Week 6 in the PAC-12
What appeared to be an underwhelming slate of games turned out to be possibly the most exciting weekend of the season so far in the PAC-12. Let’s take a look at how a series of tight games unfolded in Week 6:
Week 6 Results:
Washington State 17 @ 25 UCLA
Colorado 27 @ 24 Arizona State
Oregon State 52 @ 40 Cal
Arizona 41 @ 43 USC
Top three games from Week 6:
Arizona @ USC
This was a game Arizona could, and should, have won. USC found themselves down 17-0 early in the first half as QB Noah Fifita and the Arizona offense came out all guns blazing. Questions continue to be asked of USC’s defense but they eventually found their feet and slowed down Arizona enough to allow Caleb Williams and the offense to pull themselves back into the game and enter halftime at 17-14.
Despite statistically being his worst performance of the season, Caleb Williams found ways to succeed in clutch situations including a failed ‘tush push’ that ended with Williams rolling out left with a defender on his back and stretching over the goal line for the score.
Big runs from Jonah Coleman, who totalled 143 yards on the night, allowed the Wildcats to drive down the field before Fafita found Jacob Cowing for the touchdown and Tetairoa McMillan for the subsequent two-point conversion to tie the game. Arizona had the chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter with a 50-yard field goal but Tyler Loop pulled it left of the uprights.
USC could have wrapped the game up in regulation were it not for a bad snap on what would have been the game winning chip-shot field goal as the clock ran out. What followed was a shootout that spanned three periods of overtime. USC struck first as Williams ran it in from 23 yards on a zone read but Arizona matched their touchdown and head coach Jedd Fisch decided to tie it up with a PAT rather than try for two to end the game there and then.
Fafita hit Cowing for the touchdown in the second OT period but the two-point attempt was knocked away by safety Calen Bullock. Austin Jones found the endzone for the Trojans but Williams couldn’t get it Brendan Rice for the two pointer.
Under the new college OT rules, the third period is a straight up two-point shootout. USC lined up in an unconventional formation with the linemen bunched on the left sideline. Williams took the snap and ran it in, just getting the ball over the pylon as he was knocked out of bounds. On Arizona’s attempt, Fafita pitched ball left to DJ Williams who was swallowed up by Trojans defenders before he could get anywhere near the goal line, leaving USC to walk off victorious.
Colorado @ Arizona State
Arizona State started hot, scoring on a touchdown on their opening drive to take the lead as QB Trenton Bourguet ran it in on short yardage. Colorado responded in kind as Shedeur Sanders handed it off to Xavier Weaver on a deceptive jet-sweep for the touchdown. The teams exchanged touchdowns again as Cameron Skattebo punched it in for the Sun Devils before Sanders ran it in from twenty yards out for the Buffs. ASU managed to squeeze in a field goal to take a 17-14 lead into the halftime break.
After a tough but scoreless third quarter, Sanders found Javon Antonio in the endzone on a tight throw in man coverage for the score. Xavier Weaver returned a punt to the 25-yard line to give Colorado great field position but they had to settle for a field goal. ASU kicker Dario Longhetto pushed his field goal attempt wide left leaving the deficit at seven. However, the Sun Devils defense stood firm and forced Colorado to punt before Bourguet led a 95-yard drive culminating in a strike to Troy Omeire to draw the score level.
Colorado was left with fifty seconds on the clock. Sanders made the most of that time by hitting Antonio for a 43-yard pass to put them instantly in field goal range. Colorado escaped Tempe with their first win against a conference opponent in eight games as Alejandro Mata put the ball between the uprights from 43-yards for the game winning score.
Oregon State @ Cal
Cal appear to have found their quarterback going forward after Fernando Mendoza brought a newfound intensity to the Golden Bears offense. Mendoza is the Golden Bears third starting QB of the season but looks to have secured the gig after a solid 207-yard, two touchdown performance.
This was DJ Uiagalelei’s strongest game so far for Oregon State as he threw for 275-yards and five touchdowns. Beavers tight end Jack Velling had himself a game, pulling in three of those touchdown passes. Surprisingly, one of the other passing touchdowns was caught for a two-yard score by defensive lineman Isaac Hodgkins
Cal was strong on the ground, running for 241 yards and three touchdowns collectively against the Oregon State defense. The Golden Bears managed to keep it close for the majority of the game, entering the fourth quarter behind by just three points at 35-32. Ultimately their defense couldn’t hold Oregon state as they scored seventeen points in the fourth quarter to Cal’s eight.
Top Performances of Week 6:
Passing: DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State: 19/25, 275 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT v Cal
Receiving: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona: 6 recs, 138 yards, 23 AVG v USC
Rushing: Jonah Coleman, Arizona: 22 carries, 143 yards, 6.5 AVG v USC
Defense: Laiatu Latu, UCLA: 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL v Washington State
Power Rankings after Week 6:
1. Oregon
2. Washington
3. Oregon State
4. USC
5. UCLA
6. Washington State
7. Colorado
8. Cal
9. Utah
10. Arizona
11. Arizona State
12. Stanford
Oregon and Washington remain clear favourites to win the conference and there was nothing to change this during their bye week. USC slip down a place due to the worries about their defense and unconvincing manner of their win over Arizona. Oregon State jump above the Trojans as they announce themselves as contenders with a high-scoring victory. Some mid-table shuffling as UCLA rise to fifth and Washington State drop below them.
Games to Watch in Week 7:
Oregon @ Washington
A real top of the table clash that could determine who takes home the PAC-12 championship crown at the end of the season. Quarterbacks Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. will duke it out against strong defences as they continue to prove themselves to be elite prospects.
Arizona @ Washington State
Arizona have demonstrated over recent weeks that they can keep pace when facing teams with dynamic offenses and will test Washington State’s defense, especially if Noah Fafita continues to start. Cam Ward and the Cougars will be hoping to bounce back and regain some of their early season swagger after struggling against a stout UCLA defense.
USC @ Notre Dame
Notre Dame are reeling after Louisville handed them their second loss of the season. Despite this, the experience of QB Sam Hartman will be a real test for the flailing USC defense when they make the trip to South Bend.