With the Pac-12 schedule getting into full swing, the first batch of power rankings as voted by the Emerald sports desk:
1. Oregon — (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205679319@@
The Ducks’ stock rose considerably last week thanks to a shutout performance against one of the Pac-12’s strongest offensive attacks.  The 49-0 demolition of the Wildcats was enough to move the Ducks ahead of LSU and into second place in the AP Poll and demonstrated that the Ducks are still the class of the conference. @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings@@
2. Stanford — (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/24/stanford-cardinal@@
Nobody knew quite what to expect out of the Cardinal in the first year of the post-Andrew Luck era, but the Cardinal showed they were still a legitimate threat in the Pac-12 North when they beat the No. 2 Trojans for the fourth time in as many years. This week the Cardinal travel to Seattle for a Thursday night tilt with Washington. @@checked the past 4 years: http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/stan-m-footbl-sched.html@@ @@http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/stan-m-footbl-sched.html@@
3. USC — (3-1, 1-1 Pac-12) @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/30/usc-trojans@@
USC’s title hopes took a serious hit with its loss to Stanford, but the Trojans bounced back last week against California despite a less than stellar outing from Matt Barkley.  The Trojans ground out nearly 300 yards rushing in their 27-9 win over the Golden Bears with Silas Redd and Curtis McNeal each rushing for over 100 yards. @@http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/usc-m-footbl-sched.html@@ @@http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/12usc04.html@@
4. Oregon State — (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12) @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/204/oregon-state-beavers@@
The Beavers may be the hardest team to judge in the Pac-12 simply because they’ve only played two games. The Beavers home opener was cancelled when Nicholls State couldn’t travel due to Hurricane Isaac and a bye week in week three, which means Mike Riley’s team have played half as many games as most of the rest of the country — but each of those games is a win over a ranked team. @@http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/riley_mike00.html@@
5. UCLA — (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12)  @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/26/ucla-bruins@@
A new head coach had Bruin fans optimistic about UCLA football for the first time in recent memory and running back Johnathan Franklin’s explosive start — 541 yards through three games — was only adding to that enthusiasm until Franklin and the Bruins were shut down last week by Oregon State, knocking them out of the top 25 just two weeks after they broke into the poll. @@http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/franklin_johnathan00.html@@
6. Washington — (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12)
The only Pac-12 side yet to begin conference play, Washington had 12 days to prepare for No. 8 Stanford after a 52-13 win over Portland State. The Huskies traveled to LSU in the second week of the season and couldn’t find the endzone in a 41-3 loss. @@http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/wash-m-footbl-sched.html@@
7. Arizona — (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) @@http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ariz-m-footbl-mtt.html@@
Rich Rodriguez’s fast-paced offense was putting up nearly 50 points per game and led the Wildcats to a big win over then-No. 18 Oklahoma State, but that Sept. 8 win must feel a long way away after the ‘Cats were blanked by the Ducks in their Pac-12 opener.
8. Arizona State — (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12) @@http://www.thesundevils.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/asu-m-footbl-sched.html@@
The Sun Devils have been downright stingy on defense, giving up just 12.8 points per game, and they’ve been none too shabby offensively either, scoring 41.3 points per game of their own. But in their only game against a tough opponent, the Sun Devils lost on the road to Missouri in their only close game of the year.
9. California —  (1-3, 0-1 Pac-12) @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/25/california-golden-bears@@
Jeff Tedford’s team isn’t as bad as its 1-3 record would indicate. The Bears played a gutsy game in one of the most intimidating venues in college football in a 35-28 loss to Ohio State in Columbus and held Matt Barkley to under 200 yards passing with two interceptions in their loss to USC.
10. Utah —  (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/254/utah-utes@@
The Utes haven’t had any problems winning games so far this year, provided that they’re at home. On the road it’s been another story, with the Utes losing to Utah State and Arizona State.  Utah has this weekend off to prepare for No. 13 USC, who they play next Thursday.
11. Washington State — (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/265/washington-state-cougars@@
Washington State took a huge hit last week with a rather embarrassing loss to Colorado, but Mike Leach’s pass-first (and second, and third) offense are enough to give the Cougars the edge over Colorado despite the head-to-head loss.
12. Colorado — (1-3, 1-0 Pac-12) @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/38/colorado-buffaloes@@
The Pac-12 doormat somehow eked out a win over Washington State last week but it wasn’t enough to make anybody forget about the 665 yards and 69 points the Buffs surrendered to Fresno State or the fact that the Buffs lost to an FCS team the week before that.