This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Stanford's pounding of Iowa in the Rose Bowl was unsatisfying to Pac-12 fans, in the sense of making everyone wonder what the Cardinal might have done in the College Football Playoff. In any case, the conference's football season ends Saturday, after two more games. The Pac-12 is 6-2, tied with the SEC in the Bowl Challenge Cup standings. Saturday's games Oregon vs. TCU, Alamo Bowl, 4:45 p.m. MST, ESPN This matchup lost a lot of its attraction when TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin was suspended. That also means the Ducks' defense has no excuses. Oregon has come a long way since losing by 42 points to Utah in September, but the Ducks also gave up 42 points in a win over Oregon State in November. So the defense will have to show up in San Antonio, regardless of the opposing QB. Oregon 45, TCU 35. Arizona State vs. West Virginia, 8:15 p.m. MST, ESPN This is not exactly a home game for ASU, playing at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. But it's pretty close. The Sun Devils had a weird season that included being blown out by USC (in the Steve Sarkisian era) and losing a bunch of high-scoring games, and they'll take a 6-6 record into this matchup. Presumably, playing in Phoenix should keep them sufficiently interested. Arizona State 35, West Virginia 28. – Kurt Kragthorpe