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USC remains in the Pac-12 South race after opening the conference schedule with two losses and UCLA is struggling to become bowl-eligible.

The landscape has changed considerably in Los Angeles in the past month, including the twist of USC coach Clay Helton cheering for rival UCLA last weekend. The Trojans needed help from the Bruins against Utah and Stanford against Colorado, but the Utes and Buffaloes won tough games to remain tied for the South lead at 4-1, ahead of USC (3-2).

"Both teams are playing really good football right now," Helton said. "We know both of those teams are going to be there. Hopefully, we're right there with them."

Having to visit Washington next month works against the Trojans. USC can hope to tie with Colorado for first place, having beaten the Buffs, or to emerge from a multi-team tie.

In any case, USC has recovered from a 1-3 start with three straight victories, while UCLA's season is crumbling. Just to become bowl-eligible, the Bruins (3-5) need three wins in their last four games, as they visit Colorado and California and host Oregon State and USC.

UCLA is off this week, and coach Jim Mora believes the season is salvageable, amid the Bruins' troubles that include a nerve problem in quarterback Josh Rosen's shoulder. "If these kids were easily discouraged or disheartened, they never would have made it this far in their lives," Mora said.

Challenging schedule

California outlasted Oregon 52-49 in double-overtime last Friday, playing more than 200 snaps, and now the Bears have to visit a rested USC team Thursday.

"The schedule isn't real equitable in this situation," said Cal coach Sonny Dykes.

Beyond USC's advantage of being off last week, the Bears are dealing with mid-term exams and an accelerated game-preparation schedule that Dykes labeled "a disaster … a mess."

Including a victory over Utah via a goal-line stand, the Bears' last six games have gone down to the end, decided by 10 points or fewer. "We've had six straight weeks of emotional games, and I think it takes a toll on you," Dykes said.

Rushing race

Utah's Joe Williams gained only 75 yards in the first two games of the season before temporarily retiring, yet he would be the Pac-12's runaway leader in rushing yards per game if he had played in enough games to qualify. After totaling 511 yards in the past two games, he's averaging 146.5 yards.

Williams ranks fourth in the conference in total rushing yards (586), behind Colorado's Phillip Lindsay (745), Washington's Myles Gaskin (727) and Stanford's Christian McCaffrey (612).

Williams' yardage per game would rank second nationally to San Diego State's Donnel Pumphrey, if had participated in three-fourths of Utah's games. Williams would qualify if the Utes play 14 games, counting the Pac-12 championship game and a bowl game.

'GameDay' visits

ESPN's "College GameDay" program is originating from the Utah campus for the second year in a row, after the Utes hosted the event twice in the school's Mountain West era.

After this weekend, the Utes will rank third among current Pac-12 schools for all-time "GameDay" visits. USC is the leader with 10, followed by Oregon with nine. Colorado hosted three times in the mid-1990s in the Big 12. "GameDay" has come to Arizona twice and Arizona State, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA and Washington once each since the campus tours started in 1993.

Captains' choice

Washington State coach Mike Leach used a big chunk of his weekly news conference to detail how the Cougars select captains for each game. The players vote each week, but Leach and his staff make some appointments.

Running back Jamal Morrow has been a popular choice. He leads the Cougars with 333 rushing yards, but his biggest attribute as a captain apparently is a knack for winning the coin toss when WSU is on the road.

Leach cites Morrow's success as a contestant on "The Price Is Right" as evidence that he's lucky, having reached the showcase final before slightly overbidding and losing.

Twitter: @tribkurt —

Tribune Power Rankings: Pac-12 football

1. Washington (7-0) • Jake Browning: No. 2 in country in passing efficiency, behind Toledo QB

2. Utah (7-1) • Utes are 10-8 in games when both teams are in Top 25

3. Colorado (6-2) • Buffaloes are bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007

4. Washington State (5-2) • Luke Falk: Six touchdown passes in first half vs. Oregon State last season

5. USC (4-3) • Trojans have won last seven meetings with Cal in Coliseum

6. Stanford (4-3) • Combined 15 points in 10-5 loss to Colorado fewest in any Pac-12 game since 1998

7. California (4-3) • Bear Raid offense ran 118 plays in double-overtime defeat of Oregon

8. Arizona State (5-3) • Sun Devils recorded seven sacks, held Washington State to minus-52 rushing yards in loss

9. UCLA (3-5) • Mike Fafaul: School records of 40 completions and 70 attempts in loss to Utah

10. Arizona (2-5) • Wildcats allowed 55 points, 570 yards against Stanford last year

11. Oregon (2-5) • Ducks have nine straight wins over Arizona State

12. Oregon State (2-5) • Beat-up Beavers dressed 63 players at Washington, seven fewer than allowed