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By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
It solely takes one sport. That’s it.
A single end result. One eye take a look at. One play.
That’s all that’s wanted to immediately change the perceptions and the narratives.
From California’s catastrophe towards San Diego State to Arizona State’s essential win at Baylor, the season modified over the weekend.
Right here’s how I view the High 10 Groups within the West heading into Week 5.
1. Oregon (1-0, 4-0) ◄►
The Geese took care of enterprise towards Oregon State.
The victory units up a colossal showdown with No. 3 Penn State this week.
Oregon hasn’t regarded nearly as good as some had been anticipating after the beatdown of Oklahoma State. The crew has did not cowl in back-to-back video games and enters Comfortable Valley as an underdog.
However the gentle underperformance over the past two weeks will probably be forgotten with a victory over the Nittany Lions.
2. USC (2-0, 4-0) ▲1
Lincoln Riley and the Trojans maintain successful video games. The victories over Purdue and Michigan State are noteworthy, albeit anticipated.
It’s truthful to say USC has but to play anybody good. The following stretch of the season is a distinct story, nevertheless. No. 23 Illinois, No. 19 Michigan, No. 22 Notre Dame, and Nebraska are the subsequent 4 groups up.
We nonetheless don’t know what the ceiling of this yr’s crew is.
The ends in the subsequent 4 video games will inform us all we have to know.
3. BYU (0-0, 3-0) ▲1
The solely actual query round BYU this yr was on the quarterback place. Properly, Bear Bachmeier put plenty of these issues to mattress towards East Carolina.
It’s not simply the stats or the margin of victory. It’s the attention take a look at. And he handed it.
Now, the notion across the program is completely different. The Cougars have loads of expertise on each side of the ball to win video games within the Large 12.
With all of the speak round Utah, Iowa State, and Texas Tech, it will be amiss if BYU wasn’t talked about in the identical vein.
4. Washington (0-0, 3-0) ▲2
It took a bit of too lengthy for the protection to get stops towards Washington State.
However Jedd Fisch’s offense is clearly elite, and the Huskies are a menace. The ultimate rating was what we would have liked to see.
But, like USC, the Dawgs haven’t performed anybody good. Let’s see what they’ll do with No. 1 Ohio State this weekend.
After that, it is going to be simpler to gauge how the remainder of the yr will go.
5. Arizona State (1-0, 3-1) ▲2
Arizona State is again. The Solar Devils went into Waco and got here away with a important win.
The victory modifications the dynamic of the remainder of the yr. Baylor is a good crew and beating the Bears on the street re-establishes expectations.
However there’s no time to look again. TCU involves Tempe this Friday ranked within the High 25.
Arizona State ought to win and ship a message to the voters which are conserving the Solar Devils out of the Ballot.
6. Utah (0-1, 3-1) ▼4
Don’t fear, that Large Ten invite is certain to return any day now.
The Utes have dropped to 2-8 in Large 12 play after their fanbase spent years telling everybody how they had been too good for the Large 12 and had been going to run the league.
The holier-than-thou perspective alienated each different fanbase within the Convention, making Utah rivals with all 15 different groups. And now in Yr Two, the Utes nonetheless haven’t gained a Large 12 sport at house.
Yikes. You reap what you sow.
7. UNLV (0-0, 4-0) ▲1
Technically, UNLV is 4-0 and in place to make the Playoff. However the actuality is that the Mountain West has been outclassed by the American Convention.
The ultimate bid goes to the highest-rated champion of the Group of 5, and that’s clearly going to whichever crew wins the American this yr. The league’s resume speaks for itself.
In any other case, an undefeated Working Insurgent crew could be seen a lot in a different way.
It doesn’t assist that UNLV has been escaping with shut wins towards perceived inferior opponents, both.
8. Boise State (1-0, 2-1) ▲1
Bconsuming Air Pressure was a step in the correct course. The Broncos put up plenty of factors, and the victory got here on the street.
The win won’t achieve respect nationally. But it surely’s noteworthy from a regional standpoint.
If something, it was a confidence-building end result that begins to shift the narrative again in direction of Boise State and away from UNLV.
Beat Appalachian State convincingly, and the shift will edge even nearer to completion.
9. Arizona (0-0, 3-0) ▲1
Arizona is tough to handicap.
On one hand, it may very well be argued that the Cats haven’t performed any high quality opponents. Kansas State shouldn’t be superb this yr and Hawaii shouldn’t be broadly revered.
However, alternatively, Arizona is 3-0 and has considerably improved teaching. The offensive scheme is able to successful video games, and the protection is robust.
How the crew appears towards No. 14 Iowa State this week will probably be informative.
10. California (0-0, 3-1) ▼5
Don’t act stunned. That is what Cal does. Each. Single. Yr.
Was it anticipated to occur towards San Diego State? No. However does it even change something? Not likely.
The ACC isn’t getting a number of bids to the Playoff this yr and the one path is to win the league. It wasn’t a convention sport, so all the things continues to be left to play for.
The loss does present a basic downside with this system, probably attributable to its head coach. However burn the tape and transfer on. There are plenty of video games left to be performed.
Miller covers School Basketball and School Soccer in addition to Formulation 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
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