College Football Season Preview: The Pac-12

**Editor's Note: So with the college football season kicking off (Get it!?) tonight, I will be joined by BDL Pac-12 analyst and Boston College Eagle John Petroff. With so much attention being paid to Alabama, Texas A&M, Ohio State, and The American Conference (just kidding, that doesn't exist), sometimes the Pac-12 goes unnoticed. This year, John will be giving us coverage of the Pac-12, and I'm sure he'll try to to give us some reason why Oregon is the greatest football team of all time. Enjoy**

College Football Season Preview: The Pac-12

by John Petroff

North Division: 

California: (2012 Record: 3-9)

QB Jared Goff is sure to create
 enemies looking like the bad guy from The Karate Kid

First year head coach Sonny Dykes recently appointed true freshman QB Jared Goff to run the inaugural installment of the so-called “Bear Raid” offense (like Air Raid but Bear Raid…get it!?). Dykes comes from Louisiana Tech after coaching the Bulldogs to the most points-per-game in all of Division I-A (formerly known as Division I) in 2012. After losing standout receiver Keenan Allen to the NFL, look for junior running back Brendan Bigelow to step up and maybe even become a breakout Pac-12 player. 

I don’t know where to begin analyzing the Golden Bear defense, but Cal is never short on talent as they seem to consistently achieve top 25 recruiting class status. It’s unlikely they make the jump back to relevance this season especially with their brutally difficult schedule. Get this: they play #2 Ohio State and #3 Oregon back to back…and that’s on top of another ranked non-conference opponent (#22 Northwestern), playing in the Pac-12 North (#4 Stanford, #25 Oregon State), and drawing #24 USC and #21 UCLA for two of their Pac-12 South matchups. I hope they have fun building character this fall.

Oregon:  (2012 Record: 12-1)

Guru Chip Kelly left Eugene to take over the vacant head coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles. As a fan, and it will soon become clear that I’m "somewhat" of an Oregon football fan, it hurts to lose the guy who seemingly transformed the Oregon football program, and college football in general to some extent. Regardless, the Ducks have lots of reasons to be hopeful for the upcoming season. On top of returning essentially all of its important players, the program has to feel confident promoting Kelly’s offensive coordinator and right hand man, Mark Helfrich, to take over at coach. After reportedly accepting the head coaching job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2011 BCS Championship appearance, the rumor around the Northwest was that Kelly came back to ensure that Helfrich stayed with the program and would eventually succeed him as head coach. There are even reports of Helfrich finishing Chip’s sentences in the film room which has to make anybody who’s ever watched Kelly coach, or give an interview, excited. 

The Ducks have their most talented secondary since
the legendary D-Boyz of 2008. Are those jerseys
"throwbacks" yet?

There shouldn’t be much drop off especially considering all but two position coaches from the country’s most tenured staff were retained, but to cite one of my favorite Chipisms, “quarterbacks [head coaches] are like tea bags; you never know what you’re gonna get until you throw them in hot water.” Past the regime change, there’s little to worry about. The culture in the locker room shouldn’t change, and the Ducks return a Heisman contender QB in sophomore Marcus Mariota (affectionately known as the Flyin’ Hawaiin, St. Marc, and Super Mariota), a Heisman darkhorse in junior RB/WR De’Anthony Thomas (nicknamed Black Mamba by Pop Warner rival coach Snoop Dogg), possibly the most talented offensive and defensive lines in program history, and arguably the best secondary in the country (**I told you...). 

Key question marks remain at linebacker where the Ducks lose three studs to the NFL (including #3 overall pick, Dion Jordan, second rounder, Kiko Alonso, and the team’s leading tackler, Michael Clay). Questions also remain at running back where Chip Kelly-era staple Kenjon Barner can no longer be relied upon every down. A 5^th straight BCS appearance is the expectation, and a second National Championship appearance in four years wouldn’t be surprising. Oh, and also this: Oregon Athletic Facility Behind the Scenes.

Oregon State: (2012 Record: 9-4)

Seriously, he's the nicest guy

The Beavers surprised everybody in 2011 and were actually good. At times they were even great. Junior QB Sean Mannion started the season off on fire defeating #13 Wisconsin and #19 UCLA. Mannion later sat out a good portion of the season with an injury, but current senior QB Cody Vaz filled in admirably. I should note that throwing to the tandem of WRs Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks shouldn’t be difficult for anybody. Head coach Mike Riley, widely recognized as the nicest guy in the Pac-12, only recently named Mannion as his guy for 2013. 

 Despite the injury and some rough moments toward the end of last season, including an absolutely embarrassing meltdown Alamo Bowl loss to Texas, Beaver fans should be excited about Mannion and the fact that potential All-Pac-12 Cooks is back. Sophomore RB Storm Woods also had flashes of brilliance last season and should have a big season. Junior DE Scott Chrichton was first team All-Pac-12 last year, and Junior safety Ryan Murphy is another name to watch on the defense.

Stanford: (2012 Record: 12-1)

Who would’ve thought this was possible? Not only did Jim Harbaugh lead Stanford to a few successful seasons, but Coach David Shaw has sustained and built on that success and turned Stanford into an elite college football program. If I’m a Duke or Northwestern fan, I’m rooting hard for the Cardinal in 2013, a program that heads into the season looking for a 4^th straight BCS bowl appearance and possibly a national championship. The Cardinal offense transformed last season after QB Kevin Hogan (then redshirt freshman and now sophomore) took the reins for the final 5 weeks. The defense, undoubtedly one of the country’s best, remains almost completely intact from last season. Simply put, in addition the promise of Hogan at QB, Stanford has an embarrassment of riches along its offensive line and really throughout its entire defense. 

The only way in which Stanford even
occasionally tries to be like Oregon

Question marks linger at tight end where the program has produced a number of NFL players in the past few seasons, at wide receiver where the team has never been consistently good even in its recent era of success, and at running back where workhorse Stepfan Taylor will be missed. Players in particular to watch are senior guard David Yankey, senior LBs Trent Muphy and Shayne Skov, senior DE Ben Gardner, and senior safety Ed Reynolds. A ton of talent and experience make Stanford (Stanford!!) a legitimate title contender.

Washington: (2012 record: 7-6)

The recently renovated Husky Stadium looks awfully nice

The Huskies welcome back senior QB Keith Price for his third straight season leading head coach Steve Sarkisian’s offense. Price has been the starter since current Tennesse Titan Jake Locker left Seattle which seems like it was about a decade ago. After a better-than-expected sophomore year including a highlight-filled Alamo Bowl against Robert Griffin III’s Baylor Bears, Price disappointed last year leading Washington to its third straight 7-win season. Nobody’s sure what to expect this season: will we see the potential of 2011 Keith Price fulfilled? Or is more of the same from 2012 Keith Price a more reasonable expectation? He should have help from 1,400-yard rusher junior RB Bishop Sankey as well as perhaps the nation’s most talented TE, junior Austin Seferian-Jenkins. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Huskies are led by true Sophomore LB Shaq Thompson. Thompson was one of the West Coast’s most highly touted recruits in 2011, and he didn’t disappoint as a true Freshman; by the end of his college career, he could end up as one of the country’s most accomplished linebackers. The Huskies have appeared to be on the verge of breakthrough since they hired Sark away from Pete Carrol’s USC, and finally taking the next step this season is crucial for the program. Renovations completed on Husky Stadium this offseason can’t hurt things either – it truly looks like one of the premier facilities in the country now. 

Washington State: (2012 Record: 3-9)

The Air Raid Experiment Part II. Coach Mike Leach seemed to make some improvements to the program in his first year in Pullman although the growing pains were obvious. An Apple Cup (**There really is an Apple Cup?) win over rival Washington to end the season was a nice way to end 2012, but the Cougars had plenty of work to address in the offseason. In 2012, junior QB Connor Halliday essentially split time with undrafted rookie Jeff Tuell (boy, I hope he starts the season opener for the Bills) and flashed some potential, but he needs to become much more efficient if the Cougars want to win more than one conference game this season. Another offseason to implement Leach’s offensive principles should actually go a long way for Halliday and a stable of fairly talented receivers. 

An X's and O's and interview innovator, Mike Leach

I’m not sure if the roster carries a running back, however. The Cougar defense is actually poised to breakout in 2013; ESPN’s Ted Miller even called the unit “sneaky good.” With a leader in all three defensive groups (safety Deone Bucannon, LB Darryl Monroe, DT Xavier Cooper), the defense shouldn’t be quite so overmatched and could be a strength for the program going forward. Oddly, this is another case of the traditionally offensively-oriented Pac-12 having top talent on the defensive side of the ball. Finally, now that Kelly is in Philadelphia, Leach no longer has any competition for most entertaining interview in the Pac-12.

South Division: 

Arizona: (2012 Record: 8-5)

Another big 2012 addition to the Pac-12 coaching ranks, Rich Rodriguez, is still in the midst of filling the roster with his preferred personnel. He lucked out last year by inheriting the highly talented and productive QB Matt Scott, but this year he doesn’t have the luxury of a proven commodity at QB. The battle continues into Week 1 among four (four!) quarterback candidates: senior B.J. Denker, redshirt freshman Javelle Allen, junior USC transfer Jesse Scroggins, and highly touted true freshman Anu Solomon. Regardless of who wins the job, don’t expect significant QB production at least by Rich Rod standards. 

Arizona had to get a special exemption to wear their new uniform
set in 2013 because of a Pac-12 rule change that bans color-fading numbers

The feeling around Tucson is that it will take a year for the newcomer to adjust, and quarterback production will be overshadowed by All-American junior RB Ka’Deem Carey who rushed for over 1,900 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2012. The Wildcat’s offense will essentially be limited to handing Carey the ball and seeing what he does with it…kinda like the Wildcat Offense. Carey could even end up in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Arizona’s defense was porous last season, and although they return a lot of players, the unit isn’t expected to be much improved.

Arizona State: (2012 Record: 8-5)

Head Coach Todd Graham kind of looks like a hedgehog

Second year head coach, Todd Graham, was the probably the least recognized name of new Pac-12 coaches in 2012, but he renewed the culture in Phoenix and improved the Sun Devils from a 6-win team to an 8-win team, and it could’ve easily been more (see: 4 point loss to Missouri and 2 point loss to UCLA). Junior QB Taylor Kelly had breakout season in 2012 filling in for Peyton Manning’s backup in Denver, Brock Osweiler. Kelly threw for 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns with only 9 interceptions earning him an All-Pac-12 honorable mention. In addition to Kelly’s arm, the Sun Devils can count on big play capability and versatility from senior RB Marion Grice.

 On defense, the Sun Devils have senior DT Will Sutton, and that’s about all you need to know. Sutton is likely the country’s best defensive tackle and is in the conversation for the country’s best defensive lineman behind South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney. ASU is expected to compete with UCLA and USC in what seems to be a three team race to win the Pac-12 South.

Which is scarier? Will Sutton (left) or Vontaze Burfict circa 2011??

 

Colorado: (2012 Record: 1-11)

Ralphy might be the most talented specimen that
Colorado puts on the field all year

The Buffaloes/Buffalos/Buffalo (**All three are gramatically acceptable!) are bad. A once proud tradition seems to have completely departed from Boulder, Colorado (**Could you say, it is up in smoke?**). The program will be back one day, but it won’t be soon. First year head coach Mike MacIntyre will look to improve on the team’s one conference win, but that honestly seems unlikely.

UCLA: (2012 Record: 9-5)

Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora took over the Bruins program for Rick Neuheisel in 2012 and single-handedly revived one of college football’s richest yet most overlooked rivalries. UCLA may even be ahead in the battle for Los Angeles this year as the Bruins seem to be on the upswing while USC has stagnated or declined in response to unjustifiable NCAA sanctions. Freshman QB Brett Hundley was outstanding in his freshman year throwing for 3,700 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 67% of his passes. And the word in Westwood is that he’s significantly improved since last fall. Hundley could find himself in the Heisman conversation in 2013, and he’s likely to find himself in the first round of the NFL draft in the next couple of years. 

The Lannisters send their regards

Senior LB Anthony Barr is also among the Pac-12’s most talented players. Barr started his career at UCLA playing running back, receiver, and tight end, and he finally found his niche playing outside ‘backer for the Bruins. That kind of versatility is a testament to his athleticism, and scouts already regard him as a sure-thing first round pick. With another offseason to entrench Mora’s system and a good level of general talent in addition to a few exceptional talents, the Bruins are in the hunt for their third consecutive appearance in the Pac-12 Championship Game…where they will likely lose to the winner of the North (if I could only say that about the Lannisters and the Starks with so much certainty).

USC: (2012 record: 7-6)

Although USC’s athletic director adamantly denies it, Coach Lane Kiffin is on the hot seat. Fans should give him some leniency considering the severity of the programs NCAA’s sanctions and scholarship penalties that Kiffin wasn’t responsible for, but still, to win 7 games with as much talent as the Trojans had in 2012 is a huge disappointment. Remember, the Trojans were almost unanimously ranked #1 in the 2012 preseason polls, yet they ended up unranked. Ouch. USC hopes to redeem itself in 2013 with a lot less preseason attention and just about as much talent on the field. Junior WR Marquise Lee is the nation’s best receiver, and that’s more fact than opinion; he won the Biletnikoff Award for college football’s best WR last year. 

The Pac-12 is better when both LA teams are relevant.
Both teams wearing home uniforms should be more common

A battle continues for who gets to throw the ball to Lee and talented sophomore WR Nelson Agholor. 

Sophomore quarterbacks Max Wittek and Cody Kessler remain in the competition that at one point also included true freshman Max Browne. Wittek filled in for Matt Barkley last season when he was hurt, but the competition apparently is close enough that Kiffin doesn’t feel comfortable naming a starter until perhaps as late as Week 2. On the defensive side of the ball, junior safety Dion Bailey and senior LB Morgan Breslin will lead a talented unit, and true freshman safety Su’a Cravens is expected to make a splash. The Trojans are clearly talented enough to win their first (official) Pac-12 South championship, but focus and coaching may prove to be challenges again. **Although USC will likely struggle in their new rivalry against the Boston College Eagles..**

Speaking of Lee, read this:

Utah: (2012 Record: 5-7)

Utah v. BYU is always one of the year's best games to watch.
This year's game is Sept. 21st.

Ute fans thought the switch to a major conference would be easy – HA. Actually after missing a bowl for the first time since the pre-Urban Meyer era, Utah just needs to put a few pieces together, and they’ll be able to compete with the middle of the Pac. That would be a major upgrade from their present situation, but it’s still far from a certainty. 

Coach Kyle Whittingham is respected in the college ranks, and new hire of co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson (former head coach at Oregon State and Arizona State) should help Utah move the ball. Mostly, the Utes need improvement from sophomore QB Travis Wilson and to shore up some holes in the defense.

Conclusion:

Overall, this should be a great year for the Pac. Some of the biggest names in college football along with relative newcomers coaching intriguingly diverse systems, quarterback competitions and quarterbacks competing for the Heisman trophy, two teams in the same division with legitimate chances to end the SEC’s string of national championships…and Oregon should have some new helmets.

Predictions:

North Champion: Oregon

South Champion: UCLA

Pac-12 Winner: Oregon Ducks

Heisman Trophy Winner: Ohio State QB Braxton Miller

National Championship Game: Oregon defeats Ohio State