It was an interesting week for the Pac-12 as eight teams played their conference openers. Let's take a look at what we learned this week about each team in the conference.
Arizona Wildcats (3-1, 0-1 in Pac-12)
Home sweet home?
It was rather shocking to see the Wildcats go down in the fashion that they did in their conference opener at home against UCLA. Jim Mora has had Rich Rodriguez's number since arriving Pasadena, but the manner in which a depleted Bruins team was able to roll was surprising, nonetheless.
Arizona State Sun Devils (2-2, 0-1 in Pac-12)
It's all in the past.
The Sun Devils just haven't been able to capture last season's magic, and that was once again apparent during a shellacking at the hands of USC. Still searching for an identity on offense, ASU will look to once again follow up a blowout loss in a conference game with a strong run for the third year in a row.
No. 24 California Golden Bears (4-0, 1-0 in Pac-12)
Balance matters.
Whether it's trying to find balance between the lethal passing game and deep running game, or between offensive and defensive efficiency, the Golden Bears are still trying to put it all together. Jared Goff looked good against Washington, but it was the defense's five forced turnovers that really helped Cal earn the win on Saturday.
Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)
Eyes on the prize.
The Buffaloes are now 3-1, but have yet started their conference slate. The goal for Colorado is to qualify for bowl season, and with three wins under their belt, it will need to carry some confidence into Pac-12 play in order to fulfill its aspirations.
Oregon Ducks (2-2, 0-1 in Pac-12)
Nothing was the same.
We wondered when the Ducks' time as the top team in the conference would come to an end, and it has been very abrupt. Oregon suffered a horrific, eye-opening loss at the hands of Utah on Saturday night, and despite having all of the speed imaginable, being inefficient on offense will trump any chance at the offense ever being dominant again.
Oregon State Beavers (2-2, 0-1 in Pac-12)
Playing with the big boys.
The Beavers didn't go away without giving Stanford a fight. That being said, the Cardinal were just too talented on Friday night for Gary Andersen's. Make no mistake -- this team will be still a tough out for most of the others in this conference.
No. 18 Stanford Cardinal (3-1, 2-0 in Pac-12)
Like father, like son.
Christian McCaffrey (303 all-purpose yards) and Barry Sanders Jr. (97 rushing yards, two touchdowns) may not be the same players their fathers were, but they've been the Cardinal's most valuable skill players throughout the last couple of weeks. So long as they can stay healthy, Stanford's power run-oriented offense will always have the potential to reel off big plays, making Kevin Hogan's job much easier.
No. 7 UCLA Bruins (4-0, 1-0 in Pac-12)
The class of the South?
Three defensive starters have suffered season-ending injuries for the Bruins just four weeks into the season. Still, Josh Rosen, Paul Perkins and the rest of the UCLA offense are more than capable of carrying the team. By the way they steamrolled the Wildcats on the road, I wouldn't doubt they do so moving forward.
No. 17 USC Trojans (3-1, 1-1 in Pac-12)
Revenge is sweet.
The Trojans' last-second loss to Arizona State in 2014 was something their fans came into the game still feeling embarrassed. That was erased with a 42-14 trouncing of the Sun Devils in Tempe. It was the perfect way for USC to recover following its loss to Stanford, as well as a statement to the national realm that the Trojans are still an immensely talented team.
No. 10 Utah Utes (4-0, 1-0 in Pac-12)
Guess who's arrived?
The Utes went from being a "cupcake" in Week 1, to pummeling the Oregon to the tune of 62-20. Since joining the Pac-12, Utah has been known for being a physical group, but having found rhythm on the offensive end, the sky is the limit for Kyle Whittingham's group.
Washington Huskies (2-2, 0-1 in Pac-12)
There's good days, and bad days.
The Huskies are a young team being led by a true freshman quarterback on offense. The five-turnover, 259-yard performance screamed of inexperience, nonetheless an outmatched group that was facing one of the better constructed teams in the conference. The Huskies can hang their hat on the fact they only fell by six points at the end of the day.
Washington State Cougars (2-1)
Days of rest.
The Cougars will be on the road to take on California in their conference opener this Saturday. It will be interesting to see if Washington State can maintain its high-scoring form against arguably the highest-scoring offense in the league.