Conference Breakdown: Pac 12

Here we go! We have one last year where USC and UCLA get to stay on the West Coast to play their conference games. The regionality of college football is walking out the door, and it is punching the Pac-12 in the face as it does. We may be seeing the last season in which the Pac-12 remains as a conference. There was a recent report that the 4 corner schools (Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado) may end up joining the Big 12. This would likely cause the Big 10 to add Oregon and Washington, and the Pac-12 would dissipate. What a cruel world that would be.

So, let's look at what 2023 could bring us. Utah has won the conference the last 2 years, and Kyle Whittingham will do everything possible to make it 3 straight times. In LA, Lincoln Reilly will try to add to his debut campaign, which saw his team race to an 11-1 start, before losing the Pac-12 championship game and the Cotton Bowl. Oregon and Oregon State both had good seasons as well, each collecting 10 wins. And who could forget Coach Prime and Colorado?

Colorado

Coach Prime is bringing his Louie! The Buffs are adding the top 2 cornerbacks in the past 2 recruiting cycles. They have the best transfer class in the country and the 30th best high school class. I will not join in the madness: Colorado will not win the conference or anything like that. They are a team that went 1-11 last year and all of the talent is young. However, I do think that they exceed expectations and get to a bowl game.

UCLA

Chip Kelly had his team doing well to start 2022: they started 8-1 with wins over Utah and Washington before a costly loss to Arizona. This was ultimately the killer, as they could have reached second in the conference if not for this. This year, a new QB will be taking the reins. There are other options, but Dante Moore is a 5 star and Chip Kelly started DTR as a freshman. Could he do the same with Moore? No matter who it is, UCLA will get as far as their QB takes them.

Oregon State

Not only did Oregon State win against their arch-rival, but they reached 10 wins and had probably the most consequential loss of the conference. After starting 3-0, the Beavs lost to USC by a field goal. If they win that game, there would have been a 5-way tie for first place in the Pac-12. For 2023, the Beavers add D.J. U, and I know how that sounds, but it may actually work. Maybe a newer system with less spotlight helps D.J. to reach a higher level, and maybe he takes Oregon State to Vegas for the Championship game.

Oregon

Bo Nix will be back! The Ducks were up 31-17 over Oregon State in the 4th quarter before giving up 21 and losing their spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. This year, Dan Lanning will be adding a top 10 recruiting and transfer class to Eugene, as Oregon hopes to get to Las Vegas this year. However, they do play at Utah and at Washington within a 3-week span. If the added talent can help them quickly, then maybe Oregon will run the Pac-12.

Washington

Michael Penix was a very nice surprise to Washington. The Huskies finished tied with Utah in the conference, barely missing the championship game. Washington did finish 11-2, and they beat Texas in the bowl game, so this team was certainly special. The question is how well the 2023 version will be. If Penix can stay healthy for the entire season, this could be another good season for Washington.

Utah

Utah has won 2 conference title in a row, and Cam Rising returns to attempt to make it 3. The Utes return a good bit of production and a top 25 class. They have an amazing coach and a wonderful program. They are of course able to win against anyone in the conference, we will just have to see how this year's version of their game against USC goes. There is also a good chance that we see a rematch.

USC

The Heisman trophy winner returns, and he is welcoming a good recruiting class to go with him. If it weren't for Coach Prime taking the spotlight, we would have gotten another lesson in how good Lincoln Reilly recruits. This season has the chance to be even better than last year, and their playoff chances rest on one thing: can USC beat Utah.