Call it parity or call it chaos, but the Pac-12 has been nothing if not entertaining this season. While Oregon seems to have re-established itself as a potential elite team with the return of left tackle Jake Fisher, just about every other game in league play is up for grabs each week. Expect a bumpy road to San Francisco for the Pac-12 title game no matter what.
1. Oregon (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12)
Up next: vs. Washington
The skinny: The Ducks' offensive line returned to normal and looked like the Oregon offense of old in a shellacking of UCLA at the Rose Bowl. A tough Pac-12 North test against a feisty Washington team awaits, however.
2. Arizona (5-1, 2-1)
Up next: at Washington State
The skinny: Cardiac 'Cats is a fitting nickname for this team, who could just as easily be 0-3 in league play as they could be 3-0. They're still top-25 caliber but will have to make some corrections after a tough loss to USC.
3. Arizona State (4-1, 2-1)
Up next: vs. Stanford
The skinny: A rematch of the Pac-12 Championship Game is in store for the Sun Devils, who might get back quarterback Taylor Kelly this week. ASU still is in line to win the division, but things won't be easy with the top defense in the country up next.
4. Utah (4-1, 1-1)
Up next: at Oregon State
The skinny: Last year the Utes upset Stanford but still couldn't get to a bowl game. This year, UCLA was the giant they toppled, and there are plenty of encouraging signs after the big upset.
5. USC (3-2, 2-1)
Up next: vs. Colorado
The skinny: The Trojans were good but unlucky against one Arizona school and lucky but not great against the other. Still, they have a path to the division and easily have the most talent of anybody in the league in their starting 22. They just haven't played up to their potential.
6. UCLA (4-2, 1-2)
Up next: at California
The skinny: Are the wheels coming off in Westwood? A trendy national title pick suffered its second straight loss and still has played just one complete game all season long.
7. Stanford (4-2, 2-1)
Up next: at Arizona State
The skinny: The defense slowed down Connor Halliday last week and will be put to the test once again against ASU's multi-pronged attack. The offense remains a work in progress.
8. Washington (5-1, 1-1)
Up next: at Oregon
The skinny: Shaq Thompson is starting to get mentioned in the Heisman conversation, but if the Huskies have any chance of beating Oregon for the first time in a decade, they're going to need the inconsistent offense to show up in Eugene.
9. California (4-2, 2-2)
Up next: vs. UCLA
The skinny: The Bears are still in the mix to reach six wins and get to a bowl game, but a bounce-back showing against a reeling UCLA team in Berkeley will be much-needed.
10. Oregon State (4-1, 1-1)
Up next: vs. Utah
The skinny: Mike Riley's team has flown under the radar so far this season but get the national spotlight Thursday, when it hosts a Utah team that should give it plenty of trouble.
11. Washington State (2-5, 1-3)
Up next: at Stanford
The skinny: Connor Halliday was able to move the ball against Stanford, but just not at the prolific pace he was on. A bowl game is out of the question at this point, but the Cougars are still a tough out for each team they face.
12. Colorado (2-4, 0-3)
Up next: at USC
The skinny: The Buffs might be at the bottom of the Pac-12 rankings, but they'd be much more competitive and out of the cellar in every other Power Five conference in the country.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
