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TOP OF THE PAC: For the 2nd straight week, the Pac-12 placed 6 teams in the latest CFP rankings, most of any conference and back-to-back weeks with 6 for first time since 2016.

USC moves up to #6 this week, their highest ever ranking in the CFP and 4th straight week in the Top 10.  OREGON is back in the Top 10, moving up 3 spots to #9.  WASHINGTON moves up multiple spots for the second straight week to place #13.  UTAH remains in the Top 15 for the 4th straight week, checking in at #14.  #18 UCLA makes it 4 straight weeks in the Top 20 for the first time since 2014.  OREGON STATE is #21, the 3rd time in 4 weeks they’ve made the CFP rankings.

VIVA LAS VEGAS:  The 2022 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, presented by 76, is headed to Allegiant Stadium on Friday, December 2nd.  Watch the Pac-12’s best take Vegas as the top 2 teams meet and compete for the championship.

Get your tickets now at Pac-12.com/tickets.

CHAMP GAME SCENARIOS:  USC already clinched their spot for the game, here are the scenarios for their opponent:

• OREGON: Needs a win over Oregon State OR a loss by Washington.  An Oregon win would make them the home team while USC would be the home team with an Oregon loss.
• WASHINGTON:  Needs a win over Washington State AND an Oregon State win over Oregon AND EITHER a Cal win over UCLA OR BOTH a UCLA win over Cal AND a Colorado win over Utah.
• UTAH:  Needs a win over Colorado AND an Oregon State win over Oregon AND a Washington win over Washington State to create a 3-way tie at 7-2.  Utah would also need a UCLA win over Cal to assist in the tiebreakers.  Utah would win the 3-team tiebreaker in Step 4 (strength of conference record).  A Cal win over UCLA on Friday would eliminate the Utes.

TOP DAWG:  While still in the midst of his first season at Washington, head coach Kalen DeBoer has signed a contract extension through the 2028 season. 

It’s been quite the year for 1st year head coaches in the Pac-12 with DeBoer, USC’s Lincoln Riley and Oregon’s Dan Lanning all already reaching at least 9 wins.  Its the first season in Pac-12 history where 3 Pac-12 head coaches have won 9+ games in their first year at the school.  In fact, since at least 1996, no other FBS conference has had 3 head coaches win 9+ games in their first season as head coach of the school in the same season.

FINAL-IST COUNTDOWN:  After being named a finalist for both the Nagurski & Lombardi Awards last week, USC DL Tuli Tuipulotu added Lott IMPACT finalist to his resume.   Sticking with the defensive theme, Washington State LB Daiyan Henley was named a finalist for the Butkus Award, the 1st Cougar to ever be named a finalist for the award for the nation’s top LB.

Other awards named their semifinalists this week with several Pac-12 reps:

• Doak Walker (Top RB):  Zach Charbonnet (UCLA)
• Biletnikoff (Top WR):  Jordan Addison (USC)
• Broyles (Top Asst Coach):  Kenny Dillingham (Oregon), Ryan Grubb (Washington), Shaun Nua (USC)
• Earl Campbell Tyler Rose (Top player from Texas):  Cameron Ward (WSU)

AROUND THE PAC-12

ARIZONA STATE (3-8, 2-6) at ARIZONA (4-7, 2-6)

Fri., Nov. 25 • 1:00 pm MT • PAC-12 NETWORK

ARIZONA STATE: Have won the last 5 match-ups in the Territorial Cup rivalry.  RB X Valladay 109 rush yards on just 13 carries with a TD last week, 1 of 2 Pac-12 RB with 1,000+ rush yards this season and needs 124 yards this week to reach 4,500 for his career.  Valladay tied for the Pac-12 lead with 14 rush TD this season and has a rush TD in 7 straight games, the longest streak by a Sun Devil since 2011.  TE Jalin Conyers with 20 receptions for 270 yards and 4 TD over the last 4 games.

ARIZONA:  Looking to snap 2-game home losing streak to ASU, have not lost 3 straight home games to Arizona State in over 40 years (1976, 1978, 1980).  An Arizona win would match their total of the previous 3 seasons combined.  WR Dorian Singer (1,014 yards) and Jacob Cowing (1,001) give Arizona only pair of 1,000 yard receivers in FBS this season and first time in school history with two 1,000 yard receivers.  Cowing is 6th in FBS with 80 receptions and needs 13 to tie the school’s single-season record (Bobby Wade, 2002).

#18 UCLA (8-3, 5-3) at CALIFORNIA (4-7, 2-6)

Fri., Nov. 25 • 1:30 pm PT • FOX

UCLA: Have their last 2 meetings with Cal and 4 of their last 5.  Last 3 meetings with the Bears have all been at the Rose Bowl.  Looking for 9+ wins for the first time since 2014 (10-3).  Have won 7 of their last 9 conference road games.  QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson 4 pass TD & 2 rush TD last week vs. USC, setting school’s career record with 110 total TD.  It was the 3rd time in his career that DTR has had 6+ TD in a game.  Thompson-Robinson needs 473 pass yards to tie Cade McNown for most career yards in school history (10,708).  RB Zach Charbonnet just the 3rd UCLA RB in last 25 seasons with 1200+ rush yards and 13+ rush TD (Paul Perkins, Johnathan Franklin)

CALIFORNIA: Hosting UCLA for the first time since 2018.  Have won 8 of the last 10 meetings with UCLA in Berkeley.  6 of their 11 games this season decided by 7 points or less (2-4 in those games).  Redshirt freshman WR J. Michael Sturdivant has 60 receptions this season, 11 more than any other FBS freshman.  RB Jaydn Ott 842 rush yards this season, 5th most among FBS true freshmen.  Final radio broadcast for Joe Starkey who has been the radio voice of the Golden Bears for the last 48 seasons.

#9 OREGON (9-2, 7-1) at #21 OREGON STATE (8-3, 5-3)

Sat., Nov. 26 • 12:30 pm PT • ABC

OREGON: Have won 4 of the last 5 and 12 of the last 14 meetings with OSU.  3-2 against ranked teams this season and 3-1 against teams ranked in Top 15.  With a win, Oregon will make their 4th consecutive Pac-12 Championship Game.  4-0 in true road games this season, winning each by 21+ points.  QB Bo Nix becomes just the 3rd Oregon QB in last 20 seasons to have 3,000 pass yards in a season (Justin Herbert & Marcus Mariota both twice).  Nix is just the 5th player since 2000 with 25+ pass TD & 14+ rush TD through 11 games.  WR Troy Franklin needs 211 yards to become Oregon’s first 1,000 yard receiver since 2018.

OREGON STATE: Won last meeting in Corvallis, 41-38 in 2020, outscoring the Ducks 22-7 in 4th quarter including game-winning TD run by Chance Nolan with 33 seconds left.  Looking for first 9-win season since 2012.  6 of their 8 wins this season by 14+ points with their other 2 wins coming in the last 15 seconds of the game.  5-1 with Ben Gulbranson as their starting QB.  True freshman RB Damien Martinez 5 straight games with 100+ rush yards, first OSU RB to do that since Steven Jackson in 2003.  Defense has held back-to-back opponents under 300 yards of total offense.

#14 UTAH (8-3, 6-2) at COLORADO (1-10, 1-7)

Sat., Nov. 26 • 2:00 pm MT • PAC-12 NETWORK

UTAH: Have won 5 straight against Colorado and won 9 of 11 against the Buffs since joining the Pac-12.  All 3 of Utah’s losses this season have been by 10 points or less, combined 16 points.  6 of their 8 wins this season by 21+ points.  Scored 40+ points in 5 games this season.  TE Dalton Kincaid 11 receptions for 99 yards last week, 2nd game this season with 10+ catches and leads FBS TE with 61 catches.  QB Cam Rising needs 98 pass yards to tie his career high for season and 1 pass TD to match his career high of 20 from last season.

COLORADO: Looking to beat Utah for the first time since 2016 when the Buffs were the Pac-12 South Division champions.  4th straight game against an AP Top 15 opponent for the first time in school history and only the 3rd time in school history playing 4 straight ranked teams (1973, 2016).

#15 NOTRE DAME (8-3) at #6 USC (10-1, 8-1)

Sat., Nov. 26 • 4:30 pm PT • ABC

USC: Looking to beat a ranked Notre Dame team for the first time since 2009.  10-1 is USC’s best start since 2008.  5 straight games with at least 41 points and 500 total yards.  1 of 2 FBS teams to score 40+ points in 9 games this season (Ohio State).  Lincoln Riley is 1 win away from tying school record for most in first season at USC (Howard Jones in 1925 & John Robinson in 1976).  QB Caleb Williams 503 total yards at UCLA (470 pass, 33 rush) is the most ever in a game by a Trojan.  Williams is the only QB in FBS with at least 30 pass TD and 3 or fewer INT.  WR Jordan Addison season-highs with 11 receptions for 178 yards and a TD against UCLA, his 4th game this season with 100+ receiving yards.  Defense leads the country with 18 INT, USC's most since 2012 (19).

NOTRE DAME: Won last 4 meetings with USC, their longest streak over the Trojans since winning 11 in a row from 1983-93.  Have won 5 straight and 8 of 9 since starting season 0-2.  Not allowed a team to get 400 yards in a game this season.

#13 WASHINGTON (9-2, 6-2) at WASHINGTON STATE (7-4, 4-4)

Sat., Nov. 26 • 7:30 pm PT • ESPN

WASHINGTON: Have won the last 3 Apple Cup meetings in Pullman and 4 of the last 5.  5-game winning streak, including a 47-point win over Colorado last week.  Looking for their 4th season win 10+ wins in the last 7 years.  QB Michael Penix Jr. leads FBS in passing yards and needs just 131 yards to become 2nd UW QB to reach 4,000 yards in a season (Cody Pickett, 2002).  RB Cameron Davis 13 rush TD, most by UW RB since Myles Gaskin had 21 in 2017.

WASHINGTON STATE: Won Apple Cup 40-13 last season, snapping a 7-game losing streak to their in-state rival.  Bowl eligible for their 7th straight non-COVID season.  All 4 of their losses this season to teams currently in Top 25 and 2 of the losses are by 4 points or less.  7-2 in games when RB Nakia Watson plays.  Defense has forced 9 turnovers during their current 3-game win streak with 4 last week.

BYU (6-5) at STANFORD (3-8, 1-8)

Sat., Nov. 26 • 8:00 pm PT • FS1

STANFORD: 3rd ever meeting between these schools with Stanford having won both prior games (2003, 2004).  Looking to go 3-0 in non-conference for 1st time since 2016.  37 different players have made at least 1 start this season with 18 on offense and 19 on defense.  RB Mitch Leigber 136 total yards last week (83 rush, 53 rec).

BYU: Bowl eligible for the 6th time in 7 seasons under Kalani Sitake.  Cal transfer RB Christopher Brooks leads team with 561 rush yards while Washington transfer WR Puka Nacua leads team with 45 receptions.

PAC-12 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

DOUBLE DAMAGE: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (CALIFORNIA) 227 pass yards and 2 pass TD in a loss to the Titans.  Rodgers has multiple TD passes in 8 of 11 games, most in the NFL this season and has done it in 36 of 43 regular-season games since start of 2020 season.

FRANKIE WON’T RELAX: Panthers LB Frankie Luvu (WASHINGTON STATE) had 10 tackles and his career-high 4th sack of the season in a loss to the Ravens.  Luvu has 10+ tackles in back-to-back games and 4 times this season after having never done it in his first 4 NFL seasons.

STREAKIN’ SAINT: Saints TE Juwan Johnson (OREGON) had 3 receptions for 47 yards and a score in a win over the Rams.  Johnson has 5 TD in the last 5 games including 3 straight games with a score for the first time in his career.   The former Duck has already passed his career high after grabbing 4 TD last season.

SHAKE ‘N BAKE-R:  Cardinals Safety Budda Baker (WASHINGTON) racked up 10 tackles and a pass defended in a loss to the 49ers.  It’s the 4th time this season that Baker has 10+ tackles, 2nd most among NFL DB this season.

GOOD SPORTS:  The NFL announced their 32 nominees for the 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award with 4 former Pac-12 stars named:  Cardinals DB Budda Baker (WASHINGTON), Panthers P Johnny Hekker (OREGON STATE), Colts DT DeForest Buckner (OREGON) and Seahawks TE Will Dissly (WASHINGTON).

SOLID GOLD:  49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk (ARIZONA STATE) had 2 catches, both for touchdowns, in a win over Arizona in Mexico City.  It was the 2nd multi-TD game for Aiyuk of his career with both coming this season.  Teammate Christian McCaffrey (STANFORD) had 106 total yards (39 rush, 67 rec) to top 100 total yards for the 2nd time in last 3 weeks.

CAPITAL GAINES:  Rams DL Greg Gaines (WASHINGTON) career-high 2 sacks in a loss to the Saints.  Gaines now with 9.5 career sacks, 1 of 4 former Huskies currently in the NFL that has at least 9.0 career sacks in the NFL (Vita Vea, Shaq Thompson, Corey Littleton).