TV ratings rating, Heisman Trophy update, de Laura returns to UW and more – Orange County Register

Five things to know about the Pac-12 in week seven…

1. The Rating Game

The Pac-12 got off to a better-than-expected start, with four teams ranked in the current AP Top 25 poll, five averaging at least 40 points per game, and seven holding records of 4-2 or better.

Is there a correlation between success on the field and victory at the negotiating table as Pac-12 executives try to negotiate a new media rights deal and stabilize the conference?

We are skeptical of the existence of a direct link.

Potential media partners’ assessment of Pac-12 media rights over the life of a contract does not change with the results of each past Saturday or TV ratings reported a few days later.

But in case there is an indirect, subjective connection, the 2022 season produces a lot of positive review data.

Last year, the Pac-12 was involved in 12 regular-season games that generated at least 2 million viewers, five of which were out-of-conference matchups.

It has already surpassed 2 million nine times this season, with seven weeks remaining, according to data released by SportsMediaWatch.com.

In fact, the conference could reach 2021 totals over the next two Saturdays if the Stanford-Notre Dame, USC-Utah, and UCLA-Oregon games generate 2 million viewers.

And if not, there are a number of premium matches waiting in November including USC-UCLA, Oregon-Washington, Utah-Oregon, Washington-Washington State and USC-Notre Dame.

If nothing goes wrong – very, very wrong – the Pac-12 will easily surpass the total number of games with 2 million viewers in 2021.

2. The details of the data

As is often the case, non-conference matchups account for a high percentage of most-watched games in the first half of the season.

Here are the nine games that have drawn at least 2 million viewers per Sports Media Watch:

Oregon-Georgia: 6.2 million

WSU-Wisconsin: 3.92 million

USC-Stanford: 2.96 million

Utah-Florida: 2.95 million

Cal Notre Dame: 2.91 million

MSU-Washington: 2.79 million

Utah-UCLA: 2.65 million

BYU-Oregon: 2.58 million

Oregon-WSU: 2.27 million

Note: Only two of the nine involve the Los Angeles schools scheduled to join the Big Ten in 2024.

Finally, we’ve compiled the number of times each Pac-12 team has been involved in a duel that generated at least 2 million viewers over the past season and a half:

Oregon: 10

Washington: 3rd

UCLA: 3rd

Stanford: 3

Utah: 3rd

WS: 3rd

Colorado: 2nd

USK: 2

Kali: 1

It’s a good reminder that the Pac-12 doesn’t depend entirely on USC and UCLA for ratings.

3. Heisman clock

UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson wins Heisman Trophy endorsement every week.

He ranks third in the latest Heisman straw poll published by The Athletic, while USC quarterback Caleb Williams is fifth.

The Bleacher Report rankings place Thompson-Robinson and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix at the second tier of contenders, dubbed “Solidly in the Race.” The same analysis has Williams at the top level (and fourth overall).

As for Heisman odds, Williams currently stands at 10/1 to win the trophy with Thompson Robinson at 16/1 according to BetMGM.

The Bruins are idle this week and are visiting Oregon on October 22nd.

4. Scene of the plant

Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura returns to familiar but hostile territory in one of the most interesting matchups this weekend.

The last time he set foot on Husky Stadium, de Laura led Washington State to victory in the Apple Cup, then infuriated the home team (and fans) by planting the WSU flag on the turf.

De Laura’s stats that day were impressive. He completed 27 of 32 passes for 245 yards and didn’t turnover in the 40-13 win.

The huskies haven’t forgotten.