Roundup: Washington State's Bill Moos named new AD at Nebraska
‘Twas a huge weekend of upsets in the Pac-12, but we’ll start with an even bigger headline – Nebraska named Bill Moos its new athletic director (ESPN). The former Washington State AD had been on the Palouse since 2010 until Sunday’s announcement. So who will fill his job at Wazzu? Theo Lawson gives us four potential candidates for the Washington State AD gig.
Now, for the football – Arizona State stepped up defensively to stun Washington 13-7, and this is what Max Meyer of Sports Illustrated has to say about the Sun Devils’ “suddenly stout defense,” as ASU had surrendered at least 30 points in 11 straight games before holding Washington scoreless for the first 54 minutes of Saturday night’s contest. The Sun Devils now have two top-25 wins on the season.
Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports believes that Washington’s loss to Arizona State significantly erases the Pac-12’s margin for error for the College Football Playoff. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if every team in the conference finished with at least two losses.
Cal was dominant in a 37-3 upset thumping of previously-undefeated Washington State, and Rusty Simmons writes that Cal “flips out” in a marquee victory over the Cougars. Why would he write “flip out,” you ask? Well, because Cal quarterback Ross Bowers did this for the #12Best Play of the Week.
Wild ending in Troy, where USC came back from a 14-point deficit and thwarted Utah’s two-point conversion attempt to hold on to a 28-27 win over the Utes to maintain control of its own destiny in the Pac-12 South. Chip Patterson of CBS Sports writes that USC is still in the College Football Playoff chase as a result.
Who saw this coming, outside of Tucson folk? Arizona is a surprise contender in the Pac-12 South after a 47-30 win over UCLA, notes Michael Lev. How ‘bout this guy Khalil Tate? One week after rushing for 327 yards at Colorado, Tate poured another 230 on the ground against the Bruins and went 9 of 13 through the air for 148 yards and a touchdown pass.
Colorado escaped Corvallis with its first Pac-12 victory following a 36-33 win over Oregon State Saturday, getting the go-ahead touchdown pass from Steven Montez to Bryce Bobo with 1:34 left in the game. Brian Howell has the story.
Despite the loss, Ken Goe believes that Oregon State interim head coach Cory Hall is plotting “a new and better course” for the Beavers. Doesn’t sound like the Beavs miss Gary Andersen; just ask linebacker Manase Hungalu.
Stanford running back Bryce Love keyed Stanford to a 49-7 win over Oregon, writes Jeff Faraudo. The Heisman hopeful rushed for 147 yards on 17 carries, touching the ball only once in the second half before getting “a little banged up,” according to David Shaw (Love appears to be alright; Shaw said there was no reason to put him back in with the big lead).
Always an entertaining read – here’s John Canzano’s column for the Ducks’ lopsided loss to the Cardinal, replete with John Quiñones “What would you do?” smack. The only thing Oregon stopped was the rabbit that ran onto the field in the first half.
UCLA men’s soccer defeated San Diego State 2-1 in overtime, and there’s the Pac-12 Networks recap for you to purvey. San Diego State tied the game with one second remaining in regulation to send to extra time before the Bruins came through with a game-winner.
In women's volleyball action, Utah defeated Arizona State 3-1 on Pac-12 Networks in four hard-fought sets in Tempe (three of the four sets went to overtime; i.e. the winning team needed more than 25 points to claim the set). The Utes are now 16-3 overall and 7-1 in Pac-12 play.