Five need-to-knows for Week Six …
1. The Pac-12’s plan (as of this second)
We explored the complexities of the stretch run on Thursday morning, but two things have changed since then:
— The Washington-Oregon game has been canceled because of COVID issues within the UW program.
The Huskies don’t have enough scholarship players available due to the combination of positive cases and the players in quarantine.
— A conference source confirmed to the Hotline that the Week Seven schedule — both the championship game matchup on Dec. 18 and the full lineup of games on Dec. 19 — will be established this weekend.
Specifically, either Saturday night or Sunday morning.
The most pressing issues are whether UW could be available for the title game (as the North winner) and what to do with Colorado if the Buffaloes finish 5-0 but cannot win the South.
2. Cancellation equation
Under one scenario, the Pac-12 is required to send the teams with the best records to the championship game, regardless of division affiliation:
If the average number of games played by all teams drops to four.
Because the conference rounds up/down at .5, the 12 teams must play a total of 54 games (conference only).
That means it cannot lose more than two games (net) to maintain the division-winner format.
As of now, it has lost just one.
3. Prime TV Time
It comes as the result of cancellations in the Pac-12 and elsewhere, but the conference is set for a triple-header on broadcast television that will provide massive exposure for the football product.
— The day begins with Utah-Colorado, which was moved from Friday evening into the ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ window on FOX as a replacement for Michigan-Ohio State.
FOX’s top crew, Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft, will broadcast from Boulder.
Klatt is a former CU quarterback who has been outspoken about the Pac-12 matching its best teams in the conference championship, regardless of divisions.
My guess: He will have a thing or 10 to say about that issue during the broadcast.
— At 1 p.m., FOX will carry the Cal-Washington State game, which was moved from Saturday night into the afternoon slot to replace Oregon-Washington.
The Bears are the big winner with the change: They’ll return to campus well before midnight, instead of just before dawn.
— Then, at 4:30 p.m., ABC will show the USC-UCLA rivalry from the Rose Bowl.
The fourth game of the day, Stanford-Oregon State, starts at 7:30 on ESPNU.
Four games, none overlapping, and three on broadcast TV. Loads of eyeballs will be on the product.
4. Bowl update
As of this moment (because things change quickly), the Pac-12 is aligned with four bowls for the 2020 postseason:
New Year’s Six
Alamo
Armed Forces (2020 only)
Independence
The conference requires a .500 or better record (at the end of next weekend) for postseason participation.
The following teams have clinched based on current record and number of games left to play: Washington, Oregon, USC and Colorado.
The following teams would clinch a berth with a victory this weekend: Stanford and UCLA.
The following teams must win twice: Oregon State, Washington State, Cal, Utah and Arizona State.
One team has been eliminated: Arizona
5. POW clusters
The conference has awarded Player of the Week honors five times this season, with interesting position clusters on both sides of scrimmage.
Four of the five Offensive Players of the Week have been tailbacks, with Oregon State’s Jermar Jefferson winning twice.
Last year, a tailback won the award once in 14 weeks.
Four of the five defensive Players of the Week have been linebackers, with Colorado’s Nate Landman winning twice.
Last year, a linebacker won the award five times in 14 weeks.
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