(which seems ridiculous)...
#1: They might very well be the 2nd highest ranked pac-12 team
new ESPN FPI: yewtah 8, Oregon 15, Washington 22
new Massey: yewtah 13, Oregon 14, Washington 15
And the AP has had yewts as the best 1-loss, the best 2-loss and the best 3-loss teams most weeks this year.... and those AP voters don't want to change their minds.
And, since they are the only team to beat USC, they probably DO stay ranked higher in the subjective polls
#2: They probably still travel better to the Rose Bowl than UW and OU, who might not think of this year as a great success
#3: I think there is pressure to take "the runner up" even if the tie breaks for determining second place are a bit strange