Utah can clinch Pac-12 South division with win vs. Colorado

Published

Here are some things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:

GAME OF THE WEEK: Colorado at No. 6 Utah. The Utes are the Pac-12’s lone hope to make the College Football Playoff after Oregon lost to Arizona State last weekend. Utah will have plenty of motivation on Senior Day, but the Buffaloes will want this one, too. Colorado earned a 20-14 win over Washington last week and another win would make the 5-6 Buffaloes bowl eligible.

MATCHUP OF THE WEEK: Oregon State at No. 14 Oregon. The Beavers can earn bowl eligibility status with an upset over the Ducks. Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton has had an impressive season with 2,714 yards passing, 28 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He’ll go against an Oregon defense that struggled against Arizona State in a stunning 31-28 loss.

TAKING A BREAK: USC is the only team in the Pac-12 that’s not playing this week. The Trojans finished the regular season with an 8-4 record, including a 7-2 mark in conference play. USC could still play in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon if the Utes are upset by Colorado on Saturday. The more likely scenario is the Trojans finish one game behind Utah and wait to find out their bowl destination.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: USC safety Talanoa Hufanga had a career-high 18 tackles in Saturday’s 52-35 win over UCLA. That’s the most for a Trojans player since Troy Polamalu had 20 tackles in the 2001 Vegas Bowl. ... Utah RB Zack Moss has run for at least 100 yards in seven games this year, including five of the last six. ... Utah is No. 6 in the current CFP standings, Oregon is No. 14, USC is No. 22. ... All of the Pac-12’s teams have at least four victories this season. The only other time that’s happened in league history was 1965. ... Washington State QB Anthony Gordon has thrown for 4,920 yards, 45 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels: The freshman was outstanding in his team’s upset of the Ducks on Saturday, throwing for 408 yards and three touchdowns. Daniels was good for the entire game, but his 81-yard touchdown to Brandon Aiyuk in the fourth quarter on a third-and-16 was particularly spectacular. Daniels was the first Arizona State quarterback to throw for more than 400 yards since Mike Bercovici did it in the 2016 Cactus Bowl.

UPSET WATCH: No. 15 Notre Dame at Stanford. The Cardinal haven’t played particularly well over the past few games but their defense is usually good enough to keep them competitive. Notre Dame is coming off three straight lopsided wins over Duke, Navy and Boston College.