/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61527097/usa_today_11301966.0.jpg)
BOTTOM 11
WEEK TWO
We all know Oregon has the best fans, atmosphere and mascot, so in this weekly article we rank the other PAC-12 schools. Think of it like a power ranking, but incredibly biased and fueled by pettiness, insecurity, hate and fear.
This week, we’ll focus on who had the most painful conference loss, behind Oregon of course.
Rest assured, the huskies will always be ranked at the bottom of the bottom.
No. 12 - washington huskies (3-1, 2-0)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142377/usa_today_11304136.jpg)
OPPONENT: @ Arizona State Sun Devils
RESULT: Win, 27-20
Jake Browning finally had a game in which he did not look like rain-soaked garbage. The noodley-armed quarterback was 15/22 for 202 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Despite ASU’s persistence, the huskies were able to close out the hard fought game through good clock management and a stout defensive performance, especially by senior linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven who finished the game with 20 total tackles.
Fun Fact: Ted Bundy is uflubs most famous alumnus.
NEXT UP: # 20 BYU
No. 11 - STANFORD CARDINAL (4-0, 2-0)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142381/usa_today_11304004.jpg)
OPPONENT: @ Oregon Ducks
RESULT: Win, 38-31
The luckiest, snobbiest team in the world fell ass-backwards into a win. Their fan was ecstatic.
NEXT UP: @ #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
No. 10 - ARIZONA WILDCATS (2-2, 1-0)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142383/usa_today_11302436.jpg)
OPPONENT: @ Oregon State Beavers
RESULT: Win, 35-14
Playing the Beavers’ defense is the perfect way to bolster any FBS team’s offensive stats, and Arizona took full advantage of their opportunity. The Wildcats ran for 442 yards in Corvallis, enough yards to make both J.J. Taylor (27 car, 284 YDS, 2 TDS) and Gary Brightwell (13 car, 113 YDS, 1 TD) look like Heisman candidates.
Speaking of Heisman candidates, Kevin Sumlin continues his idiotic quest to turn his legendary rushing quarterback into a mediocre passing one. Khalil Tate finished 9 of 17 with 152 yards in the air and a touchdown while rushing for (-9) yards on FOUR carries.
NEXT UP: USC Trojans
No. 9 - USC TROJANS (2-2, 1-1)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142449/1037569160.jpg.jpg)
OPPONENT: Home against Washington State Cougars
RESULT: Win, 39-36
It wasn’t pretty, but freshman quarterback JT Daniels and his misfit gang of 5-stars found a way to pull out the win. A field goal before the half brought the Cougars’ lead to just one score, and a big fourth quarter paired with a Jay Tufele blocked field goal sealed the comeback victory.
The Trojans will leave the friendly confines of the Coliseum (where they are riding an 18-game win streak) to play the Wildcats. The PAC-12 South is still wide open, but the biggest motivator for Clay Helton and Kevin Sumlin will be the torch-wielding mob that awaits the loser of this game.
NEXT UP: @ Arizona Wildcats
No. 8 - CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (3-0)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142451/1033964704.jpg.jpg)
OPPONENT: BYE
The Golden Bears returned to their cave to await the Ducks. #24 California has an opportunity to gain some serious momentum entering conference play with a win. IF they are able to pull the upset at home, their likely wins over UCLA and Oregon State would end their two-year bowl-less streak.
NEXT UP: # 19 Oregon Ducks
No. 7 - COLORADO BUFFALOES (3-0)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142457/1033932154.jpg.jpg)
OPPONENT: BYE
The Buffs have taken a week off and are more than ready to decimate UCLA. There’s always the chance that Chip has something up his sleeve, since he’s also had a week to strategize, but it may not matter when Steven Montez and the Colorado faithful unite at Folsom Field. Are the undefeated Buffs serious contenders in the wild South?
NEXT UP: UCLA Bruins
No. 6 - UTAH UTES (2-1, 0-1)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142459/1039764460.jpg.jpg)
OPPONENT: BYE
The Utes-Cougs matchup this Saturday will say a lot about the winner. Have the Utes found a way to score more than 21 points a game? With an extra week of practice, is it possible their defense is good enough to limit Gardner Minshew and the passing game? We’ll find out.
NEXT UP: @ Washington State Cougars
No. 5 - UCLA BRUINS (0-3)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142493/1034162352.jpg.jpg)
OPPONENT: BYE
The Bruins need to find a way to score points quick, because the Buffs shouldn’t have any trouble lighting up the scoreboard at home. This is a great opportunity for Chip to rekindle some of his preseason momentum. It’s also a great way not to go 0-12, which appears to be more of a possibility the more we learn about this team.
NEXT UP: @ Colorado Buffaloes
No. 4 - ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (2-2, 0-1)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142495/1038230162.jpg.jpg)
OPPONENT: @ washington huskies
RESULT: Loss, 27-20
Despite the fact that they lost to the fuskies, Arizona State is the most entertaining program in the conference right now. They are not only the embodiment of PAC-12 after dark, they are also a team that looks like they can hang with just about anybody.
Their last three games have all been decided by a touchdown or less. Their upset win over MSU earned some national attention, their 28-21 loss to the Aztecs came through a chaotic series of events that some would say robbed the Devils their overtime, and this week’s PAC-12 matchup saw Herm’s team hang with a top ten opponent.
They’re scrappy and disciplined on defense, and the Manny Wilkins-N’Keal Harry combo is deadly. RIP Oregon State.
NEXT UP: Oregon State Beavers
No. 3 - WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (3-1, 0-1)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142499/1037569194.jpg.jpg)
OPPONENT: @ USC Trojans
RESULT: Loss, 39-36
The Cougs were so very close to starting their season 4-0, but Mike Leach fell short of recreating last year’s outstanding six-game win streak to start the season. Still, Gardner Minshew was so impressive that I decided to do a minuscule amount of research into his name, which is not Gabe, the name I called him in last Week’s Bottom 11.
Gardner, not Gabe, Minshew has adapted to Washington State’s air raid offense seamlessly. If the transfer from ECU continues tio improve (154/217, 1547 YDS, 11 TD, 3 INT), then Wazzu may be able to put up numbers on even the best defenses in the PAC-12.
...perhaps Gardner can plant the seeds of success in Pullman.
NEXT UP: Utah Utes
No. 2 - OREGON STATE BEAVERS (1-3, 0-1)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142511/usa_today_11302426.jpg)
OPPONENT: Home against Arizona Wildcats
RESULT: Loss, 35-14
Welp, the Beavers finally lead the PAC in something; Unfortunately for the Beavers, it’s this week’s misery-based Bottom 11 (behind the one and only Oregon Ducks, of course.) After achieving their first victory in over a year, followed by a close loss to Nevada, Oregon State slipped back down to the floor of the pit of misery.
The Positives: Conor Blount has been... serviceable. Six different receivers caught at least one pass. Jalen Moore racked up 13 solo tackles, though a safety being your leading tackler can also be a bad sign.
The Negatives: Blount committed two of Oregon State’s three fumbles. The Beavers only amassed 97 yards on 44 carries. A quick glance at their schedule confirms It only gets harder from here on out.