USC and Utah passed their tests while Oregon left the Chicago metro with a B+ grade.
But the real action is on the lower end of the Power Ranking.
California is trending up while UNLV has come under scrutiny. That’s the way it goes early in the year when the results are the most impactful.
Here’s how I view the Top 10 Teams in the West heading into Week Four.
1. Oregon (1-0, 3-0) ◄►
Oregon is the best team in the country right now.The AP voters don’t know what they are doing. Give me a head-to-head matchup with the Ducks and Ohio State on a neutral field, and I am taking Oregon every time.
The slow start against Northwestern was predictable considering the circumstances. What wasn’t acceptable was the poor fourth quarter. As they say, “Good teams win, great teams cover.”
The late touchdowns UO allowed might have cost the team a few spots in the Poll.
2. Utah (0-0, 3-0) ◄►
Margins of victory matter. Perceptions matter. If you only watched the first half against Wyoming, you had some serious questions about Utah.But the offense got it together in the second half, and the struggles in the first two quarters can be attributed to the difficulty of playing in Laramie.
At the end of the day, the Utes showed what they needed to show. Albeit with some concerns. The defense is great, but special teams is questionable.
And what’s going to happen to the offense’s efficiency if a team can limit Devon Dampier when he runs?
3. USC (1-0, 3-0) ◄►
That was sorta, kinda what we needed to see. The road victory over Purdue wasn’t exactly earth-shattering. But it was a passing grade.The Trojans settled for field goals too many times, and it was a two-possession game in the fourth quarter.
Yet, the weather issues muddy the water, and the SC defense played well. Would you have liked to see more? Sure. But the first hurdle was cleared.
Beat Michigan State convincingly this weekend, and the narrative will shift even more.
4. BYU (0-0, 2-0) ◄►
Do you wonder why BYU is not ranked in the AP Top 25? It’s because they haven’t proven anything yet.The Cougars have their first real test of the season this week when they go on the road to face East Carolina.
The win over Stanford looks better after the Cardinal beat Boston College. But the rest of the country is still in wait-and-see mode for BYU.
The result against the Pirates will move the needle in either direction. It’s time to deliver or face the music.
5. California (0-0, 3-0) ▲2
It could be a special season in Berkeley. The Bears beat Minnesota as an underdog and have a favorable schedule the rest of the year.Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has the “it” factor, and the attendance on Saturday night shows momentum is building.
But it’s still a game-by-game approach. With two road games up next, now is not the time to put the cart before the horse.
Take care of San Diego State and beat Boston College. Then let’s talk.
6. Washington (0-0, 2-0) ▼1
Having a bye week so early in the season is not ideal for the narrative.Washington probably has the talent to be a Top 25 team. But the only results on paper are a 17-point win over a Mountain West program and a blowout against an FCS school.
This is now Week Four. When are the Dawgs going to get a win that can be pointed to? In that sense, the margin of victory against Washington State this weekend in critical.
Anything less than a blowout win would be unwelcome.
7. Arizona State (0-0, 2-1) ▲1
That’s the version of Arizona State that many were expecting at the start of the year.The Sun Devils easily handled Texas State and looked the part while doing it. But it’s Texas State. Let’s not pretend that’s some nationally respected program. ASU did what it was supposed to do.
Let’s see how the Sun Devils look when they go back to playing quality competition, like Baylor this week.
The rest of the country hasn’t forgotten about the loss to Mississippi State.
8. UNLV (0-0, 3-0) ▼2
The Rebels are 3-0 coming off a bye. But it’s a long season, and the seven-point win over UCLA is now more questionable.New Mexico completely exposed the Bruins, and it makes you wonder why UNLV didn’t win by more than seven.
Combined with the narrow seven-point win over FCS Idaho State, and suddenly, the microscope is focused on the Rebels.
Covering the spread against Miami of Ohio this week would allay some of the concerns.
9. Boise State (0-0, 1-1) ◄►
It was a bye week for Boise State as the Broncos enter an important stretch of their season.Air Force, Appalachian State, Notre Dame, New Mexico, and UNLV are up next. To get back in the national narrative as a Playoff contender, BSU might need to go 4-1.
Air Force is respectable enough regionally, beating up on Appalachian State would be noted on the East Coast, New Mexico is buzzing this year, and UNLV is viewed as the top dog in the Mountain West.
The next five games might define the year.
10. Arizona (0-0, 3-0) ▲NR
Brent Brennan’s team did everything they could to lose that game against Kansas State. But they found a way to get the job done.The margin of victory should have been wider, implicating some flaws within the team. Yet, the Wildcats are nowhere near their ceiling.
The defense is strong and the offense continues to grow within Seth Doege’s system. Noah Fifita’s willingness to run has been critical.
But at the end of the day, Danny Gonzales’s defense is why the Cats are 3-0.
Dropped Out: Fresno State
