UCLA football does what it can to steer its destiny

After UCLA’s 17-7 victory over Arizona a week ago — a win that kept the Bruins’ Pac-12 Conference championship hopes alive — the players rushed off the field and celebrated. … for a few minutes.

“As soon as we got in the locker room, guys started dancing and stuff,” linebacker Myles Jack said. “Then everyone started asking, ‘What’s the score of the Arizona State and Utah game?’”

UCLA had a vested interest in that game. The Bruins were chasing both teams in the Pac-12 South Division standings. The Sun Devils’ double-overtime victory over the Utes left them alone in first place with a 5-1 conference record. UCLA, USC, Utah and Arizona all have two losses.

The Bruins (7-2 overall, 4-2 in Pac-12 play) head to Washington (6-3, 2-3) Saturday knowing that they need to win and Arizona State, at some point, needs to lose one more conference game. The Sun Devils have three Pac-12 games remaining — Oregon State, Washington State and Arizona.

“That makes us Oregon State, Washington State and Arizona fans,” UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley said. “We understand that we have put together a great season so far, 7-2 is a good record. But when things aren’t in your hands, it makes it difficult.”

While Oregon is in command of the Pac-12 North, the South is primed for a wild finish. Figuring out who will play in the conference title game may require digging deep into the Pac-12’s bylaws.

UCLA has the first tiebreaker edge — a win in head-to-head competition — with Arizona State and Arizona. Arizona State has the same tiebreaker advantage over Utah and USC. Utah has the tiebreaker with UCLA and USC. USC has the tiebreaker with Arizona.

But there is also the possibility of a three-way tie, which is where the tiebreakers get more complicated: The first is best record in games between the tied teams. The next is record in games played within the division. After that comes record against the next highest team in the division; record in common conference games; and highest ranked team in the College Football Playoff ranking entering the last week of the regular season.

Which means that about the only sure thing at this point is that last-place Colorado can start looking toward next season.

“As soon as we found out that Arizona State won, we started going, ‘OK, they play this team and that team,’” Jack said. “We know the scenarios.”

Including requirement No. 1 for the Bruins to advance: “You try to play those scenarios in your head and it gets crazy,” receiver Jordan Payton said. “But all of that won’t matter unless we keep winning.”

Enter Washington.

The Huskies, under first-year coach Chris Petersen, began the season ranked 25th in the Associated Press media poll, but have had a rough time in conference play. Even playing in Husky Stadium has been a chore. Washington lost to Stanford and Arizona State at home.

Meantime, Petersen has been overhauling the program, which has required jettisoning nine players so far.

Cornerback Marcus Peters, considered a top NFL prospect, was the latest to get his walking papers. He was dismissed Thursday after a series of incidents with members of the coaching staff, according to the Seattle Times.

“You don’t just walk in, snap your fingers and all is good,” Petersen said. “There are too many good teams, too much parity. Everything has to be lined up just right, from schemes to culture. It takes time.”

The Bruins enter Husky Stadium knowing their annual grudge match with USC is on the horizon. After Saturday, UCLA doesn’t play another game until it meets its crosstown rival at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 22.

Still, it being an emotional rivalry game, could wandering minds be a problem?

“There is only one thing to focus on,” Coach Jim Mora said, referring to Washington.

Plus, of course, the South Division race.

“It is kind of frustrating, hoping that a team loses so we can get in,” Jack said. “But it’s part of the game.”

Added Payton: “There is no margin for error. We have to take every game like it’s our biggest game.”

Follow Chris Foster on Twitter @cfosterlatimes