Redshirt senior running back Deantre Lewis stiff arms a defender during the game against Washington on Oct. 25. ASU defeated Washington 24-10. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)With every team in the Pac-12 now having played at least four conference games, the races for each division are beginning to take shape. No. 5 Oregon has what feels like a commanding lead in the North, though it's only one game. The South, meanwhile, is a mess. Every team but Colorado is within one game of ASU, which holds first place by a half game.
Here's how the standings break down after Week 9.
North
Oregon 7-1 (4-1) 0 GB
Stanford 5-3 (3-2) 1 GB
California 4-4 (2-4) 2 GB
Washington 5-3 (1-3) 2.5 GB
Oregon State 4-3 (1-3) 2.5 GB
Washington State 2-6 (1-4) 3 GB
South
ASU 6-1 (4-1) 0 GB
UA 6-1 (3-1) 0.5 GB
Utah 6-1 (3-1) 0.5 GB
USC 5-3 (4-2) 0.5 GB
UCLA 6-2 (3-2) 1 GB
Colorado 2-6 (0-5) 4 GB
Neither UA nor Utah has played ASU, and each has played one fewer conference game, too. The Sun Devils have to win those games, unless the Utes or Wildcats drop another.
Utah and ASU face off at Sun Devil Stadium on Nov. 1. Whoever wins that game will have the first tiebreaker and gain a game edge on the other. ASU would drop a half game behind the Utes if it loses, which forces it to rely on Utah losing elsewhere.
While the Utes have some notable wins already — at Michigan, at UCLA, vs. USC — they have yet to face the brunt of their schedule. Not only do the Utes have ASU on deck, but Oregon, Stanford and UA also remain on the horizon. The chances of Utah winning out are slim.
The Wildcats hold somewhat of an advantage, in that they have already beaten the toughest team on their schedule. They are prone to slipping up, though, as proven by their home loss to USC the week after they beat Oregon on the road.
The final two games on UA's schedule could end up determining the Pac-12 South. If the Wildcats make it to the final two weeks in contention, they'll have a chance to beat Utah and ASU.
USC, somehow, is also only a half game back of ASU. But the Sun Devils already own the head-to-head tiebreaker, and the extra game USC has on the Sun Devils was a loss. So the Trojans, while only a half game back, are relying heavily on ASU losing not just one but two games the rest of the season. For the Trojans to have their best chance, they need UA to beat Utah and ASU, both of which already beat USC.
UCLA, on the other hand, should be rooting for ASU the rest of the way. The Bruins haven't played UA yet, but they lost to Utah at home Oct. 4. They will need some help to get back to the top, though, currently a full game back of ASU. If UCLA does catch ASU, however, it holds the tiebreaker.
With ASU sitting a half game above the rest of the conference, its fate rests in its own hands. Win out and travel to Levi's Stadium for the Pac-12 championship. However, the Sun Devils still have two more pivotal games left on its schedule: vs. Utah on Saturday, and the Territorial Cup in Tucson on Nov. 28. Lose either of those games, and the Sun Devils hand the reigns over to whichever team beats them.
However, with ASU hitting its stride and holding a lead, the Sun Devils have to be considered the favorite for the South — if you can even declare one at the moment.
Reach the reporter at ewebeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @EvanWebeck
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @statepresssport
