Say Leger-Walker doesn’t miss four games, and the Cougars win all four of them. The top 8 then looks like this:
Stanford 15 3
Utah 14 4
Washington St 13 5
Colorado 12 6
Arizona 11 7
UCLA 10 8
USC 10 8
Oregon 7 11
It’s amazing how little changes. Washington St. doesn’t have to play Cal on Wednesday, but they still get UCLA and Utah, and if successful, Stanford in the final.
The team that benefits most from this imaginary scenario is Stanford, because they still get Oregon, but Colorado (or Arizona) instead of UCLA, then WASU in the final, whom they thumped 61-38 in season.
The loser in this what if? story is ESPN, who get a pedestrian 1 vs. 3 final instead of 5 vs. 7, which makes for a more intriguing broadcast (if not a better game).