Around the Pac-12: Week 9 Football Schedule

There’s a great slate of games this week with four ranked teams in action. Here’s the first look at the six conference games this weekend.

No. 20 STANFORD CARDINAL (5-2, 4-1 Pac-12) vs. OREGON STATE BEAVERS (1-6, 0-4 Pac-12)

Thursday, Oct. 26 | 7:00 pm MT | TV: ESPN

The Beavers return off a bye week to welcome the Cardinal into Reser Stadium for the Thursday night affair. It’s another tough conference matchup for the Beavers with this being the fourth ranked opponent in the past five contests for OSU. Stanford can exit October with a perfect record for the third time in a decade. Bryce Love is an early Heisman hopeful, leading the conference with 1,387 with 11 touchdowns. On the other hand, the Beavers remain win-less in the Pac-12 and aren’t likely to change that this week.

CALIFORNIA BEARS (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12) vs. COLORADO BUFFALOES (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12)

Saturday, Oct. 28 | 12:00 pm MT | TV: Pac-12 Network

Both the Bears and Buffs have similar records, but much different stories this season. California handed No. 8 Washington State their only loss of the season before losing a 45-44 double overtime thriller vs. Arizona last week. Colorado returns home following their first shutout loss in five years after dropping four of the last five games. It’s the first meeting for the conference foes since 2014.

UCLA BRUINS (4-3, 2-2 Pac-12) vs. No. 12 WASHINGTON HUSKIES (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12)

Saturday, Oct. 28 | 1:30 pm MT | TV: ABC/ESPN 2 Regional

Josh Rosen and Jake Browning meet each other for the first time in their respective careers. UCLA travels to Washington for the first game on a two-game road stand with postseason hopes on the line. Rosen is second in the country with 2,620 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. The Huskies can keep their Pac-12 championship hopes alive before an important game in Palo Alto with No. 20 Stanford in two weeks.

UTAH UTES (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) vs. OREGON DUCKS (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12)

Saturday, Oct. 28 | 3:45 pm MT | TV: Pac-12 Network

There’s a lot left to be decided in conference play and this game could leave either team out of a bowl game. Utah has an opportunity to waltz into Eugene and pick up just their second win over Oregon since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. It won’t be an easy task, but the Ducks are in the midst of a down year with Willie Taggart’s first-year staff. A bright spot for the Ducks’ offense is top ten rusher Royce Freeman, who needs 43 yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his career. Both teams come into this game looking to stop a three-game losing skid.

No. 15 WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12) vs. ARIZONA WILDCATS (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12)

Saturday, Oct. 28 | 7:30 pm MT | TV: Pac-12 Network

A battle of the cats in the desert of Tucson could turn out to be the game of the week with both teams trying to make a statement. Washington State will try their luck at containing Khalil Tate and Arizona’s track meet offense. The Wildcats can make it four straight over conference opponents and are fifth in the nation averaging 43.1 points per game. It’s not an easy road for the Cougars from here on out with three of the last four games away from Martin Stadium.

No. 21 USC TROJANS (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12) vs. ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (4-3, 3-1 Pac-12)

Saturday, Oct. 28 | 9:45 pm MT | TV: ESPN

Arizona State hosts Pac-12 after dark looking for a third victory over a ranked opponent at home this season (No. 24 Oregon, No. 5 Washington). USC is coming off their second defeat of the season vs. No. 13 Notre Dame and can’t afford another loss in the race for the South Division. A win for the Sun Devils would put them in first place and controlling their own destiny in the division.