Arizona (3-5, 0-4)
Last week: Lost to Washington State 21-13
This week: Oregon State

The Wildcats' running attack reached rock bottom Saturday night, as the team rushed for negative 17 yards, the worst performance this season. But what's surprising to many is that the defense, considered to be the weak link on the team, put together its second straight strong performance and kept Arizona in the game. But in those same two games, the offense has struggled.

No. 16 Arizona State (7-2, 4-0)
Last week: Beat Washington 27-16
This week: No. 8 Washington State

Newsflash: Terrell Suggs is good. After raking in four and a half sacks last weekend against Washington, the junior was selected as the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week. The defensive end now has 17 1/2 sacks on the season, which ties him for the single-season record (sacks have only been an official stat since 2000, so the record doesn't say much). It also seems that Suggs has let his secret out - he shaves his entire body before every game. Whatever works, man.

California (5-4, 2-3)
Lost to Oregon State 24-13
This week: Bye

A bye this week will give head coach Jeff Tedford an opportunity to rehab a broken-down offensive line, the likely cause of the rapidly declining rushing numbers for the Bears. Last week, Cal gained only 54 yards on the ground before an intentional 38-yard backward pass for a safety at the end of the game dropped that total even more.

No. 19 Oregon (6-2, 2-2)
Last week: Lost to USC 44-33
This week: Stanford

How has Oregon lost its last two games despite boasting one of the best passing and running attacks in the conference, if not the nation? Eighty-nine points and 1,198 yards given up in its last two games, that's how. After two tough losses to ASU and USC, the Ducks can look forward to a Stanford team that will give the defense plenty of opportunities to work out its problems.

Oregon State (5-3, 1-3)
Last week: Beat California 24-13
This week: Arizona

If the Beavers want to make a bowl game this season, Saturday's game against Arizona is likely a must-win. After struggling mightily in their first three conference games, a quality win over Cal and a victory over Arizona would necessitate only one more win in their remaining three games to become eligible. Out of those last three, only in the game against Stanford will OSU likely be favored.

Stanford (2-5, 1-3)
Last week: Lost to UCLA 28-18
This week: No. 19 Oregon

Kyle Matter will likely get his second straight start under center for the Cardinal, as Chris Lewis is still unable to practice with an injured throwing shoulder. Matter had a rough outing in his first start of the season last weekend, going 10-for-22 with an interception and no touchdowns. While Oregon's secondary should give him plenty of chances to redeem himself, it remains to be seen how the inexperienced Matter will handle the atmosphere at Autzen Stadium, which provides the best home-field advantage in the conference.

UCLA (5-3, 2-2)
Last week: Beat Stanford 28-18
This week: Washington

Quarterback issues are still at the fore for the Bruins, who are deciding whether redshirt freshman Drew Olson - No. 2 on the depth chart until Cory Paus went down for the season - or true freshman Matt Moore - originally expected to redshirt this season - will start against the Huskies. Moore appears to have the edge right now after a solid performance against Stanford, but Olson has been in the system for an entire year. The coaching staff said the decision will be made later in the week.

No. 11 USC (6-2, 4-1)

There should be a movement to officially change USC's nickname to "Revolving door for Tailbacks U," because the backfield situation this season is beginning to be chaotic. After the coaching staff made a last-minute decision to start Justin Fargas last week against Oregon, it decided to take away any suspense about the matter this week and say early that it is now Fargas' job until he loses it. In the meantime, the Pac-10's fifth-leading rusher, Sultan McCullough, has good reason to wonder what exactly he needs to do to string together a couple of starts without worrying about the hook.

Washington (4-4, 1-3)

The realities of the Pac-10 are starting to hit home for Washington, who had been virtually untouched by the swoons most other programs in the conference have suffered through. Now at 4-4, a bowl game might be too much to ask for a team that simply isn't among the best in the conference, despite boasting arguably the best quarterback in the Pac-10 in Cody Pickett. Head coach Rick Neuheisel said his team will need a "greater sense" of urgency to avoid its first losing season since 1976. But the Huskies probably need even more than that.

No. 8 Washington State (7-1, 4-0)
Last week: Beat Arizona 21-13
This week: No. 16 Arizona State

Potential devastation hit the Cougars this week when the team lost two of its leading defenders after a fight in the locker room. Linebacker Ira Davis broke cornerback Jason David's jaw with a punch after the two got into it after practice. David, the conference leader in interceptions, is out four to six weeks with a broken jaw while Davis has been suspended indefinitely by head coach Mike Price. This all went down the week before the game that very well could decide what team goes to the Rose Bowl.