The first 2015 College Football Playoff rankings are out, and the Pac-12 has two realistic contenders for the final four. Here's a look at their current positioning.
Record: 7-1 (6-0)
Rank: 11
Next big obstacle: vs. Oregon, Nov. 14. The Ducks may struggle defensively, but their offense packs plenty of explosiveness. This is never a pleasant team to play.
Reason for optimism: Stanford has plenty of opportunities left on its schedule to do damage, and the Cardinal have already conquered their most daunting road test. That came this past Saturday, when they escaped Washington State with a 30-28 win.