Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Pac-12 Week 11 power rankings: USC returns to No. 1

It has been a strange season: There are five teams in the Pac-12 that can still finish the season in the national rankings, six teams still sitting on five wins and, of course, Oregon State.

Here is a look at this week's power rankings:

1. USC (9-2 overall, 7-1 Pac-12): The Trojans locked up an appearance in the Pac-12 title game with their third consecutive impressive performance. The key stat? Zero turnovers. After all the upsets this weekend, it has to be a little tempting for USC fans to try to come up with a scenario in which the Trojans would be in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot.

2. Washington State (9-2, 6-2): All that stands between the Cougars and their first Pac-12 North title is a trip to Seattle for the Apple Cup on Nov. 25. Another victory would tie the program's single-season record (Washington State has won 10 games five times).

3. Stanford (7-3, 6-2): Running back Bryce Love and the Cardinal all but ended the Pac-12's shot at the playoff with a sound 30-22 win over Washington. Not that they care. The Cardinal would win the North with a victory against Cal and a Washington State loss.

4. Washington (8-2, 5-2): The Huskies came into the week with an outside chance at the playoff and left in third place in the division. For Washington to win the North, it needs Stanford to lose to Cal, and for the Huskies to beat both Utah and Washington State.

5. Arizona (7-3, 5-2): QB Khalil Tate has a legitimate shot at receiving an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony despite not starting the first five games of the season.

6. Arizona State (5-5, 4-3): One step forward, one step back. That has been the story of the season for Arizona State.

7. UCLA (5-5, 3-4): The matchup is finally here: Josh Rosen versus Sam Darnold. It should be a memorable first (and probably only) matchup between the two Southern California natives at the college level.

8. Oregon (5-5, 2-5): Without QB Justin Herbert, the Ducks have been inconsistent. Is this the week he returns? They'll need all the help they can get with Tate coming to Eugene.

9. Utah (5-5, 2-5): Utah's two Pac-12 victories came against UCLA (without Rosen) and Arizona (without Tate).

10. Colorado (5-6, 2-6): It has been a disappointing season for the Buffs a year after winning the Pac-12 South. To return to a bowl game for a second consecutive season, Colorado needs to win at Utah in the regular-season finale.

11. California (5-5, 2-5): The Bears have already exceeded expectations, but another win -- and the bowl berth that would come with it -- would be a nice capper for Justin Wilcox's debut season.

12. Oregon State (1-9, 0-7): If the Beavers finish without a win in Pac-12 play, they'll be the first program to do that twice since the conference expanded to 12 teams in 2011.

^ Back to Top ^