Pac 12 Championship: USC over Washington

1. USC Trojans

Projected Record: 11-2

Wins: San Jose State, Nevada, Stanford, Arizona State, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Cal, Washington, UCLA, Washington (Pac-12 Championship)

Losses: Notre Dame, Oregon

There is no secret USC is led by their offense. It will even be better in 2023 with Caleb Williams getting South Carolina’s top running back, Marshawn Lloyd, and Arizona’s top wide receiver, Dorian Singer. The defense remains the question. It should be slightly improved after continuing to add via the transfer portal with potential breakout defensive linemen Bear Alexander and Anthony Lucas. This is a team with College Football Playoff potential because of their offense, but it all will be determined how much their defense holds them back.

2. Washington Huskies

Projected Record: 10-3

Wins: Boise State, Tulsa, Michigan State, Cal, Arizona, Oregon, Arizona State, Stanford, Utah, Washington State,

Losses: USC, Oregon State, USC (Pac-12 Championship)

Overall, Washington finished 11-2 last year and had a top 15 offense. Expect them to be really good again with all three talented wide receivers back, two very good offensive tackles, and a solid quarterback – Michael Penix Jr. Defensively, I expect them to also be a strong unit after bringing back their entire defensive line and adding Oklahoma State transfer corner Jabbar Muhammad. This is a dark horse candidate to win the entire Pac-12.

3. Utah Utes

Projected Record: 10-2

Wins: Florida, Baylor, Weber State, UCLA, Oregon State, Cal, Oregon, Arizona State, Arizona, Colorado

Losses: USC, Washington

Utah is a tough team that is led by their players on the line of scrimmage. While they don’t have the playmakers at the skill position of a Oregon or USC, the Utes have a solid overall team and one of the best home-field advantages in college football. Add in a good veteran quarterback with Cam Rising… they will have another solid year.

4. Oregon Ducks

Projected Record: 10-2

Wins: Portland State, Texas Tech, Hawaii, Colorado, Stanford, Washington State, Cal, USC, Arizona State, Oregon State

Losses: Washington, Utah

I really like Oregon’s skill guys and Bo Nix is a very good Pac-12 quarterback. Losing four starting offensive lineman hurts though. The Ducks are also faced with improving their secondary which wasn’t very good last year. But it just might happen with the transfers the Ducks brought in. Oregon will be a tough out for many in the Pac-12.

5. Oregon State Beavers

Projected Record: 8-4

Wins: San Jose State, UC Davis, San Diego State, Cal, UCLA, Colorado, Stanford, Washington

Losses: Washington State, Utah, Arizona, Oregon

What an incredible job Johnathan Smith has done turning around this Oregon State program. The question going into 2023 is their quarterback situation. Will DJ Uiagalelei play to his recruiting ranking or like he did in his last season at Clemson? While Oregon State is confident in their wide receivers, I’m a little hesitant. This is all sounding negative, but I expect Oregon State to be really good again because of their offensive line and defense. However, there is a dam on how high the Beavers can climb.

6. UCLA Bruins

Projected Record: 7-5

Wins: Coastal Carolina, San Diego State, North Carolina Central, Washington State, Colorado, Arizona State, Cal

Losses: Utah, Oregon State, Stanford, Arizona, USC

UCLA will have a high floor quarterback whether that be Moore, Garbers, or Schlee. The skill position players should be solid also. But offensive line? Total wildcard after all of the transfers they took in. Add in a poor defense from last year and there is some room for pessimism. But with plenty of returning starters expect a slight improvement. UCLA is a team that is just slightly below the upper tier of the Pac-12.

7. California Golden Bears

Projected Record: 7-5

Wins: North Texas, Idaho, Arizona State, Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford

Losses: Auburn, Washington, Utah, USC, Oregon, UCLA

Cal was a 4-8 team last year that returns a ton of experience. However, both the defense and offense were both below average units. TCU transfer Sam Jackson will start and he offers some explosiveness this offense is missing. They also have a few transfers on both side of the ball that will help improve the team including Florida linebacker David Reese and San Diego State transfer cornerback Patrick McMorris. This could be a sneaky alright team in 2023 if their transfers hit and their returning starters take a step forward.

8. Washington State Cougars

Projected Record: 6-6

Wins: Colorado State, Northern Colorado, Oregon State, Arizona, Stanford, Colorado

Losses: Wisconsin, UCLA, Oregon, Arizona State, Cal, Washington

Washington State is a team who was led by their defense all last year. After losing key starting linebackers, I’m expecting a step back. Quarterback Cam Ward also needs to play better and they have a new offensive coordinator that will help him. I like this team’s defensive line, but outside of that the other position groups are underwhelming. A bowl game would be a good finish for Jake Dickert’s squad.

9. Arizona Wildcats

Projected Record: 5-7

Wins: Northern Arizona, UTEP, Stanford, Oregon State, Arizona State

Losses: Mississippi State, Washington, USC, Washington State, UCLA, Colorado, Utah

Even after losing one of Arizona’s best offensive weapons in Dorian Singer, this offense should be good again. Jayden De Lauria is a talented quarterback, but will have to focus on limiting turnovers. He will have three talented wide receivers (Jacob Cowing, Tetairoa McMillan, and Montana Lemonious-Craig) to assist reaching his potential. Star left tackle Jordan Morgan helps too. But the defense was disgustingly bad last year and after losing their top defensive linemen to graduation and the transfer portal… I wouldn’t expect a huge improvement. Making a bowl game would be a good season for them.

10. Colorado Buffaloes

Projected Record: 4-8

Wins: Colorado State, Arizona State, Stanford, Arizona

Losses: TCU, Nebraska, Oregon, USC, UCLA, Oregon State, Washington State, Utah

The Buffaloes’ offense should be good even with a below average offensive line. Shadeur Sanders is a solid quarterback and Deion Sanders brought in standout skill transfers including wide receivers Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr. from USF, Travis Hunter, and running backs Alton McCaskill from Houston and Kavosiey Smoke from Kentucky. Defense is another story, where Colorado took 13 defensive line transfers, 4 linebacker transfers and 11 defensive back transfers. There are some standouts on the defense who could breakout like: Travis Hunter and freshman Cormani McClain at cornerback, former five star linebacker Savell Smalls from Washington, defensive linemen Shane Coaks from Dartmouth, Derrick McClendon from Florida State, and Leonard Payne from Fresno State, and finally linebackers Demouy Kennedy and Vonta Bentley from Alabama and Clemson. But overall, the defensive talent and depth isn’t up to par right now. Making a bowl game would be phenomenal in Deion Sanders’ first season.

11. Arizona State Sun Devils

Projected Record: 3-9

Wins: Southern Utah, Fresno State, Washington State

Losses: Oklahoma State, USC, Cal, Colorado, Washington, Utah, UCLA, Oregon, Arizona

The college football media made a huge uproar on how much Colorado is using the portal… Arizona State is the second highest transfer portal team with over 50 new scholarship players. The Sun Devils had one of the worst defenses last year and the defense this year will be pieced together by transfers. Arizona State is a rebuilding team with a few nice skill position pieces, but this is going to be a multi-year rebuild. Especially since they are starting a true freshman, Jaden Rashada, at quarterback.

12. Stanford Cardinals

Projected Record: 3-9

Wins: Hawaii, Sacramento State, UCLA

Losses: USC, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Washington State, Oregon State, Cal, Notre Dame

Overall, I really like new coach Troy Taylor as he wins everywhere he goes and brings an exciting offense. But with only five returning starters and the football program not able to fully utilize the transfer portal, Stanford is one of the worst power five teams out there.