By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
Eventually, the rest of the country will be forced to acknowledge the quality of football played in the West.
Oregon just went into Happy Valley and beat Penn State in front of over 110,000 fans. On the same weekend, Arizona State beat No. 24 TCU as Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils advanced to 8-2 in regular-season Big 12 games since joining the league.
It’s weekends like that which make us all miss the old Pac-12. But times change, and adaptability is crucial. There’s a lot of football left to be played.
Here’s how I view the Top 10 Teams in the West heading into Week Six.
1. Oregon (2-0, 5-0) ◄►
The top team in the country plays in Eugene, Oregon.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Give me Oregon against any other team in the country on a neutral field.
Dan Lanning is an elite coach, and the Ducks have talent with depth. The coordinators on both sides of the ball are strong, and the team has an identity.
But a program is only as good as its last result. Indiana is next up after a bye week and the game is at Autzen Stadium. It’s time to prove a point. And Lanning knows it.
2. Arizona State (2-0, 4-1) ▲3
Arizona State looks like the best team from the West in the Big 12.
TCU has a talented roster, and the Sun Devils now have two respected wins on their resume.
At 2-0 in league play, Kenny Dillingham’s team is in a favorable position. The loss to Mississippi State is looking better each week while Dillingham’s group continues to improve game by game.
Right now, I’d take ASU in a head-to-head matchup on a neutral field against either BYU or Utah.
3. BYU (1-0, 4-0) ◄►
The Cougars are undefeated and by default might have a better shot at making the Playoff, if the selections were held today.
But that game in Boulder was not what we wanted to see. The offense is overly reliant on Bear Bachmeier running the ball.
What’s going to happen when they line up against a good defensive line?
Perhaps Colorado has improved since the season began. But that was an eyebrow-raising result that creates more questions than answers.
4. Utah (1-1, 4-1) ▲2
The Utes reinforced their reputation with a convincing win over West Virginia.
The Mountaineers are a bottom-feeder in the Big 12 and Utah reminded them of their place. The result is a positive sign for the remainder of the year.
But let’s not get out over our skis. If Utah is going to compete for the Big 12 Championship, they must beat Arizona State at Rice-Eccles.
It’s one thing to crush the bad teams in the Conference; it’s an entirely different ballgame to beat the teams at the top.
5. USC (2-1, 4-1) ▼3
That was supposed to be one of the easier games within the difficult part of USC’s schedule.
The Trojans were favored by almost a touchdown and couldn’t get the job done. The defeat is especially confounding, coming just a week after Illinois was crushed by Indiana.
The stumble begs the question: Where does USC’s next win come from? If the Trojans lose to Michigan at the Coliseum, the season is effectively over.
But beat the Wolverines, and there’s life left.
6. Washington (0-1, 3-1) ▼2
It was a bit of a mixed bag in Seattle on Saturday.
In some ways, the Huskies looked competitive against the No. 1 team in the nation. But at the same time, it shows how much further they have to go.
The offense couldn’t score touchdowns and Jedd Fisch’s odd decision-making reared its head again. The defense played a little better than expected, though, even with a handful of key injuries that the unit is dealing with.
The trajectory of the season hangs in the balance at Maryland this week.
7. UNLV (0-0, 4-0) ◄►
UNLV has played an odd schedule. With two bye weeks already, plus a Week Zero matchup, there’s been no rhythm to the season.
The team’s best win is a three-point road victory over Miami of Ohio. That doesn’t sound like the resume of a Playoff-caliber team.
But Dan Mullen’s group is 4-0 and has proven capable of winning close games.
The Rebels play Wyoming this week, and it’s fair to say the game is already on Upset Alert.
8. Boise State (1-0, 3-1) ◄►
The Broncos continue to handle their business after the disaster in the opener against South Florida.
The wide margin of victory over Appalachian State was exactly what we needed to see.
This week, the program looks down the barrel at one of the top regular-season nonconference matchups in program history. Notre Dame is ranked No. 21 in the nation, and the game is in South Bend.
If Boise State wins, they are immediately back in the Playoff discussion.
9. California (1-0, 4-1) ▲1
It might not have been pretty, but Cal got the job done on the road against Boston College.
Starting off ACC play with a victory was critical for the remainder of the season. It avoids the worst-case scenario after the embarrassing loss to San Diego State and keeps everything left to play for.
But to have a respectable finish to the year, the Bears must win at home. Duke comes to Berkeley this week.
Win that one, and the rest of the year takes on a different perspective.
10. Fresno State (1-0, 4-1) ▲NR
At 4-1 and coming off a bye week, Fresno State is in position compete for a Mountain West Championship.
With a favorable schedule the rest of the year, it’s fair to expect the Bulldogs to go 6-1.
Nevada is up this week followed by a crucial test on the road to Colorado State.
The Conference is wide open this year and there’s opportunity for the taking. The stars seem to be aligning for Fresno State.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.