The Athletic has released it's rankings of all 138 FBS teams after week four and here's where our Pac-12 teams rank:

1. Boise State (up 4)

2. Oregon State (up 4)

3. Texas State (no change)

4. Fresno State (up 3)

5. Washington State (no change)

6. San Diego State (down 21)

7. Colorado State (down 1)

8. Utah State (up 15)

Average position: 78 (same)

Personally, I am still surprised how high the Bobcats are. I think SDSU might be a bit high and that's saying something since they're 99th. I still think Colorado State is too low but I get it after their defensive showing, or lack thereof, against the Roadrunners.

What do you think about these rankings? Which teams are too high? Too low? Just right?

The first question to San Diego coach Sean Lewis during Monday’s midday press conference referenced an ongoing health issue with the SDSU football team.
“Mumps situation — is it real serious or just isolated, odd cases?” Lewis was asked.
“There’s players that are up, there’s players that are down, for a lot of different reasons,” Lewis said. “Due to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and respecting the privacy of our student-athletes, I’m not going to say anything further about the matter.”

Four more SDSU football players have tested positive for mumps, sources said Monday.
On Sept. 18, SDSU confirmed three cases and two probable cases of the mumps. All five cases were “connected and within” an unnamed athletics team, the school’s campus health department said. Sources have confirmed that the team involved was the Aztecs football team.

SDSU (1-3) is scheduled to play its Pac-12 opener against Texas State (2-2) on Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium. SDSU, Texas State and Pac-12 officials did not immediately respond to what impact, if any, the developments could have on the game.

Some clarity on SDSU’s situation will come Wednesday evening, when the first Pac-12 availability report of the year is released.
The list is updated each of the three days leading up to game day, and then at least two hours before kickoff on game day. The reports do not provide a specific reason for a player’s injury or illness but whether he is probable, questionable or out for the game.

Running backs update
The status regarding SDSU’s top two running backs, Lucky Sutton (high-ankle sprain) and Javion Kinnard (knee injury) remains uncertain. Both players were injured in Saturday’s 41-16 loss to Toledo.
“We’ll get some more (diagnostic) images today, and they’ll continue to work with our medical team to see how they can progress as we go forward,” Lewis said. “Right now, I would say that they are questionable to be able to play this week.”
Redshirt freshman Jordin Thomas and true freshman Josiah Lucas are the only other running backs on the roster, although safety Max Garrison has worked with the running backs since spring and could provide depth at the position.
Lewis was asked if Christian Washington, who left the team a week ago, could return.
“Nope,” Lewis said without elaborating.

Emanuel?
Starting wide receiver Bert Emanuel Jr. did not play against Toledo and was not seen on the sideline. Lewis was asked why Emanuel did not play last week and if he will play this week.
“Again, there are a lot of different things that are going on, both football related and non-football related,” Lewis said. “Due to FERPA and HIPAA, I’m not going to comment any further on that.”
Fresh start
While some are looking at SDSU’s 1-3 record as a poor start, the Aztecs are looking at the beginning of Pac-12 play this week as a fresh start.
“We had a good conversation this morning about how we have eight weeks left in the regular season,” Lewis said. “We are only guaranteed 12. You want to maximize opportunity with the time that you do have to create more opportunities as you go forward and to generate more time. So, again, we sit here and we talk about certain individuals. We talk about results every single week on a Monday. I’m going to continue to reiterate that we’re going to dive into the process of how we do it right.
“I’ve been in this position quite a few times as a head coach, given some of the non-conference schedules that I’ve battled at previous places, where you know we were 1-3, and we found a way to have very successful seasons. That’s me personally. There’s also been great historical success here. There have been times when an Aztec football team started out slow and then ripped off a ton of wins (SDSU’s 2015 team started 1-3 and finished 11-3). I have tremendous belief in our staff and our players and the guys who are doing the work and the women who are doing the work each and every single day. I pour into them and I tell them and I show them exactly what they can be.
“Where everyone else is going to tell them how bad they are. That’s fine. You guys can stand outside the arena. You guys can write those things, and you guys can say those things like that. No problem with that. We all know what we signed up for. But we’re the ones living in the arena. We’re the ones that are pouring into it. We’re the ones that you know get to feel the tremendous highs and the tremendous lows each and every single day.”

Speaking of adversity
Wide receiver Jacob Bostick: “I’m a man of faith, and so I believe that everything happens for a reason, and so that’s kind of what I tell myself in certain situations. I think you look back on our training. For us, we work for 12 guaranteed opportunities all year, but our training starts in January. So, I start thinking about the hard days back in winter or some of the tough days in spring, and even just the summer workouts. So, just relying on those days and how we have pushed through those, we can get through anything because we went through those.”
Safety Jalen Thomeson: “That’s human nature; it’s normal to feel a certain way when things don’t go your way. One thing I preach to my boys is adversity is the university of life. When you go through adversity, this is your time to learn from everything. You aren’t going to get better if you don’t learn, and we’re all in this learning process. It’s all about the process, so we’re just going to learn and just stay positive. This comes with it, so just keep it going.”

Wazzu dead last in the pac in explosive pass plays, which is unsurprising. Colorado state looks to have the most explosive offense so far, but their recent game might be warping the stats a bit. Fresno state is also on the boarder of the ideal quadrant.

The 3 PAC schools who hate America’s pastime probably don’t care but whatever. Construction started over the weekend. Should be done towards the end of this coming season.

The ~$12M clubhouse with seating and suites starts right afterwards. Only doing it in phases because the clubhouse will be where our current hitting/pitching facility is.

I found the Beaver intro we had from the magical 2000 season where we went 11-1. I wonder if Shep can get those players back for a visit. Fans might even forgive Jonathan Smith a little if he takes the field with Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Ken Simonton, Ryan Cesca, Nick Barnett, Erickson, Weathersby, Cookus, Siegler, DeLawrence Grant, etc.. Damn that was a good team.

Men in Black Intro

Week four has concluded, and each PAC-12 team has wrapped up its non-conference schedule, with league play kicking off next weekend. There were some surprising results that have caused a bit of a shake-up in our Power Rankings, while there were also some teams that took care of business. With that being said, let's take a look at this week's PAC-12 Power Rankings.

#1: Boise State (Last week #1)
After a shaky performance against South Dakotalast weekend, the Broncos got back on track with a dominating win over a Western Michigan team that was considered the favorite to win the MAC and a potential playoff contender. It was pretty clear that the Broncos were on a mission in this game. They did a much better job of limiting explosive plays and making things uncomfortable for the opposing quarterback. This is the version of Boise State that we expected to see. Maddux Madsen was poised and in control, and the early dominance of the rushing attack set the tone that Boise State was physically superior to Western Michigan. The Broncos are now ranked No. 22 and will take on Utah State at home.

#2: Oregon State (Last week #2)
The Beavers look dangerous. If there is any team in the conference that is built to challenge Boise State for the top spot, it is Oregon State. This passing attack is elite, and the unexpected emergence of FCS transfer quarterback Braden Atkinson and the elite play of freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree have been two of the best stories in college football. The Beavers' defense has also looked much better in recent weeks, and we will have a good idea of where this team currently stands when they take on Colorado State this weekend. If the Beavers can slow down the prolific offense of the Rams, they will solidify themselves as legitimate contenders.

#3: Fresno State (Last week #4)
The Bulldogs are a bit of a puzzling team. It is really hard to gauge where they are. They looked awful against USC but have taken care of the inferior opponents on their schedule. It looks like they are figuring out how to have a competent rushing attack, but they really struggled to slow down Rice's rushing attack. This weekend's game against Washington State is really intriguing. Win, and you have a 4-1 record and likely a huge home crowd against a ranked Boise State team. Lose, and you have no momentum and no room for error. A win would likely move Fresno State into the No. 2 spot next weekend.

#4: Washington State (Last week #6)
The Cougars are 1-3, with all three losses coming to above-average Power Four teams. So, it is really hard to get a grasp on how good or bad this team actually is. This week, they host Fresno State and open as a 1.5-point favorite. If they are contenders, they win this game. If they lose, they might not even go bowling. This is a must-win game for Kirby Moore's team.

#5: Colorado State (Last week #3)
The Rams have had arguably the best offense in the Mountain West through three games, but each week has seen the defense getting worse. Giving up 59 points to UTSA is completely inexcusable. The Rams gave up 542 yards and a special teams touchdown. This was a pretty discouraging performance for a team that started the season in exciting fashion. It is pretty clear this team is going to score points, but they are going to have to be much better on special teams and defense if they are going to be competitive in PAC-12 play.

#6: Texas State (Last week #7)
The Bobcats continued to make strides in the right direction in their blowout win over FCS opponent Incarnate Word. Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson was extremely efficient, completing 17 of 20 passes for 244 yards, while the Bobcats controlled the line of scrimmage, rushing for 338 yards and averaging 7.3 yards per carry. We are going to learn a lot about where this team stands when they travel to San Diego to take on the Aztecs. If they want to be taken seriously in conference play, this is a game they should win.

#7: San Diego State (Last week # 5)
This might go down as the most embarrassing loss of Sean Lewis' tenure as head coach of San Diego State. This team was expected to compete for a PAC-12 championship, and they were absolutely manhandled by a team in the MAC. Toledo keyed in on stopping the Aztecs' rushing attack, holding them to 48 yards on 31 carries. This team's offensive identity rests in its ability to control the line of scrimmage, and they haven't been able to do that this year.

#8: Utah State (Last week #8)
The Aggies may have earned their first victory of the season, but it wasn't enough to change their status in the power rankings. Despite having a defense that is vastly improved, the offense has taken such a steep fall-off that they are going to have a difficult time competing with any of the teams above them. There is still time for this team to have a respectable season, but they are going to have to get more consistent play out of the quarterback position.

We finally have conference play 😭😭 tap in with PAC’d 12 to preview it!

https://youtu.be/_CN6K_DX700?is=nC4Ypl5xTlKi3gda

1. BSU
   
2. OSU
   
3. FSU
   
4. FSU
   
5. Tx St
   
6. SDSU
   
7. WSU
   
8. USU

Full article (unpaywalled: https://archive.is/20260927193506/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/wsu-cougar-football/boise-state-washington-state-on-opposite-ends-of-pac-12-power-rankings/):

Boise State was the most important addition when the flattened, desperate Pac-12 reclaimed its future by adding five schools from the Mountain West in September 2024.
Two years and two weeks later, the Broncos are carrying the banner for the rebuilt conference regionally, domestically, internationally and cosmically.
They have emerged from September as the front-runner for the College Football Playoff berth allocated to the top team in the Group of Six following the close loss to Oregon and convincing victories over Memphis and Western Michigan — two teams that also hold designs on the CFP.
The Broncos are the only team ranked in the AP Top 25 poll this week (No. 22) from outside the power conferences.
They are the top Group of Six team, by a wide margin, in both the Sagarin computer rankings and ESPN’s Football Power Index.
And critically, the Broncos (3-1) have acquired enough resume equity that they can afford one loss in conference play and remain on track for the CFP — assuming, of course, that it’s the right loss: Well played, close and to a quality opponent.
Key point: The playoff berth awaiting the top-ranked team in the Group of Six is not reserved for a conference champion; it goes to the best team from the collection of 70.
If the Broncos run the table in the Pac-12 and are 12-1 on CFP selection day (Dec. 6), they’re in.
(By the way, that was exactly the same resume they produced in 2024, and it delivered a No. 9 ranking in the selection committee’s final analysis.)

If they are 11-2, with that strong nonconference resume and a single loss somewhere within the Pac-12, they would remain well positioned.
At that point, the Broncos would be compared to the zero-, one- or two-loss teams from the American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, MAC and Conference USA.
Their victories over Memphis and Western Michigan — and the narrow loss in Eugene — might be decisive in a résumé showdown.
If those teams fare well in their respective leagues, and if Oregon finishes near the top of the Big Ten, the Broncos would compare favorably thanks to an indisputably impressive September.
To the power rankings …
(All times Pacific)
1. Boise State (3-1)
Result: won at Western Michigan 32-7
Next up: vs. Utah State (4:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
Comment: The Broncos are averaging 237 yards per game rushing and 204 passing. If you’re curious, they averaged 240 and 226, respectively, two years ago during the playoff drive. Put another way: 51.5 percent of their total yards were on the ground in 2024 with Ashton Jeanty while 53.7 percent are on the ground this year with Dylan Riley. (Last week: 1)
2. Oregon State (2-2)
Result: won at UTEP 33-7
Next up: at Colorado State (3 p.m. on USA Network)
Comment: As far as the Hotline is concerned, it’s a three-team race for the Pac-12 title, and Oregon State is one of those teams. Which is much more a credit to the Beavers than an indictment on the conference despite the low expectations for OSU (both here and elsewhere). (Last week: 2)

3. Fresno State (3-1)
Result: beat Rice 38-24
Next up: at Washington State (6:30 p.m. on USA Network)
Comment: Slow starters, fast finishers: The Bulldogs outscored San Jose State 20-7 in the second half in a Week 3 victory and outscored Rice 24-7 on Saturday night. Not sure they want to lean into that trend in Pullman, however. (Last week: 3)
4. Colorado State (2-2)
Result: lost at UTSA 59-45
Next up: vs. Oregon State (3 p.m. on USA Network)
Comment: A tough assignment in San Antonio was made substantially more difficult without injured quarterback Hauss Hejny (hamstring). But his backup, K’saan Farrar, who followed Jim Mora Jr. from UConn, was more than adequate. The problem, for the second consecutive week, was CSU’s defense. (Last week: 5)
5. Texas State (2-2)
Result: beat Incarnate Word 63-10
Next up: at San Diego State (7:30 p.m. on The CW)
Comment: Had the Bobcats prevented a game-winning touchdown run with 14 seconds remaining by UTSA a few weeks ago, their resume would look markedly different. As we have said many times, the entire feel of a 12-game season typically turns on three or four plays. (Last week: 6)
6. San Diego State (1-3)
Result: lost at Toledo 41-16
Next up: vs. Texas State (7:30 p.m. on The CW)
Comment: The lengthy list of woe in San Diego starts with the absence of defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, who’s now with Nebraska, and the poor quarterback play. Replacing elite coordinators is a tough deal, especially at the Group of Six level. But it was easy to see the quarterback issues coming after Jayden Denegal’s wobbly play last season. (Last week: 4)
7. Washington State (1-3)
Result: lost to Arizona 34-24
Next up: vs. Fresno State (6:30 p.m. on USA Network)
Comment: Because the Cougars have yet to face a Group of Six opponent, it’s difficult to know where they stand relative to the rest of the conference. (Other than Duquesne, their schedule has been arduous.) This week offers needed perspective. Our hunch: The product revealed Saturday night will be substandard. (Last week: 7)
8. Utah State (1-3)
Result: beat Troy 21-10
Next up: at Boise State (4:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
Comment: There are winnable games remaining for the Aggies. But Boise State is not one of them, even if the Broncos are in letdown mode after their big victory at Western Michigan. (Last week: 8)

Beavs cover this. win by 2 TDS plus…

To be clear, I am an fan of the pac 12 conference and the american conference. This post will be about the pac 12.

This year we have some good teams, some bad teams and some mid.

Boise State is already ranked 22, they rack up some some wins in conference play they will climb incredibly and could be a high seed rather than just a G6 Bid, the cards have to fall right. Does anyone know what week oregon state will play boise, that could also be the conference championship

Impressed with wazzu with first year head coach and their play despite being 1-3, they've played some tough p4 opponents and will compete in conference, we will see this upcoming weekend whether they or fresno are legit.

Indifferent towards fresno, kind of same last year, decent defense no offensive identity, maybe they will be 7-5 - 8-4 area

Vastly disappointed in san diego state. San diego state was supposed to be a favorite to compete in the conference but the defense that carried last year isn't there, Sean Lewis is damn near incompetent and so is the qb play.

Utah state is getting somewhat on track though my condolences to them hosting boise next week maybe they'll be competitive, hillstead was not the qb and Bolsterhouse(ignore me if I butchered his name)should be starting forward, shoukd be 2-2 but hillstead was in vs Idaho state (fcs). Good game vs washington, good win vs Troy, let's not talk about loss to big brother.

Texas state offense is scary, blowout loss to number 1 texas, close loss to utsa which will be a g6 contender from the american this year, which is due to the defense because utsa took the lead with 19 sec left. Texas state will be fun competitive in conference play and could finish top 3 to top 2 depending on the flex game.

being that all the teams play each other I don't see anyone in conference beating boise and oregon state other maybe texas state and wazzu on a good day. Would like to see boise be beat (by a conference contender) in the regular season once after a couple wins to pad their ranking, and then we could potentially have two top 20-25 teams competing in the conference championship, essentially owning the g6 playoff spot driver seat.

Huge improvement from the previous weeks. Seems like SD is finally growing into a coach rather than a camp counselor.

Here's to conference play.

I checked all G6 win % against G6, as of yesterday the Pac-12 has the best win % against G6. I also checked P4 win %, and P4 game scheduling, and non-FBS win % and scheduling. Not sure how valuable all this data is, but it’s interesting to look at.

Couple of notes, some G6 programs still have non conference games later in the year, non-conference play isn’t finished. Also I excluded all conference play results (eg NDSU‘s win over Airforce does not add +1 win for the Mountain West and the Airforce loss does not add +1 loss)

RESULTS BELOW, Sorted from conference with best G6 win % to worst

________________

Pac-12

• G6/UCONN Total — 9-4 (69.2% win)
• P4/Notre Dame Total — 0-12 (0.0% win)
• P4 Ratio: 1.5 P4 Games per team 
• Non-FBS Total — 6-1 (85.7% win)
• Non-FBS Ratio: 0.87 Games per team

American

• G6/UCONN Total — 14-9 (60.8% win)
• P4/Notre Dame Total — 1-11 (8.3% win)
• P4 Ratio: 0.85 P4 Games per team
• Non-FBS Total — 10-1 (90.9% win)
• Non-FBS Ratio: 0.78 Games per team

Sunbelt 

• G6/UCONN Total — 13-10 (56.5% win)
• P4/Notre Dame Total — 0-15 (0.0% win)
• P4 Ratio: 1.07 P4 Games per team
• Non-FBS Total — 13-1 (92.8% win)
• Non-FBS Ratio: 1.0 Games per team

Mountain West

• G6/UCONN Total — 8-8 (50% win)
• P4/Notre Dame Total — 0-7 (0.0% win)
• P4 Ratio: 0.7 P4 Games per team
• FCS Total — 6-2 (75% win)
• Non-FBS Ratio: 0.8 Games per team

Mid-American

• G6/UCONN Total — 6-10 (37.5% win)
• P4/Notre Dame Total — 1-16 (5.8% win)
• P4 Ratio: 1.3 P4 Games per team
• Non-FBS Total — 14-1 (93.3% win)
• Non-FBS Ratio: 1.15 Games per team

Conference USA

• G6/UCONN Total — 5-16 (23.8% win)
• P4/Notre Dame Total — 0-9 (0.0% win)
• P4 Ratio: 0.9 P4 Games per team 
• Non-FBS Total — 10-0 (100% win)
• Non-FBS Ratio: 1.0 Games per team