The only good bug is a dead bug.
Leading off
Another week, another set of rankings. As we know, the Pac-12 championship game is set for Friday between Oregon and Arizona. And as Kyle Bonagura wrote Sunday, it's the first time the league's title game features a pair of top-10 teams.
Of course, the rankings we're all waiting to see are the College Football Playoff rankings, which will be updated Tuesday on ESPN. But the AP and coaches polls have been pretty good gauges for how the country is thinking all year long.
Here are the Pac-12 teams that are ranked this week and where they are slotted in the AP poll (listed first) and the coach's poll.
Oregon 3-3
Arizona 8-8
UCLA 16-17
Arizona State 17- 18
Utah 24-RV
USC and Stanford received votes in both polls. As always, here's how some of the folks who cover the conference voted in the AP poll:
Staff shakeup
Washington State's much-maligned defense is going to go through a makeover this offseason. It was announced Sunday that defensive coordinator Mike Breske and outside linebackers coach Paul Volero were dismissed from the coaching staff.
Per Thorpe's report, defensive line coach Joe Salave'a has been given the title of assistant head coach.
Through a school spokesman, Leach told Thorpe: "We decided to make a change and wish them the best."
Washington State finished the season ranked 10th in the league in scoring defense (38.6 points per game) and 10th in total defense (442.2 yards per game). The Cougars gave up 51 touchdowns in 2014. Only Colorado (56) and Cal (61) allowed more.
News/notes/team reports
Arizona knows a second go at Oregon will be tough.
Some takeaways from ASU's loss in the Territorial Cup.
Some more on Cal's loss to BYU.
Nelson Spruce named Colorado's MVP. Uh, yeah.
Oregon gets its shot at vengeance.
Oregon State's seniors have had an up-and-down career.
A look back at Stanford's win over the Bruins.
Brett Hundley fell short of his goals, but raised UCLA's expectations.
There wasn't much fighting from the Irish against USC.
Is Utah's bowl destination Las Vegas or El Paso?
Danny Shelton and Washington's defense were the stars of the Apple Cup.
The Cougars are still searching for relevancy under Mike Leach.
Just for fun
Cool flashback moment.
Here's John McKay on shoulders of players after dramatic 20-17 victory over Notre Dame 50 years ago in 1964 #USC pic.twitter.com/XVAii8A6dx
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) December 1, 2014