College football: The Pac-12 had a perfect Week 1. The Big 12 took some lumps
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There will be plenty of comparisons between the Pac-12 and the Big 12 this season, with the Big 12 set to welcome four Pac-12 teams into its ranks next year and the future of the Pac-12 on life support.
Through the first full week of college football in the 2023 season, though, the Pac-12 has the bragging rights.
The Pac-12, in what could be its final year of existence, was already expected to have several teams in the spotlight on the national level — the conference had five teams ranked in the top 25 heading into the year — and those expectations were met in the first week.
The Big 12, meanwhile, had a few results put a damper on an otherwise as-expected weekend.
Utah Utes safety Briton Allen (26) makes a tackle for loss against Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 during the season opener. Utah won 24-11.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
What stood out from the Pac-12’s Week 1 action
Pac-12 teams went a perfect 12-0 during Week 1, including double-digit wins for each of its five ranked schools — No. 6 USC (66-14 over Nevada), No. 10 Washington (56-19 over Boise State), No. 14 Utah (24-11 over Florida), No. 15 Oregon (81-7 over Portland State) and No. 18 Oregon State (42-17).
The five ranked schools won by an average score of 53.8 to 13.6.
Utah’s victory over Florida avenged a loss to the Gators last season, and the two-time defending Pac-12 champion Utes beat Florida soundly despite having several starters — like quarterback Cameron Rising, tight end Brant Kuithe and defensive tackle Junior Tafuna — sidelined due to injury.
The biggest surprise of the weekend, though, was Colorado beating No. 17 TCU 45-42.
The Buffaloes won just one game a year ago, but in the first contest under new head coach Deion Sanders, Colorado went on the road and knocked off the Horned Frogs in a back-and-forth game where the two teams combined for more than 1,100 yards of total offense.
Shedeur Sanders threw for a school-record 510 yards and four touchdowns, putting him in the same conversation with a group of quarterbacks that includes USC’s Caleb Williams (the reigning Heisman Trophy winner), Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Oregon’s Bo Nix, Utah’s Rising and Oregon State’s DJ Uiagalelei.
The closest to an upset for a Pac-12 team came when Arizona State beat FCS opponent Southern Utah 24-21 in a game delayed nearly three hours by weather. UCLA also had a close game…
Read More: College football: The Pac-12 had a perfect Week 1. The Big 12 took some lumps 2023-09-04 03:00:00