Roundup: Cougs get a big win in "Woodstock"
Kyle Bonagura proclaims that Washington State has entered the College Football Playoff conversation following the Cougars' 30-27 win over USC. The 5-0 Cougars are now ranked 11th in the country and have a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Luke Falk. Heck of an atmosphere in Pullman Friday night, and head coach Mike Leach compared Martin Stadium to Woodstock, noting that the only difference is that “everybody’s got their clothes on.” I would not be shocked if the Cougs are 10-0 after their next five games.
On the flip side, Bonagura also writes that the Washington State game was always going to be a tough one for USC – short week, second straight road game, playing a ranked team that hadn’t left home all season. Doesn’t take the sting away from the loss, obviously, but the sky isn’t falling in Troy.
After a school record-setting 301-rushing yard performance against Arizona State, can Bryce Love outrun Penn State’s Saquon Barkley for the Heisman Trophy? That’s the question posed by Sports Illustrated. Love now has 1,088 rushing yards on the season on more than 11 yards per carry. Also, Lauren Theisen of Deadspin calls Bryce Love the “Real-Life Road Runner.”
Some UCLA women’s soccer players knelt for the national anthem before Sunday’s game against Oregon State, and head coach Amanda Cromwell spoke with our Tammy Blackburn about that decision (the Bruins defeated the Beavers 4-1 to improve to 3-0 in conference play). Also, UCLA tight end Caleb Wilson is out for the year with a foot injury he suffered in Saturday’s 27-23 win over Colorado (Yahoo! Sports).
Congrats to the Ducks for beating Cal 45-24, but it didn’t come without a cost: Justin Herbert reportedly broke his collarbone (ESPN) and Royce Freeman went down with injuries. Even backup quarterback Taylor Alie left the game hurt. John Canzano opines that Oregon is heading into the unknown with a 4-1 record and a roster riddled with injuries.
Cal has confirmed that wide receiver Demetris Robertson is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a lower-body injury.
Read The News Tribune gamer of Washington’s 42-7 win at Oregon State Saturday at Reser Stadium. The Dawgs turned a close game at halftime into a laugher to improve to 5-0.
Oregon State’s second-half issues continued in the loss to Washington (The Oregonian/OregonLive), giving up 21 points in the third quarter and another 14 in the fourth in the five-touchdown loss. The Beavs have been outscored 147-49 in five second halves this year.
Brian Howell writes that missed opportunities cost Colorado in the loss to UCLA. The reigning Pac-12 South champs are now 0-2 in conference play.
Doug Haller gives us his takeaways and grades for Arizona State’s loss to Stanford.
Michael Lev takes a look at Arizona’s options at free safety if Scottie Young Jr., a freshman safety charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, faces discipline from head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Coming off its bye week, Utah faces a big test with Bryce Love and Stanford coming to Rice-Eccles Stadium, writes Lynn Worthy of The Salt Lake Tribune.