Instantaneous response to Week 4 developments on and off the sector …
1. Huge video games, small pattern sizes
The fourth week of the common season was, in some ways, the primary week of the Realignment Period for the previous Pac-12 colleges.
USC, Washington, Stanford, Cal, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah performed their convention openers, with 5 of them on the opposite aspect of the Rockies. And whereas UCLA didn’t face a convention foe, the Bruins had been actually on hostile floor at LSU.
Of the six that ventured away from residence, 4 misplaced.
Of the seven that confronted convention opponents, 4 received.
A couple of summaries, adopted by extra detailed commentary:
— Relative to (our) expectations, Stanford submitted one of many high performances of the weekend because it managed the strains of scrimmage in a 26-24 victory at Syracuse. The Friday evening affair wasn’t a brief week for the Cardinal, which had 12 days to organize. However the problem will increase exponentially subsequent week when Stanford heads again to the Jap Time Zone to face Clemson.
— USC suffered arguably the worst lack of the group — not in dimension however, slightly, in psychology. Favored by six factors at Michigan, which has no passing recreation to talk of, the Trojans blew a late lead when their protection crumbled. The Wolverines’ 27-24 victory was, in model and substance, paying homage to their Rose Bowl duels from a long time in the past. On so many fronts, the consequence will hang-out USC for the remainder of the season.
— UCLA was aggressive within the first half in Demise Valley however outscored 17-0 within the second. We received’t blame the poor third and fourth quarters — and the 34-17 loss — completely on the journey and humidity. LSU has higher gamers and was favored by 24.5 factors. Merely by avoiding a humiliation, the Bruins had been winners.
— Arizona State’s scorching begin to the season gave strategy to actuality in West Texas. The Solar Devils managed simply three touchdowns towards a Texas Tech protection that yielded 51 factors to Abilene Christian and 37 to Washington State. The consequence suggests a tough street forward for ASU, for the Crimson Raiders usually are not one of many Huge 12’s greatest groups.
— Logistically, Cal provided maybe the sharpest perception into the problem forward for the previous Pac-12 groups. Two weeks after profitable at Auburn, the Bears headed again to the Southeast and, regardless of 410 yards of whole offense, failed to attain a landing at Florida State. Their three discipline objectives weren’t sufficient because the Seminoles received their first recreation of the season. A number of groups are scheduled to make a number of journeys to the Jap Time Zone.
We received’t draw too many conclusions and, to be clear, this isn’t a commentary on the deserves of abandoning the Pac-12 in the summertime of 2023. That was a call for the lengthy haul. That is merely a response to Week 4 performances and what these performances counsel concerning the subsequent two months.
What they counsel is strictly what many suspected: Lengthy street journeys are tough, and a number of lengthy street journeys in a condensed time period will likely be notably taxing.
2. Huge 12: Beware the Utes
No workforce was extra spectacular than Utah, which visited steaming Stillwater, found previous to kickoff that quarterback Cam Rising wouldn’t play after which dominated Oklahoma State for a 22-19 victory.
Not often have the Utes been higher defensively throughout coordinator Morgan Scalley’s nine-season tenure. They held the Cowboys to 3 factors over 55 minutes, earlier than two late touchdowns put the result in slight doubt.
Quarterback Isaac Wilson threw two interceptions however performed nicely beneath the circumstances, and Utah rushed for 249 yards in comparison with OSU’s 48.
The Utes had been the more durable workforce, which ought to solely come as a shock to Huge 12 followers who haven’t been monitoring Kyle Whittingham’s program through the years.
As we wrote in August: “The Hotline has been asked repeatedly how the Utes will adjust to life in the Big 12. We think the question should be flipped: How will the Big 12 adjust to the Utes?”
To this point, the reply is: Not very nicely.
3. Echo from a previous epic
Three days in need of the thirtieth anniversary of its Miracle at Michigan, Colorado produced one other Hail Mary.
As a substitute of Kordell Stewart throwing a 64-yard landing to Michael Westbrook to beat the Wolverines, Shedeur Sanders linked from 43 yards with LaJohntay Wester to tie Baylor on the ultimate play of regulation.
The Buffaloes (3-1) scored on their first extra time possession and clinched the victory when Baylor fumbled close to the aim line.
The defensive participant who made the hit that brought on the fumble that secured the win? Cornerback Travis Hunter, the two-way marvel who had seven catches for 130 yards.
The 38-31 victory was very important for CU’s bowl math.
Hunter and Co. want three wins of their remaining eight video games to safe a postseason bid.
Given the schedule, that received’t be straightforward. However had they misplaced Saturday, the trail would have been harrowing.
4. Friday evening mayhem
If Boulder was the positioning of probably the most thrilling play, Pullman provided the wildest recreation: Washington State’s 54-52 victory over San Jose State in double extra time.
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The back-and-forth affair went subsequent stage when the Spartans transformed a 20-yard landing move on fourth down with 26 seconds left. However their three-point lead didn’t final lengthy as WSU kicker Dean Janikowski drilled a game-tying, 52-yard discipline aim as time expired.
Each defenses produced interceptions within the first extra time. Within the second,WSU stopped the Spartans’ two-point conversion to safe the win and stay undefeated.
If the Cougars survive at Boise State on Saturday, they enter the School Soccer Playoff dialog.
5. Pac-12 growth replace
The convention is aggressively pursuing a handful of groups from the American Athletic Convention (AAC) within the second part of its progress plan.
Memphis is the first goal, with Tulane, UTSA and South Florida additionally on the quick checklist, based on sources — and the faculties are beneath strain to make choices.
Whether or not they work on the Pac-12’s timeline is unclear, for the leverage lies with the faculties being courted.
Our hunch (and it’s nothing greater than that): If there isn’t a information by the center of the week, the chance of AAC colleges making the transfer will diminish considerably.
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