The No. 8 UCLA Bruins have two of the Pac-12′s best players back and a sterling freshman class. They have their sights set on a second Final Four in three years.
Washington State had its best season in a decade last year, but coach Kyle Smith lost most of that team. Smith has recruited another deep roster of talented players for the Cougars.
No. 9 UCLA travels to No. 10 Oregon with the winner moving into sole possession of first place in the Pac-12. Both teams should be well-rested as they enter off bye weeks.
Washington returns home looking to snap a two-game losing streak when it hosts Arizona. Washington is 4-0 in Seattle this season. Arizona is coming off a home loss to No. 12 Oregon and has alternated wins and losses through its first six games.
The No. 6 Southern California Trojans host the Washington State Cougars on Saturday in a key Pac-12 matchup. USC quarterback Caleb Williams bounced back in a 42-25 win over Arizona State. The Cougars defeated California 28-9, the fourth opponent they have held under 20 points this season.
The 18th-ranked UCLA Bruins have a chance to move to 6-0 for the first time since 2005. It won’t be easy since they’ve dropped five straight to their next opponent, No. 11 Utah.
No. 15 Washington faces UCLA in the only Pac-12 game between undefeated teams this week. The Huskies are 4-0 for the first time since 2017 behind quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who leads the FBS with 1,388 yards passing.
Wayne Taulapapa rushed for a career-high 120 yards and one touchdown, Washington sacked Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee eight times and forced two fumbles, and the 18th-ranked Huskies beat the Cardinal 40-22.
Washington is showing the troubles of previous seasons may be in the past after a 3-0 start to the first season with Kalen DeBoer as head coach. The latest victory over Michigan State vaulted the Huskies back into the AP Top 25 at No. 18.