Week 5 offers huge tests for Pac 12 teams

As we enter week 5 of season 3, several RUTS teams find themselves in the thick of the national title talk heading into conference play. This week, the biggest games will be played out west, as Coach Gump and his #1 Oklahoma Sooners travel to Eugene, OR to battle Coach StuBucksman and the 3rd-ranked Ducks.

In addition, #5 USC hosts #6 Texas in LA.

The winners of these two games will find themselves with an early leg-up in the Pac 12 title race, along with #2 Michigan.

In the SEC, Florida State bounced back strong with a 24-3 victory over #4 LSU, while #10 Miami defeated Alabama to stay on the heels of the Seminoles in the SEC East. LSU, which fell to only #7 this week, is still the favorite to win the SEC West, and if they do so, will find themselves in the BCS title game mix at season's end - heading into conference title week.

Experts agree though, that the Pac 12 is the nation's best conference this season. As Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, USC, Washington and Texas all have 1 loss between them heading into this week and all have legitimate chances of making a run at the BCS title. It's a wide open race!

Here are some photos from this season so far: