Huskies are 7-1 (and the Cougars aren't)

Yesterday the University of Washington Huskies played the UCLA Bruins at home. And they won quite handily by a score of 44-23. UCLA's score would have been less but once the Huskies got over 40 points, Chris Petersen, as he does, put in back up players. This allowed the Bruins to make a defensive touchdown and an offensive touchdown, adding 14 points to their score. I hope the voters for the AP poll realize this.

The Huskies did running plays most of the game. This frustrated me because I love watching Jake Browning throw the ball. But, apparently Petersen and his staff decided running was the best way to beat UCLA. A win is a win and I'll take it.

And the Huskies looked so much better than they did two weeks ago when they lost to Arizona State. Even the kicking game worked as the UW kicker was perfect in the game. The Huskies are 7-1 over all and 4-1 in conference.

Next week the Huskies play the Oregon Ducks at home. The Ducks are rebuilding after their awful year last year with a new coach. Still they are 5-4 overall and 2-4 in conference. So, if the Huskies play up to par, they should win this game.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12

As I said yesterday, The Washington State-Arizona game had implications for both the Pac-12 North and the Pac-12 South. Since Arizona won it 58-37, that puts the WSU Cougars 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference. Unless Stanford and UW both screw up, that puts them out of the running for the Pac-12 North championship.

Stanford (6-2 overall, 5-1 in conference) and UW are still neck and neck for the Pac-12 North championship. They play November 10th (a Friday) and the winner of that game will likely be the Pac-12 North champion now that WSU is out of the running..

In the Pac-12 South, USC is still on top at 7-2 overall and 5-1 in conference. But Arizona is now nipping at their heels at 6-2 overall, 4-1 in conference (USC has yet to have a bye). These two teams play next week so the winner will likely be the Pac-12 South champion.

The Polls:

The first College Football Playoff (CFP) poll, which is chosen by committee, comes out Tuesday. The top four teams in that poll at the end of the season go to the playoffs. The AP poll came out Sunday morning (just a bit ago).

TCU (who got beat yesterday) dropped from #4 to #10 and now Wisconsin is #4. The CFP often closely mirrors the AP poll so Wisconsin may now be in the playoffs. But it's a long ways to January.

Another upset yesterday, #2 Penn State lost to #6 Ohio State. Now Penn State is #7 and probably out of the playoffs and Ohio State is #3 and has a good chance to be in the playoffs. But it's still a long ways to January.

UW stayed at #12 (needed to keep UCLA from scoring those last two touchdowns). Still the highest-ranked Pac-12 team for the second week in a row.

USC moved up to #17 from #21. Stanford moved from #20 to #18

Arizona entered the top 25 at #23.

And WSU is on the bubble at #25, falling from #15.

When the CFP comes out, I'll probably post that (on Wednesday).