EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Anthony Brown scored on an 11-yard keeper with 4:50 left and ninth-ranked Oregon held off surprisingly tenacious California 24-17. The Golden Bears took a 17-10 lead early in the final quarter, but Brown answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Redd to tie it. The Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) pulled in front on Brown’s scamper into the end zone. Cal threatened on the ensuing possession but Chase Garbers’ fourth-and-2 attempt with just 2 seconds left fell incomplete. 

UNDATED (AP) — Arizona State visits Utah on Saturday in a matchup between the Pac-12′s last two unbeaten teams in conference play. While it’s still relatively early, the game could have implications for the Pac-12 South down the road. The 18th-ranked Sun Devils are coming off a 28-10 victory at home over Stanford, which moved them up four spots in the AP Top 25. Utah was coming off an emotional 42-26 road victory over USC, the Utes’ first game after the tragic death of teammate Aaron Lowe.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 1 has been a particularly secure position during the College Football Playoff era. The last time No. 1 was beaten twice in a regular season was 2012, which was also the last time No. 1 went down in consecutive weeks. That November, Texas A&M and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel went to top-ranked Alabama and beat the Tide. The next week Stanford knocked off No. 1 Oregon in overtime. The Aggies have set the stage again with a victory against Alabama. No. 11 Kentucky will try to play the role of Stanford to Georgia’s Oregon on Saturday. Wildcats-Bulldogs is one of two games matching ranked teams in Week 7.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Arizona State has quietly emerged as the top defensive team in the Pac-12. The 18th-ranked Sun Devils rank first in scoring defense, total defense, sacks and tackles for loss. They face a critical test Saturday against a Utah team with a resurgent passing attack. The Utes have become more dynamic and energetic on offense since Cameron Rising replaced Charlie Brewer as the starting quarterback after a 1-2 start. Arizona State and Utah are the only Pac-12 teams that remain undefeated in league play.

SEATTLE (AP) — UCLA expects to get tested facing Washington on Saturday in a matchup of teams that still have lingering hopes of contending for division titles in the Pac-12. The game can be viewed as a must-win situation for both sides. UCLA already has a loss to Arizona State in the Pac-12 South and another setback would severely hamper the Bruins’ chances of winning a division title. Washington has the benefit of being in the jumbled mess that is the Pac-12 North. The Huskies can still find a way into the division race but they likely need a win over the Bruins.

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Washington State seems to be rolling heading into Saturday’s Pac-12 matchup with Stanford. The Cougars’ defense is proving to be stout and their offense is finally starting to click. But the way the Cougars are playing seems to be secondary to the situation involving coach Nick Rolovich. The state of Washington has set a deadline of next week for all public employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Rolovich has applied for a religious exemption. If it’s not approved, this weekend’s matchup could end up being Rolovich’s last one in charge of the Cougars for an undetermined amount of time.

UNDATED (AP) — Colorado had a bye to heal and try to regroup following a four-game losing streak. The Buffaloes will try to end the streak against a team on a much longer losing streak. Arizona has lost a school-record 17 straight games, longest in the nation. Arizona’s last win was in 2019 against Colorado. The Buffaloes won the last meeting in 2020, when Jarek Broussard ran for 301 yards against the Wildcats. Arizona and Colorado are the two lowest-scoring teams in the Pac-12.

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