Week five of the college football season is over for the Pac-12, once again there was a letdown and a major upset as well. The Inscriber Magazine will now reflect here on what happened on Friday and Saturday night.
Washington Huskies
The up and coming Huskies were first up for the Pac-12 as the game was on Friday night. It was also the upset of the week. The unranked UCLA Bruins raced out to a 26-10 halftime lead, yet were able to hang on for a 40-32 victory over the 15th ranked team in the country.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson the Bruins quarterback threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns and more importantly did not throw an interception. Michael Penix the dark horse Heisman candidate came on strong after a bit of a struggle to start as he ended up throwing for 345 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also fumbled leading to a safety in the first quarter.
After getting down early Washington was not able to get the running game going as Wayne Taulapapa carried the football only 10 times for 48 yards. With the big lead UCLA was able to run the football with ease as Zach Charbonnet ran for 124 yards on 22 carries which included a touchdown. Thompson-Robinson also ran for 53 yards on 10 carries and also ran one in for a touchdown.
USC
After struggling last week against Oregon State, quarterback Caleb Williams bounced back. As he threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns against the Arizona State Sun Devils. His only blemish an interception that he threw.
For Arizona State the offensive line could not protect quarterback Emory Jones who was sacked five times. He did throw for 243 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
Utah
The Oregon State Beavers surprisingly kept the game close. Yet the Utes pulled away midway through the third quarter. Turnovers once again were an issue as Ben Gulbranson and Chance Nolan both threw two interceptions.
Quarterback Cameron Rising was efficient completing 19 of 25 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns in the 42-16 win.
Oregon
On social media some were questioning if David Shaw is going to last for the Stanford Cardinal. This game was pretty much over at the half as the Ducks raced out to a 31-3 lead.
Bo Nix once again was impressive. He ran for 141 yards on six carries with a long run of 80 which went for a touchdown, he had another touchdown run in the game. He also threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington combined for 163 yards on 21 carries.
Stanford did outscore 24-14 in the second half.
Washington State
Surprisingly the Cougars took care of business against the California Golden Bears. Freshman sensation, Jaydn Ott who ran for 274 the week before, managed only 69 yards on 16 carries.
California also did not take advantage of the two interceptions thrown by Cameron Ward, who wound up throwing for 343 yards and three touchdowns as well. Jaylen Jenkins came up big running the football for the Cougars with 41 yards on five carries. He also ran one in for a touchdown.
The Bears quarterback Jack Plummer left the game with an injury and the offensive line was not protecting him as he got sacked four times.
Arizona Wildcats
Arizona continued the misery of the Colorado Buffaloes.
Jayden de Laura pulverized Colorado’s secondary as he threw for six touchdowns and 484 yards. Wide receiver Jacob Cowing led the way with 12 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown and Dorian Singer added nine catches for 163 yards and a touchdown, and Tetairoa McMillan caught five passes for 90 yards.
For Colorado the bright spots were that quarterback Owen McCown did not throw an interception, ran for a touchdown and threw for one, and running back Anthony Hankerson ran for 68 yards on 12 carries.