Oregon Ducks

ESPN's Brock Huard ranks college football's top five young quarterbacks (true sophomores or younger), and Marcus Mariota checks in at No. 2.

Click here to read the entire list and get Huard's breakdown of Mariota.

Just when we were ready to hand the Heisman to Matt Barkley (in the preseason, of course), Geno Smith came along and snatched it away. Until Collin Klein took it from him. And now, we might have another late-season changing of the guard with Oregon's Kenjon Barner coming on strong in recent weeks before blowing up against USC. Such is the fickle nature of the Heisman tracker. Barner is squarely in second place in the ESPN.com Heisman poll, though he has only one first-place vote this week (compliments of yours truly). He has 10 of the 15 second-place votes. Barkley and De'Anthony Thomas have dropped off the radar and Marqise Lee is the only other Pac-12 player receiving votes.

Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon

• Week 10 numbers: Carried 38 times for 321 yards (8.4 average) with five touchdowns. Caught two balls for 26 yards.
• Season numbers: Has carried 179 times for 1,295 yards (7.2 average) with 19 rushing touchdowns. Has 15 catches for 184 yards and a score.
• What went well: Where to start? The records? The fact that it was on the road at USC? The fact that anyone who watched that game should have been convinced he's the top running back in the country? All in all, a thoroughly dominant and prolific performance.
• Any questions? Nope. None here. Others, however, still see Klein as the front-runner for now. But it's hard not to imagine Barner didn't punch a ticket to New York with his showing Saturday.

Others receiving votes

Marqise Lee, WR, USC

• Week 10 numbers: Caught 12 balls for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
• Season numbers: Has 88 catches for 1,286 yards and 12 scores.
• Thoughts: While Barner went off and showed the country he's the best running back in the nation, there should be no question about who the best wide receiver is. The loss shouldn't take away from another stellar showing.

Here's a quick look at Week 11 in the conference. All times are ET. All games are Saturday.

Colorado (1-5, 1-8) at Arizona (5-4, 2-4) 1:30 p.m. FX: Colorado leads the series 13-1, including a 48-29 win last year. The Wildcats' only win in the series came in 1986. Arizona could be without QB Matt Scott, who suffered a concussion in the loss Saturday at UCLA. The Buffaloes rank last in the Pac-12 in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense and rushing defense. But Arizona ranks last in total defense and pass defense. Arizona is 11th and Colorado 12th in pass efficiency defense. The Buffs have just three interceptions all season, which ranks 113th in the nation. The Buffs have surrendered 40 sacks, tied for most in the conference. The Wildcats have just 13 sacks this season.

Arizona State (5-4, 3-3) at No. 19 USC (6-3, 4-3) 3 p.m. Pac-12 Network: The Sun Devils lead the series 18-10, including a 43-22 win last year in Tempe. That victory, however, ended an 11-game Trojans' winning streak in the series. ASU has not defeated USC in Los Angeles since a 26-15 win in the Coliseum in 1999. The Sun Devils have lost three games in a row, the Trojans two games in a row. USC ranks first in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency. Arizona State ranks first in pass efficiency defense. The Trojans pass for 312.7 yards per game, but the Sun Devils only allow 161.6 yards per game through the air. The Trojans are still seeking win No. 800. It’s the earliest USC kickoff time in the Coliseum since 1998.

No. 11 Oregon State (7-1, 5-1) at No. 14 Stanford (7-2, 5-1) 3 p.m. Fox: Stanford leads the series 50-25-3. The Cardinal has won three of the last four, including a 38-13 win last year. This game features the two best defenses in the Pac-12. Stanford is No. 1 and Oregon State No. 5 in the nation in run defense, and both are ranked in the nation's top 20 in scoring defense. Both also recently changed quarterbacks, with Kevin Hogan taking over the Cardinal's starting job from Josh Nunes, and Cody Vaz replacing Sean Mannion. The winner becomes the top challenger to Oregon in the Pac-12 North Division. Stanford visits the Ducks on Nov. 17, while the Beavers play host to them on Nov. 24.

Utah (4-5, 2-4) at Washington (5-4, 3-3) 10:30 p.m. Pac-12 Network: Washington leads the series 7-0, including a 31-14 win in Salt Lake last year. Both teams have won two in a row. Washington is the only Pac-12 school that Utah has never beaten. Utah must win two of its final three games to become bowl eligible for a 10th-straight year. The Huskies are 4-1 this season at CenturyLink Field, a record that includes wins over then-No. 8 Stanford and then-No. 7 Oregon State. According to the NCAA, Washington has played the second-toughest schedule in the nation to date while the remaining schedule ranks No. 116 in the nation. Last year, the Utes also started 0-4 in Pac-12 play before winning four straight games and five of their last six, including a Sun Bowl victory over Georgia Tech. Utah senior Reggie Dunn made NCAA history with his fourth career 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. WSU last Saturday. Going into the game, Dunn was tied for the record at three with Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State, 1986-88) and Brandon Boykin (Georgia, 2008-11). Utah is 11-0 when John White rushes for 100 yards, which he has done three times this season, including the past two games.

No. 3 Oregon (9-0, 6-0) at California (3-7, 2-5) 10:30 p.m. ESPN: California leads the series 39-34-2, including a 43-15 win last year. The last time the Ducks were in Berkeley, the Bears almost pulled a major upset against the unbeaten Ducks before succumbing 15-13. Oregon is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in scoring (54.3 ppg), total offense (561.2 yards per game) and rushing (341.2 ypg). QB Marcus Mariota is No. 1 in the conference in passing efficiency. It appears that Bears QB Zach Maynard will not play in this game due to a knee injury he suffered last Friday against Washington. His backup is Allan Bridgford.

No. 18 UCLA (7-2, 4-2) at Washington State (2-7, 0-6) 10:30 p.m. ESPN2: UCLA leads the series with the Cougars 39-18-1 and has won four in a row, including a 28-25 win last year. The Bruins have won three in a row since losing at Cal. The Cougars have lost six in a row since a 2-1 start. The Bruins are second in the conference in scoring (37 ppg), third in total offense (514.9 ypg) and second in rushing (226.2). The Cougars are allowing foes to convert 48.6 percent of their third-down plays, which marks the worst percentage in the conference. UCLA's defense has recorded 33 sacks. The Cougars have surrendered 40 sacks, tied with Colorado for worst in the conference. UCLA is ranked ahead of USC in the BCS standings for the first time since 2001.

LOS ANGELES -- It didn't take long for the USC coaching staff to zero in on four-star safety Leon McQuay III (Seffner, Fla./Armwood) following the decommitment of four-star athlete Max Redfield (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) on Sunday night.

McQuay has scheduled his official visit to USC for the weekend of Dec. 7, he said via text message Monday afternoon. He is set to take an official trip to Michigan this weekend and has already visited Vanderbilt (Oct. 12) and Oregon (Oct. 26).

The Trojans have been considered the favorite in McQuay's recruitment for some time, and it appears that Redfield's decommitment might have opened up a spot for the nation's No. 3-rated safety prospect. McQuay took an unofficial trip to Los Angeles over Labor Day weekend in early September and thoroughly enjoyed his stay. USC had 18 verbal commitments at that time.

It's interesting to note McQuay's visit date, as Dec. 7 also happens to be the weekend all of USC's intended early enrollees have planned to be in town for their official visits. If McQuay hasn't committed to USC by then, expect the coaching staff -- as well as the eight commits scheduled to be on campus that weekend -- to put on the full-court press.

There was so much anticipation for Nov. 3, which was circled in red as soon as the 2012 schedules came out: Oregon at USC. "That," everyone said, "is going to be big."

It's two days after. While Ducks coach Chip Kelly won't pause and reflect, we can. And here's where we are: It feels like Oregon has its best team ... ever.

While the defense didn't walk away from a 62-51 win over USC feeling great about itself, the Ducks offense reached a new level of ludicrous speed against a quality Trojans defense that was simply extraordinary. Don't gloss over this: A USC defense had never given up so many points. Never. Nor had it ever given up 730 yards. Never! Heck, that was 107 yards more than a legendary Notre Dame squad piled up in 1946 while setting the mark that lasted 66 years.

This Oregon offense, with a redshirt freshman quarterback, has significantly better numbers than the 2010 squad that played for the national title.

The Ducks rushed for 286.2 yards per game in 2010. They are rushing for 341.2 this season. They averaged 530.65 yards in 2010. They average 561.2 yards this season. They averaged 47 points per game in 2010. They average 54.33 this season. Their passing efficiency number in 2010 was 151.72. It's 159.94 this season.

This squad is younger on the offensive line than the 2010 crew, but it's far more physically gifted. And Marcus Mariota is a better passer and runner than Darron Thomas, notably more consistent and accurate. Thomas completed 61.5 percent of his passes in 2010. Mariota is completing 70.5 percent of his throws.

In fact, Mariota now ranks No. 1 in the Pac-12 and No. 7 in the nation in passing efficiency. The Pac-12 blog is officially retiring the word "test" from further stories on Mariota.

The one area where the 2010 Ducks looked superior was at receiver, but one of the overlooked revelations from the USC game was how well the receivers played. Josh Huff turned in perhaps his best game, catching six passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Seven different players caught passes.

Of course, it's slightly bogus to compare the 2010 and 2012 numbers at this point. There's a lot of football left. In fact, there might be the toughest football ahead, particularly the next three -- or four -- opposing defenses.

Oregon visits California on Saturday. You might recall that the only team to shut the Ducks offense down in 2010 was the Golden Bears playing at home. Further, Stanford and Oregon State are ranked Nos. 1 & 2 in both scoring and rushing defense in the Pac-12. In fact, Stanford is No. 1 and Oregon State No. 5 in the nation in run defense, and both are ranked in the nation's top 20 in scoring defense.

The odds are against the Ducks rolling up 730 yards against either. But, of course, we would have typed the same about the Trojans.

And then there could be a Pac-12 title game. At this moment, the favorite to win the South Division figures to be the winner of the USC-UCLA game on Nov. 17, but predicting how the South might go feels like a week-to-week thing.

It's easy to begin salivating over the idea of this Chip Kelly Oregon offense facing a Nick Saban Alabama defense for the national title. I will admit that among a gaggle of sportswriters in L.A. for the game, it came up more than once.

Still, Nov. 3 didn't set up like most expected. The Trojans failed to live up to their preseason projections. Nov. 3 was a measuring stick, a significant one, but not one that provides a decisive verdict.

What the Pac-12 became this year was deep, not top-heavy, as expected. Seven different teams have been ranked this season, and five are ranked in the latest BCS standings. No one saw the Beavers' rise coming, nor were Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA expected to be such tough outs.

So these Ducks only can be evaluated on the totality of the season, which probably is as it should be. Their ultimate achievement won't be owning Nov. 3. It will be running the table in a deep Pac-12.

Best Oregon team ever? That's my impression. But let's wait and answer that on Nov. 30.

Or on Jan. 7.

If you don't like where you are in the power rankings, play better.

See last week's power rankings here.

1. Oregon: It wasn't perfect, at least on defense, but that was a resounding statement at USC. There are some injury issues, particularly on defense, but this team is coming together as perhaps the best of the Chip Kelly era. Wondering what type of opponent the Ducks will face at California: A motivated one or one that will serve as a doormat?

2. Oregon State: A nice bounce-back win over Arizona State. The Beavers have overcome a quarterback change and injuries. This team just keeps finding ways to get it done. The winner at Stanford on Saturday becomes a legitimate threat to Oregon in the North Division.

3. Stanford: So does Kevin Hogan step in at QB and make the Stanford offense formidable again? Maybe. But it's not wise to take too much away from stomping Colorado. Oregon State will offer a true defensive challenge.

4. UCLA: Just like Kevin and I predicted: The Bruins dominated Arizona. The offensive effort was outstanding but unsurprising. The defense shutting down the potent Wildcats' offense was most notable. But the Bruins can't overlook a visit to Washington State. That's what the "old" Bruins might have done.

5. USC: The Trojans' resilience is going to be tested, starting with a visit from Arizona State. USC could win out, go to the Pac-12 title game and still earn a shot at the Rose Bowl. Or they could fold and finish a season that began with national title hopes with five consecutive defeats.

6. Arizona: Wow ... the Wildcats took a horrible beating at UCLA. Some of that was a USC hangover. But a lot of that was the Bruins asserting themselves in the South Division pecking order. A visit from Colorado should supply that sixth victory and bowl eligibility.

7. Washington: The Huskies were sloppy at Cal, but sloppy with a W is OK. If they can handle a visit from Utah on Saturday, they will get a sixth victory and bowl eligibility.

8. Arizona State: The Sun Devils have lost three in a row after the schedule toughened up. The good news is they showed some fight at Oregon State. It's a battle of two wounded teams at USC on Saturday.

9. Utah: The Utes are making another late charge. At 4-5, they need to win two of three to earn bowl eligibility. They still play Colorado, so that means they need to win at Washington on Saturday or beat Arizona when it visits on Nov. 17.

10. California: Cal and Jeff Tedford are beaten up. And here comes Oregon. Maybe the Ducks will be flat after the big win over USC?

11. Washington State: A run of 10 bowl games in 10 seasons as a head coach ends for Mike Leach, and things don't seem to be going well in the Cougars' locker room. A hot UCLA team is coming to town. How about a good snow storm for the visitors from sunny SoCal?

12. Colorado: The Buffs just need the season to end. A visit to Arizona doesn't figure to go well for perhaps the nation's worst defense.