**Editor’s Note: Heading into the final weeks of the season, staff reporter Andrew Bantly ranks the Pac-12.
1. Oregon Ducks (9-1, 6-1)
There isn’t really any debate about this. Following Oregon’s 31-24 loss to Arizona the Ducks responded with five straight victories, including two on the road against AP ranked opponents – No. 18 UCLA and No. 17 Utah . All while scoring over 40 points in each of those five games.
2. Arizona State Sun Devils (8-1, 5-1)
Like Oregon, since Arizona State’s lone loss to UCLA it has won five straight. Four of those five wins have been against ranked teams and its 55-31 win over Notre Dame was a clear display of this team’s potential. Their three remaining games have the Sun Devils in prime position to meet Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship.
3. UCLA Bruins (8-2, 5-2)
If it weren’t for back-to-back losses against Utah and No. 12 Oregon, UCLA would be higher on this list. Its two wins over the Arizona schools standout but they’re going to need some help if they want to jump the Sun Devils in the South.
4. Arizona Wildcats (7-2, 4-2)
It’s hard to have Arizona this low when one thinks about its game at Autzen, but the fact is that its season can’t be summed up by that lone victory. Following its upset over No. 2 Oregon the Wildcats lost to unranked USC. To the Wildcats credit, they’ve been close in their two losses.
5. Utah Utes (6-3, 3-3)
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Pac-12 is how good Utah has been, especially defensively. Other than the loss to Oregon, which was totally in part to Kaelin Clay’s goal line fumble, Utah’s losses were by a margin of four total points.
6. USC Trojans (7-3, 6-2)
I’m not sure which loss was the biggest surprise for USC, getting beat by Boston College or losing by the completed hail mary pass from Arizona State. But USC is still very much in contention with one conference game remaining against UCLA.
7. Stanford Cardinal (5-4, 3-3)
To the relief of many Oregon fans, Stanford didn’t bite Oregon for the third straight year. But just because the Cardinal is out of contention its final games against Utah, California and UCLA are still very important to the Pac-12 standings.
8. Washington Huskies (6-4, 2-4)
Washington might be the most consistent team in the conference. To summarize its season: when the Huskies play a bad team they win, when they play a formidable opponent they lose. They’ve got three games remaining, two of which would fall under the “bad team” category.
9. California Golden Bears (5-5, 3-5)
California averages 41.9 points per game, which ranks ninth in the nation. But what it doesn’t do is keep the opposing team off the scoreboard. Though it makes for a fun game to watch, its defense needs work.
10. Washington State Cougars (3-7, 2-5)
To be fair Washington State did what USC, UCLA and others couldn’t: the team beat Utah. But that’s about it. Yet its next game could prove to be its biggest yet, if it can upset No. 9 Arizona State.
11. Oregon State Beavers (4-5, 1-5)
Oregon State’s lone conference win of the year came against Colorado, which ranks right behind them.
12. Colorado Buffaloes (2-8, 0-7)
Sorry Buffaloes, it just wasn’t your year. With No. 4 Oregon and No. 17 Utah as their final two games it wouldn’t be likely that they will improve on their ranking in the conference.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @andrewbantly