1. Which Pac-12 team will remain relevant when UCLA visits Stanford
UCLA (No. 18) was one of the few undefeated programs in the country until last weekend when Arizona State socked it to the Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Now, still smarting from that defeat, Jim Mora takes his team into a hostile environment against a program that has had his number.
The No. 15-ranked Cardinal have a seven-game winning streak going against UCLA, and the last meeting between these two teams in December of 2014 saw Stanford play spoiler to its rival’s chances of claiming the Pac-12 South title. The Bruins are battered and bruised on defense, having lost yet another key defender in Mossi Johnson, who is out for the year with a knee injury suffered in practice.
Stanford’s punishing rushing attack should win the day at home against UCLA’s depleted defense, and freshman quarterback Josh Rosen might be the Bruins’ only chance to win the game, thus avoiding a two-game skid.
This game is being broadcast in prime time on Thursday night on ESPN starting at 10:30 p.m. ET.