Inside the Pac-10 - Week Fifteen

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

No. 5 USC @ UCLA

While it is clear that Bruin Coach Neuheisel has a great deal of work to do, the Bruins showed that they have the will to play hard. However hard work alone cannot win conference championships and the Bruins are clearly lacking in the talent department compared to their cross-town rivals. UCLA was unable to repeat their stunning upset victory of two years ago and were run over by a Rose Bowl-bound Trojan squad, 28-7.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft did a better job protecting the ball than he did in previous weeks. However he and the rest of Norm Chow’s crew were unable to generate any offense against the smothering USC defense.

The Trojan offense had no such issues, piling up nearly 500 yards of offense. UCLA could not stop either phase of the USC attack as quarterback Mark Sanchez compiled 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns while the ground attack was led by Joe McKnight’s touchdown and 99 yards. Overall the rushing attack

With the win, USC secured its seventh straight 11-win season and a slot in the Rose Bowl for the fourth year in a row. While the Trojans had hopes for a National Championship, they will have to settle for a second trip to Pasadena and a battle against a much tougher opponent.

Washington at California

With their 48-7 annihilation at the hands of the California Golden Bears, the Washington Huskies have just finished one of the worst seasons in their school’s history, becoming the first Pac-10 team to ever go winless. They have now lost 14 straight games going back to last season. The winless Huskies allowed California running back Jahvid Best to run up a stunning 311 yards and four touchdowns. Best galloped for186 of those yards and three of his TDs before halftime.

Best’s record broke the old record of 283 yards and will add to his overall season total --already the fourth best in school history--when the Golden Bears head to the Emerald Bowl on December 27th.

Coach Tyrone Willingham finished his tenure as coach of the Huskies with yet another loss and the school is expected to announce on Monday that USC Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian will be their next Head Coach.

Arizona State at Arizona

With their victory over the Arizona Sun Devils, the Arizona Wildcats secured their first winning season since 1998.

Led by a superb game from senior quarterback Willie Tuitama, who totaled 284 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the Wildcats inflicted a 31-10 beating on their in-state rivals. Running back Nic Grigsby continued his solid play as well, contributing 114 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Arizona defense stepped up, with cornerback Marquis Hundley intercepting a Rudy Carpenter pass and returning it all the way to the Arizona State 34 to set up Grigsby’s touchdown. Special teams contributed to the win as well. Mike Thomas’ dynamite 52-yard punt return for a touchdown highlighted their efforts.

Still, both teams looked relatively sloppy for much of the night, especially in the first half where they committed an excessive amount of penalties and made numerous physical errors .

As has often been the case during his career, Carpenter was under constant pressure and the Arizona State running game was nonexistent, unable to top more than 38 yards.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (USC)

Pac-10 Preview - Week Thirteen

Oregon State (7-3, 6-1) @ Arizona (6-4, 4-3)
The road to the Rose Bowl for Oregon State continues through Arizona and the Wildcats are not ones to be taken lying down.

Quarterback Willie Tuitama has played well this season compiling 2,321 yards and 18 touchdowns to only seven interceptions. Sophomore running back Nic Grigsby has been streaky, one week topping 180 yards and the next unable to get more than 50 or finding himself benched. The Wildcats will need to their ‘A’ game if they are to keep up with the dynamic Beaver offense.

The Oregon St. offense is led by the Rodgers brothers, with freshman running back Jacquizz getting it done on the ground to the tune of 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns and his older brother wide receiver James is a threat both through the air (603 yards and four touchdowns) and on the ground (250 yards and four touchdowns). Between the two of them, the Wildcats’ defense will certainly have its hands full. Jacquizz Rodgers has topped 100 yards in seven of his last eight games.

If the ‘Cats can knock off the Beavers, they may get a nice note and a Rose bouquet from the Los Angeles area.

Washington (0-10, 0-7) @ Washington State (1-10, 0-8)
It’s been a rough year for the lovely state of Washington, with both schools struggling badly throughout the season. While the Cougars have managed a single victory, neither team has put one in the “W” column in conference play.

Washington has been unable to get much going in the way of offense in part because of their issues at quarterback position. Neither offense is effective – it won’t be pretty. But expect the passion to be as high as ever.

Stanford (5-6, 4-4) @ California (6-4, 4-3)
The Cardinal need just one more win to become bowl eligible, however there is no guarantee they will get it against their rival Bay Area school. Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard continues to struggle protecting the ball, which not only hurts the offense, but the defense as well – too often the opposing team finds itself with good field position.

If they turn the ball over to the Cal offense they will surely regret it. Running back Jahvid Best has played well since he returned from a one game absence due to injury, topping 100 yards in three out of his last five games. Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley have split starts at quarterback for the Golden Bears to middling effect with Riley getting the last start against Oregon State. Both signal callers have had their troubles protecting the ball just like Pritchard and as is often the case with the Stanford Cardinal of late, this game will likely turn on who can protect the ball best.

This Date in College Football History

Nov. 21, 1992: Playing through a snow storm in Pullman, Washington State upsets No. 5 Washington 42-23 in the Apple Cup series. Trailing 7- 6 after the half, Cougars' quarterback Drew Bledsoe (18-30, 160 yards, two touchdowns) rallies team as Washington State scores four touchdowns in the third quarter to seal the win.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Inside the Pac-10 - Week Twelve

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#6 USC 45 - Stanford 23
Four three quarters, USC had themselves another scare as the Stanford Cardinal kept pace up until the last frame when the Trojans ran off with the game.

USC again seemed to come out disjointed and undisciplined, compiling penalty after penalty as they did last season. Stanford dominated the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense, frustrating USC even further.

But as the game went on, the Trojans calmed down, cut the penalties out and wore the Cardinal defense down with a very effective rushing attack led by Stafon Johnson’s 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Both teams were keenly aware of last year’s upset in Los Angeles, despite the best efforts of Coach Carroll and Coach Harbaugh to downplay its significance or the significance of this game.

In the end, Stanford was unable to win the game needed to become Bowl Eligible for the first time since 2001. USC was able to keep pace with Oregon State, who still owns the Pac-10 conference lead.

Oregon State 34 - California 21
With this win over Cal, the Oregon State Beavers have once again found their way into the tail end of the BCS Top 25. However, that is likely not half as enjoyable as the continued lead they have over the USC Trojans in the Pac-10. Oregon State has only to hold serve for two more games in order to lock up the title, traveling to Arizona and then facing the Oregon Ducks in their yearly showdown.

The tale of Oregon State’s victory over the California Golden Bears once again centered around the Rodgers brothers, Jacquizz and James.

Younger brother Jacquizz put on another display of rushing prowess, compiling 144 yards and a touchdown while running the ball with the elusiveness Pac-10 fans have marveled at for the entire season. Older brother James was a frequent target of quarterback Lyle Moeveo but also added two touchdowns, one on the ground and one on an 86-yard kickoff return right after Kevin Riley threw his only touchdown.

California had their own weapons on display as running back Jahvid Best had his most effective outing since October 25th against UCLA, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Kevin Riley threw for 117 yards but found himself sacked five times.

Oregon State kept that pressure up all game and it was definitely a factor in the pair of turnovers California had, and in the Bears’ inability to get up from the mat in the fourth quarter.

Arizona State 31 - Washington State 0
Rudy Carpenter and the Sun Devils continued their solid play as Carpenter threw for 213 yards and a trio of touchdowns in the shutout of the hapless Cougars.

While Carpenter was on his back three times in this match-up, he was able to keep the offense moving through the air. The success of the aerial attack in turn created room for the running game to compile 141 total yards, which in turn created even more room and time for Carpenter to get the ball to his receivers--offensive rhythm indeed.

The Cougars were unable to get anything going, compiling just 123 total yards and only seven yards on the ground. Washington State almost scored midway through the first quarter, but missed a field goal and barely sniffed the Sun Devil side of the field again.

With his three touchdowns, Carpenter now has 80 for his career, placing him third in Pac-10 history in total touchdown passes.

Oregon 55 - Arizona 45
In what became a wild shootout, Oregon ran out to a big first half lead, only to see the Wildcats surge back late… then fade again as Duck’s running back LeGarrette Blount made a 40-yard dash to the house with just under four minutes left in the game.

But for the Ducks, the story was quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who had a tremendous night. Masoli threw for a career high 298 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 89 yards and a trio of touchdowns—a solid all around game to say the least

Arizona had a tremendous comeback led by freshman Keola Antolin’s four touchdowns, three of which came during the fourth quarter surge. Quarterback Willie Tuitama continued his recent trend of turning the ball over, doing it twice. The turnovers almost overshadowed an otherwise great game, as the senior complied 328 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

But in the end, the game was sealed by Blount’s fourth quarter touchdown which not only won the game but allowed Blount to tie the Oregon record for touchdowns in a single season at 15.

UCLA 27 - Washington 7
The Bruins got the job done on the ground and on the defensive side of the ball, racking up 157 yards on the ground and forcing five turnovers in Coach Rick Neuheisel’s triumphant return to Husky Stadium.

However, it wasn’t all fun and games for Neuheisel, who must be frustrated overquarterback Kevin Craft’s continued inability to protect the football. Craft threw three interceptions but fortunately for him and the Bruins, Washington only scored as a result of the first and then lapsed into its usual mistake filled and inept brand of football.

Washington couldn’t mount anything resembling an offense, barely putting together 135 total yards. The passing game couldn’t amass more than 39, a true mark of just how futile this team’s time on offense often is.

For the Bruins, senior running back Kahlil Bell ran for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns, leading a ground attack that totaled 157 yards in the game. Craft was able to rebound as well, putting together a solid 92-yard drive to close the third quarter out, setting up Bell’s touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Still, one of Neuheisel’s first jobs of the off-season will be to insure that he has a signal-caller who can protect the ball better. If he fails to do so, the Bruins will be facing more 4-6 seasons like the one they are going through now.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images, John Pyle (Brian Cushing)

Inside the Pac-10 - Week Eleven

USC 17, California 3
Defense was the word of the day as the only two top 25 teams in the Pac-10 clashed at the Los Angeles Coliseum with the Trojans prevailing. USC forced one turnover, but had two more overturned due to penalties. In fact, if there is one phase of the game USC continues to struggle with, it is penalties.

USC kept up its average of nine plus penalties per game with ten for 105 total yards. It is a bizarre problem for a Pete Carroll led team. Normally Carroll is able to keep his teams disciplined, but then again, that was part of the issue in the Trojans’ loss to Oregon State. A lack of focus has plagued USC in the last few seasons and nearly did them in again in this game.

But while there were stretches where the Golden Bears dominated the clock, they were unable to punch the ball in on any of their drives. In part it was because the USC defense was able to completely smother the Bears’ running game, holding Jahvid Best to just 30 yards and the overall the California run game to 27 total yards.

Mark Sanchez continued to play well and compiled 238 yards and a pair of touchdowns, though his first score to wide receiver Patrick Turner was bobbled. However, USC didn’t give anyone time to review the touchdown and kicked the extra point quickly.

With the victory, USC eliminated one of the threats to its Pac-10 Championship hopes, although Oregon State still controls its own destiny and has the conference lead.

Oregon 35, Stanford 28
Stanford nearly overcame an early two touchdown deficit, but a last second touchdown by Duck running back LaGarrette Blount won the game for the Oregon and likely ended Stanford’s hope for a major bowl bid.

Oregon won despite turning the ball over four times. While Stanford was able to move the ball both on the ground and through the air, they were unable to keep up with the Oregon offense.

Oregon had 451 total yards and while Stanford ate the clock up (their total time of possession was 39 minutes to Oregon’s 20 minutes) Oregon scored almost at will on the ground and was able to minimize the time of possession gap with a quick strike offense.

Near the end of the game, the score teetered back and forth with Stanford gaining the lead with 2:18 left on an Anthony Kimble touchdown run, only to see Oregon score the game winner on Blount’s second score of the day.

Arizona 59, Washington State 28
Arizona rebounded from its crushing loss against USC with a blowout of visiting Washington State, compiling 531 total yards of offense, 189 of them from running back Nic Gigsby.

The Wildcats poured it on all game scoring early and often, almost exclusively via the run game which the Cougars had no answer for. Five different backs and quarterback Willie Tuitama scored on the ground.

Washington State scored all of their touchdowns on the ground as well, but could not keep pace with the Wildcat attack.

With the win, Arizona keeps its hopes alive for a bowl bid, although any dreams of the Rose Bowl are long gone.

Oregon State 34, UCLA 6
The first half was a scare for Oregon State, as they entered the break tied with UCLA, 3-3. But the Beavers exploded in the second half, led by Jacquizz Rodgers’ 144 yards and touchdown. Teams still lack an answer to Rodgers’ speed, elusiveness and athleticism and it was all on display again Saturday.

When they weren’t pounding the ball on the ground, the offense moved the ball efficiently through the air, with junior quarterback Sean Canfield’s 222 yards and two touchdowns.

Bruins quarterback Kevin Craft had been able to protect the ball better the last few games, but reverted back to form, turning the ball over twice against Oregon St. The UCLA running game was completely ineffective, barely able to scrape 48 yards together despite using five different running backs.

With the win, the Beavers continue to lead the Pac-10, keeping pace with USC but owning the tie breaker over the Trojans by virtue of their head to head victory.

Arizona State 39 - Washington 19
For three quarters, the Washington Huskies hung with ASU and even briefly held the lead.

However, Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter led his team on two key scoring drives and extended Washington’s losing streak to 11, a school record.

Carpenter looked much more like the quarterback we saw early in the season and all of last year in the second half, and the Sun Devils finally gave him a rushing attack. Senior running back Keegan Herring finished the night with a 29-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter, but it was their senior quarterback who truly engineered the win, keeping cool under pressure and guiding his team downfield.

The Huskies pulled out all the stops, including a blocked punt, reverses, direct snaps-- everything but smoke bombs--to try and end their skid. But the offense fell apart during the second half, as quarterback Ronnie Fouch lost his touch and started having his throws going everywhere but to his receivers. At one point, Fouch missed nine throws in a row. The rest of the offense wasn’t much better as Washington reverted back to form and failed to score touchdowns on three trips inside the Sun Devils’ five yard line.

The Huskies did play well for parts of the contest, but in the end they watched their win slip away due to the steady hands and cool demeanor of Rudy Carpenter and his offense.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images; Chris McGuire (Patrick Turner)

Arizona State (1-4, 2-6) @ Washington (0-5, 0-8)

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

Arizona St. and Washington are suffering through long and painful seasons. The Sun Devils began with high expectations, the Huskies not so much.

Washington has not been able to notch a single win, leading to the ouster of head coach Ty Willingham at the end of the season. It is unlikely that the Huskies will be able to get things going against State this weekend. While quarterback Rudy Carpenter has spent much of the season dodging linebackers and defensive linemen, Washington has not been able to put together much of a pass rush. This may be the one game where Carpenter will come out with nary a grass stain on his jersey and less bruises than he came in with.

Arizona State’s defense should have a better than average day as well against a pretty lackluster offense. Both the pass and run phases of the Huskies’ offense are woeful. This is one game that should give Sun Devil fans something to cheer about, while Washington fans may simply long for a quicker end to the season.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Inside the Pac-10 - Week Ten

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 FOOTBALL

Washington (0-8, 0-5 Pac-10) @ #5 USC (7-1, 5-1 Pac-10)

USC stomped all over the Huskies as expected. They pretty much did everything right--they ran the ball for 297 yards, and quarterback Mark Sanchez moved the ball through the air with ease before Coach Pete Carroll chose to sit him down rather than risk an injury in a game that was well in hand. The Trojans committed some undisciplined penalties, but from whistle to whistle, they did everything within their power to move up in the BCS rankings. However, with the Pac-10 continuing to feast upon itself, their strength of schedule keeps dropping and so did their ranking. Despite the shutout, USC fell two spots to #7 in the BCS rankings. USC is unlikely to jump up again as their competition does not get more impressive going forward. All they can do is work towards another BCS Bowl bid and hope those in front of them stumble along the way.

Meanwhile the woeful Washington Huskies continue to find new ways to struggle and are now the only FBS team without a win. There isn’t a lot to say about the team that is positive. They have heart and a young core that will get better over time. A fresh attitude and a new coach may spark some life into these players but for this season, they just need to keep their heads up and keep fighting.

There was no letdown for the Trojans this weekend as they never took their foot off the gas. Perhaps a bigger win might have made a difference in the polls, but USC cannot get wrapped up in the computers, reporters and coaches who rank them. Their focus must be on winning the Pac-10 and getting themselves ready to finish the season strong.

#24 Oregon (6-3, 4-2 Pac-10) @ California (6-2, 4-1 Pac-10)

The conditions were awful this Saturday during the Golden Bears’ 26-16 win against the Ducks, but that didn’t stop California quarterback Nate Longshore, who replaced starter Kevin Riley and led the team to victory. The rain didn’t make either team look particularly attractive, though both teams were able to move the ball on the ground to some extent. For a large part of the game, the play was as bad as the weather as there were numerous turnovers, missed snaps and field goals for both teams.

Senior Duck running back Jeremiah Johnson ran for 117 yards and a touchdown while quarterback Jeremiah Masoli had a better day on the ground than he did through the air. Masoli threw two picks which certainly offset the advantage he gave the team with his 97 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

California running back Jahvid Best continued to play well in his second game back from injury, compiling 93 yards for the Golden Bears.

But it was truly Longshore’s day to shine. He and Masoli have been rotated in and out of the lineup during the season, but when California coach Jeff Tedford called on him, the senior stepped up and led his team to victory.

The Golden Bears have now won four of the last five meetings between these teams.

Washington State (1-8, 0-6 Pac-10) @ Stanford (5-4, 4-2 Pac-10)

The Cardinal made sure there was no letdown in Saturday’s game against the Cougars, trouncing them 58-0.

Junior running back Toby Gerhart put Stanford’s offense on his back and carried them to victory, posting an astounding four touchdowns to go with his 132 rush yards.

Washington State didn’t help themselves, turning the ball over five times and floundering in the run game, unable to top even 80 yards on the ground.

Washington State has now set a single-season record for most points allowed in Pac-10 play at 350. The previous owners of that dubious record – a California Golden Bear team that coughed up 333 points – will likely be sending them a thank you note.

Stanford kept its hopes for a share of the Pac-10 title alive as they stay one win behind USC along with the Oregon schools and #21 California.

Arizona State (2-6, 1-4 Pac-10) @ Oregon State (5-3, 4-1 Pac-10)

It was a closer game than the Beavers would have liked, but a late touchdown by ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter showed the Sun Devils still have some fire left in them despite a rough season.

Arizona State surged late but came up short when Carpenter’s two-point conversion attempt was intercepted, sending the Devils home with their fourth Pac-10 loss, 27-25.

ASU junior running back Shaun DeWitty finally gave the offense a ground attack, rushing for 110 yards on 16 carries and the positive effect his effort had on the Sun Devils’ passing attack was obvious. Carpenter had his best game in some time, throwing the ball 27 times and completing 15 for 217 yards and a touchdown despite being sacked a season high five times.

The senior quarterback led an 11-play, 72- yard drive, capped off by a three-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Pettes with 21 seconds left. On the ensuing two point conversion attempt, Carpenter was flushed from the pocket and forced to throw the ball up for grabs. Oregon State picked it off and that was the game.

The Sun Devils often looked undisciplined and were flagged for 10 penalties, totaling 80 yards.

For the Beavers, the win came with the cost of a second quarter injury to starting quarterback Lyle Moevao. Junior backup Sean Canfield was a bit of a revelation though, as he threw for 218 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He didn’t come without mistakes and his one interception was brought back for touchdown by Sun Devil safety Troy Nolan just moments into the second half.

Still as caretakers go, Canfield did an able job keeping things moving with some help from freshman running back monster Jacquizz Rodgers who continued his assault on Pac-10 run defenses, posting 133 yards on ASU.

Oregon State controls its own destiny--if the Beavers can sweep the rest of their conference games, they will win the Pac-10 Championship as they hold the tiebreaker over USC due to their upset of the Trojans earlier in the season.

Collegiate Images: Collegiate Images

Pac-10 Preview - Week Ten

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

Washington (0-7, 0-4 Pac-10) @ #5 USC (6-1, 4-1 Pac-10)

Two teams on opposite sides of the spectrum meet in the Los Angeles Coliseum this Saturday when the fifth ranked Trojans welcome the winless Huskies to another destination on the road to imperfection.

It’s hard to imagine things getting worse for Washington, but USC head coach Pete Carroll’s squad is 23-0 in games in November. The Huskies don’t run the ball well, don’t score often and can only move the ball through the air marginally well.

Oh, and the Huskies are now coached by a lame duck, as the school announced Monday that this would be Coach Ty Willingham's last season with the team. That doesn’t mean he or the team will quit working hard, but it continues to be an uphill battle. A hill that is nearly vertical, by the way, with few handholds and it’s been greased by oil for the last month.

Expect USC to run away with this one and it’s really just a matter of which poison the Trojans decide to administer. Will they have quarterback Mark Sanchez throw the ball against a reeling secondary or will they have the tailback core of McKnight, Johnson and Gable grind it out on the ground?

One word of caution to the Trojans, though. The last two times these teams have met, it was closer than expected (27-24 last season and 26-20 in 2006).

This is a game the Trojans shouldn’t lose. But that doesn’t mean they won’t find it tougher than expected. USC is desperate for big wins if they want back in the National Title hunt. Even if they win, they cannot allow the Huskies to stay close.

#24 Oregon (6-2, 4-1 Pac-10) @ California (5-2, 3-1 Pac-10)

The Oregon Ducks have fought their way back into the Top 25 BCS rankings, but won’t get a chance to rest on their laurels as a tough Golden Bears team awaits them in Memorial Stadium. The Ducks will not only be defending their ranking, but the Pac-10 conference lead they share with No. 5 USC.

Oregon will look to quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to lead them to a third straight win. Masoli, a sophomore transfer from City College of San Francisco, wasn’t even slated to be a factor this year, but finds himself in the driver’s seat after knee injuries took out Nate Costa and Justin Roper. Masoli took over and never looked back.

California has had its share of quarterback issues as well. Sophomore Kevin Riley took the job, then lost it to senior Nate Longshore for a pair of games, only to regain it last week in their 41-20 drubbing of UCLA. Riley will need to remain consistent and protect the ball against a Duck defense that can be opportunistic.

Oregon’s offense also features a pair of dangerous running backs in Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount who lead a rush attack that totaled 300 plus yards three times in the last four games. However, the Ducks’ unstoppable force meets the Golden Bears’ immovable objects this week. California’s defense has held opposing runners to less than 100 yards per game, so it will certainly be very interesting to see which side blinks.

Both teams are within sight of the Pac-10 lead (or at least a share of it) and both need to win in order to keep pace with USC. This will be one of the most competitive games in college football this weekend and is far and away the most intriguing game in the Pac-10.

Washington State (1-7, 0-5 Pac-10) @ Stanford (4-4, 3-2 Pac-10)

Stanford still has to be trying to figure out what happened in their loss to UCLA on October 18, as they managed to collapse late in the fourth quarter. The defense couldn’t finish the game, allowing the Bruins to drive down the field, score and burn nearly all the time left on the clock.

Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard needs to start protecting the ball better and cut down on his interceptions, five of which have come in the last three games. In their last game he was abysmal, barely cresting 51 yards. He should against the terrible Cougar defense.

Even if Pritchard struggles, the Cardinal can turn to junior running back Toby Gerhart, who has been having a solid season, topping 100 yards five times in eight games Stanford. Gerhart will be the focus of this offense and it is unlikely Washington State will be able to stop him even if they know where the play is being run.

Arizona State (2-5, 1-3 Pac-10) @ Oregon State (4-3, 3-1 Pac-10)

Oregon State has played very well in conference, not dropping a game in Pac-10 play since losing the opener to Stanford 36-28.

This is a team not to be underestimated. Led by freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers (812yards, nine touchdowns) and junior quarterback Lyle Moevao (1,779 yards, 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions), Oregon State has multiple weapons to move the ball against an underwhelming Sun Devil team which can’t keep it’s best weapon – quarterback Rudy Carpenter – upright long enough to return from any real deficit.

Arizona State needs to do something to protect Carpenter and fast. The offensive line has to find a way to not only give him time to get the ball off, but cut down on the hits he takes even after he has released the rock. It would also be a big help if the ground game could get going again. Last week they tipped past 100 yards total rushing for the first time since they did it against UNLV way back on September 19.

If the Sun Devils cannot get the run going, defenses can either blanket Carpenter’s receivers or blitz the heck out of the line and that has been exactly what opponents have done. It’s no wonder Carpenter has been hurt the last few seasons. It’s amazing he’s still alive.

Oregon State is trying to make a run at the Pac 10 title and maybe a ranking. Arizona State is just trying to get back to respectable.

Inside the Pac-10 - Week Nine

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#5 USC @ Arizona

For most of the game, the Trojans’ offense couldn’t get the job done, so it was up to Rey Maualuga and the USC defense to hold the fort in USC’s 17-10 victory in the desert. USC kept normally solid Wildcat quarterback Willie Tuitama to a mere 88 yards with no touchdowns and an interception thrown in for good measure. Trojan quarterback Mark Sanchez moved the ball between the 20s well and compiled 216 yards, but only threw for one touchdown (one interception), as USC scored a season low 17 points. It was USC’s defense that was the story, stopping the Wildcats several times late in the game, including a critical fourth-and-one in the final quarter.

Maualuga knew it was big, telling ESPN, "Guys were out there saying, 'This will determine who we are.' " While the offense didn’t seem sure, the defense made sure people knew who they were loud and clear….

UCLA @ California

For three quarters, the Bruins held their own against the Golden Bears, as both teams struggled offensively. But UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft threw four interceptions for the second time this season, a mistake his counterpart Kevin Riley did not make. In Craft’s defense, two interceptions were tipped and he wasn’t getting any help from his teammates.

Golden Bear running back Jahvid Best got back on track, rushing for 115 yards and a score. That performance, coupled with fellow tailback Shane Vereen’s 99 yards on 14 carries helped trigger a fourth quarter deluge of scoring that turned a close game into a 41-20 blowout.

Notre Dame @ Washington

It’s one thing to lose. It’s an entirely different thing to lose big. And it’s a concerning thing when you lose in a humiliating fashion in your own house.

With a significant lead, Notre Dame not only kept their foot on the gas, the threw a little sand in the face of former Fighting Irish Coach Ty Willingham’s face with five receiver sets and a fake punt. It’s not a crime against humanity, but is cold-hearted. The crowd certainly made their feelings known, booing loud and long after the fake.

Notre Dame certainly didn’t need trickery, as their defense held Washington to 124 yards total offense and only let up a score when things were well in hand late, winning 33-7. Husky quarterback Jake Locker was still sidelined with a broken thumb and his replacement Ronnie Fouch was ineffective, with five first half passing yards.

Charlie Weis defended his play calling after the game, saying to ESPN.com, “It's the third quarter. It's not 50-0. I'm not that type of guy. We yanked guys at the start of the fourth quarter. Their only touchdown at the end was against guys who never play.”

Having said that, it would be hard to find anyone who would argue they needed a fake punt up 24 points against one of the worst teams in the nation. If the above statement had come from USC, Ohio State, Texas or Alabama, people would likely be swinging from the rafters in outrage.

Oregon @ Arizona State

It’s not often a game is lost inside of the first two minutes, but when Oregon scored with 12:54 left in the first quarter, that was the case. Duck running back Jeremiah Johnson broke off a 43-yards touchdown run and Oregon never looked back, defeating the reeling Sun Devils 54-20.

Sun Devil quarterback Rudy Carpenter continued his struggles this weekend, throwing a pair of interceptions and compiling just 146 yards. The run game was again nonexistent, barely topping 100 yards and only contributing a touchdown, which Carpenter ran it in himself.

Meanwhile the Ducks dominated on the ground, led by a pair of Johnson touchdowns and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s 85 yards (one touchdown). The other half of the productive running back combo, LeGarrette Blount, added a couple of scores as well.

Arizona State’s offensive line got Carpenter hammered—again, allowing numerous pressures and hits on top of three sacks. They will not be able to turn things around if they do not straighten out their offensive line.

Photo Credit: Sam Haythorn (USC)

Pac-10 Preview - Week Nine

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#5 USC @ Arizona

A huge game for all involved, as this game features one team still shooting for the National Championship while the other would be more than happy to make it to the Rose Bowl.

USC is rolling, as they come off an incredible 69-0 shellacking of woeful Washington State. Mark Sanchez got back on track with an outstanding performance (253 yards and five touchdowns) and the run game also got moving again. If they aren’t smothering the opposition with their tough defense, the Trojans will blow them out with the eighth best scoring offense in the nation.

The Wildcats are not too shabby offensively themselves. Turns out they put together the ninth ranked scoring offense and despite USC’s tough defense, the Men of Troy could have some issues containing the excellent Willie Tuitama (1,691, 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions). One of the keys for Arizona will be whether sophomore Nic Grigsby can hang onto the ball and get his groove back. While freshman running back Keola Antolin had an outstanding game last week, he’s fairly unproven and if things get tough, Arizona might need Grigsby to step up and be a veteran presence at the tailback position this weekend.

Both teams need this game badly – the key could be who can adjust to the flow of the game more. Will Pete Carroll keep his guys moving forward or will Mike Stoops be able to motivate his team enough to put the nail in the coffin of USC’s National Title hopes?

UCLA @ CALIFORNIA

The Golden Bears have to be wondering just what happened last week when Arizona likely delivered the fatal blow to California’s Rose Bowl hopes. One would think that the visiting Bruins would be a lay-up for the home team, however that’s when teams need to be most careful. Coach Jeff Tedford must keep his guys focused, or rather re-focused, in order to avoid another loss, which would end California’s major bowl hopes altogether.

Senior Nate Longshore played well last week, though not quite well enough to pull the win out. Still he should have good day against a UCLA secondary that, while improved, still has a long way to go. Sophomore running back Jahvid Best returned from injury last week and performed well and should be able to keep it up this weekend as well.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft has slowly been improving week to week, but is still plagued by inconsistency. What is truly befuddling about Craft is his ability to play well when time is short. When there are mere minutes left, Craft can thread a needle and make a big play. When Craft is in the middle of a quarter and has plenty of time on the clock? He bounces passes, throws interceptions and has mental letdowns.

The Golden Bears should be able to overcome Neuheisel’s Bruins, but as Tennessee and Stanford can tell you, you can’t take them for granted.

Notre Dame @ Washington

Could Notre Dame get Ty Willingham fired twice? By the end of Saturday, we may see an answer to that as the winless Huskies welcome the Fighting Irish into their house of pain this weekend.

Unfortunately it’s only a house of pain for Washington and will continue to be so after Notre Dame leaves.

Coming off a disappointing loss to #22 North Carolina, Notre Dame will be looking to rebound and the Huskies will be just what the leprechaun ordered.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen started the season unable to protect the ball. But against the struggling Washington secondary, he should be able to get his rhythm back.

It’s going to be incredibly tough for Washington to make any headway against a relatively solid Notre Dame defensive unit. Whether it’s Ronnie Fouch, Jake Locker or a guy from the student section, the quarterback position has not been able to consistently move the ball, never mind get it into the end zone. The run game has also struggled quite often, although on occasion that is more because the Huskies are so far behind and they are forced to pass.

Oregon @ Arizona State

What happened to the Sun Devil season? At the start of the season, they were considered contenders for the Pac-10 title and maybe more.

But a loss to Georgia, an injury to quarterback Rudy Carpenter and the same shaky offensive line issues that have plagued them for some time have sent Arizona State into a tailspin that has been nearly impossible to pull out of.

Carpenter will play again this week and for an Oregon secondary and defense that has struggled a little, that may be the cure for what ails. Carpenter is a good quarterback when he has time, but he seems to lack some of the fire he had in the past and it certainly does not help that he gets hit as much as he does. At one point earlier in the season, it seemed as if the ASU offensive line had picked up its play. But by the time #3 Georgia came calling, it was beginning to look like it had been all smoke and mirrors. If the Sun Devils want to win, they need to keep Carpenter upright and allow him to get his rhythm back. Carpenter is the engine for this team and they haven’t been taking care of it, so it’s not running smoothly.

It doesn’t help that the run game is not effective. Opposing defenses need not fret about the run, so they are able to blanket the Sun Devil wide receivers and send their defensive line through the gaps in ASU’s line.

This is not to say Oregon is without flaw. If ASU can give Carpenter time to toss the ball downfield, he can make the Ducks pay. Carpenter is dangerous with the long ball and Oregon will need to keep him pressured and force him to go to his short routes.

Oregon can also help its own cause by continuing to run the ball effectively. The tandem of LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Johnson keep the ball moving down the field and grind up the clock. Like Carpenter does for ASU, the Ducks pair is what makes this offense goes. The pass game works best when it works as a compliment to an effective run attack, rather than as the focus of the offensive game plan. In short, they are better when they pass because they want to, rather than because they have to.

If Arizona State can get out to an early lead and force the Ducks to the air, it’s conceivable that they can send Oregon home with a loss.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Inside the Pac-10 - Week Eight

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#6 USC @ Washington State

Trojan quarterback Mark Sanchez threw for an amazing five touchdowns and 253 yards as USC punched the Cougars in the face in their own house, 69-0. It was the biggest shutout for USC since they beat Montana by the same score in 1931.It was the largest Cougar loss since 1894.

Both are pieces of history Washington State would have preferred to not find out about. By the end of the first half, USC was up by 41 points and still marching down the field, only to take a mercy knee to end the half. Coach Pete Carroll had pulled many of his starters after one quarter, only allowed Sanchez to play two and a half quarters and basically ran short run plays the rest of the game.

And USC still scored 28 more points.

The USC stable of running backs totaled 362 yards and the pass game, 263. Washington State could manage only 116 yards for the game.

USC's defense was able to force three turnovers and completely dominated the Cougars in every aspect of the game, even when the defensive starters had joined the offensive starters on the sideline.

Just because history is fun: this was the first time since 1971 the Trojans have recorded consecutive shutouts, and the first time the Cougars were shut out since 1984, ending their 280-game streak which was second only to Michigan's 306.

Again, more history Washington State would rather have not learned about.

#25 California @ Arizona

The Wildcats got back on the right track against Cal this weekend and kept the Pac-10 close with a 42-27 stunner over the #25 Golden Bears.

California's best player, running back Jahvid Best, returned after missing a game with a dislocated elbow and did his part with 107 yards and a touchdown on the ground. But it was another running back who stole the show Saturday night.

Wildcat freshman Keola Antolin ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns, leading Arizona back from a 24-14 halftime deficit. Antolin, a player only the most well-informed Wildcat fans knew anything about, came in when starter Nic Grigsby fumbled on his first carry. Grigsby has had ball control problems and by the end of the game it was clear the Wildcats had themselves a running back competition. It didn't hurt that the Golden Bears admitted they had little or no tape of Antolin to prepare for.

Cal linebacker Anthony Felder told ESPN.com, "We didn't see any of him on tape. The whole thing (preperation) was Grigsby."

Coach Stoops told ESPN that Grigsby will continue as the starter for now "unless he wants to continue putting the ball on the ground." Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Running back drama aside, the Wildcats came out fighting in the second half, holding California to just a field goal while the offense put up 21 points and got another touchdown on a Devin Ross interception of a Nate Longshore pass.

The Golden Bears left Arizona stunned by the loss and while they’re not out of the Pac-10 Championship picture, this was a large set-back.

Arizona gets another big test this weekend as USC comes calling.

Stanford @ UCLA

Perception is an amazing thing. For the most part, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel was very unhappy with quarterback Kevin Craft, nearly yanking him after a fumble which led to a Stanford touchdown. In addition to the fumble, Craft was pressured often, sacked seven times, and threw a pick.

But then Craft completed six passes and the game winning touchdown with 2:22 left in the fourth quarter to win the game 23-20.

What a difference a play makes.

Overall this game featured two programs trying to stay respectable. Both teams made some big mistakes and both teams had some standout performances. Aside from Craft's tough last minute drive, Cardinal running back Toby Gerhart ran for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns. On the other hand, Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard couldn't get his pass game going and the Bruin rush game was also wildly ineffective.

Both teams are still clearly trying to find their paths and Saturday gave us an indication that while things are looking up, the Cardinal and the Bruins have a long way yet to go.

Oregon State @ Washington

Washington's disastrous season continued as Oregon State stuffed them at home, 34-13.

Beaver freshman running back phenom, Jacquizz Rodgers, continues to befuddle and bewitch opposing run defenses, this time totaling a fairly pedestrian (for him at least) 94 yards and a touchdown. His older brother, James, showed everyone that Jacquizz isn't the only runner in the family, compiling 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just three carries. That was on top of the three receptions for 53 yards and another touchdown.

It didn't matter which brother had the rock, the Huskies had no answer for anything Saturday as they extended their winless season. The way things looked for Washington, the Beavers could have just lined both brothers up, direct-snapped to them and still won this game fairly easily.

There were a few minor bright spots for the Huskies, as quarterback Ronnie Fouch was able to move the ball well up and down the field, even if he never found the end-zone and turned the ball over multiple times. And they led briefly in the first quarter after a field goal. It was only the second time Washington has led in a game this season (they led BYU in the second game of the season).

When things are as grim as they are in Husky Stadium, you get the sunshine where you can.

Photo Credit: Chris McGuire (USC)

Pac-10 Preview - Week Eight

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#6 USC @ Washington State

When USC dropped their game to Oregon State, it was the sort of loss that has plagued the Trojans over the last few years. After the loss, Pete Carroll and his team vowed to remain focused and not get caught in another trap game.

As bad as Washington State has played, the Trojans cannot afford to take them for granted, although it’s hard to imagine a scenario where USC loses to the woeful Cougars. Wazzu has lost their starting quarterback, Marshall Lobbestael, to a knee injury, which will sideline him the rest of the season and their offense has been barely able to move the ball with Lobbestael in, so one wonders how poorly the passing game will be now.

However USC has its own problems, namely a lingering injury to quarterback Mark Sanchez. Last weekend, he not only battled a bone bruise in his left knee, but had problems protecting the ball, throwing three interceptions.

If Sanchez can cut down on the mistakes and USC’s defense can continue its sharp play, this game should be an lay-up for the Trojans.

Then again, that’s what some said about the trip Corvallis.


#25 California @ Arizona

The Golden Bears have finally returned to the top 25, over a month after their September 13 loss to Maryland knocked them from the rankings. The Bears now head to Arizona to meet a Wildcats team, which couldn’t keep its unbeaten Pac-10 streak intact last weekend against Stanford. This match-up has vital implications for the Pac-10 conference championship as Cal is still undefeated in conference play and Arizona needs to win to get back up on top. Neither team can afford to let USC creep up on them if the Trojans continue to win within the conference after rebounding from their own loss to Oregon State.

The Wildcats were the highest scoring Pac-10 team until last week, when they struggled to complete drives, especially late in the game. The question about Arizona was how they would hold up against better competition. The answer was certainly not to their liking and quarterback Willie Tuitama will have to get that offense back on track against a much more potent defense than they have seen to date.

The Golden Bears hope to have stud running back Jahvid Best back from a dislocated elbow. Best has a national best average of 215 all-purpose yards per game and is ranked second in the Pac-10 with 105 yards per game on the ground. If Best is back, he will add to an offense which is also returns senior QB Nate Longshore. Cal’s offense is just getting healthy and the defense is coming off of its best game all year, a game against ASU where the Golden Bears stifled Sun Devil quarterback Rudy Carpenter and forced three turnovers.

Arizona has a very tough challenge ahead this week, their greatest test yet. The Golden Bears are peaking just in time for the trip to Arizona Stadium.

Stanford @ UCLA

Stanford comes into the Rose Bowl hot off its win against the Arizona Wildcats. However, it was a Pyrrhic victory for the Cardinal as they lost their starting quarterback in the process and the key to this week’s game may be whether Tavita Pritchard can return from his injury. The junior signal caller had his bell rung hard at the end of the first half against Arizona and was replaced by Jason Forcier, who didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard.

While Pritchard has struggled at times, he is a more consistent option than the other two choices; the ineffective Forcier and junior Alex Loukas, who was more effective with his feet than his passes.

The Bruins are a slowly developing team, making fewer mistakes and improving each week under coach Rick Neuheisel. Quarterback Kevin Craft is taking good care of the ball and limiting his mistakes, while the defense seems to be forming into a reliable – if not intimidating – unit.

Stanford has the weapons to win this game, with a solid but unspectacular running game and the ability to move the ball through the air. But without Pritchard, UCLA may be able to sell out to stop the run and make one of the less able backups beat them through the air.

And that may be a game the Bruins can win.

Oregon State @ Washington

As bad as Washington State is, they can probably take solace in the fact that they are not the worst team in Washington, much less the Pac-10. I mean, at least they have a win, even if it was Portland State.

The Washington Huskies don’t even have that going for them and it won’t get any better over the next three weeks as they play Oregon State, Notre Dame and USC.

The ugly starts this weekend with the visiting Beavers who have played some tough competition to get to 3-3. Of their six games so far, three of their opponents were ranked and the Beavers beat the best of them (then #1 ranked USC) and nearly beat #15 Utah. While the men from Corvallis have struggled at times, they have proven they can play hard.

Nobody brings more to the table than phenomenal freshman Jacquizz Rodgers. It is hard to imagine the ineffective Husky run defense finding a way to slow, much less stop, someone who much better ranked teams have failed to stop. Rodgers is so good he makes you forget that the team can pass, but junior quarterback Lyle Moevao has been moving the ball pretty consistently and has compiled more than 1,500 yards so far this season. He is prone to streaks of bad mistakes, even against bad teams – for example, his four interceptions against the previously mentioned Washington State defense. Still, Moevao usually takes good care of it and Oregon State can move the ball.

Washington is reeling and it may be all coach Tyrone Willingham can do to keep his job, much less eek out a win against one of the more prolific offenses in the Pac-10.

Between the Hashes: Debating Season

GOOD EVENING MEMBERS of the college football nation. We would like to welcome you to this Football Forum “Debate” hosted by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.

Moderator: Lets start with the gentleman from the “Heart of America”. What is your position on APR (Academic Progress Rates)?

Kansas Coach Mark Mangino: I'm in favor of the APR. But I'm concerned about the student athletes that just didn't have the resources in high school to prepare them for the challenge of college. Does that mean they shouldn't have an opportunity to go to college? I don't think so. In fact, I know so. Every young man and young lady should have an opportunity to get an education if they want to, and if it's because of an athletic scholarship, I think that's great.

Moderator: Can we here from the gentleman from the south, Dr. T.K. Wetherall (Florida St. University President)?

Dr. Wetherall: Once you make that commitment to admit that student, I think that student deserves every opportunity that any other student would get, including while they're in high school. Now, that violates a number of NCAA rules. We have a program called “Care at Florida State”. You look at U.S. News & World Report, you'll see we're actually graduating African American students at a higher rate than we are white students at one of the highest rates in the nation. The reason we're doing that is the programs we put in place before they get to Florida State. But if I send those same counselors out to talk to a football player, I'm going to be slapped with some kind of a violation. That doesn't seem right to me. But you've got to take the chains off of us if we're going to deal with those students.

Moderator: Coach Jim Tressel, representing the great state of Ohio. What’s your take on recruiting younger players?

Coach Tressel: I know what's happening in our state, a lot of the schools from out of the state, colleges from out of state, are coming in and just offering all kinds of sophomores. We really haven't gotten to know them as well, and it puts a little bit of heat on us being the home school and all that, so it's put a little bit of -- all of a sudden now you're trying to find out more about that 010 guy or 011 guy. I'm hoping we don't get into the eighth and ninth grade deal, but everything in this world is getting faster.

Moderator: I turn to the man from the great northwest, Coach Ty Willingham. What needs to be done to increase the number of African American coaches?

Coach Willingham: We need programs of all natures to develop a coaching pool. We need programs that teach the skill sets that are needed. But you also -- we must have legislation. I think it's clear. We're not changing the numbers based on how we've done it in the past. So therefore it's necessary to have something not to mandate that a president or an athletic director hire an African-American or a minority, but at least they have an opportunity to sit down and then you expand the pool and can determine what young men are capable, and maybe they create another opportunity through that interview in itself. We've gone too long with the numbers the way they are, and to sit around and explain them and rationalize them, and we could be coming up with all the different programs, they're good, they're necessary, but we have to change the face of what we're doing, and the only way to do that is legislation.

Moderator: Lets go to the state of Texas, Coach Gary Patterson of TCU, what are your thoughts on a playoff?

Coach Patterson: If you think the playoff system is going to be fun for the kids except for the team that wins the final game, we'd all be kidding ourselves because you put the amount of -- every ballgame is a National Championship game. It's going to be -- because to get to the next round, so you're talking about six hard days of work, we let them take one day off, somewhere we'll work finals in between all of it, and then yeah, we'll end up with the National Championship winner, but there's not going to be anybody else happy.

Pac-10 The Week That Was - Week Six

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#15 Utah vs Oregon State
The Beavers came into the game giant killers and nearly left with another notch on their belt as Utah needed an 11-point surge in the last minute and a half to avoid USC’s fate. But despite Beaver quarterback Lyle Moevao’s 313 yards and two touchdowns, the Utes sent the Beavers home with a 31-28 loss. Still, it took a late field goal by Utah to win and it is clear that the Beavers are a dangerous team, especially with Jacquizz Rodgers running wild. The Quizz Show dashed for 101 yards and a touchdown against the Utes. Rodgers also added 76 yards receiving, proving that he is much more than just a scintillating runner. The Oregon State defense also came up big with a pair of turnovers and stifled the Utah offense in the third quarter. In the end though, Utah quarterback Brian Johnson was able to lead his team down the field and get kicker Louie Sakoda in position to win the game.

Stanford @ Notre Dame
Stanford offensive tackle Chris Marinelli may want to stop giving press quotes, especially those boasting that his team will "mash" the opposition. The “opposition” sent his Cardinal packing 28-21. Fighting Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen took a big step forward in his development this week with a huge game against the visiting Cardinal, totaling 347 yards and a trio of touchdowns. After building a 28-7 lead in the first three quarters, the Irish had to hold off a late Stanford surge as junior quarterback Tavita Pritchard led the Cardinal offense on two fourth quarter scoring drives, but couldn’t quite overcome the huge deficit. With just eight seconds remaining in the game, Stanford fumbled the ball away, sealing the win for the Irish.

Arizona State @ California
It was bad enough that Arizona State continued its losing streak in California’s Memorial Stadium, losing 24-14. It was bad enough that the run game was once again non-existent, totaling a meager 71 yards. But the worst thing was the once-again-ineffective offensive line finally got quarterback Rudy Carpenter hurt. The very tough Carpenter was seen leaving the stadium on crutches and said he had hurt his left ankle, although he did not disclose when it happened. Carpenter absorbed many hard hits and was limping at the end of the game. For a team about to face USC, losing its only real weapon would be devastating. Nearly as devastating was the loss to the Golden Bears which just about killed the Sun Devils’ chances for a repeat Pac-10 title (ASU shared the title with USC last season). California wasn’t exactly dynamic on offense either, but senior quarterback Nate Longshore threw three touchdowns and freshman Shane Vereen filled in admirably for the injured Jahvid Best, totaling 93 yards on the ground. Defensively, Cal not only stifled the run and kept the pressure on Carpenter and his receivers, but also intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble. The Golden Bears head off to a pretty tough test of their own, facing Arizona in a battle of two teams with perfect conference records.

Washington @ Arizona
At some point, do the woeful Huskies get a Mulligan on the season? Embattled coach Tyrone Willingham could sure use one as Washington got trounced by the Wildcats 48-14. Really, it wasn’t even that close as Arizona running back Nic Grigsby ran for 113 yards and a touchdown and tight end Rob Gronkowski tied a school tight end with three touchdown receptions of his own. Arizona did whatever it wanted on both sides of the ball as it improved to 2-0 in conference play.

#9 USC vs #23 Oregon
For a while, it seemed like USC was about to relive the meltdown in Corvallis all over again. But at 7:47 in the second quarter, Trojan quarterback Mark Sanchez completed a pass to Damian Williams for the first of his three touchdowns and USC rolled to a 44-10 victory. Sanchez, who totaled 341 yards, left briefly after he twisted his knee while being sacked, but returned to the game after backup Mitch Mustain came in for a brief period and looked OK. In post game interviews, Sanchez sounded optimistic that his injury would not hold him out of next week’s game against Arizona State. The Trojans also looked back in terms of defense, limiting the tough running Duck duo of Jeremiah Johnson and LaGarrette Blount to 45 total yards (Blount had 9 carries for 0 yards), and the entire Ducks offense to just 239 yards. The USC defense kept the pressure on Duck quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, keeping the sophomore signal caller and his receivers on their toes.

Washington State @ UCLA
Coach Rick Neuheisel’s Bruins were efficient on both offense and defense and quarterback Kevin Craft continued taking good care of the ball as UCLA took advantage of a staggering Washington State, 28-3. The Cougars were unable to slow the Bruins down, allowing them 325 total yards. Not only did Washington State turn the ball over, they were flagged for 8 penalties totaling 69 yards and could not get anything going on offense at all, achieving only 11 first downs and 177 total yards in the loss.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Pac-10 Preview - Week 6

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

Stanford at Notre Dame

"I grew up with a bunch of Irish and Italian Catholic people back home. And all the Irish Catholic people, all they talk about is Notre Dame this, Notre Dame that," said Stanford offensive tackle Chris Marinelli. "And they've never even been there, ya know. So I hate those guys, I hate that school."

That doesn’t even need to be posted on the Notre Dame bulletin board—it posted itself.

On the field, Notre Dame has been able to move the ball through the air this season with sophomore Jimmy Clausen slinging the ball for 901 yards and nine touchdowns. Unfortunately, Clausen has been giving the football away like early Halloween candy—throwing a pair of picks in each of the first three matches. He cleaned up his act up last week in a victory over Purdue. Stanford was successful early in the season in turning over the ball, but has not been as successful the last few weeks. Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh has to get his team back to that opportunistic state of mind if he’s going to slow down the Notre Dame attack.

Stanford’s quarterback Tavita Pritchard has been able to move the ball but he can’t get it in the end zone. The Notre Dame defense will do everything they can to pressure Pritchard into making mistakes and if he complies, it could be tough to stop the Irish.

Arizona State at California

At one point this looked to be a matchup of top 25 – perhaps top 15 teams. Instead it’s a battle between two teams trying find a way back into the rankings. The Sun Devils have to get their offense going again and the biggest key to that will be getting quarterback Rudy Carpenter back on track. After throwing for more than 700 yards and completing more than 75 percent of his passes in the first two games, Carpenter has thrown for just 450 yards with completion percentages of 56.5 % and 63.9% in the next two. Expect Golden Bears Coach Jeff Tedford and Defensive Coordinator Bob Gregory to bring more of the same pressure that has plagued the Sun Devils the last season and a half. Of course if they could get a running game going, it would prevent the defense from simply teeing off. Junior running back Dimitri Nance has been the most productive of a distinctly unproductive run game for the Sun Devils.

For Cal, they will be facing Arizona State minus their best ground weapon, Jahvid Best. Best is out for this week with a dislocated left elbow. While an MRI Monday told the team he may be back for an October 18th battle with Arizona, they will have to turn to freshman Shane Vereen to fill his shoes. Vereen has shown flashes of big play ability in the few opportunities he has had and he has the potential to do some damage against the Sun Devils, who have been giving up more than 100 yards a game on the ground. Don’t be surprised to see redshirt sophomore Tracey Slocum in the mix as well. This will be especially important if quarterback Kevin Riley struggles again this week.

Washington at Arizona

Things continue to look grim for the Huskies as they head to Arizona Stadium this Saturday. Coach Tyrone Willingham will have to find a way to get the offense going without injured quarterback Jake Locker (broken thumb). He hopes sophomore Ronnie Fouch will take steps in his development against a tough Arizona Wildcats team.

Aside from a stumble against New Mexico, Mike Stoops’ Wildcats have trounced the opposition with a combination of dynamic offense and solid – sometimes smothering – defense. Quarterback Willie Tuitama has played very well, maximizing his opportunities and playing nearly mistake free football. Running back Nic Grigsby has slowed down the last two games. After starting off on a tear and totaling 304 yards and five touchdowns in the first two games, the sophomore has had just 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Expect Grigsby to get his groove back against a reeling Huskies team.

#23 Oregon at #9 Southern Cal

Here is where we find out what USC is made of. Can they recover from a stunning upset against Oregon State in time to take their frustrations out on the Oregon Ducks? Or will they continue to stumble as they try to figure out what went wrong?

When USC loses, they often lose to Pac 10 teams and #23 Oregon isn’t necessarily a push-over. The Ducks boast one of the best offenses in the nation. Chief among the things USC needs to focus on is stopping the run. Last week, Jacquizz Rodgers ran all over the much-vaunted Trojans. The Ducks are no slouches themselves as both LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Johnson are capable of moving the ball effectively on the ground. The Trojans must contain these two backs if they want to capitalize on Oregon’s quarterback problems. Justin Roper has missed two games with a knee injury, with sophomore Jeremiah Masoli and true freshman Darron Thomas filling in.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez needs to move the ball through the air and continue to take care of the ball. Although he only turned the ball over once last game, it was a crucial mistake, which killed a critical Trojan drive and led to another Oregon State score. Also, the running backs will need to be effective again on the ground, where Oregon State was able to shut them down. The Oregon defensive line is rock solid and USC will have it’s hands full both protecting Sanchez and opening holes for the run game. USC needs to come ready to play on Saturday. They have already had one letdown and they can be sure the Ducks will come ready to improve the state of Oregon’s record against USC to 2 – 0 on the season.

Washington State at UCLA

In a matchup between two struggling and lackluster teams, the winner may end up being whomever makes the least mistakes. Bruin quarterback Kevin Craft has settled down and taken far better care of the ball since an interception filled first half against Tennessee. He may not be the most physically gifted or skilled passer in the NCAA, but he is a decent game manager and should be able to keep the ball moving against a weak Cougar defensive squad. Across the field, both Cougar quarterbacks have had a problem keeping the ball away from the opposition. Senior Gary Rodgers has thrown four interceptions in three games and only topped the 100-yard mark once, while freshman Marshall Lobbestael has thrown three in three games. If Coach Rick Neuheisel’s defense can pressure the Washington State offense, it is likely the Cougars will blink first and the Bruins will have an excellent shot at walking away with their second win of the season.

Pac-10 The Week That Was - Week Five

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#25 Fresno State @ UCLA
Fresno State got all it could handle, squeaking by the Bruins 36-31. Bulldog quarterback Tom Brandstater led the offense with 236 yards and three touchdowns while running back Ryan Matthews torched Rick Neuheisel’s team for 166 yards and a touchdown. But it wasn’t as if Pat Hill’s players took the ball and ran away. The Bruins played a gutsy game and were never totally out of it; they looked much more like the team which upset Tennessee than the team that was sleepwalking the past few weeks. But in the end, a Fresno State 21-play, 8:55 drive—kept alive by a fourth down conversion–killed the clock and Bruin hopes for another upset at the Rose Bowl.

Colorado State @ California
The Golden Bears welcomed the visiting Rams but were not the friendliest of hosts, throttling the Rams 42-7. Special Teams Coordinator Pete Alamar had to be happy with the punt his squad blocked and returned for a touchdown and the 73-yard punt return Syd’Quan Thompson took to the house in the third quarter. The Bears also returned an interception for another touchdown. But the win came with a cost as sophomore Jahvid Best left the game with a dislocated elbow. Head Coach Jeff Tedford said that x-rays were negative, but they will be without the running back against Arizona State this Saturday. Another problem for the Golden Bears was the mediocre performance by quarterback Kevin Riley, who was replaced by senior Nate Longshore in the third quarter.

Stanford @ Washington
The Stanford Cardinal showed up to Husky Stadium with one thought in mind–keep Washington winless. With a replacement running back—former starter Anthony Kimble—they did just that, beating the Huskies 35-28. Kimble took over for starter Toby Gerhart, who left the game in the first quarter with a mild concussion, and put up a career-best 157 yards with two touchdowns thrown in for flavor. Adding injury to insult was the loss of Washington star quarterback Jake Locker with a broken right thumb. Coach Tyrone Willingham will have to find something to spark this team if he is to save the season, much less his job, any time soon. Meanwhile the Cardinal looked solid, especially at quarterback where Tavita Pritchard threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns without turning it over.

Oregon @ Washington State
The Ducks were the worst type of houseguests–unruly, unstoppable and uncaring as they spoiled Washington State’s homecoming to the tune of 63-14. The Oregon ground attack was the main culprit with Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount each scoring three touchdowns. The Cougars were the unfortunate recipient of Oregon’s anger after the Ducks lost their last game to Boise State, and Washington State’s bottom-ranked defense was just no match for an offense averaging 43 points a game. Wazzu Coach Paul Wulff’s offense continued its bad habits, turning the ball over four times, including two interceptions by freshman quarterback Marshall Lobbestael.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Pac-10 Preview - Week 5

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#25 Fresno State @ UCLA
When #25 Fresno State decided to have UCLA on its schedule, it probably thought that the Bruins might serve as a challenge, not the other way around. But the way both teams have been playing since opening day, it’s exactly that--the Bulldogs have survived a tough loss to then 10th ranked Wisconsin, while Rick Neuheisel’s Bruins have slipped down into the abyss after a stunning win against Tennessee. UCLA will have to pressure Bulldog quarterback Tom Brandstater and try to force mistakes, a tough thing to do to an experienced senior who has thrown only one interception this year. The Fresno State offensive line has allowed seven sacks, but UCLA has not been able to take advantage of any opportunities in their last two games. If Brandstater has problems getting started, Fresno State will turn to its ground game. Ryan Matthews has been the ‘big dog’ thus far in the backfield and he should do well against a UCLA defense, that has had issues against the run--even Tennessee was able to put up almost 200 yards on the ground while losing. The Bruins have more problems on offense. Quarterback Kevin Craft is still trying to find his way at the position and has limited his mistakes the last two games, but was almost completely shut down by the Arizona Wildcats last week. The Bruins’ run game has also been woeful, though when you are down by more than one touchdown early in games, the run game tends to fade away quickly. It remains to be seen if this unit has anything to offer, or if it will even get the chance against Bulldog coach Pat Hill’s defense.

Colorado State @ California
Jeff Tedford’s Bears have had two weeks to lick their wounds after the stunning loss to Maryland on September 13th. Whether they will dwell on this or use it as fuel to right the ship is a huge part of this match-up against a visiting Colorado State Rams team that would like to get a little respect. Cal quarterback Kevin Riley was red hot as he led his offense in a valiant comeback against the Terrapins, but his three fourth quarter touchdowns were not enough. The road back to legitimacy starts with Colorado State. Rams quarterback Billy Farris has been effective so far, but can turn the ball over and California’s defense can be opportunistic. If they can force mistakes and the offense can take advantage of the turnovers, the Bears have an excellent chance to get back on track this weekend in Berkeley.

Oregon @ Washington State
The Oregon Ducks may have dropped a close one to Boise State, but it makes them no less dangerous against Washington State. The key may be if freshman quarterback Darron Thomas gets a chance to continue the excellent play he showcased while appearing in the final quarter against the Broncos last week. If he gets the nod, he will find a Washington State secondary that can play well, though will likely be overmatched by a prolific Ducks offense. The Cougars’ offense suffers from making far too many mistakes. Between their two quarterbacks they have thrown nine interceptions. If their play continues like that, Washington State will not be able to keep up with an Oregon team that desperately needs to make some noise and get back on track.

Stanford @ Washington
This game finds two teams struggling. Both the Cardinal’s losses were on the road and although the Huskies haven’t exactly been stout at home, Stanford will have to prove they aren’t suffering from homesickness before they can be taken seriously. The difference may once again come down to turnovers. Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard has thrown at least one interception the last three games and the entire Cardinal offense has struggled in part because of it. Huskies’ quarterback Jake Locker hasn’t been turning the ball over, but he hasn’t been able to make much headway through the air either. Where he does excel is on the ground, totaling 163 yards and three touchdowns. If he can keep the ball moving with his feet and the occasional pass to receivers like D’Andre Goodwin, Stanford will be hard pressed to keep up with Washington this weekend.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images