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SALT LAKE CITY — The 2016 season for the Pac-12 has been a wild one, albeit entertaining to watch.
As it stands with two weeks left to play in the regular season, Colorado and Washington State, two teams that have traditionally been ranked at the bottom of the conference, are leading their respective divisions and have the Pac-12 Championship game in sight.
Washington, which appeared to be the conference favorite entering last week, is now in a fight to win the North division. Conversely, USC, which started out the season with a 1-3 record and the seat growing hotter around first-year coach Clay Helton, is still in play to win the South division.
Seven teams have already been eliminated from winning the conference, including Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford and UCLA. With so much chaos and so little time left, the following is a look at the remaining five teams capable of winning their respective division and their path to a Pac-12 Championship appearance.
Colorado - South Division
Conf. Record: 6-1
From last place to first, the rise of Colorado has been incredible to watch. For years there has been talk about the progress the Buffaloes have made, but with little to show for it in terms of conference wins. However, Colorado has taken the Pac-12 by storm and is the favorite from the South to win the division and make its first ever appearance in the Pac-12 title game.
It’s a simple path to claim the division for Colorado: win and they’re in. However, the final two games of the season won’t be cupcakes, even though both games will be at home.
Colorado welcomes Washington State, the only undefeated team in conference play at 7-0, to town on Saturday. Quarterback Luke Falk has the Cougars averaging 44.3 points per game as the eighth-best scoring offense in the nation.
Utah, which will be looking to claim the division with a win, has played the Buffs close each season, despite being the better program most seasons. They may not be true rivals, but each game has a rivalry feel. If both teams enter next week coming off wins, anything is possible. Even if they don't, anything is possible … except for the division.
Should Colorado falter along the way and lose one game to either Washington State or Utah, the opportunity of a Pac-12 title appearance would be over and either USC or Utah would advance.
- If Colorado (7-1) and Utah (6-2) win this week, regardless of whether USC (7-2/6-3) wins or loses, the Trojans are eliminated.
- Winner of Colorado-Utah wins the division.
- If Colorado (6-2), USC (6-3) and Utah (5-3) all lose, USC is eliminated.
- Winner of Colorado-Utah wins the division.
- If Colorado (6-2) loses and USC (7-2) and Utah (6-2) wins, Colorado is eliminated.
- If Utah beats Colorado, Utes win division; if not, it's USC.
- If Colorado (6-2) and Utah (6-3) lose and USC (7-2) wins, both Colorado and Utah are eliminated and USC wins division.
- If Colorado (7-1) and USC (7-2) win and Utah (5-3) loses, Utah is eliminated.
- If Colorado beats Utah, the Buffs win the division; if not, it’s USC.
USC - South Division
Conf. Record: 6-2
USC needs some help to win the division and represent the South in the Pac-12 title game. First off, the Trojans have to beat cross-town rival UCLA to be in position to win the division; however, it would still take a collapse from Colorado or Utah to win.
If Colorado and Utah secure wins against Washington State and Oregon, respectively, USC is eliminated from the discussion. If both teams lose and USC wins, the Trojans win the division. And lastly, if Utah loses to Oregon and Colorado beats Washington State, USC can still win the division if Utah then beats Colorado, given that USC beats UCLA.
Utah - South Division
Conf. Record: 5-2
Similar to that of Colorado, Utah controls its own destiny: win and they're in. Easy, right? Not so fast.
The Utes may arguably have the easiest path to claiming the South given that Oregon has had a lackluster defense and is a shell of its traditionally regular self. But that is not to say Oregon can't beat Utah; it's that it's just not that probable. A win over the Buffs would be all that would be stopping Utah.
However, a loss to Oregon doesn't necessarily eliminate Utah from contention should Colorado lose to Washington State and USC lose to UCLA. Utah would then have to beat Colorado to win the division.
Washington - North Division
Conf. Record: 6-1
Despite a setback against USC, Washington still controls its own destiny. Win the next two games against Arizona State and rival Washington State and the division is wrapped up and a potential appearance in the College Football Playoffs may be in order. A loss to Arizona State or a talented Washington State team and all of that comes crashing down.
Washington State - North Division
Conf. Record: 7-0
Similarly to Washington, the Cougars control its own destiny. Washington State will face Colorado this weekend, but the game has little bearing on the North division race; however, a Washington State victory could spell trouble for Colorado’s chances at the South title.
A loss to an FCS opponent in the first game of the season has put a damper on the national rankings, but a win over Washington would change everything for the Cougars.
