Pac-12 power ratings: Washington is No. 1 and Sione Vaki’s success is the most Utah thing ever
The impact of the safety-turned-tailback reflects Utah’s player development program
Colorado cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter stunned the college football world on the first Saturday of the season with a two-way performance to remember.
Seven weeks later, Hunter isn’t even the Pac-12’s most impactful two-way player.
Sione Vaki has joined the conversation.
The Utah sophomore played safety for the first 19 games of his career before switching to tailback due to injuries — and is thriving in his new role.
It is the most Utah-centric development ever.
Hunter was the nation’s top recruit two years ago, a must-see NFL prospect who turned down scholarship offers from Georgia, Alabama, and Florida State to play for Deion Sanders at Jackson State. He followed Sanders to Colorado last winter.
Vaki was a three-star recruit who attended Liberty High School in the Bay Area and played receiver and defensive back. Utah State, Washington State, Boston College, Brigham Young, and Utah State all offered him scholarships.
Vaki served a two-year church mission before joining the Utes for the 2022 season and starting five games in the secondary. He’s second on the team in tackles (35) and tackles-for-loss (6.5) this season… and third in rushing.
With all of the injuries in the offensive backfield, the Utes asked Vaki if he would consider carrying and catching the ball a few weeks ago.
The outcomes have been Hunter-like.
Vaki rushed for 158 yards and made five tackles against Cal before destroying USC on the ground and in the air. He gained 7.6 yards per carry, caught five passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns, and made two tackles for good measure.
To put it another way, the Utes have averaged 19.2 points per game when Vaki only plays defense and 34 when he also plays offense.
Nothing says Utah football like a three-star recruit who becomes one of the conference’s most impactful players in a time of need.
No other program does a better job of evaluating, developing, and deploying talent.
The latest example — and one of the best — is using the 889th-ranked recruit in his class to reinvent themselves on offense midway through an injury-plagued season.
In terms of power ratings…
(All times are in Pacific)
1. Washington (7-0/4-0).
Last week: 1 Result: beat Arizona State 15-7 Next up: at Stanford (4 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: The second half of a sneaky-tough doubleheader against schools that have given the Huskies fits in the past is upon us. They’ve lost seven of their last nine games at Stanford, including a 30-22 loss in 2017 when they were ranked ninth. UW is currently ranked fifth.
2. Oregon (6-1/3-1) is ranked second.
Last week: 2 Result: beat Washington State 38-24 Next up: at Utah (12:30 p.m. on Fox)
Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Oregon are among the top 25 teams in the country in terms of average yards-per-play gained (offense) and average yards-per-play allowed (defense).
3. Oregon State (6-2/3-1)
Last week: 3 Result: did not play Next up: at Arizona (7:30 p.m. on ESPN)
This weekend in Tucson, one of the nation’s top rushing offenses will square off against one of the best run defenses. Arizona, on the other hand, was not on our Pac-12 bingo card.
4. Utah (6-1/3-1)
Last week: 4 Result: won at USC 34-32 Next up: vs. Oregon (12:30 p.m. on Fox)
Comment: In addition to Vaki, remember that Utah’s starting quarterback, Bryson Barnes, is a former walk-on, as is the starting tailback, Ja’Quiden Jackson.
5. UCLA (5-2/2-2)
Last week: 5 Result: won at Stanford 42-7 Next up: vs. Colorado (4:30 p.m. on ABC)
We just checked, and Dante Moore is not listed in the transfer portal.
6. USC (6-2/4-1)
Last week: 6 Result: lost to Utah 34-32 Next up: at Cal (1 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Lincoln Riley has a better chance of beating Kyle Whittingham than of winning access battles with the Los Angeles media. He’s also 0-3 against Whittingham.
7. Arizona (4-3/2-2) is ranked seventh.
Last week: 7 Result: did not play Next up: vs. Oregon State (7:30 p.m. on ESPN)
Comment: The recent struggles of USC and Washington State provide context for Arizona’s performances against both. Are the Wildcats deserving of a top-half ranking in these polls and conference standings? We’ll find out by the end of business Saturday night.
8. Washington State (4-3/1-3).
Last week: 8 Result: lost at Oregon 38-24 Next up: at Arizona State (5 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: With ASU, Stanford, Cal, and Colorado all coming up in quick succession, the Cougars have plenty of opportunities to earn bowl eligibility before the Apple Cup. Because, based on recent events, their chances of winning the Apple Cup (in Seattle) are less than nil.
Colorado (4-3, 1-3)
- Colorado (4-3/1-3)
Last week: 9 Result: did not play Next up: at UCLA (4:30 p.m. on ABC)
Comment: Deion Sanders restructured his roster during the offseason. How much did he change his defense during the bye?
10. Cal (3-4/1-3)
Last week: 10 Result: did not play Next up: vs. USC (1 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Comment: Cal couldn’t have asked for a better situation than having two weeks to prepare and USC coming off back-to-back losses in marquee matchups (to Notre Dame and Utah). But success on Saturday afternoon is contingent on the Bears producing the necessary level of offense — and stop us if you’ve heard this before.
11. Stanford (2-5/1-4)
Last week: 11 Result: lost to UCLA 42-7 Next up: vs. Washington (4 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: If the second half and overtime in Boulder are excluded, Stanford has been outscored 113-13 in the last three games. We have nothing else to say.
12. Arizona State (1-6/0-4)
Last week: 12 Result: lost at Washington 15-7 Next up: vs. Washington State (5 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks)
Yes, the Sun Devils were home-cooked in Seattle. The officials made a terrible decision by picking up the pass interference flag. One of the season’s worst. Inexcusable.
