The Utes’ defense has carried the team through five games. Here’s a key defensive stat for every team in the conference.
Utah Utes defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa points into the crowd after a big play, in PAC-12 football action between the Utah Utes and the UCLA Bruins, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.Utah fell from the ranks of the unbeatens, Washington looked human and USC’s defense generated headlines for all the wrong reasons. It was an eventful weekend in the Pac-12, which continues to have a strong and entertaining season.
Washington’s offense looked extraordinary the first four games, but the Wildcats kept a lid on the explosive plays and held the Huskies to a season-low 31 points, their first time scoring fewer than 41. Arizona’s defense has improved sooner than most expected, but USC, Washington State and Oregon State will test that unit this month.
It seems likely that Deion Sanders will eventually stock Colorado’s secondary with high-profile talent, but it’s clearly a work in progress. The Buffaloes have surrendered 16 touchdown passes, the most in the FBS. Caleb Williams exploited the holes in the Buffaloes’ banged-up pass defense with six touchdown passes in USC’s 48-41 win on Saturday.
If the Ducks are going to win the Pac-12, their secondary will have to be up to the challenge. It’ll certainly be under the microscope with matchups against Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Washington State’s Cameron Ward and USC’s Caleb Williams looming. Top corner Khyree Jackson was banged up against Stanford, so that’ll be worth watching.
The Cardinal are surrendering 6.75 yards per play, which is tied for 126th. Oregon posted 8.3 yards per play against Stanford in a 42-6 road win on Saturday — and that wasn’t even the most allowed by Stanford this season. USC averaged 8.95 against the Cardinal. The Utes’ defense has carried the team through five games, but the margin for error is so slim now that Utah has already suffered a conference loss. And while the defense has been great, it’ll need Rising back and the offense to be much better because the high-scoring offenses of USC, Oregon and Washington await.The Bruins haven’t finished better than 73rd in scoring defense since Chip Kelly took over in 2018.
The Trojans have allowed 29 plays of 20-plus yards this season, which is tied for 118th in the FBS. USC allowed eight such plays in a porous defensive performance against Colorado when it allowed a season-high 41 points and 564 yards.
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