It's time to look at the top quarterback performers after the second week of Pac-12 play. We'll revisit this ranking each Monday. Remember that we're weighing the past weekend's performance more heavily than an overall season track record, so expect some variation here with each edition.
1. Jared Goff, Cal: Another efficient and explosive performance -- this one against better competition -- allows Goff to hold onto the top spot for the second consecutive week. He seared San Diego State with 321 yards on a gaudy 13.4 yards per attempt. Much of that production came via some spectacular throws, including a 32-yard back-shoulder dime to Raymond Hudson that showcased Goff's superb touch and field command. On the play, he bypassed an option underneath to hit the more challenging option over the top.
Throws like that have helped put Goff on the doorstep of Cal history. He's now only 16 yards shy of breaking Troy Taylor's school record for passing yards. Team success, however, is the more important result for Goff here: The Bears are now 2-0, and they've played well enough to open as 7-point favorites at Texas next week. Though the Longhorns are sputtering, Saturday's game will give Goff an opportunity at bigger exposure ahead of Pac-12 play.
2. Cody Kessler, USC: This senior also registered more than 13 yards per attempt in an overpowering effort. Kessler threw for a career-high 410 yards to lead USC's 59-9 romp over Idaho, which was more of a tune-up for the beginning of conference play than anything else. Through two games, the Trojans have yet to be challenged, so Kessler has not yet had the opportunity to carry success over against a good defense.
That'll change this Saturday when Stanford visits the Coliseum. The Cardinal defense may look significantly different than the unit that slowed Kessler a year ago, but it's still a talented force. The Trojans quarterback threw for only 135 yards in last season's matchup, but he'll work against some young Stanford defensive backs this time. If Kessler can find continued deep success with JuJu Smith-Schuster, he could challenge Goff for the top spot of this list next week.
3. Luke Falk, Washington State: It would've been difficult to imagine the Cougars getting up from what would've been a gut-punch of a loss at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights had scored two special-teams touchdowns to take a 34-30 lead, and Falk had only 1:31 to save Washington State from some mind-numbing déjà vu. But he sliced through the Rutgers defense like a hot knife through butter, marching the Cougars 90 yards for the winning score -- a pretty 8-yard toss to River Cracraft at the back of the end zone. It's usually tough to say "season saved" after Week 2, but given Washington State's history of "Cougin' It," Falk's clutch delivery might've been immeasurably important.
His final line was gaudy: 47-of-66, 478 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions. Falk also rushed for 29 yards, including a gutsy pick-up late where he didn't slide. That probably made Mike Leach cringe.
4. Anu Solomon, Arizona: The Wildcats haven't reached the meat of their schedule yet, but Solomon was sharp for the second consecutive week. He and running back Nick Wilson have given every indication that they'll form a dynamic duo again capable of causing headaches around the Pac-12. In fact, the two share such strong chemistry that they even supposedly talk to each other during plays.
Solomon finished 24-for-33 for 264 yards and two touchdowns, providing the perfect complement to open massive room for Wilson, who ran for 194 yards on just 21 carries (9.2 per rush). The duo has combined for over 6,300 yards of total offense and 54 touchdowns in just one season plus two games. The Wildcats have one more tune-up, a home game against Northern Arizona, before Solomon is tested in earnest by UCLA. Since he's already proved solid enough to lead his team to a Pac-12 South title, there's plenty of optimism floating in Tucson.
5. Kevin Hogan, Stanford: Washington's Jake Browning made a solid case for this final spot -- he really seemed to grow throughout his opener at Boise State and was very sharp in Week 2 -- but big numbers against FCS Sacramento State should be taken with an equally large grain of salt. Granted, Hogan didn't face particularly stiff competition, either. Stanford was clearly stronger than the UCF team it handled 31-7, but the win represented a big confidence boost for a struggling offense.
Hogan tossed a career-high 341 yards and three touchdowns. After mustering a measly 4.4 yards per attempt the week prior at Northwestern, his average shot up to 11.8 yards per attempt. Stanford did a better job of moving Hogan around behind the line of scrimmage and putting their speedy athletes into space where they could do damage after the catch. Now, it's a question of consistency: Can Hogan hit his comfort zone at USC on Saturday to maintain his spot on this list?