<body><div><p>Outstanding college football delivered on the West Coast in a second week of the season that saw two former Pac-12 teams bully SEC squads. But it was the struggles of two of the region's highest-profile programs that stood out as the most notable performances. The trajectory of the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/colorado/">Colorado</a> football program under <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/deion-sanders-4617/">Deion Sanders</a> is <a href="https://247sports.com/longformarticle/pressure-begins-to-mount-on-deion-sanders-after-colorados-embarrassed-in-loss-to-rival-nebraska-235856676/">back in question after the Buffaloes failed a key test</a> at Nebraska, and <a href="https://247sports.com/college/oregon/">Oregon</a> played with fire again in a last-second victory over <a href="https://247sports.com/college/boise-state/">Boise State</a>.</p><p>Teams are not always in their final form during the opening weeks of any given campaign, but the sustained struggles from the Buffaloes and Ducks raise a few questions about whether these are fixable issues or more malignant, season-defining troubles.</p><p>With conference play on the horizon for most of the West Coast programs, those with lingering issues have little time to shore things up before the stakes get significantly higher. On the other hand, those who are riding high after two weeks — and none more so than <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USC</a> — are well on their way to a commendable season.</p><h2>OREGON CONTINUES TO PLAY WITH FIRE</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0L3uSO_0vQ4MAs100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0L3uSO_0vQ4MAs100" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>Dan Lanning (Photo: Eugene Johnson, 247Sports)</figcaption></figure><p>The long and short of it is that Oregon cannot continue to play like this if it wants to win the Big Ten and contend for a national championship. The margin for error on both of those journeys is simply too slim. As soon as one of these close calls goes the wrong way, the Ducks will be playing catch-up in a race that features a couple of teams that, frankly, are more sound than Dan Lanning's squad through two weeks.</p><p>Oregon notched its first win over Boise State in program history with a walk-off field goal from <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/atticus-sappington-46145768/">Atticus Sappington</a>, but even the game's savior was imperfect as he missed a critical extra point earlier in the contest. That everything worked out in the end for the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/oregon-state/">Oregon State</a> transfer, but that the road to get there was concerning, was a microcosm of the Ducks' first two games.</p><p><a href="https://247sports.com/college/oregon/article/oregon-ducks-offensive-line-was-rotated-a-lot-in-win-over-boise-state-235930750/">The offensive line is not strong enough in its present form</a> for Oregon to compete with the sport's elites. The sack total through two weeks — against lesser competition, at that — already trumps last season's year-long mark, and more often than anyone would have expected, the prolific Ducks offense ran into trouble getting the ground game moving with sustained consistency.</p><p>The question of whether <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/dillon-gabriel-46046633/">Dillon Gabriel</a> is a championship-caliber quarterback has to come into play at some point, too. His stat lines in both of his first two games as a Duck were terrific, but it was in many ways empty production. He completed 40 passes in the opener but found himself in a three-point game deep into the fourth quarter of a matchup with an FCS opponent, and he was 18-of-19 when the Ducks were in a deadlock with Boise State. Those are impressive marks, sure. But if it is barely enough to beat two lower-level teams, how efficient is it really?</p><p>Gabriel finished the night 18-of-21, and his final two passes drove home the concern about his game-changing ability. He overthrew two wide-open receivers on would-be touchdowns in a tie game, missing consecutive opportunities to leave a decisive mark on the contest.</p><h2>COLORADO FAILS KEY TEST</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2xu2R5_0vQ4MAs100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2xu2R5_0vQ4MAs100" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Liz Munsterteiger, USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure><p>Colorado's Week 2 rivalry battle was always going to be a litmus test for the program's trajectory, particularly because it was a game that the Buffaloes largely dominated last season. Nebraska got better over the offseason, and its progress clearly outpaced that of Sanders' squad. The game was never in question.</p><p>What Colorado is learning this season is something that the most successful coaches across the country already know. That is, offensive and defensive lines cannot be fully constructed through the transfer portal. There is simply just not enough high-end talent on the transfer market to go around, and the few elite weapons that emerge in each cycle go to the top programs. The Buffaloes completely re-tooled both groups in the trenches but look just as suspect as they did a year ago.</p><p><a href="https://247sports.com/Player/shedeur-sanders-46042823/">Shedeur Sanders</a> is a special talent and can single-handedly win Colorado a couple of games, but his offensive line is still <a href="https://247sports.com/longformarticle/what-deion-sanders-said-after-colorados-loss-to-nebraska-235904886/">not doing nearly enough to protect him</a>. The key to Year 2 progress was to shore that up, and it just has not materialized through two games. It can get better as the year goes on — especially if five-star freshman <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jordan-seaton-46111847/">Jordan Seaton</a> develops into a stalwart — but the Buffs might take too many losses by then for it to matter.</p><h2>FORMER PAC-12 TEAMS BEAT UP ON SEC</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1IiFEB_0vQ4MAs100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1IiFEB_0vQ4MAs100" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://247sports.com/college/california/">California</a> and <a href="https://247sports.com/college/arizona-state/">Arizona State</a> dealt the SEC a pair of losses over the weekend, flat-out dominating Auburn and Mississippi State in a couple of key areas. They were the kinds of victories in which the Pac-12 used to relish, with West Coast football winning out over the Southeast's supposed physical brand of play.</p><p>The Golden Bears and their always-stout defense under head coach <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/justin-wilcox-305/">Justin Wilcox</a> were impenetrable through the air as they intercepted Auburn quarterback <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/payton-thorne-46040161/">Payton Thorne</a> four times, and the offense did just enough to escape from Jordan-Hare Stadium with a stunning 21-14 upset. They were unfazed by one of college football's toughest atmospheres and shined against a team that looked poised for noticeable Year 2 improvement under <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/hugh-freeze-1016/">Hugh Freeze</a>.</p><p>Meanwhile, in the desert, Arizona State mauled Mississippi State at the point of attack and gashed the Bulldogs to the tune of 346 rushing yards. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Cam-Skattebo-46080548">Cam Skattebo</a> ran for a monstrous 262 yards while quarterback <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/sam-leavitt-46108915/">Sam Leavitt</a> logged ASU's only two offensive touchdowns with a pair of rushing scores.</p><h2>FINAL NOTES</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0QXLar_0vQ4MAs100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0QXLar_0vQ4MAs100" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Rob Gray, Getty)</figcaption></figure><p>The Pacific Northwest enters its own version of rivalry week at a combined perfect 4-0. Oregon State hosts Oregon this week after completing its first road shutout in 40 years, while the Apple Cup pits the prolific <a href="https://247sports.com/college/washington/">Washington</a> and <a href="https://247sports.com/college/washington-state/">Washington State</a> passing attacks against each other on a neutral field.</p><p><a href="https://247sports.com/Player/ashton-jeanty-46098064/">Ashton Jeanty</a> added to his dark-horse Heisman Trophy résumé, even in a loss. Coming up short of the upset win in Eugene probably hurt his chances a bit, but the 192-yard, three-touchdown explosion on the heels of an unbelievable season opener put him on a stunning pace.</p><p><b>RELATED (VIP) —</b> <a href="https://247sports.com/article/college-football-overtime-texas-bullies-michigan-notre-dame-gets-finessed-to-highlight-wild-week-2-takeaways-235910811/">College Football Overtime: Texas bullies Michigan, Notre Dame gets finessed to highlight wild Week 2 takeaways</a></p><p>The injury to <a href="https://247sports.com/college/utah/">Utah</a> quarterback <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/cameron-rising-86414/">Cameron Rising</a> is one to monitor. The seventh-year veteran departed from the Utes' win over Baylor with an <a href="https://247sports.com/college/utah/article/utah-utes-qb-cam-rising-injury-not-serious-235886742/">injury to his throwing hand</a>, and the offense did not score in the two-plus quarters he missed.</p></div></body>

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West Coast Weekly: Concerns abound for Oregon, Colorado amid sustained struggles; Ex-Pac-12 teams flex on SEC

Outstanding college football delivered on the West Coast in a second week of the season that saw two former Pac-12 teams bully SEC squads. But it was the struggles of two of the region's highest-profile programs that stood out as the most notable performances. The trajectory of the Colorado football program under Deion Sanders is back in question after the Buffaloes failed a key test at Nebraska, and Oregon played with fire again in a last-second victory over Boise State.

West Coast Weekly: Concerns abound for Oregon, Colorado amid sustained struggles; Ex-Pac-12 teams flex on SEC

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