Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
Revelations from the past weekend's action.
Oregon's offense may have found itself just in time for a Holiday Bowl showdown: Everyone knew Oregon could run the ball, and it certainly did that with 385 yards on the ground in the Ducks' 65-38 win over Oregon State. But the Ducks' new passing threat with sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Masoli might make offensive coordinator -- and hot head-coaching prospect -- Chip Kelly stick around for a couple for more years. Masoli passed for 274 yards and three touchdowns against the Beavers, a week after passing for 298 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona.
Oregon State will wonder what might have been: The Beavers, to a man, were gracious in defeat and didn't make excuses about their dispiriting Civil War defeat that cost them a Rose Bowl berth. But it was clear -- and a few players said so from both locker rooms -- that it would have helped OSU's cause to have tailback Jacquizz Rodgers, the Pac-10's leading rusher, who sat out with a shoulder injury. The Beavers rushed for only 89 yards and Rodgers surely would have improved that total and helped keep the ball away from the Ducks.
USC's defense is officially a finalist for "best-ever:" After turning in one of the most dominating defensive performances in recent memory in its 38-3 win over Notre Dame, USC proved its defense is not only the best in the nation this season, it's one of the best ever put together in college football history. And it's not an arguable point, based on a combination of statistics and the future prospects of the gathered talent. The Trojans held a competent Notre Dame offense to 91 yards and four first downs -- no firsts until late in the third when the result was already determined. Teams get four first downs and 91 yards by accident and random chance.
Arizona State's best offense is its defense: The Sun Devils scored four defensive touchdowns in their 34-9 win over UCLA on Friday: A 17-yard fumble return and interception returns of 38, 100 and 45 yards. The defense finished with 200 yards and 28 points, the offense produced 122 yards and two field goals. The win kept their bowl hopes alive, but they will probably won't get the same gifts from Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama with ASU's bowl hopes on the line this weekend.
UCLA's best chance might be to never pass: It's hard not to feel for UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft -- the guy is doing his best with a supporting cast severely lacking talent. The Bruins' offensive woes are far from his fault exclusively. But football statistics are what they are and Craft has thrown 12 interceptions in his last four games with no touchdowns. Coach Rick Neuheisel has gotten some grief for verbally working over Craft on the sidelines -- most recently from Craft's father Tom -- but it's hard not to feel sympathy for Neuheisel, too, witnessing Craft repeat the same mistakes over and over.
Ted Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-10. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
