By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
Forget every preseason expectation.
Nobody in their right minds would have predicted UCLA to be 5-0, Oregon to be 3-2 with a loss to Oklahoma State, and Oregon State to be 4-2, with massive margins of victory.
Yet, that’s the scenario out West.
The Bruins have emerged as the dominant power. Getting a road win at Autzen Stadium signifies the strength of UCLA’s team. An at-large bid to the Playoff is within reach.
But how do the rest of the teams in the region stack up?
Here’s my Power Ranking for the Top Teams in the West heading into Week 7.
1. UCLA (3-0, 5-0) ▲1
Nobody expected UCLA to be this good. Nobody. And yet, here Bob Chesney is.
The ability to turn the program around in a single offseason is shocking.
Chesney is the early favorite for National Coach of the Year.
If the Bruins can go into Eugene and leave with a victory, who can’t they beat?
2. Utah (2-0, 5-0) ▼1
Utah struggled with Kansas. It took until the fourth quarter for the Utes to pull away.
The final score may look appropriate, and the spread was covered. But that game was too close in the second half.
It forces a re-evaluation of Utah.
Now, the gap to BYU is closer, and the race in the Big 12 has tightened.
3. BYU (3-0, 5-0) ◄►
No killer instinct. Just when it looked like BYU would run the score up, a mistake on special teams gave Iowa State life.
The Cougars dominated, yet the final margin was just 14 points. It’s missed opportunities like that which limit BYU’s reputation.
The 14-point win matched Utah’s margin over ISU, except the Utes did it on the road.
The status quo hasn’t changed.
4. USC (3-1, 6-1) ▲3
Getting a road win over Penn State boosted USC’s resume.
The Nittany Lions aren’t the program they once were. But the White Out environment with more than 100,000 fans in attendance is nothing to discount.
The victory gained USC respect.
Entering the bye week, the program is 3-1 in the Big Ten and a Playoff contender.
5. Boise State (2-0, 5-1) ◄►
The Broncos are running the Pac-12, just like they ran the Mountain West.
The path to the Playoff remains clear. Challengers are beginning to emerge from the American and Sun Belt.
Yet, none of those programs have the clout that Boise State has.
Win out, and the final Playoff spot will go to BSU.
6. Arizona (2-1, 5-1) ◄►
Depth. That’s what separates the average programs from the good.
Football is the ultimate team sport. When you have players go down, opportunities arise for others.
Brent Brennan has built Arizona on the fundamental foundations of player evaluation, recruiting, and development.
Under Brennan, the Cats have a system in place to keep them competitive in the Big 12 for years to come.
7. Oregon State (2-0, 4-2) ▲3
Margins of victory are how you gain respect. And Oregon State has been making statements.
The dominating win over San Diego State solidifies the Beavers as a power out West.
The program under JaMarcus Shephard is well ahead of schedule. This OSU roster might be the best in the Pac-12.
Keep winning like this, and the respect will continue rising.
8. Oregon (1-1, 3-2) ▼4
A disaster. That’s the only way to describe Oregon’s season.
The red flags were already waving after the loss to Oklahoma State. Now, the Ducks are in an unfamiliar position.
The outlook is bleak. The quarterback issues aren’t going away, and the year hangs in the balance.
Lose to Nebraska this week, and the focus may as well shift to next season.
9. New Mexico (1-0, 4-1) ◄►
New Mexico’s resume received a boost during the bye week. Oklahoma taking down Texas makes the close defeat in Norman more valuable.
Yet, North Dakota State’s loss to UNLV substantially damaged the Mountain West.
College Game Day won’t be coming to Albuquerque anymore. And the national narrative around the Group of 6 teams will no longer include the MWC.
To counteract those circumstances, UNM needs to keep posting wide margins of victory.
10. UNLV (2-0, 4-2) ▲NR
UNLV has won three straight games and sits atop the Mountain West standings at 2-0.
The Rebels have wins over North Dakota State and California. Both victories are respectable, and the “W” over the Bison was historic.
Yet, the blowout loss to North Texas and the Week 0 defeat to Memphis remain blemishes on the resume.
Clear wins in Conference play are needed to maintain respect moving forward.
Dropped Out: North Dakota State
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
