Spokesman.com
Two new coaches, two very different first halves in the new Pac-12
The end of Week 7 is as good a midpoint as any in this weird, staggered Pac-12 schedule. Half the teams have played seven games, half have played six. It's messy, but it's ours. The big headline: two teams, Boise State and Oregon State, are still alive for a College Football Playoff berth. That's more than anyone realistically expected from this rebuilt league. The Broncos have a quality loss at Oregon and wins over Memphis and Western Michigan. If they win out, they're in. The Beavers have a trickier path but stay in play if they finish with only two losses. Oregon State's JaMarcus Shephard is the midseason Coach of the Year. The rookie has made master-class moves with his staff and roster. Meanwhile, Washington State's Kirby Moore sits on the hottest seat. His decisions have been deeply flawed. We don't expect him fired after one season, but the trajectory is ugly. Best offensive player: Oregon State freshman receiver Jesse Legree. He leads the country in receiving yards and touchdowns. Best defensive player: San Diego State linebacker Sione Hala, who leads the Pac-12 in tackles and forced a fumble that won a game. Best game so far was San Diego State's 31-29 win over Texas State. Worst loss? Idaho State 29, Utah State 17. Double-digit home losses to FCS opponents are brutal. Add 11 penalties and four turnovers, and it's an all-systems failure. If you haven't yet, read about Owen Eshelman's first start giving Wazzu its best FBS offense yet.
