Huge surprise – Ka’Deem Carey’s 366-yard rushing performance earned him the nod for Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week. Who are your other Pac-12 Players of the Week? UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr and Oregon State kicker Trevor Romaine.
The Black Mamba is just that good and the Oregon secondary is just that banged up that De’Anthony Thomas might play defense for the Ducks against Stanford. He practiced a little bit on that side of the ball in preparation for the Rose Bowl last year.
Numerous award watch lists have been trimmed down to a pool of semifinalists. A couple of ones that concern the Pac-12 are Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ selection as a John Mackey Award semifinalist, along with Stanford’s Zach Ertz and UCLA’s Joseph Fauria. Three conference wide receivers have made the Biletnikoff Award semifinalist list – Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks, Arizona’s Austin Hill and USC’s Marqise Lee.
Hey who would’ve guessed this headline three years ago? USC coach Lane Kiffin is the last line of defense for the SEC to get back into the national championship game picture. USC potentially has two unbeaten teams left on their schedule – if the Trojans take care of Notre Dame and (potentially) Oregon, Ashley Atwell and the Alabama Crimson Tide will finagle their way back into the national championship game, provided they win out. Or maybe even a one-loss Nic Lloyd Georgia Bulldogs squad could sneak in as well. What’s up with all these SEC people infiltrating the Pac-12 offices? [Editor's note: Seriously.]
UCLA’s 13-9 win over USC in 2006 is unforgettable for both teams, as it was a huge upset victory for the Bruins that cost the Trojans a shot at playing in the national championship game for a third consecutive year.
When former Arizona quarterback Nick Foles took a snap for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, he became the first Wildcat quarterback since Bill Demory in 1973 to take a snap in an NFL regular season game. Demory is glad his record is over.
After regressing in Seattle, Utah will need a leap of improvement to beat Arizona and stay in the bowl picture.
A tough loss on The Farm for the Beavers, but Oregon State has no regrets at Stanford and is moving on to Cal.
Grades, grades, grades. Jon Wilner hands out a B+ to Stanford and a D to Cal, while House of Sparky determines position group grades for Arizona State’s loss to USC. Tuesday has unofficially become Grading Day on the Pac-12 Post.
To say Colorado has had a trying season would be an understatement, but the Buffaloes have two more chances to avoid further infamy - Colorado hasn’t gone a whole season without winning at home since 1920, and the Buffs’ two remaining games are at home against Washington and Utah.
More on the Marquess Wilson situation in Pullman – Washington State AD Bill Moos went on Cougar Calls and supported Mike Leach, while Leach has denied Wilson’s accusations of abuse. More on this as it develops.