Roundup: Washington travels to Utah to highlight the Pac-12 football weekend
Huge conference game Saturday night in the SLC between No. 10 Washington and Utah (8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT, ESPN), and The Seattle Times columnist Matt Calkins opines that Washington needs to get its running game in gear if it wants to be successful against the Utes. The Huskies only put up 54 rushing yards in the first half against North Dakota last weekend.
‘Twill be a rowdy crowd at Rice-Eccles Saturday night, so familiarize yourself with The MUSS (Utah’s student section) thanks to this Pac-12 Network-produced video.
The Saturday action begins on The Farm with No. 9 Stanford hosting UC Davis (11 a.m. PT, Pac-12 Network), and Tom FitzGerald writes that Stanford linebacker Casey Toohill will be key in trying to slow down the Aggies’ up-tempo attack. While Bryce Love was all anybody would talk about in the offseason, it has been the defense that has created most of the in-season headlines for Stanford, as the Card has not allowed a touchdown in more than 107 minutes of game action.
Listen to the BuffZone Podcast to bask in the glory of Colorado’s victory at Nebraska and learn what you need to know for the Buffs’ upcoming tilt against New Hampshire (2 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Mountain). Brian Howell and Pat Rooney are your hosts.
While Colorado kicks off against New Hampshire, No. 20 Oregon will be hosting San Jose State (2 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network). In case you missed it from a couple of days ago, a recent Forbes report lists Oregon as the most valuable college football program in the Pac-12 (The Oregonian/OregonLive on the link). The Ducks check in at 12th on the Forbes list with a $54 million profit (Texas A&M is No. 1).
Cal running back Patrick Laird was named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team as a result of the Patrick Laird Summer Reading Challenge, it was announced Thursday. You can catch Laird and the Golden Bears in action Saturday when they host Idaho State (3 p.m. PT/ 4 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Bay Area).
Beavers fans should know that Oregon State football’s game at Nevada has been moved to ESPNU due to other games being cancelled as a result of Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas. Kickoff is set for 4:02 p.m. PT.
Blake Richardson of the Los Angeles Times whips up this story on USC safety Marvell Tell III with the 22nd-ranked Trojans getting ready for Texas in Austin (5 p.m. PT, FOX). In other news in this link, Richardson notes that quarterback JT Daniels is recovering well from a hand injury he suffered against Stanford, per Clay Helton.
Check out this Washington State-Eastern Washington game preview (Pac-12.com). The Cougs and Eagles kick off at 5 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Network.
Check out this Washington Post feature on Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards courtesy of Jerry Brewer as the 23rd-ranked Sun Devils look to get to 3-0 with a Saturday night affair at San Diego State (7:30 p.m. PT, CBS Sports Network).
With UCLA looking to get its first win of the Chip Kelly era Saturday night against Fresno State (7:30 p.m. PT, FS1), Thuc Nhi Nguyen writes that freshman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is growing as a leader for the Bruins.
The Saturday evening action concludes with Arizona hosting Southern Utah (8 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network), but did you know that Arizona volleyball coach Dave Rubio can get to 500 career wins with two victories Friday against Tennessee-Martin and New Mexico State? Writing for the Arizona Daily Star, PJ Brown has more details in the link, and one such nugget is that Rubio can become the second volleyball coach in the Pac-12 to win 500 games at a school.