Big game of the week
No doubt, it's the Utah Utes playing host to Washington in their first home Pac-12 Conference game.
Not only can the Utes take a step toward contending for the Pac-12 South Division title with a victory —Â they play division front-runner Arizona State at home Oct. 8 —Â but they will be matching their league-leading pass efficiency defense against quarterback Keith Price, who has thrown 14 touchdown passes and might have become a Ute if not for Jordan Wynn.
The Utes have not lost a regular-season game after a bye since 2002, and haven't lost one at home since 1996 — when Washington coach Steve Sarkisian was the quarterback who led rival Brigham Young to a 37-17 victory.
Not quite top of the heap?
The Pac-12 has taken some criticism for a lackluster nonconference season so far.
Teams have gone 20-10 outside the league, but only 4-7 against the other five BCS conferences with seven of the wins against FBS opponents. Most damning, the Pac-12 is 1-4 against the Big Ten Conference, though Colorado coach Jon Embree said the league isn't as "bad" as some might say.
"I'm not down on our conference," he said. "I think we have a very good conference. ⦠That's for people in the sports bars and all that to argue about."
Moving on up
With his monster 288-yard destruction of Arizona last weekend, Oregon's LaMichael James moved into sixth place on the all-time Pac-12 Conference rushing list with 3,890 yards.
He's 216 yards behind Washington's Napolean Kaufman for fifth, but has a long way to go before he challenges USC's Charles White, who finished his career from 1976-79 with 5,598 rushing yards. But, hey ⦠James is still only a junior, right?
Streaking
Quarterback Nick Foles of Arizona has thrown 183 passes without an interception this season, while the Oregon State Beavers will play at Arizona State on Saturday hoping to avoid their first 0-4 start since 1996.
Catching on
Three Pac-12 receivers rank in the top five nationally in receiving yards.
Washington State's Marquess Wilson leads the country by averaging 143 yards per game, followed by Cal's Keenan Allen in fourth at 124.5 yards and USC's Robert Woods in fifth at 123 yards per game.
Top performers
• Running back LaMichael James, of Oregon, broke school records by rushing for 288 yards (and two touchdowns) and compiling 363 all-purpose yards in a 56-31 win at Arizona.
• Linebacker Shelly Lyons, of Arizona State, returned an interception for a clinching touchdown in a 43-22 victory over USC, and added four tackles, including one for a loss.
• Receiver Jordan Poyner, of Oregon State, returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown —Â second-longest in Beaver history — to count toward his 156 return yards in a 27-19 loss to UCLA.
