This week appeared to make even clearer that this is looking to be one of the dreariest years in recent Pac-10 history.

USC restored the order at the top and showed that there doesn't figure much long-term drama to race for the conference title. Every other team seems headed to at least two or three losses and there doesn't figure to be a way any other Pac-10 team gets into a BCS bowl. It's looking to be a season of minor victories everywhere but USC, a story that is getting dreary as the Seattle weather everywhere but USC.

1, USC --- Apparently got their wakeup call in Corvallis. Should have little trouble with ASU and WSU the next two weeks but could have a fight in Tucson on Oct. 25.

2, Cal --- Looking like the best of the rest. On the other hand, got dominated by a Maryland team that just lost 31-0 to Virginia, so how good can the Bears really be?

3, Arizona --- Just about anybody figured to look good against the Huskies Saturday night. But don't discount the confidence the Wildcats have gained the last few weeks. Game at Stanford this Saturday is intriguing and will go a long way toward determining whether the Wildcats are for real.

4, Oregon --- Exposed in a big way at USC, but what other conference team would you rank ahead of them right now? That highly-touted secondary looks pretty overrated and the QB situation caught up to them against the Trojans. Still, should get back on track against UCLA at home this week.

5, Oregon State --- Pretty much just blew it at the end at Utah. But that shouldn't discount that for about 58 minutes, the Beavers looked like the better team, which in the big picture could portend good things for OSU the rest of the season. Should regain some confidence with a big win at home this week against WSU before traveling to UW Oct. 18.

6, Arizona State --- Another team that looks to have been vastly overrated, and now there are injury concerns about QB Rudy Carpenter. But the worst may not be over for the Devils --- next three are at USC, home to Oregon and at Oregon State. That means it's not inconceivable ASU could be rising a six-game losing streak when it comes to UW for a game Nov. 8.

7, Stanford --- Cardinal continuing to show some grit under Jim Harbaugh, but the overall talent to be a real contender just isn't there yet, it appears. Key game with Arizona at home this weekend. Winnable games at UCLA and home to WSU then follow.

8, UCLA --- Rick Neuheisel could always beat Washington State. But now that he's got that out of the way things get tough again for a UCLA team that will need a lot more offense than it showed against the Cougars to win many more games. Bruins visit Autzen Stadium this week and Neuheisel can only hope it goes as well as his last trip, Washington's memorable Reggie Williams-led rout there in 2002 that started the run to the Northwest Championship.

9, Washington --- Four of next five are at home, for better or worse.

10, Washington State --- Looked a little better Saturday, though that 279-game scoring streak appears as it if could be in real jeopardy the next two weeks --- at OSU and then home to USC.