Roundup: Stanford and Washington clash for control in Pac-12 North
As Stanford gears up for a Friday nighter on The Farm against Washington (7:30 p.m. PT, FS1), Kyle Bonagura gives us this story about Bryce Love emerging from Christian McCaffrey’s shadow. The Cardinal has replaced a Heisman Trophy candidate with another one who could win that award (but in true Stanford fashion, could easily finish second; not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Stanford-Washington will have a huge say in the Pac-12 North race and at least a little bit of a say in the national conversation. The folks at USA TODAY Sports wonder if Washington can play its way into the College Football Playoff. I’d say the Dawgs’ chances are looking better now than they did a week ago.
Here’s the Associated Press game preview of USC-Colorado, one in which USC can clinch a berth in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game with a win (1:05 p.m. PT, FOX).
Great story on Colorado defensive end Derek McCartney getting a chance to meet the man he donated bone marrow to two years ago. John Steele, whose life was saved by McCartney’s stem cells, will meet McCartney at Saturday’s Colorado-USC game.
With the Utes welcoming the Cougs to town Saturday afternoon (2:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Networks), Dirk Facer of the Deseret News writes that Utah is preparing for the challenges presented by Washington State. The Utes are one win away from securing another bowl bid.
Theo Lawson counts down the best touchdown drives of Luke Falk’s career at Washington State, including last weekend’s game-winning drive against the Cardinal. According to a poll on Spokesman.com, his one at UCLA in 2015 got the most votes.
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen said he wants to play in UCLA’s bowl game if the Bruins qualify for one (CBS Sports). A win against Arizona State at the Rose Bowl would help that effort (6:30 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Networks).
Here’s the Arizona State-UCLA scouting report and prediction from Doug Haller. He has the Sun Devils winning 38-33, and that would get the Sun Devils to six wins.
Arizona is hosting Oregon State Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. PT/8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN2, and it will be Military Appreciation Night at Arizona Stadium.
If the Wildcats win that game, it could be seen as a little school revenge, because Oregon State women’s volleyball defeated Arizona 3-0 Thursday night in Tucson for the Beavers’ 18th win of the season (Pac-12 Networks). The Beavers have to feel good about their NCAA tourney chances at 18-9 and 8-7 in Pac-12 play.
Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert’s status is still up in the air for the Arizona game next weekend, reports Tyson Alger. That said, Herbert is “coming along,” according to head coach Willie Taggart.
The college basketball season is finally here, so check out this California Golden Blogs preview of the Cal women’s basketball team, in conversational form with a couple of their bloggers.