By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
Teams from the West in the ACC and Pac-12 have experienced split fortunes in the first two weeks.
Cal is rising as Stanford falls, while Washington State ascends and Oregon State descends.
The Cardinal and Beavers have both lost two straight, while the Bears and Cougars have each won two. The opponents and venues have differed, but the outcomes have been clear.
Here’s a status update on all four teams heading into Week 3.
Beavers Facing Uphill Battle after Second Loss
Oregon State has had a disappointing start to the 2025 season, and that is the understatement of the decade.
The Beavers needed to win one of their first two games to avoid fighting a steep battle. The opening loss against Cal could’ve been explained, but the defeat against Fresno State is unacceptable.
The offense played a lot better, which makes the loss even more concerning. The defense struggled against both the Bulldogs and Golden Bears, two programs not known for offense.
If OSU is going to save its season, it’ll need Maalik Murphy to go Tom Brady mode. Murphy played alright against the Dawgs, but he missed a pivotal throw on a two-point conversion that cost them the game.
Had he completed the pass, Fresno State’s final field goal would’ve tied the game, rather than giving them the lead. Murphy played well, but the Beavers are still 0-2.
Oregon State travels to Lubbock this week in a tough matchup against Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders haven’t played any noteworthy teams yet, but they’ve won their first two contests by a combined score of 129-21.
Bears Look to Build Resume, Avoid Letdown
Cal is definitely better than I thought they’d be. But I’m wary because of what happened a year ago. The Golden Bears started 3-0 with a victory over Auburn in 2024.
They have an opportunity to build a similar resume in 2025, with a victory over Minnesota this week.
The Bear defense has played well, considering they had to replace their entire secondary in the off-season. They’ve only allowed 18 points in the first two contests.
Cal’s offense has also shown improvement, scoring a combined 69 points in their first two matchups, which is a testament to Bryan Harsin.
The offense could’ve sputtered with the losses of Fernando Mendoza, Jaydn Ott, and Jack Endries.
But the real test comes this week. Minnesota has played solid defense in their first two games and features last year’s ninth-ranked stopper unit.
Oregon State wasn’t inept on defense two weeks ago, but this is different. At some point, these are the games Justin Wilcox needs to start winning. I hope he finds his groove.
Cardinal Can Save Face with Win over Boston College
Stanford has had a tough start to their year, but has an opportunity to save face this week in what could be the most important game of their season.
If the Cardinal lose to Boston College, they’re in a real bad spot.
Against BYU, nothing worked. Ben Gulbranson finished with 142 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Micah Ford was also limited to 12 carries for 21 yards.
The lone bright spot on offense was Bryce Farrell, who finished with five catches for 68 yards. The result against the Cougars should’ve been expected.
Moving ahead, the Eagles are coming off a disappointing overtime loss against Michigan State. BC’s quarterback Dylan Lonergan had a stellar outing, throwing for 390 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Boston College is favored by nine points, but Stanford’s gotta get it done. Maybe Clay Patterson can make a game-changing play; he has three sacks in their first two matchups.
The Cardinal have two winnable ACC games on their schedule before things turn disheartening.
Old School Punt Beats Analytics for Wazzu in Second Win
Washington State looked like a different team against San Diego State, or did they? It felt like the Cougars were going to repeat the sloggy Idaho result until Jimmy Rogers stepped in.
Rogers punted the ball near the end of the first half instead of going for it. Coaches still do that. The result was a game-changing safety on a sack by Isaac Terrell.
This gave WSU a five-point lead. The Cougs then proceeded to score touchdowns on the next two drives, one before the end of the first thirty, and the opening drive of the second half.
Before the Aztecs knew what hit them they were trailing by nineteen. It was refreshing to see Rogers punt on SDSU’s 38-yard line, rather than go for it.
It was a reminder that in an age ruled by analytics, the feel of a coach will always be more important than algorithms. But it’s also important to note this probably won’t work against North Texas.
The Eagles have a better offense than either of WSU’s first two opponents. Washington State’s defense has improved, but we’ll find how real they are against the Eagles.
The Cougar fanbase should enjoy being 2-0, but champions are never satisfied.
Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.