Athlon previews the coming week of gridiron action in the Pac-12 Conference.
The Oregon-USC rematch Pac-12 championship game has felt like a foregone conclusion for much of the 2012 calendar year. However, it's very possible both teams could lose this weekend — and that would essentially put Stanford and UCLA into the championship game. What a twist that would be in Week 12, right? Those are two of the best games of the year in the Pac-12 and are two of the marquee showdowns nationally this weekend. Sit back and enjoy.
Pac-12's Top Storylines to Watch in Week 12:
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College football's Week 12 schedule is highlighted by two huge battles in the Pac-12. Stanford visits Oregon in a game that likely will decide the South Division champion, while USC makes the short trip to UCLA for the game of the year in the South. 
Even a year after a Baylor quarterback won the Heisman -- beating out the eventual No. 1 overall draft pick and a running back from would-be national champion Alabama -- the 2012 Heisman race is shaping up to have one of the most non-traditional fields the award has seen.
With Oregon's win over California, the Ducks moved to 10-0 with at least two games remaining. Oregon hosts Stanford this Saturday and plays at Oregon State the following week. If the Ducks navigate both games unbeaten, they will play in the Pac-12 title game against USC or UCLA.
Each week, the Athlon editors and others who closely follow college football vote on the most prestigious award in the sport. A 13-man conglomerate of college football gurus from Athlon Sports and other publications cast their votes for their top Heisman Trophy candidates. The votes will be tallied and the results will be posted as the Athlon Sports Heisman Watch List every week of the regular season.
The Oregon Ducks have overtaken the No. 1 spot -- just barely edging second-ranked Kansas State -- thanks Texas A&M’s upset of the Crimson Tide.