The No. 6 Oregon Ducks (10-1, 7-1 Pac-12) dissected every aspect of the Arizona State Sun Devils (3-8, 2-6 Pac-12) in their 49-13 win last Saturday. Week 12 was the final week of the college football regular season in which each Pac-12 team was in action. Who were the winners and losers as the season took one step closer to its close?
No. 5 Washington survives No. 11 Oregon State with gutsy 22-20 win
In a sloppy and scrappy game, the Huskies (11-0, 8-0 Pac-12) fended off a late push by the Beavers (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12) to punch their ticket to the Pac-12 Championship Game. Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze were on the same page all night long as the pair connected for seven receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Washington looks to keep its playoff hopes alive in a matchup with in-state rival Washington State (5-6, 2-6 Pac-12) next week.
Oregon State played the Huskies well and kept them close, but three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) sunk the Beavers on Saturday. Oregon State’s final home game of the season was an exciting one for the home fans in rainy Corvallis. While the loss eliminated Oregon State from Pac-12 Championship Game contention, the Beavers could still play spoiler for the Ducks in Eugene on Friday night.
No. 17 Arizona continues hot streak with 42-18 win over No. 22 Utah
If Oregon doesn’t take it to Vegas for the Pac-12 Championship Game, it’ll be the Wildcats (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12) that play the Huskies for the crown. Arizona dominated the Utes (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) all game long on Saturday, taking advantage of several Utah mistakes to win its fifth-straight game, four of which have come against ranked opponents. The Wildcats could earn their Pac-12 Championship Game bid with a win over Arizona State in Week 13 paired with an Oregon loss.
Utah’s season has hit a slide recently with the Utes now having lost three of their last four games. A blocked punt that turned into an Arizona touchdown coupled with two Utah interceptions made the Utes’ win over a red-hot Wildcats team impossible. Utah doesn’t have much to play for in Week 13, having already clinched bowl eligibility, but looks to extend Colorado’s (4-7, 1-7 Pac-12) losing streak next Saturday.
USC’s woes continue in 38-20 loss to UCLA
In one of college football’s most storied rivalries, the Bruins (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) took their turn exposing a USC (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12) team that has fallen off the face of the earth. UCLA recorded three takeaways to hand the Trojans yet another loss. The Bruins will take on California (5-6, 3-5 Pac-12) next Saturday.
The Trojans started the season as the clear favorite to win the Pac-12 with a decent chance to make the College Football Playoff, especially with Caleb Williams as quarterback. Instead, USC had one of the worst defenses in the country, lost five of its last six games and will have to settle for a mediocre bowl game appearance. The Trojans don’t have any more regular season games and should instead use Week 13 to try and figure out what in the world happened to a team that was supposed to be great.
Washington State dominates Colorado in 56-14 win
The Cougars snapped their six-game losing streak to earn a thumping victory over the struggling Buffaloes on Friday night. Washington State could still earn bowl eligibility with an unlikely upset-win over Washington next Saturday.
Despite all the offseason and early-season hype, Colorado looks primed to finish last in the conference for the second-straight season. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders exited the game in the first half with an injury and things didn’t get any better for the Buffs after that. Colorado now has five straight losses and plays Utah in Salt Lake City next Saturday.
Cal earns rivalry win 27-15 over Stanford
Cal kept its bowl dreams alive with a win over its biggest rival. The Golden Bears collected 455 total yards of offense on Saturday. They can still make it to a bowl game if they can knock off UCLA on the road next Saturday.
For Stanford (3-8, 2-7 Pac-12), Saturday’s game only mattered for bragging rights in a storied rivalry that dates back to 1892. The Cardinal still lead the series 60-47-10 all-time but have now lost three straight to the Golden Bears. Stanford hosts No. 19 Notre Dame (8-3) in Week 13.