No. 18 USC (3-1, 2-0) hosted the Oregon State Beavers (3-1, 0-1) for the Trojans first conference home game of the 2014 season. Oregon State was looking to snap a 50 game losing streak in the Coliseum.
The Trojans scored their first touchdown when Sean Mannion pass was intercepted by USC sophomore safety Su’a Cravens for a 31-yard touchdown. Oregon State eventually scored their own touchdown in the first quarter, but it would be the last time the game was in reach for the Beavers. USC outscored the Beavers 28-3 over the next three-quarters, in a careful dismantling of a conference foe.
This win was big for USC as it showed that the squad was able to bounce back from a devastating road loss to Boston College. The Trojans were able to game plan for the Oregon State offensive attack — OSU averaged 3.2 yards per play — and forced two interceptions. USC’s rush played a big part in the Trojans victory, as the held the Beavers to 2.8 yards per rush.
Oregon State has a lot of work to do if the Beavers are going to make it to a bowl game this year, let a lone contend for the Pac-12 North.
1) Oregon Ducks: Bye week
2) UCLA Bruins: The No. 11 UCLA Bruins traveled to Tempe, Ariz. and beat the snot out of the Arizona State Sun Devils, 62-27. UCLA used an explosive third quarter to put the Sun Devils away for good.
3) Stanford Cardinals: No. 16 Stanford was a seven point favorite heading into their match-up against Washington. The Cardinal won by seven, 20-13, in a tough road environment. While the offense struggled again, the defense did more than enough to win.
4) USC Trojans: No. 18 USC extended its home winning streak over the Oregon State Beavers to 51 games, no that isn’t a typo. The Beavers fought hard for a half, but the talent disparity was just too much for OSU to overcome.
5) Arizona State Sun Devils: ASU is no longer in the top 25 after the Bruins blew them out in a Thursday night home game.
6) Washington Huskies: For the second year in a row, Washington lost to Stanford by one possession. This time the loss occurred at home, and was the result of the offense’s inability to score.
7) Oregon State Beavers: OSU fought USC tough on the road, but the Beavers’ couldn’t do it…and lost their first game of the 2014 season.
8) Utah Utes: The Utes followed up their big road win over Michigan by blowing a 21 point first quarter lead to Washington State. Utah’s offensive line struggled to give quarterback Travis Wilson time, and when Wilson did get time he often missed his wide receivers or the pass was dropped.
9) Arizona Wildcats: Bye Week
10) Washington State Cougars: The Cougars overcame a 21 point first quarter deficit to upset the Utah Utes, and spoil MUSS’s homecoming. Not too bad for a team that many expected to get blown out on the road after a close loss to Oregon.
11) California Golden Bears: California was getting dominated by Colorado for the first half, but the Golden Bears fought back. Colorado and Cal ended up going two overtimes, before Cal won the game on a 34-yard field goal, 59-56.
12) Colorado Buffaloes: Colorado lost a tough road game in Berkeley, Calif. and they did it in spectacular fashion. A whopping total of 115 points were scored between the two squads.

Hey Coach, were you surprised that Stanford beat UW by seven?
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Categories: NCAA Football, Pac-12 Power Rankings