We've reached the portion of the season when fans of just about every school can complain about how "so-and-so is biased" against their team, which should obviously be ranked higher than where it currently sits.

Considering we're still in October, that's a lot of wasted time and energy, but also what makes college football so unique.

So keeping in mind every team's playoff outlook is very much a fluid situation, here's a look at the Pac-12 teams still in playoff contention:

Oregon Ducks

Record: 7-1 (4-1)

Rank: 5

Next big obstacle: Stanford, Nov. 1

Reason for optimism: As the top-ranked one-loss team outside the SEC, the Ducks are in good position to eventually wind up in one of the four playoff spots. Since LT Jake Fisher returned from injury against UCLA, the Ducks have averaged 48.7 points per game and quarterback Marcus Mariota has looked like the Heisman favorite. The remaining schedule is relatively manageable, too. Unranked Stanford will provide a good test Saturday, but No. 17 Utah is the only ranked team left before a potential Pac-12 championship game.

Cause for concern: Defense. Defense. Defense. Fresh off allowing 41 points to Cal last week, the Ducks haven’t proved their defense can bail them out if the offense has an off game. Oregon is the only team in the selection committee’s top 10 that has allowed at least 30 points on four occasions. If the committee ends up valuing a more balanced team, the Ducks could be in trouble.

Who they’ll be rooting for this week: West Virginia

Arizona Wildcats

Record: 6-1 (3-1)

Rank: 12

Next big obstacle: at UCLA, Nov. 1

Reason for optimism: The Wildcats’ 31-24 win at Oregon on Oct. 2 ranks as one of the best wins for any team in college football this year, and freshman quarterback Anu Solomon, who has played beyond his years, figures to improve as time goes on. Among teams ranked in the committee’s top 25, Arizona ranks No. 9 in scoring (41.1) and No. 4 in total offense (541.9 yards per game).

Cause for concern: For Arizona to get to the playoff, it will likely need to win out, which means it’ll need to get through four ranked teams -- No. 22 UCLA, No. 17 Utah, No. 14 Arizona State and the Pac-12 championship game. With as many close games as Arizona has played in, it seems to reason that there will be at least a game or two in which it comes up on the short end.

Who they’ll be rooting for this week: Oregon

Arizona State Sun Devils

Record: 6-1 (4-1)

Rank: 14

Next big obstacle: Utah, Nov. 1

Reason for optimism: The Sun Devils might be the hottest team in the Pac-12 after beating USC, Stanford and Washington in successive weeks. After their defense struggled in a 62-27 loss to UCLA on Sept. 25, they’ve seemingly turned things around, surrendering just 10 points in each of the past two weeks. Mike Bercovici was great filling in for starting quarterback Taylor Kelly, but the Sun Devils are happy to have their leader back as they try to finish strong.

Cause for concern: That loss to UCLA really stands out. Only 10 other FBS teams have allowed that many points in a game this year, and it’s not exactly a list of teams ASU should want to be associated with. Its nonconference wins against Weber State and New Mexico leave something to be desired, but a visit from No. 10 Notre Dame on Nov. 8 solves that.

Who they’ll be rooting for this week: Notre Dame

Utah Utes

Record: 6-1 (3-1)

Rank: 17

Next big obstacle: at ASU, Nov. 1

Reason for optimism: Utah might have the country’s best group of specialists -- kicker Andy Phillips, punter Tom Hackett, returner Kaelin Clay -- to go along with one of the country’s better defenses. In those two phases, Utah matches up well with just about any team in the country, and running back Devontae Booker has emerged over the Utes’ past four games. Defensive End Nate Orchard is one of a handful of legitimate All-America candidates on the team.

Cause for concern: The instability at quarterback certainly doesn’t inspire much optimism. The combination of Travis Wilson and Kendal Thompson has been just enough to get by, and Wilson, who is currently the clear No. 1, needs to improve to take pressure off the Utes’ special teams and defense. Utah’s remaining schedule -- at ASU, Oregon, at Stanford, Arizona, at Colorado -- might be the most difficult in the Pac-12.

Who they’ll be rooting for this week: Oregon State

UCLA Bruins

Record: 6-2 (3-2)

Rank: 22

Next big obstacle: Arizona, Nov. 1

Reason for optimism: UCLA has one of the nation’s best quarterbacks in Brett Hundley and a talented roster around him that has the potential to be one of the country’s best teams. With two losses already, UCLA is clearly a long shot, but because the Pac-12 stacks up well against other conferences, its eventual champion will receive some level of consideration for inclusion in the playoff. For that reason, UCLA isn’t out quite yet.

Cause for concern: The Bruins just haven’t played like a team deserving to be in the playoff. Aside from its impressive win against Arizona State, UCLA doesn’t have any other performances it can point to and say, "This is why we should be in." In the past four games, the Bruins have lost twice, beat Cal by two and went to double overtime before beating Colorado.

Who they’ll be rooting for this week: Arizona State