A freshman quarterback provided some good news to an otherwise rough first weekend of the season for the Pac-12.
Josh Rosen was brilliant in his debut for No. 13 UCLA, answering any questions the Bruins might have had about handing a team that could contend for a Pac-12 title to an 18-year-old.
The Bruins’ 34-16 win against Virginia came after four ugly losses by Pac-12 teams during the first three days of the season:
— Colorado fell 28-20 at Hawaii Thursday night.
— Washington lost 16-13 at No. 23 Boise State on Friday night, though not shame in that.
— Washington State lost 24-17 at home to Portland State of the FCS.
— No. 21 Stanford slept walked through a 16-6 loss at Northwestern.
Not good for the conference that has been gaining ground on the Southeastern Conference in recent years and trying to claim the title of best league in the land.
But what Rosen did at the Rose (Rosen?) Bowl was far more important for the Pac-12’s playoff prospects.
The Bruins were a bit of a disappointment last season at 10-3, but most of that team is back. And it’s loaded with potential stars such as linebacker Myles Jack, defensive tackle Kenny Clark and running back Paul Perkins.
A hole at quarterback could sink a promising season, but Rosen, the southern California kid who was the top-rated QB in the class of 2015, looks like he will do just fine. He went 28 for 35 for 351 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against a Virginia secondary that is the strength of its team.
“Sometimes we were looking at each other, ‘OK, how did he do that?'” UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte said.
The Pac-12 South has been touted as the second-best division in college football behind the powerful SEC West, with No. 8 Southern California, No. 15 Arizona State, No. 22 Arizona and Utah all thinking they can contend.
Arizona State and Texas A&M were playing the lone game of the season between the Pac-12 South and SEC West on Saturday night in Houston.
A few missteps by Pac-12 North teams and South cellar-dweller Colorado are short-term embarrassments for the conference. Rosen’s rise is a developing story that could produce long-term gains for the Bruins and the Pac-12.
OUTSIDE THE POWER FIVE
What looked like the toughest game on Boise State’s schedule might not be quite as difficult next week.
The Broncos travel to BYU to face a Cougars team that beat Nebraska 33-28 on a Hail Mary TD pass as time expired.
The bad news for BYU was quarterback Taysom Hill (fractured leg) was injured and lost for the season. The Cougars season fell apart when Hill was injured midway through last year, but they seem better equipped to deal with it this time.
Freshman Tanner Mangum, back from a Mormon mission, threw the winning touchdown pass for BYU. It was no thing of beauty, but Mangum was a highly touted recruit who should give BYU a chance to move the ball against a tough Boise State defense.
___
AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
—
Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphdrussoAP
Comment count on this article reflects comments made on Breitbart.com and Facebook. Visit Breitbart's Facebook Page.