The Pac-12 -- and in the case of last season, the Pac-12 North -- has come down to the game between Oregon and Stanford the past two years.
Looks like it’ll be three years in a row.
No. 16 Stanford’s 27-23 win over No. 13 Oregon State on Saturday sets up for another key game between the Ducks and the Cardinal next Saturday with the winner getting a leg up to the Pac-12 championship game. Stanford would need to beat the Ducks at Autzen Stadium (good luck) and UCLA to win the division, or have Oregon lose another game. The Ducks play Cal tonight and end the season at Oregon State.
In the event of a three-way tie in the Pac-12 North, the following criteria would be used:
- Head-to-head (best record in games among the tied teams).
- Record in games played within the division.
- Record against the next highest placed team in the division (based on record in all Conference games, both divisional and cross-divisional), proceeding through the division.
- Record in common Conference games.
- Highest BCS Ranking following the last weekend of regular-season games.
Of course, I’m getting ahead of myself, but it’s that time of the year. The Cardinal haven’t been able to beat Oregon since 2009 and matchup of the Ducks’ speed vs. the Cardinal defense has favored Oregon the past two years. Expect that to be the focal point a week from today.