Pac-12 power rankings: Stanford drops USC, Chip Kelly, UCLA still winless

Pac-12 power rankings: Stanford drops USC, Washington rebounds, Chip still winless at UCLA

By Brad Weiss | Sep 9, 2018

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Stanford (20) Bryce Love (RB) runs up field being chased by USC (8) Iman Marshall (CB) during a college football game between the Stanford Cardinal and the USC Trojans on September 8, 2018, at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 08: UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (7) passes against the Oklahoma Sooners during the UCLA Bruins game versus the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK. (Photo by Alonzo Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The UCLA Bruins fell to 0-2 to start the Chip Kelly Era at the school, although there were some bright spots this past weekend. A win was not expected, as they were playing one of the better teams in the country, but the Bruins hung tough in the first half before the Sooners blew them away over the final two quarters.

Freshman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson stepped up big against the Sooners, throwing for 254 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Bolu Olorunfunmi found the end zone twice on the ground, and Adarius Pickett continued his strong start to the 2018 season with 12 tackles against one of the more explosive offenses in college football.

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray had his way with the Bruins defense, accounting for five touchdowns. This week, the Bruins will look to get into the win column for the first time in 2018 at home on Saturday night when they take on the Fresno State Bulldogs in a game that they should be able to take care of business in.

Heading into 2018, the thought was that in order for the California Golden Bears to do anything this season, they would need a strong year from quarterback Ross Bowers. Two games into the season and Bowers was nowhere to be seen in the team’s second game, and his time as the starter for Cal is likely over for good.

Cal went with two quarterbacks against BYU, who they beat for the first time ever in the regular season, and both performed very well. Chase Garbers threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns, while Brandon McIlwain rushed for 74 yards and a score. The tandem fed off each other all game long, giving the Golden Bears a distinct advantage over the Cougars.

On the defensive side of the ball, both Jordan Kunaszyk and Evan Weaver both had a dozen tackles, leading a team that picked off BYU twice and did not allow an offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter. The Golden Bears have been surprisingly solid on defense this season and should continue to roll against FCS team Idaho State in Week 3 this weekend.

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