ASU Football: 2017 Pac-12 Week Two Power Rankings
By Sam Ficarro
After an undefeated Week One for the Pac-12, our ASU football coverage team conducted our Week Two power rankings with familar teams staying atop the poll.
It was a fascinating first week of the 2017 college football season with ASU football defeating New Mexico State 37-31.
The Pac-12 went 11-0 in Week One and is 12-1 overall with Stanford winning last week in Australia versus Rice and Oregon State 1-1.
Our ASU football coverage team of Alec Henden, Ethan Schmidt, Hunter Robinson, Jordan Kaye, Killian McClatchey, Sam Ficarro and Zach Pekale conducted our Week Two power rankings with the top of the poll similar to last week’s poll.
As we did last week, our poll begins in Los Angeles.
Power Rankings: Week 1
1. USC Trojans
The Pac-12 South favorites got off to a shaky start as they were taken to the wire at home by Western Michigan. With the game tied at 28 with 7:54 remaining, the Trojans outscored the Broncos 21-3 to start 1-0.
Best moment of the weekend came from this game as USC sent blind long snapper Jake Olson to snap a PAT on USC’s final touchdown. Olson was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week.
Well done, USC.
A moment that touched a nation.@USC_Athletics' @JakeOlson61 is the #Pac12FB Special Teams Player of the Week: https://t.co/gLf4D5PIkd pic.twitter.com/4Llw76r9Oz
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 5, 2017
2. Washington Huskies
The Pac-12 North favorites opened up the season across the country to face Rutgers Friday night. Similarly to USC, Washington got off to a slow start leading 10-7 at halftime, but pulled away in the second half outscoring the Scarlet Knights 20-7.
Quarterback Jake Browning finished the game with 284 passing yards and two touchdowns, while UW’s defense forced two turnovers thanks to two interceptions from Scottsdale native and freshman defensive back Byron Murphy.
3. Stanford Cardinal
Stanford enjoyed Week One at home on a bye week after defeating Rice in Sydney, Australia last week. The Cardinal will open up Pac-12 play Saturday at USC, and they’ll be well-rested for the showdown.
4. Washington State Cougars
The Cougars opened up the season ranked for the first time since 2002 and didn’t let the ranking add pressure as they pitched a shutout versus Montana State 31-0.
Quarterback Luke Falk was 33-for-39 passing, 311 yards and three touchdowns while the Cougars defense held Montana State to 143 yards of total offense. Competition will toughen this week as they’ll host Boise State Saturday night.
5. UCLA Bruins
Here’s the first change from last week’s rankings. UCLA completed one of the greatest comebacks in college football history coming back from 44-10 down in the second half versus Texas A&M to win 45-44.
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Quarterback and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week Josh Rosen threw four touchdowns in the fourth quarter including the fake snap game-winning touchdown pass with 43 seconds remaining. Next up for UCLA will be Hawaii at home.
6. Oregon Ducks
New head coach, same high-scoring offense. Willie Taggart won his first game as Oregon head coach with a 77-21 win over Southern Utah.
The Ducks finished the game with 703 total yards of offense as quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 281 yards and one touchdown and running back Royce Freeman ran for 150 yards and four touchdowns. Next week’s game will be much tougher as they welcome former Oregon State head coach Mike Riley and Nebraska to Eugene.
7. Utah Utes
Utah made the surprising decision to start Tyler Huntley at quarterback over incumbent starter Troy Williams. The Utes offense didn’t miss a beat as they defeated North Dakota 37-16.
Huntley threw for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception as wide receiver Darren Carrington II finished with 127 yards and one touchdown. Utah will play a rivalry game Saturday at BYU.
8. Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado defeated Colorado State in the Rocky Mountain Rivalry Friday 17-3 despite the Rams playing the previous week versus Oregon State.
Running back Phillip Lindsay rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown with quarterback Steven Montez throwing for 202 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Rivalry games are always tight, so Colorado should perform better versus Texas State Saturday.
9. California Golden Bears
In probably the biggest upset of the weekend, Cal, under first-year head coach Justin Wilcox, went into Chapel Hill and defeated North Carolina 35-30 thanks to sophomore quarterback Ross Bowers.
Bowers shredded the Tar Heels defense throwing for 363 yards and four touchdowns while wide receiver Vic Wharton III with five receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown.
Cal will have their home opener Saturday versus Weber State.
10. Arizona State Sun Devils
“He led us to 1-0.”
Those were the words of head coach Todd Graham when asked about quarterback Manny Wilkins’ performance as the Sun Devils began the season with a win over New Mexico State.
It was not the prettiest games as Graham made the decision to pull all the starters after ASU built a 37-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Wilkins looked completely healthy throwing for 300 yards and two touchdowns while running back Kalen Ballage rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown.
The Sun Devils will have to play better versus San Diego State Saturday after making the game closer than it should have been albeit featuring second units.
11. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona faced Northern Arizona in their home opener and routed the Lumberjacks 62-24 in which the Wildcats had 595 yards of total offense.
The Wildcats had eight rushers combine for 506 rushing yards as quarterback Brandon Dawkins threw for only 89 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
Arizona’s defense, which allowed 562 total yards, will look to improve Saturday as they’ll host the Houston Cougars.
12. Oregon State Beavers
The only consensus ranking in our Week Two power rankings was the Beavers at No. 12.
After losing at Colorado State last week, the Beavers played in a hard-fought battle versus Portland State squeaking out a 35-32 win.
Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton threw for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception with lone touchdown pass the game-winner with 1:08 remaining.
Next: ASU football: JoJo Wicker explains Thursday’s lack of substitutions
The Beavers are now 1-1 and will host Minnesota Saturday to begin a brutal stretch for Oregon State.