The news, to the extent that description is applicable, broke bright and early Monday morning on the West Coast:
The Pac-12 “is expected” to offer membership to San Diego State “this week,” according to the eponymous host of the ‘Dan Patrick Show.’
The Hotline is here to tell you that is inaccurate.
The Pac-12 could very well invite San Diego State, but movement on that front is weeks, if not months away.
Nothing will happen with regard to a Pac-12 media rights deal or expansion until the University of California Board of Regents gathers later this month to resolve the UCLA situation.
The Hotline reported last week that a decision was expected during the three-day meeting in San Francisco (Nov. 15-17), with three options for the regents:
— Use their authority to block the Bruins’ move to the Big Ten
— Force UCLA to subsidize Cal
— Do absolutely nothing
Since our report, the agenda has been published on the regents’ website. It calls for an open session on the UCLA issue for the morning of Nov. 17.
What’s more, UCLA isn’t listed as a discussion item, as had been the case previously.
Instead, it’s marked as an “Action” item, meaning there could be a vote and should be a decision.
At that point, the Pac-12 will have full clarity on its future structure and can proceed with wrapping up the media rights negotiations.
Only then will it decide whether to expand.
So we would consider Dan Patrick’s report to be 100 percent accurate if “expected” really means “possibly” … and if “this week” actually means “in the next few months.”
To the power ratings …
1. Oregon (8-1/6-0)Last week: 1
Result: won at Colorado 49-10
Next up: vs. Washington (4 p.m. on Fox)
Comment: The Ducks have feasted on second-tier opponents, with the exception of UCLA. But the schedule turns tough this week with the first of three consecutive games against teams (UW, Utah and Oregon State) with a combined record of 20-7. Then comes a potential date with a heavyweight in the conference championship.
2. UCLA (8-1/5-1)Last week: 2
Result: won at Arizona State 50-36
Next up: vs. Arizona (7:30 p.m. on Fox)
Comment: So many parallels between these Bruins and the edition that won the conference in 1998. And by parallels, we mean superb offenses with veteran quarterbacks and rickety defenses that, by Georges!, can surrender 49 points at any moment.
3. Utah (7-2/5-1)
Last week: 3
Result: beat Arizona 45-20
Next up: vs. Stanford (7 p.m. on ESPN)
Comment: Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig did a fabulous job last season (once the Utes got their quarterback right). But given all attrition and injuries, he has done himself one better this year.
4. USC (8-1/6-1)
Last week: 4
Result: beat Cal 41-35
Next up: vs. Colorado (Friday, 6:30 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: Caleb Williams is now 16-to-1 to win the Heisman Trophy, slightly behind Oregon’s Bo Nix (14-to-1) and far behind the favorites, Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud and Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. But Williams has loads of fuel in his PR tank with the UCLA and Notre Dame showdowns upcoming.
5. Washington (7-2/4-2)
Last week: 6
Result: beat Oregon State 24-21
Next up: at Oregon (4 p.m. on Fox)
Comment: Imagine the Huskies attempting to execute that drive under the previous coaching staff. Instead of going 92 yards for the winning field goal, they would have gone three yards in reverse for a safety to seal the loss.
6. Oregon State (6-3/3-3)
Last week: 5
Result: lost at Washington 24-21
Next up: vs. Cal (6 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Switch quarterbacks, and the Beavers would have beaten UW by three touchdowns, if not four.
7. Washington State (5-4/2-4)
Last week: 7
Result: won at Stanford 52-14
Next up: vs. Arizona State (12:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: WSU points per game when Nakia Watson is healthy: 30.7. Points per game when he’s not healthy: 13.7.
8. Arizona State (3-6/2-4)
Last week: 8
Result: lost to UCLA 50-36
Next up: at Washington State (12:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: We didn’t expect ASU to shut down that mighty UCLA offense, but allowing four scoring drives of 75 yards or more in the first half — without Zach Charbonnet — was not on our Sun Devils bingo card.
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9. Arizona (3-6/1-5)
Last week: 10
Result: lost at Utah 45-20
Next up: at UCLA (7:30 p.m. on Fox)
Comment: Plenty of things went wrong in Salt Lake City, and Jayden de Laura’s decision making was one of them. It wasn’t the mistakes (no interceptions) so much as the low-percentage attempts on key downs. He’s not the first quarterback to get wayward in Rice-Eccles.
10. Cal (3-6/1-5)
Last week: 11
Result: lost at USC 41-35
Next up: at Oregon State (6 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: The offense finally gets rolling and it happens in a game the Bears were never going to win. So very Cal. Doesn’t solve the underlying problem, however.
11. Stanford (3-6/1-6)
Last week: 9
Result: lost to Washington State 52-14
Next up: at Utah (7 p.m. on ESPN)
Comment: Which was worse, the performance or the attendance? Answer: Both.
12. Colorado (1-8/1-5)
Last week: 12
Result: lost to Oregon 49-10
Next up: at USC (Friday, 6:30 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: On the bright side, recruiting is going better than you might expect. For now.
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