North
1. No. 2 Oregon (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12 Conference)
The Ducks survived a scare at Washington State to hold onto the No. 2 ranking in the AP poll. Quarterback Marcus Mariota scored five touchdowns, including the game winner with 5:33 left.
Last week: first, W at Washington State 38-31
This week: Bye
2. No. 16 Stanford (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12)
Like much of the Pac-12 Conference, the Cardinal took last week off. This week, it faces a battle in Seattle with 4-0 Washington.
Last week: Second, Bye
This week: Saturday at Washington (4-0, 0-0)
3. Oregon State (3-0, 0-0)
The Beavers wrapped up nonconference play with a comfortable win against San Diego State. This Saturday, they can show they’re among the Pac-12’s elites and get a chance to get In-N-Out Burger when they travel to USC.
Last week: fourth, W vs. San Diego State 28-7
This week: Saturday at USC (2-1, 1-0)
4. Washington
For the fourth week in a row, the Huskies played a cupcake, beating up on Georgia State this week, so they dropped in the rankings. U-Dub finally plays somebody this week: Stanford.
Last week: third, W vs. Georgia State 45-14
This week: Saturday vs. Stanford
5. California (2-1, 0-1)
The bad news for the Golden Bears is they lost at Arizona, but the good news is they only trailed once, with 0:00 left on the clock. Cal has proved their 1-11 2013 season is long gone.
Last week: fifth, L at Arizona 49-45
This week: Saturday vs. Colorado (2-2, 0-1)
6. Washington State (1-3, 0-1)
The Cougars finally showed itself as a team that was supposed to start 3-0 when it almost upset Oregon. Unfortunately for Wazzu, “almost” isn’t enough in the Pac-12.
Last week: Sixth, L vs. Oregon 38-31
This week: Saturday at Utah (3-0, 0-0)
South
1. No. 11 UCLA (3-0, 0-0)
It was all good news last week for the Bruins: they didn’t limp through another unimpressive victory (because they had a bye) and injured star quarterback Brett Hundley got to rest (because they had a bye). Hundley is expected to play at ASU.
Last week: First, Bye
This week: Thursday at No. 15 ASU (3-0, 1-0)
2. No. 18 USC
Shockingly the Trojans didn’t do anything to embarrass themselves last week. A reserve running back quit the team, but there was no made-up super hero stories, charges of racism, athletic director fines or embarrassing losses.
Last week: Second, Bye
This week: Saturday vs. Oregon State
3. Arizona (4-0, 1-0)
The Wildcats earned their first 4-0 start since 2010 with the “Hill Mary” play. They could easily find themselves 4-4 though, with trips to Oregon, Washington State, UCLA and USC at home coming up.
Last week: Third, W vs. California 49-45
This week: Bye
4. Utah
Unlike ASU, the Utes tested themselves with a win at Michigan and moved up in the rankings. The Wolverines are struggling, but the Utes have the look of a possible contender in the South.
Last week: Fifth, W at Michigan 26-10
This week: Saturday vs. Washington State
5. ASU
For the fourth week in a row, the Sun Devils failed to justify their national ranking (though last week they had a bye). They could jump to the top of the South with a win over UCLA — we just don’t know if ASU is any good yet because it hasn’t been tested at all — but star quarterback Taylor Kelly is likely out.
Last week: Fourth, Bye
This week: Thursday vs. UCLA
6. Colorado
The Pac-12 is so deep that CU won, and yet it dropped to 12th in the Pac-12’s pecking order. The Buffaloes’ wins are against 0-4 UMass and 1-3 Hawaii, the Pac-12’s punching bag.
Last week: Sixth, W vs. Hawaii 21-12
This week: Saturday at Cal
_______________
Follow James Kelley on Twitter @jameskelley520