The Pac-12 did not disappoint this week, as two of the four games were decided on the final play and all four provided varying degrees of excitement. Oregon is now at least three games above every Pac-12 North team, but the South is much more competitive. Utah is currently fifth in the Pac-12 South despite their 7-3 record and top 25 national ranking. Four of the six teams in the Pac-12 South have two conference losses, and all of those teams have a legitimate chance to win the division. Oregon is now the only realistic College Football Playoff contender from the Pac-12 left.
Pac-12 Week 12 Analysis
Game of the Week:
Oregon State 35, Arizona State 27
With national and conference implications in mind, this game was the Pac-12 game of the week. Arizona State led by 10 points at halftime, but Oregon State dominated the second half scoreboard. Michael Doctor returned an interception for a touchdown to seal the game for Oregon State with a little more than a minute and a half left. Arizona State lost their chance to play in the inaugural College Football Playoff and they lost their control over the Pac-12 South. Arizona State now needs USC or Stanford to defeat UCLA, as UCLA holds the tiebreaker over them. However, Arizona State will still be a nationally ranked team and they still have a good chance to face Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
This monumental upset was just what Oregon State needed to salvage their season. The running game led Oregon State to victory, as Terron Ward and Storm Woods combined for 273 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. They currently sit at 5-5 with tough matchups against Washington and Oregon on the schedule next. They need one more win to become bowl eligible now, and the Pac-12 could have 10 bowl eligible teams if they make it.
USC 38, Cal 30
USC comfortably led for most of the game but predictably struggled in the fourth quarter. Like many other games this season, the fourth quarter was a struggle for USC because of the severe lack of depth. However, they were able to hold on and improve to 7-3, keeping their Pac-12 South hopes alive. They need Arizona State to lose one of their final two conference games against Washington State or Arizona to win the division. Finishing second in the Pac-12 South would still give them a quality bowl game though, and important rivalry games against UCLA and Notre Dame lie ahead.
Cal dropped to 5-5, and they are still looking for that elusive sixth win to become eligible for a bowl game. They struggled tremendously in the first half, but fought hard until the finish. Home games against Stanford and BYU provide them with solid opportunities to become bowl eligible in the coming weeks. A win over Stanford would put them at second in the Pac-12 North until Washington catches up.
Arizona 27, Washington 26
This game was an excellent candidate for game of the week, as Arizona won in stunning fashion. With the victory, Arizona kept their chances to win the Pac-12 South alive. They still need USC and UCLA to lose another conference game, but their chances are alive nonetheless. Inconsistent kicker Casey Skowron came through this time, as he nailed the game-winning 47-yard field goal as time expired. Skowron missed the first attempt, but luckily for him, Washington head coach Chris Petersen called a timeout before the snap. They will finish the season with two difficult games against Utah and Arizona State.
As for Washington, this loss was absolutely demoralizing. They dominated the time of possession and total yardage, but came up just short in the end. After a 4-0 start to the season, Washington has gone 2-5 in conference play. Since their schedule includes 13 games, they still need one more win to become bowl eligible. With Oregon State and Washington State left on the schedule, they have a good chance to finish 8-5 in Petersen’s first season, but nothing is certain in the Pac-12.
Utah 20, Stanford 17 (2OT)
I could have easily put this game as the game of the week, as Utah won in double overtime with a game-winning touchdown pass to Kenneth Scott. The win will keep Utah in the national rankings, and their slim Pac-12 South chances were kept alive when Arizona State lost. Another tough game against Arizona is on Utah’s slate next week, but they get to finish the regular season against Colorado. With one of the most difficult schedules in the country, a three-loss Utah team with a few impressive wins would get into a quality bowl game.
Stanford has been the most disappointing team in the Pac-12 this year, and they suffered another heartbreaking loss here. Stanford dropped to 5-5 on the season, and this is the third game that they have lost by only three points. Although they were ranked 11th in the AP preseason poll, Stanford may not even play in a bowl game this year. That is astounding considering Stanford won the conference championship last season. To become bowl eligible, they will need to defeat either Cal or UCLA in the upcoming weeks.
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