Week 11 Pac-12 North power rankings
WSU retains top spot while Oregon continues mid-season collapse
November 13, 2018
Here is how the Pac-12 North teams stack up after week 11.
1. No. 8 WSU (Last week: 1)
WSU continued its dominant season Saturday, taking down University of Colorado 31-7.
The WSU offense started slow but couldn’t be stopped late, scoring 31 unanswered points to close out the game. Quarterback Gardner Minshew II had another high-flying game, passing for 335 yards and two touchdowns and remaining the only quarterback in the country with at least 300 passing yards in every game this season.
After allowing a first quarter touchdown, WSU’s defense buckled down, allowing only 297 total yards of offense while forcing three turnovers. Colorado was forced to punt the ball eight times and never threatened after its first-quarter score.
WSU (9-1, 6-1) hosts University of Arizona at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
2. No. 25 [AP No. 17] University of Washington (Last week: 2)
Washington took its bye last week. The Huskies (7-3, 6-2) host Oregon State on Saturday.
3. University of California, Berkeley (Last week: 3)
Cal gained bowl eligibility this weekend, defeating University of Southern California 15-14 to end a 14-game winless streak against the Trojans.
Cal started slow, allowing a pair of touchdown passes from freshman quarterback JT Daniels while failing to score in the first half. The Golden Bears’ offense remained anemic, passing for only 93 yards, but they did enough to get the win by scoring two touchdowns and a safety in the third quarter to secure the upset.
Cal’s defense allowed less than 20 points for the fourth-straight game. The Golden Bears also forced two turnovers and held the Trojans to 277 total yards.
California (6-4, 3-4) hosts Stanford on Saturday for the 121st Big Game.
4. Stanford University (Last week: 5)
Stanford needed a get right game and Oregon State was exactly what the doctor ordered. The Cardinal rolled by the Beavers 48-17.
Stanford started hot, scoring 34 first-half points and the Cardinal offense was dominant all game, amassing 596 total yards and 244 rushing yards. The team only turned the ball over once and punted three times.
The Cardinal defense held Oregon State to 17 points despite giving up substantial yardage. Stanford allowed 404 total yards, but a 5-15 third down conversion rate allowed the Cardinal to hold the Beavers in check.
Stanford (6-4, 4-3) travels to Berkeley, California, for the Big Game on Saturday.
5. University of Oregon (Last week: 4)
The disaster of a dream season continued for the Ducks as Oregon fell in Salt Lake City to University of Utah 32-25.
Oregon’s offense started off stone cold, scoring just one touchdown in the first half. Junior quarterback Justin Herbert did regain his footing in the second half, putting together an efficient night with 288 passing yards and three touchdowns.
The Ducks’ defense had a night to forget in Utah. Oregon allowed 494 total yards of offense, including 232 rushing yards. Junior running back Armand Shyne led the way on the ground against the leaky rush defense, carrying the ball 26 times for 174 yards.
Oregon (6-4, 3-4) hosts Arizona State University on Saturday.
6. Oregon State University (Last week: 6)
The Beavers recorded their eighth loss of the season with a 48-17 defeat in Palo Alto to Stanford.
Despite putting up 404 total yards of offense, the Beavers couldn’t find a way to score. Oregon State converted only 33 percent of its third down attempts, a number that does not lead to success. The Beavers were quite balanced on offense, but 17 points rarely equates to a win in the Pac-12.
Oregon State’s defense was a nightmare, allowing 596 yards of offense. The Cardinal ran all over the Beavers, rushing for 244 yards.
Oregon State (2-8, 1-6) travels to Seattle to play Washington on Saturday.