There is no better race in the country than the Pacific-10, unless you count the Conference USA East, which no one should.
With two weeks left, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona and Stanford all have a shot at the Rose Bowl, along with Southern California (in case of a six-way tie).
A scenario could develop next weekend in which the Oregon State-Oregon Civil War would be the biggest rivalry game in college football this year. If 11th-ranked Oregon (8-2, 6-1) wins at Arizona (6-3, 4-2) tonight and No. 19 Oregon State (7-3, 5-2) beats visiting Washington State (1-9, 0-7), next Saturday’s Oregon State-Oregon game will be for a Rose Bowl berth.
“Our thoughts are on Arizona,” first-year Oregon coach Chip Kelly told the Eugene Register-Guard. “We’re not talking about that, have never talked about it all season long.”
He shouldn’t. Arizona is no Duck walk. The Wildcats have a shot at their first Rose Bowl with the league’s No. 2 defense, offense and passing offense. They’re undefeated at home this year and lost their lone two Pac-10 games to flukes. The first happened when a pass was deflected off a Wildcats receiver and was returned 37 yards for Washington’s winning touchdown.
Last week at California, down 18-16 at the Cal 25 with two minutes left, sophomore sensation Nick Foles caught his own deflected pass and tried throwing again. The penalty moved the ball out of field goal range.
Oregon has lost two starting defensive backs and has struggled against the run. However, LaMichael James is ninth nationally in rushing at 119.3 yards per game, including 152.8 with seven touchdowns in his last five.
“They’ve got a great home-field advantage with their crowd,” Kelly said, “and obviously with ‘GameDay’ being there and it being a national game, it’s going to be a great environment.”
It also hasn’t been lost on Kelly — or starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli — that Oregon went to Tucson in 2005 and lost quarterback Kellen Clemens to injury and Dennis Dixon to injury two years later.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
Games to watch
No. 4 TCU (10-0) at Wyoming (5-5)
Noon, War Memorial Stadium, MTN
Before scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter against San Diego State in a 30-27 victory last week, the Cowboys had been outscored 110-16 in their previous 15 quarters. TCU’s defense allows just 245 yards and 13 points a game. TCU junior QB Andy Dalton, left, has 27 wins, two shy of the school record “Slingin’ Sammy” Baugh set from 1934-36. He has 11 TDs and one interception in his last five games. TCU, favored by 31 1/2 points, can clinch a share of the MWC championship with a victory. More important for the Frogs, they have to win to stay in position to play in one of the big-money games.
Air Force (7-4) at No. 19 BYU (8-2)
1:30 p.m., LaVell Edwards Stadium, CBSCS
All eyes on Air Force’s defense will be on Cougars quarterback Max Hall, who is 211-of-302 passing for 2,857 yards, 23 TDs and only one interception. Air Force has 24 sacks (11 players are credited with at least one. Leading the way are nose tackle Ben Garland, left, with 4 1/2, defensive end Rick Ricketts (4), defensive end Myles Morales (3 1/2) and outside linebacker Andre Morris (3). After TCU’s rout of Utah last week, about the only race left in the Mountain West is for second place. Air Force has won three straight games and still has a chance to finish with a share of second place with a win.
Colorado State (3-7) at New Mexico (0-10)
4 p.m., University Stadium, MTN
Two vulnerable defenses and two inconsistent but potential explosive offenses. Lobos sophomore middle LB Carmen Messina leads the nation in tackles (13.4 per game), but opponents have been running a lot of plays at New Mexico. The Lobos’ pass rush is limited to end Jon Rainey, who is second in the league with 7 1/2 sacks. CSU seniors, including Dion Morton, left, are looking to regain their early-season form and end on a high note going into the Bronze Boot showdown with Wyoming. CSU defensive end Cory Macon remains questionable after a minor car accident during the bye week.
Players to watch
Todd Reesing, Kansas
The senior, who holds most KU passing records, grew up in the Austin area and was snubbed by Texas out of high school. It’s his only college game back in front of hometown fans. 6 p.m. today, KMGH-7
Brandon Graham, Michigan
The defensive end, who leads the nation with 21 tackles for losses, is the Wolverines’ best hope to force Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor into mistakes. 10 a.m. today, KMGH-7
Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
He needs 31 yards against N.C. State to set the ACC record for rushing yards by a freshman (1,265 last year by teammate Darren Evans). 1:30 p.m. today, ESPNU
Shane Vereen, Cal
He got the start last week with Jahvid Best (concussion) out, and ran for 159 yards. The Bears are trying to spoil Stanford’s slim Rose Bowl hopes. 5:30 p.m. today, VS
C.J. Spiller, Clemson
The senior needs 140 all-purpose yards to become the fifth player in NCAA history to surpass 7,000 for their career. 1:30 p.m. today, ESPN
Today’s games
BIG 12
Oklahoma at Texas Tech, 10:30 a.m.
Iowa State at Missouri, noon
Baylor at Texas A&M, 1:30 p.m.
Kansas State at Nebraska, 5:45 p.m.
Kansas at No. 3 Texas, 6 p.m.
MOUNTAIN WEST
No. 4 TCU at Wyoming, noon
Air Force at No. 19 BYU, 1:30 p.m.
San Diego St. at No. 23 Utah, 2 p.m.
Colorado St. at New Mexico, 4 p.m.
TOP 25
No. 1 Florida vs. Florida Int’l, 10:30 a.m.
No. 2 Alabama vs. Chattanooga, 10:20 a.m.
No. 3 Texas vs. Kansas, 6 p.m.
No. 4 TCU at Wyoming, noon
No. 9 Ohio State at Michigan, 10 a.m.
No. 10 LSU at Mississippi, 1:30 p.m.
No. 11 Oregon at Arizona, 6 p.m.
No. 13 Penn St. at Mich. State, 1:30 p.m.
No. 14 Stanford vs. California, 5:30 p.m.
No. 15 Iowa vs. Minnesota, 10 a.m.
No. 16 Va. Tech vs. N.C. State, 1:30 p.m.
No. 17 Wisconsin at N’westrn, 1:30 p.m.
No. 18 Clemson vs. Virginia, 1:30 p.m.
No. 19 BYU vs. Air Force, 1:30 p.m.
No. 20 Oregon St. at Wash. St., 4:30 p.m.
No. 21 Miami vs. Duke, 10 a.m.
No. 23 Utah vs. San Diego State, 2 p.m.
No. 24 Houston vs. Memphis, 11 a.m.
No. 25 Rutgers at Syracuse, 1:30 p.m.
