By now — and probably weeks ago — we knew which way the tide was going in the Pac-12. But in the past few weeks (in Arizona’s case the past 5), we’ve gotten an even clearer picture of who and what’s up and who and what’s down.

With 1 more game to go, here’s a look at whose stock has risen and whose has fallen.

Up — Colorado

Ah, starting with a curveball! Colorado up? After losing 5 straight and 7-of-8? Unequivocally yes.

The issues that have come back to haunt the Buffaloes are numerous and obvious, but it is impossible to ignore the foundational changes that Deion Sanders and his sons and converts have brought to Boulder.

I love just about 93% of what Coach Prime has said and done, the good and the bad, the brash and the repentant. He has a chance to build something lasting in Boulder, even if he may have to adjust his expectations a bit.

Yes, the Buffaloes suffered a setback in their Week 12 blowout loss to Washington State, but that was their first true blowout loss in weeks. They were surprisingly competitive against Arizona, Oregon State and USC.

Exposure, social media clout, NIL investments, early season momentum — let’s not pretend those don’t matter.

Down — Washington State

Another curveball?

The Cougars snapped their 6-game losing streak with a 56-14 win over the very same Buffaloes who are on my up list. What had been another of college football’s best stories turned into a surprisingly mediocre season, as Washington State’s once-promising start also faded fast.

I thought a Jake Dickert-coached team could’ve avoided such a funk. It’s not as if they’ve had myriad injuries. In fact, the biggest thing injured is Wazzu’s long-term prospects.

Being left behind by 10/12ths of the Pac-12 in college football no-man’s-land is a blow to the Cougars and persona, and unlike Oregon State, they don’t have a winning record of fall back on.

Up — Kyle Whittingham

On the whole, I don’t think anyone can argue this is a banner year for the Utes.

But still having a chance at 9 wins, with the kinds of obstacles they’ve faced? It’s a master class in crisis management. And it’s not like he hasn’t navigated some choppy waters before.

It’s hard to tell which side of the ball was more impacted by season-ending and persistent injuries. For Whit to have steadied the ship speaks volumes.

Down — Lincoln Riley

Riley dug himself a pretty big hole with the fan base by retaining embattled DC Alex Grinch. Then, even during a 6-0 start that revealed some serious weaknesses, Riley made it seam like things weren’t that bad. When the Trojans started their slide to close out the season, he waited too long to let Grinch go.

Now he’s facing justifiable questions about the future of his program. The Trojans have a hellacious schedule next year, a good-not-great recruiting class and the prospect of losing Caleb Williams and squandering his massive potential.

This is not at all where Riley expected to be at this point in his USC tenure.

Up — Bo Nix

It’s fair to say that the Heisman No. 2 favorite has exceeded expectations this year. He started the season on the fringe of the Heisman conversation, a notch below Williams and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. And while he’s currently trailing Jayden Daniels in the betting odds, he’s not far off.

Midway through the year, as Oregon continued to pile up massive wins and as Nix continued to add to his resume, it became clear that the gains he’d made last year were no fluke, and in some ways just the beginning.

He’s 2 wins from having a chance to lock up the Heisman.

Up — The Pac-12’s Playoff chances

All season long, we’ve heard — and seen — that this was the best Pac-12 in years. Top to bottom, inside out.

A flourishing middle class has propped up the league’s upper echelon all year. A terrific Arizona season, Utah soldiering on despite countless injuries, hot starts by Colorado and Washington State (not to mention USC and UCLA) — all of that added up in a big way for Washington and Oregon to be in the positions they’re in now. Washington moved to No. 4 in the latest Playoff rankings. Oregon is No. 6. Whichever one goes 2-0 over the next 2 weeks will make the Playoff.

Down — Chip Kelly’s offensive reputation

The Bruins have been an enigma this year, at times stale and plodding, at times fun and dynamic. If you only watched them on Saturday at USC, you’d think there wasn’t a single issue with the program.

But UCLA has struggled mightily in the red zone, and Kelly’s new potential star Dante Moore fizzled after a big start. If the Bruins close it out well against Cal and win a decent bowl game, it’s not all bad. But Kelly’s once-sterling reputation for innovation is in question.

Up — Jedd Fisch’s career prospects

Whether he stays in Tucson or heads elsewhere, the rise of Jedd Fisch has been startling and quick. The idea the Wildcats can win 10 games is unfathomable. (The Cats have only done that 3 times in program, and just 1 time in the 2000s.) Talk about a bare cupboard. He inherited a mess from Kevin Sumlin, but in short order, he’s turned Arizona into a weekly threat.

The Cats’ quick ascent has come because of massive gains on the defensive side. Johnny Nansen has been a smash as defensive coordinator.

So has Noah Fifita at quarterback. The team seems to be on a straight line up.

Up — The Huskies’ offense

Everyone. Top to bottom. Criticize the team if you must for not finishing teams earlier, but the Huskies’ offense isn’t often to blame. Michael Penix Jr. has fallen off his rocket ship-level start and heads into the final week of the regular season needing to put an exclamation point on the season if he’s going to end up in New York for the Heisman ceremony.

Aside from perhaps Jalen McMillan, who has been banged up almost all year, name a Husky offensive starter who has had a “down” year. Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk have been superstars and Dillon Johnson has come along nicely. Up front, the Huskies have been very good. Kudos all around.