LaMarr Fields’ Week 7 Top 10 West Coast CFB Teams

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Posted on October 13, 2021


  By LaMarr Fields, SuperWest Sports

The Pac-12 has struggled with teams from outside the Conference on the West Coast this season, particularly against programs from the Mountain West Conference.

Independent BYU beat Arizona, Utah, and Arizona State to start the season. Utah also lost to San Diego State. And UCLA lost to Fresno State, which gave Oregon all it wanted in Eugene.

Below, I’ve listed my Top 10 college football teams on the West Coast in reverse order—six from the Pac-12, three from the MTN West, and one independent.

I’ll update this ranking each week for the rest of the season.

10. Stanford

The Cardinal beat Oregon two weeks ago after a penalty-filled final drive forced overtime, looking like the team to beat in the North.

However, the following week, they lost a sloppy contest to Arizona State on the road, and looked like an entirely different team..

Stanford has been up and down this year, and you never know which team you will get.

9. Utah

Utah started the season by losing two of their first three games to Mountain West teams, but bounced back in the following weeks.

Last week, Utah beat USC in Los Angeles for the first time since 1916.

The Utes face another big test on Saturday, hosting Arizona State in a game the could ultimately determine the South Division champion.

8. UCLA

The Bruins are coming off a solid win over struggling Arizona, in which their offense struggled in the first half.

UCLA will look to make it two games in a row with a win over Washington on Saturday.

Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson will likely need to play two full halves to escape Seattle unscathed.

7. Fresno State

Fresno State got off to a hot start this season, winning three straight games, including a win over UCLA.

But disaster struck on the road at Hawaii two weeks ago in a last-minute loss. After a bye week, Fresno State looks to rebound against in-conference foe Wyoming.

6. Oregon State

The Beavers are off to their best start in a long time at 4-2.

Oregon State led the Pac-12 in total offensive yards heading into Washington State last week but couldn’t replicate its production of the week before at USC.

OSU has a bye this week and will use the extra time try to and get back on track in a North Division race in which the Beavs still control their own destiny.

5. Nevada

Nevada is 4-1 on the season and looking strong, with impressive wins over Cal and Boise State.

The Wolfpack can’t afford to overlook their matchup against Hawai’i on Saturday, however, before a big showdown with Fresno State the following week.

4. San Diego State

The Aztecs are off to their usual hot start, having defeated two Pac-12 teams. They’re running the ball well, but quarterback play remains an issue.

San Diego State has a pivotal three-game run coming up, playing San Jose State on Friday, and Air Force the following week, before a critical matchup with Fresno State on October 30th.

3. BYU

The Cougars are 5-1 on the season after three-straight wins over Pac-12 teams, with their only loss coming last week to Boise State.

The defeat dimmed BYU’s Playoff hopes, but a victory this week at Baylor would go a long way toward reestablishing credibility.

2. Arizona State

Arizona State’s only loss this season came at the hands of BYU in Week Three.

Last week, many expected Stanford to put up a better fight, but the Sun Devils proved too much for the mistake-prone Cardinal.

Utah figures to present a bigger challenge on Saturday.

1. Oregon

Oregon was riding high after a win over Ohio State until Stanford pulled off a surprising upset on the Farm.

To make matters worse, the Ducks lost starting running back CJ Verdell for the season in that game. They learned recently that safety Bennett Williams is also out for the year.

Fortunately, Oregon had a bye week to make adjustments, and has a reasonably easy home game on Friday against Cal.

—More from LaMarr Fields—