Pac 12 week 5 Breakdown
Let's quickly recap the weekend's Pac-12 action, even though it wasn't the most thrilling one. We'll start with USC's game. The Trojans had an impressive start, taking a commanding 34-7 lead in the first 27 minutes. It was clear they were determined to bounce back from their performance in Tempe last week. Caleb Williams showed his prowess, completing 75% of his passes with a YPA north of 10 and six touchdowns. Kudos to Colorado for not giving up and battling back in the second half. Despite the huge deficit, the Buffs kept fighting, which speaks well of Deion Sanders and his players. Colorado outscored USC 34-14 in the final 33 minutes, amassing 371 passing yards, with freshman receiver Omarion Miller shining.
In bigger news, Oregon State dominated Utah on Friday night, winning 21-7, which makes WSU's victory over the Beavers look even more impressive. After WSU's offense had a field day against the Beaver defense last week, OSU turned the tables against a short-handed Utah offense. The Beavers allowed just 198 total yards and kept Utah scoreless for nearly 55 minutes.
The closest game of the day unfolded in Berkeley, although "closest" doesn't necessarily mean "best." ASU deserves credit for battling despite numerous injuries. Despite being 13-point underdogs, the Devils outgained Cal by over 100 yards and had a chance to even the score late, although it didn't quite work out. Cal may lack playmakers, but running back Jadyn Ott is a standout, with Cal's offense seemingly revolving around him. Ott finished with an impressive 165 yards on 29 carries.
Despite being heavy underdogs, Stanford put up a fight against Oregon, at least for a while. The Cardinal led 6-0 into the second quarter, and it was a one-point game for much of the first half. However, Oregon's third quarter was a game-changer, as they scored three touchdowns in as many possessions. Running back Jordan James made a significant impact, gaining 88 yards on just six carries.
Bo Nix had an outstanding game with four touchdown passes, which is only one less than the number of incomplete passes he had.
