Pac-12 power rankings, Week 3: USC beats Stanford, UCLA impresses

2

Washington Huskies (2-0)

Last week: W 63-7 vs. Montana
Last rank: 2

During the first week of the college football season, the Washington Huskies were given all they could handle by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The offense sputtered against Rutgers, leading to a lot of questions as to whether the team took a step back. The Huskies answered all of those questions this past weekend, as they pasted the Montana Grizzlies, 63-7.

For the Huskies, it was nice to get back on the right track. Quarterback Jake Browning was very effective against the Grizzlies, throwing for 259 yards in the game. Browning completed 22 of his 26 passes, connecting twice for scores, but it was the running game that was the story in this one. Five different players, including Browning, found the end zone on the ground, in a truly dominant effort against Montana.

On the other side of the ball, the Huskies were just as dominant against the Grizzlies. They held Montana to only 31 yards rushing while picking up two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in the game. They will take on Fresno State at home in Week 3, and will likely see their record move to 3-0 on the young season.

1

USC Trojans (2-0)

Last week: W 42-24 vs. Stanford
Last rank: 1

Heisman Trophy front-runner Sam Darnold took care of business against Stanford on Saturday night, as the USC Trojans rolled in the premier game of the Pac-12 schedule in Week 2. Darnold threw for four touchdowns against the Stanford defense, as was aided by both of his running backs going for over 100 yards in the game. Ronald Jones II scored twice for the Trojans on the ground, and Deontay Burnett went off in the passing game, hauling in nine catches for 121 yards and two scores as well.

Burnett was not the only wideout to go off in the game, as senior Steven Mitchell Jr. caught the other two Darnold touchdown passes. Cameron Smith led the defense in this one, though Stanford star running back Bryce Love did rush for 160 yards in the game. They are going to have to shore up some things on defense, but this has the makings of a special season for the Trojans.

Next: College Football Playoff and Heisman rankings

The Trojans are one of the best teams in the country, and they could be headed towards an undefeated season. USC showed a huge advantage in talent against a very good Stanford team, who was able to hang in for a while in the first half. If they run and pass the way they did on Saturday night, the Pac-12 South Division is all but in the bag for the Trojans.