Posts: 2,906
Threads: 166
Joined: Jan 2013
TrumpCard, I agree that the Pac-12's national standing is down a bit this year, that Utah's win over Michigan is the best we have (though, in retrospect, that's a really, really good win), and that Stanford playing the Irish is the best chance for the Pac-12 to pick up a marquee win (and, in fact, it's the only nonconference game left on the Pac-12 slate).Â
Overall, though, I think the best chance for the Pac-12 to redeem itself in pollsters' eyes (and thus give Stanford a bit of a boost) is for the teams everyone expected to be good to end the season ranked. That means that UCLA's win over C.al was great, because not only did it ease our path to the North title, but it moves the Bruins back toward the Top 25. So, while other Pac-12 teams don't have nonconference games left, there are in-conference opportunities to improve perception. If Oregon wins the rest of their games (except for the one against us), they should end the season ranked. Same for UCLA (perhaps with a loss to Utah--a 9-3 UCLA team should be ranked at season's end). (Sorry U$C and C.al, you get sacrificed on this particular altar.)Â