Pac-12 Power Ranking: Oregon's the new No. 1

Oregon takes over the top spot in our Pac-12 power ranking following USC's upset loss to Stanford.

By John Breech

Sep 17, 2012 at 5:02 pm ET • 6 min read

Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor totaled 213 yards and two touchdowns in the Cardinal's upset of No. 2 USC on Saturday. (Getty Images)

Here's CBSSports.com Rapid Reports Pac-12 power ranking:

Stanford's upset win over USC on Saturday caused a rankings shake-up this week. If you don't like shake-ups, don't worry, one thing didn't shake-up at all: Colorado's still ranked No. 12.

1. No. 3 Oregon (3-0): USC's loss to Stanford on Saturday means we have a new No. 1 team in the power rankings: Oregon. The Ducks proved they can play offense during the nonconference portion of their schedule, averaging 54 points per game while cremating Arkansas State, Fresno State and Tennessee Tech. This Saturday, we'll find out if Oregon can play defense too, as the Ducks will be hosting an Arizona team that ranks 12th in the country in scoring (46.3 ppg) and fourth in the country in total offense (604.7 ypg). Last week's ranking: 2. Next up: vs. Arizona, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).

2. No. 9 Stanford (3-0): Stanford's game plan of "run the ball on offense and kill Matt Barkley on defense" worked perfectly on Saturday as the Cardinal upset USC 21-14. Stanford ran for 202 yards in the game and sacked Barkley four times. The Pac-12 recognized this ridiculously impressive performance by naming RB Stepfan Taylor the offensive player of the week and DE Ben Gardner the defensive player of the week. Stanford will have a few extra days to celebrate the win as they don't play their next game until Sept. 27. Last week's ranking: 3. Next up: at Washington, Thursday, Sept, 27, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN).

3. No. 13 USC (2-1): Saturday's loss to Stanford dropped Matt Barkley to 0-4 all-time against the Cardinal, however, while Stanford's had Barkley's number, there's one Pac-12 team who hasn't: Cal. In three career games against the Golden Bears, Barkley is 3-0 while averaging 276.7 yards and 2.3 touchdown passes. In the three wins, USC has outscored the Bears a combined 108-26 or an average of 36-8.7 per game. Guess who the Trojans play Saturday? Last week's ranking: 1. Next up: vs. Cal, Saturday, 6 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network).

4. No. 22 Arizona (3-0): Led by quarterback Matt Scott, the Arizona offense has scored 46.3 point per game this season, which ranks second in the Pac-12. Unfortunately, 46.3 points might not be enough to beat their opponent on Saturday: No. 3 Oregon. The Ducks lead the Pac-12 and rank fifth in the nation with 54 points per game. Last week's ranking: 4. Next up: at Oregon, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).

5. No. 19 UCLA (3-0): Are the Bruins the best football team in Los Angeles? At least six AP voters think so. UCLA will have a chance to prove something to the other 56 AP voters on Saturday as the team's tussle with Oregon State will be nationally televised on ABC and ESPN2. The Bruins will be trying to win consecutive conference openers for the first time since the 2004-05 seasons. Last week's ranking: 5. Next up: vs. Oregon State, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC West Coast/ESPN2 everywhere else)

6. Oregon State (1-0): Thanks to their second bye in three weeks on Saturday, little is known about the 2012 Beavers. Here's what we do know though: 1. they've played one game 2. they won it 3. they won it by shutting down Wisconsin star running back Montee Ball. Shutting down the star running back will be the key to winning this Saturday too as the Beavers will be going up against the nation's leading rusher, UCLA's Johnathan Franklin (180.3 ypg). Last week's ranking: 6. Next up: at UCLA, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC West Coast/ESPN2 everywhere else)

7. Utah (2-1): If you missed the Holy War on Saturday -- a game Utah won 24-21 -- here's what happened: Utah students rushed the field, then got kicked off because the game wasn't over, then rushed the field again, then got kicked off again because the game still wasn't over, then rushed the field again and got to stay because the game was finally over. If that sounds confusing, that's because it is. To be less confused about the above description, you'll have to watch the 6:53 video below. Bottom line: Utah's holy win was enough to move them up one spot in this week's ranking. Last week's ranking: 8. Next up: at Arizona State, Saturday, 10 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network).

8. Arizona State (2-1): The Sun Devils drop one spot this week after losing to Missouri on the road. Now before you send any hate mail ASU fans, just remember, Missouri won the game starting a freshman backup QB who had thrown five career passes. Arizona State had several chances to win the game late, including a second-and-goal situation from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter where the Sun Devils came away with zero points. Last week's ranking: 7. Next up: vs. Utah, Saturday, 10 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network).

9. Cal (1-2): Last week we dropped the Bears after a win -- 50-31 over FCS Southern Utah -- this week we're moving them up after a loss. Somehow, that's Cal football in a nutshell. As for kicker Vincenzo D'Amato, who went 0-for-3 in Saturday's 35-28 loss to Ohio State, coach Jeff Tedford said D'Amato is still the starter and he has a simple practice plan for his kicker this week, "We'll work real hard from the left hash," Tedford said. All three of D'Amato's misses came from the left hash. Last week's ranking: 10. Next up: at USC, Saturday, 6 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network).

10. Washington (2-1): The Huskies hired Cal's assistant coaches in the offseason, now they get the Cal treatment this week in our rankings, meaning they fall one spot after beating an FCS team. Washington fans shouldn't really worry about their ranking this week though, they should be more concerned with the team's next four games: vs. No. 9 Stanford, at No. 3 Oregon, vs. No. 13 USC, at No. 22 Arizona. If Washington wins two of those four games, they'll move up the rankings fast. Last week's ranking: 9. Next up: vs. Stanford, Thursday, Sept. 27, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN).

11. Washington State (2-1): The good news: the Cougars picked up their first FBS win under coach Mike Leach. The bad news: UNLV scored 20 first half points, which was the Rebels first time scoring 20 or more first half points on anyone since November 2010. Good news that trumps the bad news: Washington State plays a Colorado team that lost to Fresno State 69-14 on Saturday. A win over the 0-3 Buffaloes will have the Cougars halfway to their first bowl berth since 2003. Confusing news: Don't expect to know the Cougars starting QB -- either Jeff Tuel or Connor Halliday -- until game day. Last week's ranking: 11. Next up: vs. Colorado, 4 p.m. ET (FX).

12. Colorado (0-3): Colorado made a strong case to stay at the bottom of the rankings with a 69-14 loss to Fresno State on Saturday. And although it doesn't sound possible, the score doesn't actually indicate how ugly the game really was. Fresno State rolled up 516 yards in the first half while "jumping" out to a 55-7 halftime lead. If you have yet to witness the Buffaloes first-hand this year, you're in luck -- or not in luck -- they're on national television this Saturday. Last week's ranking: 12. Next up: at Washington State, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (FX).

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