Pac-12 (2.0) power rankings: Texas State on top, Fresno State climbs and SDSU tumbles

Welcome to a new feature on the Hotline — an assessment of the eight teams in the rebuilt Pac-12 as if they were competing in the conference this season. 

For most of the 136 teams across major college football, it remains early in the 2025 season. For Oregon State, it’s rapidly getting late. The Beavers are 0-2 entering the toughest stretch of their schedule. The mistakes are prevalent, the frustration is evident and the head coach looks overmatched.

Trent Bray’s halftime interview Saturday afternoon on The CW, in which he used a seven-letter expletive to describe the special teams, was totally inappropriate and completely revealing at the same time.

After the 36-27 loss to Fresno State, Bray apologized. He vowed to “work to ensure I set the right example moving forward.” He acknowledged the need “to grow as a coach.”

Can the Beavers afford to give him the time?

Bray is 42. He was a major college coordinator for just two years – both at Oregon State, his alma mater – before being elevated to the top spot after Jonathan Smith’s departure in December 2023.

Bray needs time, but his alma mater has precious little to offer.

To the power rankings:

1. Texas State (2-0)

Result: won at UTSA 43-36

Next up: at Arizona State (7:30 p.m. on TNT)

Comment: The Bobcats could not have asked for better circumstances to avenge last year’s home loss to ASU, what with the Sun Devils wounded (from the last-minute meltdown at Mississippi State) and not fully locked in against an opponent they handled 52 weeks ago … by three points. (Previous: 1)

2. Fresno State (2-1)

Result: won at Oregon State 36-27

Next up: vs. Southern (7 p.m. on Mountain West Network)

Comment: Road wins are road wins, even if the opponent contributes (mightily) to its own demise, as was the case with Oregon State. The Bulldogs’ ground game will be a problem for everyone on the schedule. But the defense must improve on third down after allowing OSU to convert 10 of 17 opportunities. (Previous: 4)

3. Colorado State (1-1)

Result: beat Northern Colorado 21-17

Next up: idle

Comment: The season-opening loss in Seattle, in which the Rams were dead even with UW late in the third quarter, looks even better after the Huskies hung 70 on UC Davis. Then again, close calls against FCS teams – and Northern Colorado isn’t a particularly good FCS team – tend to look even worse in hindsight. (Previous: 3)

4. Utah State (1-1)

Result: lost at Texas A&M 44-22

Next up: vs. Air Force (6:45 p.m. on FS1)

Comment: After the conference opener this week, the Aggies don’t play another Mountain West team for a month – that should give first-year coach Bronco Mendenhall plenty of time to refine his depth chart and playbook and prepare for a run at the title. (Previous: 2)

5. Boise State (1-1)

Result: beat Eastern Washington 51-14

Next up: idle

Comment: The loss at South Florida certainly has a different feel after the Bulls toppled Florida. It’s like when you’re weak and fragile but the worst of the nausea and vomiting has passed and you can envision eating again in a day or two. (Previous: 5)

6. Washington State (2-0)

Result: beat San Diego State 36-13

Next up: at North Texas (12:30 p.m. on ESPNU)

Comment: The yellow alert has been canceled in Pullman after the lopsided victory, but the performance – specifically, the awakening of the running game – raises more questions about the Cougars’ preparation (or lack thereof) ahead of the opener against Idaho. (Previous: 7)

7. San Diego State (1-1)

Result: lost at Washington State 36-13

Next up: idle

Comment: Unless Washington State’s defense is better than we thought, the Aztecs’ offense is worse than we thought and the road ahead will be more treacherous than we thought, and we might have to rethink everything we thought about the Sean Lewis era. (Previous: 6)

8. Oregon State (0-2)

Result: lost to Fresno State 36-27

Next up: at Texas Tech (12:30 p.m. on Fox)

Comment: On the bright side, the Beavers amassed 544 yards, they were terrific on third down and quarterback Maalik Murphy looked far more comfortable than he did in the opener. (Previous: 8)