Around the Pac-12: Week 2
Week 2 is a big one for the Pac-12. Four ranked teams look to defend their positions, while six -- five from the north division -- search for their first win of the season. Here’s the latest headlines from the conference.
Rocky starts along the pacific coast
Last Saturday was a nightmare for the Washington Huskies. They dropped their home opener 13-7 against the Montana Grizzlies -- an FCS team that was paid $675,000 to make the trip to Husky Stadium. As a result, the formerly twentieth-ranked Huskies plummeted out of the AP Top 25 ahead of a road matchup with Michigan this weekend.
Washington isn’t alone at least, as Arizona, California, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State also took defeats in Week 1. Arizona fell to BYU, Cal was upset by Nevada, Oregon State fell short against Purdue, Stanford got stomped by Kansas State and Washington State blew a lead against Utah State. After disappointing openers, all six 0-1 teams will look to rebound while the season is still young.
UCLA debuts in AP Poll at No. 16
The UCLA Bruins made a huge statement last Saturday, topping then-sixteenth ranked LSU 38-27. It’s a signature win for head coach Chip Kelly, who has gone 12-21 since joining the Bruins in 2018. Kelly and his squad were rewarded with their first Top 25 placement since September of 2017.
UCLA will enjoy an early season bye this week before hosting Fresno State next week. The Bruins still have tests against Arizona State, USC and Oregon on the schedule, but it is an encouraging start nonetheless.
Game of the Week: No. 12 Oregon at No. 3 Ohio State
The game circled on everybody’s calendar is the contest between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. Both teams enter at 1-0, but after having some trouble against unranked opponents.
The Ducks dodged an upset against Fresno State, coming from behind to win 31-24. As a result, they slipped down one spot in the Top 25. Meanwhile, Ohio State had a very close game in Minnesota last Thursday, managing to pull away and win 45-31.
After allowing nearly 300 yards passing to Fresno State, the first priority for the Ducks has to be stopping the Buckeyes’ passing game. Receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson could give Oregon’s secondary headaches if they aren’t prepared. Offensively for the Ducks, they will need to see a big time performance by quarterback Anthony Brown. His dual-threat ability could be a challenge for a new-look Buckeye defense, as the Ducks hope to exploit it.
No. 14 USC and Stanford battle in first conference game of the season
The Pac-12 conference opener pits Stanford against No. 14 USC, who are 17.5 point favorites on Saturday. The Cardinal faithful are looking for anything to cheer for after last week’s 24-7 disappointment against Kansas State. Meanwhile, the Trojans look to build off a solid 30-7 victory against San Jose State.
For Stanford to pull a road upset, they’re going to need much more explosive offense. Quarterback Tanner McKee was a modest 15-of-18 for 118 yards and a touchdown, which did not complement a running game that amassed just 39 total yards last Saturday. Getting more production is easier said than done, however, as USC’s defense was outstanding against San Jose State.
It’s a lot easier to win football games when you score points, so that has to be a focus for the Cardinals.
Underdog of the week: Colorado vs No. 5 Texas A&M
The Colorado Buffaloes get what may be their toughest test of the entire season, as they welcome the fifth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies to town. The Buffs did enjoy an easy 35-7 victory against Northern Colorado, while the Aggies rolled past Kent State in a 41-10 win.
The two team’s offenses are similar, as both have first-year starting quarterbacks and excel at running the football. Last week, they combined for just under 600 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Both teams will look to establish this same identity, however the Aggies’ passing game is no slouch either. The versatility of the Aggies offense will be a big challenge for Colorado.
Sam Woloson is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email skw5753@psu.edu.
