Pac-12 power rankings: San Diego State solidifies its hold, Boise State rises, Fresno State falls

Welcome to the Hotline s weekly assessment of the eight teams in the rebuilt Pac- that imagines them competing in the conference this season We ll even recognize one lucky unit as the regular-season champion The power rankings will be published each Sunday throughout the regular season Here are last week s rankings All times Pacific San Diego State - Impact beat San Jose State - Next up at New Mexico Friday at p m on CBS Sports Configuration Comment The Aztecs held yet another opponent to single digits that s seven of if you re scoring at home and have left zero doubt as to the identity of the best club in our hypothetical conference But their path into the College Football Playoff remains extraordinarily narrow Tulane is the frontrunner given last week s selection committee rankings The Green Wave won Saturday and faces Charlotte - next weekend to advance to the American conference title match Previous Boise State - Upshot beat Colorado State - Next up at Utah State Friday at p m on CBS Comment We gave serious consideration to leaving the No position vacant such is the gap between the Aztecs and everyone else The only hesitation with placing Boise State here is a latest lopsided loss to Fresno State but it s not like the Bulldogs have shown they deserve the spot with subsequent results Previous Washington State - Consequence lost at James Madison - Next up vs Oregon State p m on The CW Comment The Cougars traveled so far only to come so close to securing a bowl berth Instead their pursuit of the sixth supremacy comes at home on the final day of the season against an opponent that has been like a sibling to WSU on all off-the-field matters since the summer of We aren t suggesting Oregon State roll over but both schools would benefit if one of them goes bowling Previous Utah State - Effect won at Fresno State - Next up vs Boise State Friday p m on CBS Comment The Aggies performed Saturday like their penultimate tournament was the final chance to become bowl-eligible and with the season finale against Boise State it s easy to see why Their first road win came courtesy of a second half in which they outscored the Bulldogs - First-year coach Bronco Mendenhall has a major building block in place Previous Fresno State - Effect lost to Utah State - Next up at San Jose State p m on FS Comment We are out of the prediction encounter when it comes to the Bulldogs perhaps the preponderance erratic band listed here In the back half of the season they have lost badly to Colorado State thumped Boise State and blown a -point halftime lead at home to Utah State Previous Texas State - Product beat UL Monroe - Next up vs South Alabama p m on ESPN Comment A bowl berth and the additional practices that come with it would help the Bobcats prepare for their next chapter We never expected them to need all games to win six but here they are facing a sub- opponent for the right to a postseason bid That noted South Alabama has won three of its last four and just upset Southern Mississippi Previous Oregon State - Related Articles Saturday Night Five Utah s escape Big clarity Oregon s steamroller same old USC and Cal s epic face plant Mailbag Diving into the Big Ten s private capital deal USC and Michigan dissent the Enterprises factor the rights lockup and more Recruiting roundup Oregon to host wave of blue chippers for USC showdown flip season moves and Arizona s in-state guests With million in hand and a president who cares Stanford GM Andrew Luck prepares to hire a coach and elevate the initiative Week picks USC covers at Oregon while BYU Utah and Arizona roll in what could be a swan song Saturday for several stalwarts Outcome did not play Next up at Washington State p m on The CW Comment Look for the Beavers to have a head coach in place within three or four days of their finale If the process requires more time something will have gone wrong Our hunch OSU picks former Wisconsin and Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst who served two stints on the Beavers staff decades ago and notably is a mentor to current Cal coach Justin Wilcox Previous Colorado State - Effect lost at Boise State - Next up vs Air Force Friday at p m on FS Comment Perhaps no development for the eight teams listed here makes less sense than CSU s blowout conquest over Fresno State in the middle of the season just before coach Jay Norvell was let go It s the Rams only win over an FBS opponent Previous Send suggestions comments and tips confidentiality guaranteed to wilnerhotline bayareanewsgroup com or call - - Follow me on the social media platform X WilnerHotline