiving.

9. UCLA: Speaking of works in progress, the Bruins took a step back against California, but this time the defense let the offense down -- particularly against the run. Things won't be any easier Saturday because Arizona's offense is humming.

10. Washington State: The Cougars spent the bye week trying to get healthy. They head to Berkeley on Saturday, hoping that Cal will revert to the team that scored just six points in two games, not the one that pounded out 45 vs. UCLA.

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:12:28 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Just four games again this weekend, with No. 6 USC's visit to Notre Dame for its annual showdown with the Fighting Irish leading the slate. The three Pac-10 games, however, may establish season trajectories for teams trying to moving up in the conference pecking order. All three games are interesting because they are matchups of teams entering under similar circumstances, ergo some of the redundancy in our "What to watch."

1. Barkley vs. Clausen on the big stage: Both were the No. 1 quarterbacks of their respective recruiting classes. Both entered school early in order to participate in spring football. Both became starters as true freshmen. And they are friends who, while growing up in southern California, shared a quarterbacks coach. Clausen's career didn't get off to as fast a starter as Barkley's, but that was mostly because his supporting cast didn't approach the talent that presently surrounds Barkley. Clausen is now a leading the Heisman Trophy candidate. If he beats USC, he might become the leading Heisman Trophy candidate. And Barkley would like nothing more to steal the stage from his buddy, which would inspire talk about Heismans in his future.

2. Stanford back on track: Stanford suffered a dispiriting loss at Oregon State, falling behind 31-7 before rallying to make things respectable in the second half. The Cardinal seemed overwhelmed with the Beavers team speed, particularly the Rodgers brothers. Arizona is a fast team, but it doesn't have any offensive playmakers comparable to the Rodgers brothers, particularly with running back Nic Grigsby nursing a shoulder injury. Will the Cardinal, once on the cusp of a national ranking, recover their mojo?

3. Arizona back on track: Arizona suffered a dispiriting loss at Washington, allowing a 12-point lead with just over four minutes left disappear, the game-winning TD scored controversially on a fluke deflection. The Wildcats dominated the game but struggled to convert in the redzone, which left an opening for the stunning finish. The Wildcats may get a number of starters back -- Grigsby, defensive end Brooks Reed, receiver Bug Wright, among others -- which should help the cause. Will the Wildcats, once on the cusp of a national ranking, recover their mojo?

4. Wounded California looks for some offense: California, once No. 6 in the country, has lost two consecutive conference games by a combined count of 72-6. The Bears haven't scored a touchdown in nearly a month. Oregon and USC ganged up along the line of scrimmage to thwart running back Jahvid Best, and UCLA is sure to do the same. That means Cal needs quarterback Kevin Riley to recover his early-season sharpness following a bye week. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine the Bears scoring many points.

5. Wounded UCLA looks for some offense: UCLA, once poised to jump into the top-25, has lost two consecutive conference games by a combined count of 48-26. No, it doesn't sound as emasculating as Cal's numbers, but the Bruins don't have any impressive early-season performances they can point to as proof that the offense is capable of clicking. Quarterback Kevin Price played in his first game since breaking his jaw at Tennessee but was benched for a spell in favor freshman Richard Brehaut. Prince remains the starter, but he needs to be sharper against a Bears defense that has plenty of talent but has underachieved this year.

6. Jake Locker vs. the Sun Devils D: Arizona State ranks third in the nation in total defense and it solved pass rush problems last week at Washington State by piling up 12 sacks. Washington quarterback Jake Locker leads the conference in total offense with 270 yards per game. His offensive line figures to struggle against the Sun Devils front, so Locker's charge will be to get the ball off quickly or to create plays with his feet. The winner of this game is thinking bowl berth. The loser probably falls short.

7. How good is this USC defense? The rebuilt Trojans defense ranks among the national leaders in just about every statistical category. It doesn't seem like replacing eight starters from 2008 has caused much of a drop-off. But Clausen and Notre Dame will offer the best offense the Trojans have faced. The Fighting Irish rank 10th in the nation with 470 yards per game, and Clausen has been particularly good in the clutch. If this one stays close, will the Trojans D or Clausen make the final statement?

8. It's time for Danny Sullivan to step up or step aside: Some Sun Devils fans have been agitating almost since last spring for true freshman Brock Osweiler to replace senior Danny Sullivan. Sullivan has done little thus far to quiet his critics. He ranks eighth in the conference in passing efficiency after throwing three interceptions last week at Washington State. The Huskies defense is a bend-but-don't break unit that has been solid in the red zone. If Sullivan doesn't lead his team to victory -- it shouldn't take too much scoring with ASU's defense -- he might sit down and Osweiler might take over.

It's Southern Cal Week

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:34:51 -0800

More photos » by Lori Shepler - AP

19 days ago: In this Sept. 5, 2009, file photo, Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley (7) and coach Pete Carroll shake hands during practice before an NCAA college football game against San Jose in Los Angeles. Carroll is hoping the return of perhaps USC's two most important players will put the Trojans back on track after last week's loss at Washington. Carroll is hopeful Barkley and safety Taylor Mays will be able to play in Saturday night's home game against Washington State. (AP Photo/Lori Shepler, File)

Browse more photos »

I hope everyone really enjoyed their bye week, but now it's time to focus. Let's get a few particulars out of the way.

Current Weather Forecast for Saturday in beautiful South Bend, Indiana: 48 degrees and partly cloudy (expect this to change about a dozen times before kickoff)

Line: Southern Cal by somewhere between 8 and 11, depending on where you're looking. I'm going to guess that ticks its way up to around thirteen or so by the end of the week.

Anticipation Level: 16 out of 10

As I wrote last week, this is the game that frames the last five games and the rest of the season. Is Notre Dame a great team that was just finding its footing and got screw jobbed at Michigan, or is it an average, mediocre team that can't stand up against the elites of college football? A close loss to Southern Cal isn't the end of the world, but a blowout loss would leave the taste in most Irish fans' mouth that this season is just like every other one after 2005. A win? A win and everything is roses and candy and puppies and sunshine for a week (until the inevitable letdown "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!" loss to BC the next Saturday). I want that win and that feeling like everything is right in the world. I want to see everything about the team humbled - from the sunglasses-wearing band to Traveler to Carroll to Barkley.

Can the Irish pull it off? We'll get into this in more detail as the week goes on, but over the bye week I watched some of Southern Cal's games on the incredibly useful ESPN360. A few quick observations from going through a couple of halves without too meticulous of scrutiny:

* Matt Barkley, as he comes across in interviews, is a cool customer. He's not asked to do a whole lot in that offense yet, but the arm and confidence are there to be a great quarterback for a long time. In the Ohio State game he was in an incredibly hostile environment but had the benefit of being in a very low scoring game, meaning the Trojans could always rely on their running game, even late in the fourth quarter. If the Irish can get a lead and the crowd gets cooking..... maybe. We'll see. He looks a little like Dick Casablancas from Veronica Mars, so take from that what you will.

* Damian Williams is a beast, in the Mike Williams/Dwayne Jarrett mode of just eating defensive backs alive. Packing the box and attempting to cover him on an island could result in a very, very long day. He also is a huge threat on punt returns.

* Taylor Mays is some sort of human-velociraptor hybrid. Against Cal he picked off a (horrible) Kevin Riley pass in the endzone on the first possession of the game and cut down Jahvid Best on a third and short pitch late in the second quarter. He's everywhere you do not want him to be.

* Joe McKnight is very fast. If the Irish don't improve at tackling very quickly - that's what bye weeks are for! - he's going to have a Reggie-in-2005 type day because he has the breakaway speed and shiftiness to go yard every time. He's not the best back for a consistent pounding attack at this point in his career, which was where Stafon Johnson came in as a great complement to the rushing attack. Johnson will miss this game as he continues to recover from that very scary weight lifting accident, so expect to mostly see McKnight and Allen Bradford.

* The Irish are going to have a difficult time just lining up and running at the Trojan front. Look at this listing of tackles for loss, it is absurd. I was avoiding watching the Washington game because I wasn't sure how much it was worth taking notes on a game where Barkley and Mays didn't play, but I think I'm going to have to to see how the Trojan defense handled the best quarterback on their schedule up until this point. Kevin Riley played like he had a serious head injury for four quarters and there were tomes written about the poor offensive gameplan of Ohio State, but Locker put a nice little game together. The Huskies only scored 16 points, but Locker was solid (21-of-35, 237 yards, no TD's, no picks).

* This is not a particularly disciplined Trojan team on offense. They average eight penalties for seventy yards a game, they are 113th in the country in third down percentage, minus on turnover margin for the year and only average in the red zone. If Notre Dame were to go into a sort of shell defense and make Southern Cal dink and dunk their way down the field and not score on big plays, I feel like there will be potential for some drive-halting mistakes by the freshman QB. Possibly not, but there's potential.

* The Southern Cal offensive line is very good, and was blowing Ohio State off the ball by the fourth quarter. It'll be imperative for the Irish offense to give their defense some time to rest and for the Irish defense to tackle, because if they don't, Barkley can just hang back and hand the ball off for an easy win.

* Despite the lop-sided nature of the final scores the last couple of seasons, the Irish defense has played pretty well. In 2008 the Trojans really struggled to score until the Notre Dame defense was just too gassed due to offensive failure after offensive failure. Even in 2007, the season of infinite sorrow, it was only a 7-0 game partway into the second quarter. The defense has been fine, it's the offense that needs to avenge itself if Notre Dame wants to pull off the home upset.

The Agony of Da Feet

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:32:00 -0800

Arizona was seemingly on its way to victory Saturday night, leading Washington, 33-21, with three minutes to play. The Huskies scored to cut it to 33-28, then kicked off to set up this unthinkable play.

Wildcat quarterback Nick Foles' pass bounces off the foot of receiver Delashaun Dean and into the hands of the Huskies' Mason Foster, who returns it 37 yards for a touchdown. Washington added a two-point conversion and held off one last charge by Arizona to win, 36-33.

They're calling it the greatest comeback since the 1975 Apple Cup, when the Huskies rallied from a 27-14 deficit in the final 3:01 to defeat Washington State, 28-27.

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:24:55 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Just four games this weekend, but three of them figure to have significant ramifications in the Pac-10 pecking order. Arizona State should be able to take care of business against a beaten up Washington State team, right? USC and California are sitting at home this weekend. Guess here is their bye week experience will feel slightly different.

1. Nate Costa gets his moment: The expectations for Costa were high before the 2008 season. He was the heir-apparent to Dennis Dixon, and many Ducks fans whispered that he might even be better at running Chip Kelly's offense than Dixon was. Then he blew out his knee. Again. Jeremiah Masoli ended up being thrust into the starting role and ran with it. It seemed that, at best, Costa would finish his Oregon career as a backup wondering what might have been. Now, with Masoli nursing a bum knee, all signs point to him starting at UCLA. Can he keep the Ducks on top of the Pac-10?

2. Can Toby Gerhart make a Heisman push against Oregon State? Gerhart's name is officially in the mix. If he turns in a big day against the Beavers -- say 130-plus yards, a touchdown or two -- and the Cardinal improves to 4-0 in the Pac-10, then his candidacy should gain some real momentum as folks look for a candidate to compete with the usual suspects. And the Cardinal's subsequent national ranking should help.

3. Was Washington a one-hit wonder? The Huskies have lost two in a row after beating USC. Sure, they've posted two strong losing efforts this season against LSU and Notre Dame --and let's not forget they went 0-12 in 2008 -- but there was a moment when it seemed like a dramatic and total turnaround was possible. That's still possible. Beat a good Arizona team and the Huskies would be halfway to bowl eligibility. And they'd be 2-1 in the conference. Another competitive performance won't mean much, though. Close losses to good teams still look the same in the record book.

4. Is this the Cougars' best chance for a Pac-10 win? Arizona State is coming off a dispiriting home loss to Oregon State. Its offensive line is beat up. It's got a bit of a quarterback controversy. It's possible the Sun Devils will take Washington State lightly. If you look through the Cougars' remaining schedule, there aren't too many opportunities for wins. And, to be realistic, their chances are slim Saturday. Still, this might be their best shot. Little has gone well for the Cougars this year. Maybe Lady Luck will smile on them at least once.

5. QB Kevin Prince returns for UCLA: The Bruins managed to beat Kansas State without Prince, who broke his jaw against Tennessee, but Stanford made it clear that a solid defense can't carry it the entire season. Re-enter Prince. He's probably not going to be sharp after missing three weeks of work. And he may feel a bit nervous with a jaw that only was cleared medically Wednesday. But he's the best hope for a downfield passing game that could extend the Oregon defense so it can't gang up on the run.

6. Might Nick Foles steal the stage from Jake Locker? It's only Foles' second start for Arizona, but he was so lights-out at Oregon State it's not unreasonable to wonder if he can duplicate his three touchdown effort in Corvallis. Of course, Husky Stadium is a bit bigger and louder. But the Huskies' defense is also a bit softer than the Beavers. Locker might be the conference's premier quarterback, but Foles is presently its highest rated.

7. Rodgers brothers challenge the improved Stanford defense: Stanford's defense has been strong much of the season, particularly in its last three games, but it was gashed at Wake Forest when the Demon Deacons seemed to use superior speed to take over in the second half. The Rodgers brothers, James and Jacquizz, are far more dangerous than anything Wake had to offer. They rank one-two in all-purpose yards in the conference. So there's no mystery here. Contain the Rodgers brothers and you contain the Beavers.

8. Danny Sullivan fights for his job: Arizona State fans are clamoring for Dennis Erickson to bench Sullivan in favor of backup Brock Osweiler, a true freshman. Sullivan ranks last in the conference in pass efficiency, but he hasn't had a lot of help on offense, particularly with an injury-ravaged line. Washington's State defense, however, and a half-full road stadium could be the perfect antidote for Sullivan's woes. Perhaps he and the offense figure some things out and that carries them for the rest of the season.

Oregon, not UCLA, has QB issues

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:05:24 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

It doesn't appear that Oregon's visit to UCLA will be a battle of backup quarterbacks -- as it was in 2007 -- but that's because the Bruins expect Kevin Prince to return after missing two games with a broken jaw.

The status of Oregon starter Jeremiah Masoli is more uncertain, in large part because coach Chip Kelly doesn't provide specific injury information.

Prince will not get final clearance to play until X-rays are taken Wednesday, but the Los Angeles Times reported that "is expected to be a mere formality."

Meanwhile, Masoli's status could be up in the air until late this week -- or even game day.

Masoli hurt his knee in the second quarter against Washington State. He didn't practice Monday and was noticeably limping.

If Masoli can't play, he'd be replaced by junior Nate Costa, a capable backup who appeared to be Dennis Dixon's heir-apparent until he suffered his third serious knee injury before the 2008 season.

While Prince was out, UCLA went 1-1 with senior Kevin Craft, who played well, mostly avoiding big mistakes, but rarely threw downfield.

A quick look into this week's games

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:05:13 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Lining up this week's action.

No. 13 Oregon (4-1, 2-0) at UCLA (3-1, 0-1)

Oregon beat UCLA 31-24 last year. ... UCLA leads the series 39-23-0. ... Oregon's four-game winning streak leads the Pac-10. ... UCLA has won six of its last nine against ranked foes in the Rose Bowl. ... Oregon's Ed Dickson is now the Ducks career leader in receptions by a tight end with 104. ... UCLA kicker Kai Forbath leads the nation with three field goals per game. ... Oregon has forced a conference-high 13 turnovers but it has also given away 12. ... The Bruins rank ninth in the conference in passing, total and scoring offense. ... Ducks freshman RB LaMichael James has rushed for 351 yards in the Ducks last three games. ... UCLA ranks 23rd in the nation in run defense (99.25 yards per game) and 20th in total defense (281.25 yards per game). ... Oregon leads the Pac-10 in scoring offense with 34.2 points per game even though it still ranks last in passing offense with 172.6 yards per game.

Stanford (4-1, 3-0) at Oregon State (3-2, 1-1)

Stanford beat Oregon State 36-28 last year. ... Stanford leads the series 48-24-3. ... Stanford is off to its best start since beginning 5-1 in 2001, the last season the Cardinal went to a bowl game. The Cardinal haven't been 3-0 in conference play since 1999, and that team went to the Rose Bowl. ... Oregon State receiver James Rodgers leads the Pac-10 in receptions per game (9.6) and receiving yards per game (93.2 ypg). He also leads the conference in all-purpose yards (187 ypg). ... Stanford running back Toby Gerhart ranks first in the Pac-10 and fourth in the nation with 130 yards rushing per game. ... Oregon State ranks 12th in the country in run defense (87.4 ypg). The longest run against the Beavers defense is 19 yards. ... Among conference quarterbacks with at least 100 passing attempts, Stanford's redshirt freshman Andrew Luck ranks No. 1 in pass efficiency. ... Oregon State has not lost a fumble this year. ... Stanford DE Thomas Keiser ranks second in the conference in sacks (4.5) and tackles for a loss (7.5). ... Jacquizz Rodgers leads the conference with nine touchdowns.

Arizona (3-1, 1-0) at Washington (2-3, 1-1)

Arizona beat Washington 48-14 last year. ... Washington leads the series 16-8-1. ... Washington has the leading freshman running back, Chris Polk with 90.4 ypg, and leading freshman receiver, James Johnson, with 55.8 yards per game, in the Pac-10. ... Arizona running back Nic Grigsby leads the conference with an 8.1 yards per carry average. ... The Huskies are the only Pac-10 team converting more than 50 percent of their third downs (54.5 percent). ... Arizona ranks 23rd in the nation in total defense, giving up 288.25 ypg. ... Washington quarterback Jake Locker leads the conference in both passing (256.6 ypg) and total offense (278 ypg). ... Arizona defensive end Ricky Elmore ranks third in the conference with 4.5 sacks. ... Huskies kicker Erik Folk is 9 of 10 on field goals. ... Wildcats cornerback Trevin Wade is tied for second in the nation with an average of one interception per game.

Arizona State (2-2, 0-1) at Washington State (1-4, 0-3)

Arizona State beat Washington State 31-0 last year. ... Arizona State leads the series 21-12-1. ... Arizona State receiver Chris McGaha caught 15 passes for 165 yards, both career highs, against Oregon State. The 15 receptions is now tied for fourth on the conference's single-game list. ... Washington State punter Reid Forrest leads the Pac-10 with an average of 44.7 yards per punt. He's had 11 punts downed inside an opponent's 20-yard line. ... Arizona State ranks third in the nation in total defense (232 ypg). ... Washington State ranks last in the Pac-10 in rushing, passing, total and scoring defense. It ranks last in rushing, total and scoring offense. It ranks eighth in passing offense. ... Arizona State is 7 for 10 on fourth downs this year. ... Washington State ranks last in the Pac-10 in attendance at 22,353. The Cougars averaged 30,718 last year. ... The Sun Devils lead the Pac-10 in turnover margin (plus-9), which includes a league-high nine interceptions. ... Washington State leads the conference in redzone defense, with opponents scoring only 65.2 percent of the time. ... Sun Devils quarterback Danny Sullivan ranks last in the conference in passing efficiency.

USC and California are both off. Cal next plays at UCLA on Oct. 17. USC will be at Notre Dame on Oct. 17.