Pac-12 power rankings, Week 4: USC trounced by Texas

Pac-12 power rankings, Week 4: USC trounced by Texas, Arizona State upset

By Brad Weiss | Sep 17, 2018

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Wheeler (45) tackles USC Trojan WR Trevon Sidney (13)during the Texas Longhorns 37 -14 win over the USC Trojans on September 15, 2018, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: California Golden Bears quarterback Chase Garbers (7) passes from midfield during the game between the Idaho State University Bengals and California Golden Bears on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at the Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The California Golden Bears are 3-0 through the first three games of the season, and they are getting great quarterback play from Chase Garbers, who continues to impress in year one as the starter. Garbers started the season on the bench, but has really come along during his first two starts and had his best collegiate game this past weekend against Idaho State.

Garbers threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns in Week 3, connecting with Jordan Duncan twice, as Cal rolled to a 45-23 victory. Fellow quarterback Brandon McIlwain made some nice plays with his legs as Cal continues to use a two-quarterback system. Their win against BYU two weeks ago was their most impressive of the season, as BYU is now ranked in the top-25.

This weekend, the Golden Bears will play host to the Oregon Ducks, so it will be a real litmus test for a team that has played surprisingly well on both sides of the ball in 2018. Oregon’s offense is absolutely explosive with Justin Herbert under center, but Cal looks pretty balanced, especially with the two quarterbacks playing so well, so it has a shot to really surprise people this weekend at home.

The Washington State Cougars needed someone to come in and run head coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense this season, and through the first three games of the season, they have certainly found their man. Graduate transfer Gardner Minshew continued his strong play in 2018, passing for 470 yards this past weekend against Eastern Washington, as the Cougars ran their record to 3-0.

The Cougars have looked good on both sides of the ball, but it has been the offense that has been off the charts. Washington State has scored at least 31 points in all three games to kick off the 2018 campaign, and Minshew has become one of the better signal-callers in the Pac-12.

Washington State hits the road in Week 4 to take on USC in what will be the biggest test for them so far in the young season. USC has not looked good in recent weeks, so the Cougars should be able to take care of business as they try to keep pace in a very tough Pac-12 North Division.

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