Pac-12 Football: Week 9 Power Rankings

Oh, boy. The two divisions appear to be polar opposites.

A Cal loss gives Stanford some more breathing room in the North, but Washington State looks as though they're out to prove they're a legitimate conference contender. Meanwhile in the South, it's just about anyone's division as a Utah loss to USC puts everything in a different perspective.

Below, House of Sparky's Kaelen Jones and Connor Pelton update their weekly Pac-12 power rankings.

The North

Breakdown

Jones' Picks

Stanford is the clear cut No. 1 team here with Cal's loss. The Cardinal's matchup with Washington State can turn things completely around considering the Cougars' impressive form, but the only changes this week include Washington State and Oregon moving up and Cal dropping.

Pelton's Picks

Washington State is the big mover here. While the Cougar defense still needs a lot of work, its offense is performing at unreal levels. The Cougars still control their own destiny to win the conference despite some early struggles, and this week's game against Stanford in Pullman is one of the most important in recent program history.

The South

Breakdown

Jones' Picks

USC's big win over Utah alters the entire landscape of the South. The Trojans reclaim the top spot in my rankings, but it's essentially a toss up between them and UCLA entering the new week.

Pelton's Picks

Both UCLA and USC move into the top two after using their home field advantage to beat a pair of ranked teams. I think the real team to watch is the Trojans. They have got the talent and potential to play with anyone, and I could see them winning the South with the coaching situation now stabilized.

Pac-12 Overall