UCLA's Mitchell out for season

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior inside linebacker, Marcus Bell (40), tracks Iowa's Ryan Loftin (48) last Saturday night at Wildcat Stadium. Bell had 11 tackles, including two sacks in UA's 33-11 win over Iowa. He was named Pac-10 defensive player of the week.

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Freddie Mitchell broke his leg during the Bruins' 42-24 victory at Houston. Mitchell underwent a two-hour operation Saturday at Houston's Methodist Hospital, where doctors inserted a rod and two interlocking screws into his left femur.

UCLA Dr. Gerald Fineman said the surgery was successful and Mitchell should fully recover and be able to return next season.

In the one full game in which Mitchell played, he was the biggest offensive threat and senior quarterback Cade McNown's go-to guy. Mitchell caught four passes for 108 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown. He also threw a 34-yard touchdown pass, rushed once for 30 yards, had three kickoff returns for 78 yards and three punt returns for 17 yards.

The wide receiver is expected to be released from the hospital later this week.

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The Pacific 10 Conference is enjoying some early season success. After three weeks of college football, conference teams have a combined 22-6 record. The league boasts six undefeated teams, including Arizona, Southern Cal, Washington, Oregon, UCLA and Washington State, with five of those ranked nationally in the Top 25.

WSU has received just enough votes to make it into the "others receiving votes" category. Pac-10 teams have defeated nationally respected opponents including Texas, North Carolina, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa and Oklahoma.

This weekend should be the toughest challenge so far, as three teams travel to perennial powerhouses. UCLA plays at Miami, with the Hurricanes trying to get back into the national spotlight. Southern Cal makes a trip to Tallahassee to try and play spoiler against Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles and Washington takes its bandwagon into Lincoln, Neb., to take on the Cornhuskers.

Other scheduled games have the Wildcats traveling to San Diego State to try and up their record to 4-0 against the Aztecs, and Washington State heads south to Berkeley to play the only conference game of the week against California. Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State and Arizona State all have this week off.

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The Pac-10 players of the week on offense, defense and special teams have been announced. Wide receiver Nian Taylor of Washington State, linebacker Marcus Bell of Arizona and kicker Kevin Miller of Stanford are the recipients of this week's award. Taylor, a senior, led the Cougars to a 24-16 victory over Idaho with eight receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns. One of his touchdowns went for 97 yards, the longest pass play in the history of Washington State. His 254 yards are also the top receiving performance so far this season in the Pac-10.

Bell, a junior, was a key performer for the Arizona defense that held the Iowa Hawkeyes to just 11 points and 28 yards rushing on 27 attempts. He had 11 tackles including two sacks in the 35-11 victory Saturday night.

Miller, a senior kicker and punter for the Stanford Cardinal, kicked the game-winning field goal as time ran out to upset North Carolina, 37-34. The Tar Heels tried unsuccessfully to put Miller's leg on ice by calling three timeouts in a row preceding his kick. Miller finished the day with three field goals and eight punts averaging 39.1 yards.

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Pac-10 Heisman Watch

Cade McNown, UCLA: He was impressive again in UCLA's 42-24 victory over Houston, going 17 of 32 for 315 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception. For the season he has completed 37 of 62 for 654 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. McNown takes his Heisman train to Florida Saturday for a matchup with the Miami Hurricanes.

Brock Huard, Washington: His 16 of 33 for 182 yards, one touchdown and two interception performance proved to be just enough as Washington squeaked by a tough BYU team, 20-10. For the season, he is 43 of 80 for 503 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions for the No. 9 Huskies. Huard's talents will be tested this Saturday as he travels to Nebraska to take on the defending national co-champions.

Chris McAlister, Arizona: A true test of a good cornerback is where the opposing quarterbacks try to stay away from. This holds true for the Arizona senior who has totaled eight tackles, one for a loss, and broken up six passes while recording one interception this season. McAlister, who was mainly on the opposite end of the field when Iowa quarterback Kyle McCann threw the ball, did come up with two tackles and one pass broken up in the Wildcat win. McCann spent most of the game throwing to whomever McAlister was not covering. McAlister does not have a long time to prepare for his next game as the Wildcats travel to San Diego State for a matchup Thursday night.

Akili Smith, Oregon: A newcomer to the list as he has led the Oregon Ducks to a 3-0 start with his exceptional play. He has completed 58 percent of his passes, going 40 of 69 for 781 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has only one interception. Smith was named honorable mention this week as Pac-10 offensive player of the week for his performance in the Ducks' 58-3 annihilation of San Jose State. He was 8 of 11 for 220 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of play. Smith gets to rest this weekend as the Ducks have a bye.

On the bubble: J.R. Redmond, ASU

Daily Wildcat projected leader: Cade McNown

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.