Prompt response to developments on the sphere …
1. Meltdown in Madison
Washington and Oregon flew throughout the nation into brutal climate and skilled firsthand the weekly sinkholes that used to outline the Large Ten West.
Each groups have been favored, recent from two weeks of preparation and hopeful that scorching stretch runs would result in berths within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Just one survived with playoff plans intact.
Oregon escaped Iowa on a area aim with three seconds remaining. Ultimate rating: 18-16.
Washington wasn’t as lucky and collapsed at Wisconsin. Ultimate rating 13-10.
The Fifties referred to as — they’re jealous.
Let’s begin with the Huskies (6-3), who have been double-digit favorites in Madison however as an alternative confirmed themselves as pretenders within the Large Ten race.
Sure, receiver Denzel Boston, tailback Jonah Coleman and quarterback Demond Williams Jr. all sustained accidents through the recreation that restricted their impression.
The illnesses have been actual, and irrelevant. That was a horrible loss for the Huskies — inexcusable, the truth is.
The Badgers have been winless within the Large Ten and house owners of the worst offense within the Energy 4 conferences. In some way, they beat the Huskies with a whopping 48 passing yards. And it’s even worse than it appears, as a result of 24 yards got here on a pretend punt. Take away the pretend, and the Badgers generated simply 181 yards of offense.
Which brings us to Washington’s central difficulty.
Of their losses to Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin, the Huskies have scored a complete of 23 factors.
Granted, Ohio State is phenomenal. However the Huskies scored simply seven in opposition to a Michigan protection that’s permitting 19 factors per recreation in convention play. And so they scored simply 10 in opposition to a Badgers protection that was permitting 29 per recreation in convention play.
“We never got really in much of a rhythm at all today offensively,” coach Jedd Fisch stated.
What’s extra, UW has constantly saved its worst for final.
Within the second halves of the three losses, the Huskies have scored … three factors.
That’s three factors in six quarters.
The Hotline broke down UW’s 14 second-half drives within the three losses.
Solely twice did the Huskies generate drives of a minimum of 50 yards. On six of the 14 possessions, they gained lower than 10 yards.
All informed, the Huskies mustered 245 yards and scored three factors throughout these six quarters.
One thing is amiss, and it can’t be excused away by accidents or dangerous climate.
What’s subsequent for the Huskies? The slim path into the CFP that existed previous to Saturday — as a two-loss Large Ten at-large participant — is totally blocked.
They need to deal with Purdue subsequent weekend in Seattle, however the date with UCLA (in Pasadena) may very well be thought-about a toss-up given UW’s street performances. And the finale in opposition to Oregon will likely be daunting.
Positive, Washington might win out and end 9-3. However primarily based on what we’ve got witnessed over 9 video games, an 8-4 report appears extra possible and 7-5 stands as a definite chance.
Both mark could be a serious disappointment for a staff that entered November with two losses and its sights on the CFP.
2. Surviving the slog
Because the Huskies flailed, Oregon was sucked right into a traditional November quagmire in Iowa Metropolis.
Like UW, the Geese (8-1) weren’t at full energy with their prime playmakers. Tight finish Kenyon Sadiq and receiver Dakorien Moore didn’t play, and beginning receiver Gary Bryant was injured through the recreation.
And like UW, the Geese misplaced their lead within the second half as Iowa scored the go-ahead landing with two minutes remaining.
However not like UW, they dug deep and coated 54 yards for the game-winning area aim in opposition to a vastly superior opponent than the staff the Huskies confronted. (Iowa beat Wisconsin 37-0 a number of weeks in the past.)
Because of this, the one-loss Geese are within the thick of the CFP race with three video games remaining.
They host Minnesota and USC, then end in Seattle. Mixed report of the three opponents: 19-8.
In the event that they win out, the Geese are a lock.
In the event that they lose twice, they’re toast.
However what in the event that they drop one recreation and end 10-2?
At that time, it’s all about how Oregon compares to the opposite two-loss groups — from the SEC, for certain, but additionally the Large 12 — that will likely be into account by the choice committee.
The extra wins over ranked opponents the Geese accumulate, the stronger their resume.
If the Hawkeyes drop out of the committee’s High 25 on Tuesday — they shouldn’t, however you by no means know — then Oregon will likely be with out a ranked win coming into the ultimate three weeks.
3. Bear Down, bowl certain
In case you had forgotten, the Pac-12 legacy groups are tied to the convention’s longstanding bowl companions this season, simply as they have been final 12 months.
One of many newly-minted bowl-eligible groups is Arizona, which collected its sixth victory on Saturday. Propelled by each success and spectacular grit, the Wildcats got here from behind (twice) to beat Kansas 24-20 in yet one more down-to-the-wire end.
The Wildcats rallied from a 10-point deficit within the second quarter and from a three-point deficit within the fourth. And so they obtained fortunate at simply the fitting time.
With 2:39 remaining, the Jayhawks led by three factors and confronted fourth-and-two from Arizona’s 11. They could have gone for the primary down (to successfully ice the sport) besides quarterback Jalon Daniels had been injured on the earlier play and wouldn’t have been allowed again on the sphere for fourth down. Quite than use a backup quarterback, KU tried a 30-yard area aim — and missed.
Granted a second life by the soccer gods, Arizona ripped off an 80-yard landing drive.
“Our gamers stored responding,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan stated. “They kept responding and responding … I know it wasn’t perfect, but we’ll fix that.”
The victory constitutes a serious leap ahead for the Wildcats (6-3) and Brennan, whose first season in cost was deeply disappointing.
With Brennan’s tradition ingrained and a bowl berth secured, Arizona gained’t need to plunge right into a crowded marketplace for head coaches this winter.
4. Completely and completely Cal
Arizona wasn’t the one Pac-12 legacy staff to clinch a postseason bid on Saturday.
The Bears, recent off back-to-back losses, produced one of many largest upsets of the weekend: As 18-point underdogs, they flew throughout the nation for the third time this season and shocked No. 14 Louisville in time beyond regulation to safe their third consecutive postseason bid.
And the Bears did it within the gutsiest method potential: Going for the victory on fourth down within the first time beyond regulation session as an alternative of kicking a brief area aim to increase the sport.
(The successful play: Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s three-yard landing cross to receiver Jacob De Jesus.)
Longtime Cal watchers gained’t be stunned by the outcome. Underneath coach Justin Wilcox, the Bears usually conjure a minimum of one vital upset and endure a minimum of one embarrassing loss each season.
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“The last couple of weeks haven’t been a lot of fun,” Wilcox stated. “It’s not a lot of fun when you aren’t winning. I’m appreciative of how everyone involved — especially the players — how they continue to work at it through some adverse situations when it didn’t go our way.”
This marks the primary time Cal has been bowl-eligible for 3 consecutive years for the reason that heyday of the Jeff Tedford period within the mid-2000s.
Will it’s sufficient for Wilcox to return in 2026?
Cal basic supervisor Ron Rivera stated earlier than the season that the usual for achievement was eight or 9 wins. The Bears (6-4) can attain eight, however provided that they sweep SMU and Stanford.
5. Bowl math
With three weeks remaining within the common season, seven Pac-12 legacy groups have clinched bowl bids: Arizona, ASU, Cal, Oregon, USC, Utah and Washington.
Three are ineligible: Colorado, Oregon State and Stanford. (The Buffaloes and Cardinal have been eradicated on Saturday.)
Two are alive: UCLA and Washington State.
The Bruins should sweep their closing three to succeed in the six-win requirement. Contemplating they play Ohio State and USC on the street and host Washington, a miracle is required. (And never a minor one.)
The Cougars should win two of their closing three, which is effectively inside cause given dwelling dates with Louisiana Tech and Oregon State. (Additionally they go to James Madison.)
At most, eight of the 12 will qualify.
At worst, seven will go bowling — the identical whole as final 12 months.
And as a reminder: Every time a Pac-12 legacy staff jumps into the playoff, the opposite bowl-eligible groups transfer up one rung within the postseason lineup.
4 groups are alive for the CFP, with Oregon in the most effective place, adopted by USC, Utah and Arizona State. The Trojans and Utes have simply two losses and, due to this fact, a path into the at-large area. The Solar Devils, who’ve three losses, can solely attain the CFP by successful the Large 12.
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