Conference Outlook: Big Ten Hopes to Usurp SEC, but Can They Survive Each Other?

 Big Ten football is just weeks away when Nebraska and Northwestern face off on Aug. 27 in Dublin, Ireland. Air travel will be a big part of the Big Ten's future as the college football world was shocked when USC and UCLA announced they would be joining the conference in 2024. That will bring the conference ranks up to 16.

It'll be interesting to see if either of those schools will have any interest in destroying the evil empire built in Columbus that continues to churn out victories. The Buckeyes might have lost to the Wolverines last year, but their Rose Bowl performance let everyone know that they are still the king of the mountain. Michigan looks to make it back-to-back victories over tOSU since 2000. Spartan fans will no doubt remind big brother that they've won the last two meetings with their rival.

In my rankings, the Big Ten boasts 8 teams in the Top 50 and none of them appear lower than 97 (Indiana). It's the only Power 5 conference to boast no teams in the 100s as even the SEC has to take responsibility for Vanderbilt (109). Here's a look at the greatest (heavily biased) conference in all of sports.

East

Ohio State

Head Coach: Ryan Day (34-4, 4th Season)

Last Year Rank: 12 (11-2)

Preseason Rank: 2

Prediction: 11-1

The Buckeyes will be giving defensive coordinators nightmares after they watch that Rose Bowl tape where CJ Stroud threw for 570 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were his favorite targets in that game and return to scorch defenses. Looking to keep them on the ground, well you'll get pummelled by TreVeyon Henderson, who amassed over 1,200 yards in 2021 as a Freshman! The defense will have a lot of new faces, but Zach Harrison will be there to provide the leadership on the front line. Besides, we know that Ryan Day recruits beasts only in Columbus, likely because he continued the pact that Jim Tressel made with the devil to continually put me into a seasonal depression that lasts from September to early January since 2001. 

The schedule is a tough one as they actually scheduled a respectable non-conference opponent when the Fighting Irish roll in Week 1. They are also fortunate enough to get Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan at home as well. They do have to venture into Happy Valley, likely for a whiteout around Halloween weekend, so that game always has Buckeye fans on edge.

Michigan

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (61-24, 8th Season)

LYR: 6 (12-2)

PR: 5

Prediction: 10-2

Just a friendly reminder of where you can find the Big Ten Championship trophy, it's Ann Arbor. Like most Wolverine fans it might seem a little dangerous to be so boastful, but to be fair Buckeye fans don't exactly win with humility so why should we? The offense returns Blake Corum, a healthy Ronnie Bell, Erick All, and Cornelius Johnson at the skill positions. The big question will be if Cade McNamara will be the go-to guy or if J.J. McCarthy will take over more and more snaps. The defense lost a lot of talent including Aidan Hutchinson who was the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. The good news is the secondary will have plenty of time to prep for Ohio State's nasty receiving corps and the non-conference schedule is admittedly softer than Charmin. The Maize and Blue also get Penn State and Sparty at home, but they will have road trips to Iowa and Ohio State which have not been kind places for Harbaugh. If the defense comes together they can make noise, but it better be the 85 Bears if they want to make it back to Indianapolis.

Michigan State

Head Coach: Mel Tucker (13-7, 3rd Season)

LYR: 13 (11-2)

PR: 16

Prediction: 8-4

The Spartans arguably have the biggest offensive weapon to replace in running back Kenneth Walker III. Jayden Reed looks to be the talk of East Lansing as he returns for his senior season to catch passes from Payton Thorne. The pass defense was atrocious last season, ranking dead last in the FBS, so maybe it's not great that they return most of their starters in the secondary. They'll get Wisconsin and Ohio State at home, but in back-to-back weeks before getting a week off before heading to Ann Arbor. They also end the season in Happy Valley and have a non-conference road trip to face the Huskies in Seattle during Week 2.

Penn State

Head Coach: James Franklin (67-34, 9th Season)

LYR: 53 (7-6)

PR: 27

Prediction: 9-3

Last year was a disappointment for the Nittany Lions as they barely finished above .500 and were knocked around by Arkansas in their bowl game. Sean Clifford returns for his 12th season (ok 4th season) as the QB in Happy Valley and will likely need to be a game manager while the defense does their thing. Clifford will have a new receiver in Mitchell Tinsley who comes over from pass-happy Western Kentucky where he racked up over 1,400 yards last season. The schedule makers bring Ohio State and Michigan State to stare at all the white shirts in the stands, but the Nittany Lions get tough road games at Auburn and Michigan. They are also lucky enough to skip Wisconsin and Iowa.

Maryland

Head Coach: Mike Locksley (13-23, 5th Season)

LYR: 61 (7-6)

PR: 71

Prediction: 7-5

The Terrapins are one of the most exciting offenses in college football when they don't play teams with a defense. Against Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, and Penn State, they were outscored 247-84. In their seven wins, they outscored opponents 281-118, so when it clicks, it really clicks. Taulia Tagovailoa leads the Terps again offensively and likely they'll score points and make it to their second straight bowl appearance, but look for ugly losses again to the big dogs in the conference.

Rutgers

Head Coach: Greg Schiano (8-14, 2nd Season/14th overall at school)

LYR: 96 (5-8)

PR: 80

Prediction: 3-9

It was really nice that Rutgers got invited to a bowl game as a replacement so they could get waxed by Sam Hartman and Wake Forest, but it ended the eight-year bowl drought. Greg Schiano's second turn as Rutgers head coach has been bumpy and the quarterback situation will be a question mark again this season. Fortunately, they get Indiana at home so they shouldn't go winless in Big Ten play this season.

Indiana

Head Coach: Tom Allen (26-32, 7th Season)

LYR: 122 (2-10)

PR: 97

Prediction: 2-10

Whoever made this non-conference schedule couldn't possibly have anticipated the success that Western Kentucky and Cincinnati had last season. Fortunately, there's former FBS member Idaho coming to town in Week 2 and that may be the highlight of the season. Tom Allen doesn't have a reliable QB after Michael Pennix Jr. transferred to Washington and not much else to write home about on offense if he did have a QB. Send care packages to Bloomington when they face Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan State in consecutive weeks in November.

West

Wisconsin

Head Coach: Paul Chryst (65-23, 8th Season)

LYR: 31 (9-4)

PR: 19

Prediction: 10-2

The Badgers needed to win against rival Minnesota to make yet another trip to Indianapolis, but the Gophers really wanted that ax and axed Wisconsin's chances at a Rose Bowl. Graham Mertz returns under center and looks to give the ball to his 1,000-yard rusher, Braelon Allen. The Badgers should make it through their first three games unscathed to set up an early showdown in Columbus for Big Ten supremacy, but like many Wisconsin teams, this doesn't seem to be a high-powered offense that can keep up with the higher-scoring teams in the league. The good news is that they miss Michigan and Penn State in this year's rotation.

Iowa

Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz (178-110, 24th Season)

LYR: 26 (10-4)

PR: 20

Prediction: 8-4

Here's my question, how does the longest-tenured coach in the FBS not have 200 wins in 23 seasons of work? Iowa looks to do more Iowa-like things with ball control and a staunch defense. It's been Ferentz's plan this whole time, so why change now? Really, the only time it didn't keep them in a ballgame was the Big Ten Championship when Michigan stampeded the Hawkeyes 42-3. There's a lot of talent returning on both sides of the ball, but there's also this feeling that they could easily be caught off guard by FCS powerhouse South Dakota State in Week 1 and maybe even stumble late in the season at Minnesota or Purdue, because those are things that the Hawkeyes under Ferentz have done.

Purdue

Head Coach: Jeff Brohm (29-29, 6th Season)

LYR: 34 (9-4)

PR: 31

Prediction: 8-4

The Boilermakers were the beneficiaries of some terrible officiating in their bowl game, but it came at the expense of an SEC team so there are no complaints here. What Aidan O'Connell showed in that game was the moxy to hang in tough games and make big plays. Purdue will need that when they get a visit from Penn State in Week 1 and head to Wisconsin later in the year. Perhaps the luckiest of the West contenders, they miss Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State this year.

Minnesota

Head Coach: P.J. Fleck (35-23, 6th Season)

LYR: 32 (9-4)

PR: 43

Prediction: 8-4

The Golden Gophers played spoilers in 2021 and finished on a three-game win streak. Tanner Morgan is back to row the boat and he should be able to navigate a very friendly schedule. After a weak non-conference, they'll miss out on Michigan and Ohio State, but will have trips to Michigan State and Penn State. Morgan along with running back Mo Ibrahim are back for a sixth season thanks to the COVID-shortened season in 2020.

Nebraska

Head Coach: Scott Frost (15-29, 5th Season)

LYR: 111 (3-9)

PR: 81

Prediction: 6-6

The Cornhuskers were a pain in everyone's sides last season as they were the most competitive 3-9 team in college football history. Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan State all needed late rallies or needed to fend off a last-minute drive by Nebraska to win. Their largest margin of defeat was nine as they held the Buckeyes to a season-low 26 points. The defense returns most of their linebacking corps, but Adrian Martinez won't be the QB for the first time in four seasons. Martinez opted to transfer to Kansas State while Casey Thompson comes over from Texas to take the role. The biggest question for Nebraska is, will Scott Frost be on the sidelines in 2023 if this season gets off to a rocky start?

Illinois

Head Coach: Brett Bielema (5-7, 2nd Season)

LYR: 86 (5-7)

PR: 89

Prediction: 3-9

The Fighting Illini played in perhaps the wildest game of last season when they won a nine-overtime thriller at Penn State. They followed that game with a loss to Rutgers, so it wasn't all fairy tale endings in Champaign. The quarterback situation is a mess and the schedule is pretty brutal when the calendar reaches October, starting in Wisconsin and ending in Michigan the week before Thanksgiving.

Northwestern

Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (109-90, 17th Season)

LYR: 114 (3-9)

PR: 91

Prediction: 4-8

It might be another tough season in Evanston, but Pat Fitzgerald is easily the greatest coach in Northwestern history and the Big Ten's second-longest tenured coach, so there's grace to be found. Most of the success should come early in the season before they welcome the likes of Wisconsin and Ohio State to campus.

Conference Outlook: ACC has Depth Led By Talented QBs

 The ACC is the only Power 5 Conference that will not have any changes over the next few years and has built itself up from within. For years it was Clemson and then everybody else, but the Tigers opened a door for the competition last season with their early season struggles. Nine of the 14 schools boast upperclassmen quarterbacks that have successfully won ball games. Sam Hartman (Wake Forest-though he's out for a non-football injury) probably has the highest draft stock, but D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson) and Malik Cunningham (Louisville) could be the most dynamic playmakers. They'll get a chance to take on the SEC nine times, with Florida State and Georgia Tech squaring off twice against the top conference.

Here's a complete breakdown by division (though these could be eliminated next season):

Atlantic

Clemson

Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (150-36, 15th Season)

Last Year Rank: 21 (10-3)

Preseason Rank: 13

Prediction: 11-1

After a rough start, the Tigers rattled off six straight wins to close out the season. They look to take that confidence into a much easier season opener when they open with Georgia Tech in Atlanta. D.J. Uiagalelei figured it out in the second half and the offense was much more potent. Clemson gets a lot of tough games in Death Valley, but one date stands out in November when the Tigers head to South Bend for a late-season showdown against the Irish that could decide both teams' playoff fate. There will be a new voice on the defensive side of the ball as DC Brent Venables left to be the head coach at Oklahoma, so Wes Goodwin takes on the role in 2022.

Wake Forest

Head Coach: Dave Clawson (51-48, 9th Season)

LYR: 17 (11-3)

PR: 17

Prediction: 8-4

The Demon Deacons were dealt a huge blow right before the season started when Sam Hartman was evaluated for a non-football-related medical issue that may cause him to miss significant time. Wake Forest was a dark horse to win the division with Hartman, but if he can't play, it could alter their course. 

NCST

Head Coach: Dave Doeren (64-49, 10th Season)

LYR: 25 (9-3)

PR: 21

Prediction: 10-2

The expectations are high for a Wolfpack team that took down Clemson last season, but couldn't upend Wake Forest to earn an appearance in the ACC title game. Devin Leary leads an offense that scored 30 points or more 8 times last season. The defense brings back nine of their 11 starters from last season.

Boston College

Head Coach: Jeff Hafley (12-11, 3rd Season)

LYR: 71 (6-6)

PR: 50

Prediction: 8-4

The Eagles started off fast winning their first four but slumped to a 2-6 record to finish the season. A lot of talent returns on offense including Phil Jurkovec and three of his top receivers. The Eagles could play the role of the spoiler if they can get things clicking.

Florida State

Head Coach: Mike Norvell (8-13, 3rd Season)

LYR: 87 (5-7)

PR: 53

Prediction: 7-5

The Seminoles should be markedly better this season and Jordan Travis looks to make the transition into one of the ACC's best. He'll get a bunch of new receivers from the transfer portal, but he's always a threat to use his feet. FSU boasts the toughest schedule in the Conference with a trip to LSU (New Orleans) and a visit from Florida. Even their paycheck game is no layup as the Ragin' Cajuns visit Tallahassee in the second to last week.

Louisville

Head Coach: Scott Satterfield (18-19, 4th Season)

LYR: 79 (6-7)

PR: 58

Prediction: 7-5

The Cardinals have faded back towards the middle of the pack since Scott Satterfield took over and that's a shame because it's meant that Malik Cunningham isn't a household name. Cunningham threw for nearly 3,000 yards and ran for over 1,000 to lead the offense, but he'll look to focus on being more of a pass-first QB to help get better results. The last three weeks look brutal as they face NCST, Clemson, and Kentucky.

Syracuse

Head Coach: Dino Babers (29-43, 7th Season)

LYR: 88 (5-7)

PR: 85

Prediction: 4-8

The seat is hot in Syracuse for Babers as he enters year seven and the AD must hate him with the schedule they are set to play. After Oct. 15 the Orange only play two home games, but those come against Notre Dame and Florida State. That stretch also includes trips to Clemson, Wake Forest, Pitt, and Boston College. Best get that resume ready Dino.

Coastal

Pitt

Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi (53-37, 8th Season)

LYR: 16 (11-3)

PR: 23

Prediction: 9-3

The Panthers seemed to have found a suitable replacement for Kenny Pickett, but the question is, will it be Nick Patti or USC transfer Kedon Slovis? Maybe Narduzzi can think about that instead of complaining about how he didn't have Pickett in the Peach Bowl. The Panthers renew one of my favorite Big East rivalries when they host West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. They follow that game up with a visit from Tennessee and then head to Kalamazoo to avenge the 44-41 loss to the Broncos last year.

Miami

Head Coach: Mario Cristobal (1st Season)

LYR: 50 (7-5)

PR: 28

Prediction: 10-2

It's been since 2003 that the Hurricanes claimed a conference championship when they shared the Big East title, but with new head coach Cristobal, they could be back on the path to glory. Tyler Van Dyke leads the offense after winning ACC Newcomer of the Year and will have plenty of familiar faces from the young group that found success late in the season. Cristobal has a history of changing programs in the Miami area as he led FIU to their first-ever bowl appearance and victory after winning just one game in his first season.

Virginia

Head Coach: Tony Elliott (1st Season)

LYR: 70 (6-6)

PR: 42

Prediction: 9-3

The Cavaliers have a great shot at becoming bowl eligible in just seven weeks. The schedule is extremely soft and the tough games are all at home with the exception of their season-ending trip to Blacksburg. Brennan Armstrong returns under center and hopes to bring Tony Elliott success in his first season.

UNC

Head Coach: Mack Brown (21-17, 4th Season/14th overall)

LYR: 73 (6-7)

PR: 49

Prediction: 7-5

The hype is over in Chapel Hill and now the seat might be getting hot for Mack Brown. In his return to North Carolina, he was expected to challenge for the Coastal crown each year, but that hasn't been the case. The quarterback situation isn't a lock, but most of the receiving corps is back and British Brooks returns to carry the ball for the fifth season.

Virginia Tech

Head Coach: Brent Pry

LYR: 78 (6-7)

PR: 73

Prediction: 6-6

Nothing was more awkward than Brent Pry being interviewed during the Pinstripe Bowl while Maryland was scoring at will in a 54-10 beatdown. The defense that got torched returns a lot of starters, but the offensive cupboard is a bit bare. It could be a rough year for the Hokies.

Georgia Tech

Head Coach: Geoff Collins (9-25, 4th Season)

LYR: 108 (3-9)

PR: 98

Prediction: 4-8

Geoff Collins looks to yet another offensive coordinator after the Yellow Jackets were drubbed by a combined score of 100-0 in their final two games. Jeff Sims returns under center and can do it all if he has protection.

Duke

Head Coach: Mike Elko (1st Season)

LYR: 115 (3-9)

PR: 103

Prediction: 4-8

Elko is a defensive-minded coach, but the offense is also in need of help. The countdown to basketball season has started in Durham.

Conference Outlooks: Big 12 Closing One Door, But Opening Another

 The Big 12 will be greatly affected by the conference realignment, but they've been pretty proactive finding solid replacements for their big schools. While there is no replacing Oklahoma and Texas as far as brands go, Cincinnati, Houston, and BYU have all developed brands of their own the past 5 seasons. Those three will join next year while the Sooners and Longhorns head to the SEC in 2024. 

As for this year, can Oklahoma State make the big step as the top dog in the Big 12 with Oklahoma retooling or will Baylor reign supreme? Those three are clearly the top, but the rest of the pack (excluding Kansas) will be a competitive group that could easily pull off some big upsets week after week in conference play. While the PAC-12 at least challenged itself, the Big 12 non-conference isn't as impressive with a few exceptions. Baylor heads to BYU in Week 2 and Texas takes on Alabama early in the season as well.

Here's a full look at the conference of 10 that will grow to 13 in 2023 before shrinking down to 11 in 2024.

Oklahoma State

Head Coach: Mike Gundy (149-69, 18th Season)

Last Year Rank: 7 (12-2)

Preseason Rank: 4

Prediction: 10-2

The Cowboys defeated their rival to knock the Sooners out of the Big 12 Championship, but the Pokes weren't able to upend Baylor for the Big 12 title. Spencer Sanders returns to lead the offense for Mike Gundy, who became the longest-tenured coach in the conference after Gary Patterson was fired by TCU. The defense was above average last season, allowing 20 points or less in 8 of their contests. There isn't a ton of starters returning, but the Cowboys look to make another appearance in the Big 12 Championship.

Baylor

Head Coach: Dave Aranda (14-9, 3rd Year)

LYR: 5 (12-2)

PR: 7

Prediction: 10-2

The Bears shocked the conference, winning ten more games in 2021 than they did the previous season. They avenged a regular-season loss to the Cowboys to take the crown and then shut down Lane Kiffin and the Rebels in the Sugar Bowl. The offense has a lot of question marks, but many of the starters on the defense return, which is great news for Aranda. Baylor allowed 20 points or fewer in 8 games last season and had 44 sacks.

Oklahoma

Head Coach: Brent Venables (1st Season)

LYR: 11-2 (11)

PR: 9

Prediction: 9-3

Oklahoma has a new coach and a new quarterback after Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) and Caleb Williams (USC) both transferred out. Venables comes over from his successful time as the defensive coordinator at Clemson and looks to bring that championship pedigree back to the Sooners. He'll lean on UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel who missed most of last season with a broken clavicle. The defense returns plenty of starters, but the offense's key piece returning is receiver Marvin Mims. Mims has 14 career touchdowns and looks to be a big target for Gabriel.

Kansas State

Head Coach: Chris Klieman (20-16, 4th Season)

LYR: 44 (8-5)

PR: 35

Prediction: 7-5

The Wildcats had a nice season, but all of their losses came against the best of the conference and that'll need to improve if they want to win the conference. They've got a great running back in Deuce Vaughn who ran for over 1,400 yards last season. Adrian Martinez will come over from Nebraska to take over the quarterback position, giving Kansas State a dual-threat under center. Trap game alert in Week 1 when they welcome South Dakota (FCS).

Iowa State

Head Coach: Matt Campbell (42-34, 7th Season)

LYR: 56 (7-6)

PR: 47

Prediction: 7-5

It's been 110 years since the Cyclones have won a conference (MVC) and losing their top tailback and quarterback won't help that change. Xavier Hutchinson does return to be the playmaker for the Cyclones, but it looks to be another middle-of-the-road season in Ames.

Texas

Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian (5-7, 2nd Season)

LYR: 85 (5-7)

PR: 59

Prediction: 8-4

The Longhorns bring back a lot of talent from a team that lost five of their final six games, including a head-scratching overtime loss to Kansas. That won't fly for long for Sarkisian and he'll need a quick turnaround. Bijan Robinson returns to the backfield and one-time Buckeyes QB Quinn Ewers returns to his home state to be the guy. We'll get a chance to see how good they'll be when Nick Saban and company come to town in Week 2.

TCU

Head Coach: Sonny Dykes (1st Season)

LYR: 89  (5-7)

PR: 60

Prediction: 5-7

Sonny Dykes replaces a legend at TCU after Patterson was fired after 20+ years in Fort Worth. Max Duggan comes in as the senior leader, but transfer Chandler Morris could provide some pressure on Duggan to perform. How will the Horned Frogs respond to the new regime?

Texas Tech

Head Coach: Joey McGuire (1st Season)

LYR: 57 (7-6)

PR: 66

Prediction: 4-8

Someone has to be towards the bottom and with no certain quarterback and new coaching staff, this seems like a perfect recipe for clunky football.

West Virginia

Head Coach: Neal Brown (17-18, 4th Season)

LYR: 77 (6-7)

PR: 70

Prediction: 5-7

The Mountaineers are looking towards another transfer QB to take over. This time it's USC and Georgia transfer, JT Daniels. Can Morgantown become the place he finally gets to thrive?

Kansas

Head Coach: Lance Leipold (2-10, 2nd Season)

LYR: 120 (2-10)

PR: 105

Prediction: 2-10

They beat Texas last year so get Leipold a Nick Sabanlike contract. It's hard to find anything exciting to say about a team that is going to lose a lot of games in 2022.

Conference Outlook: The PAC-12 is a Sinking Ship

 Already the least respected of the Power 5 schools when it comes to football in the last 5 years, the "Conference of Champions" is going to be losing its two most prominent programs in USC and UCLA. The Trojans and Bruins head East to the Big Ten in 2024 and the Big 12 told the PAC-12 to kick rocks when it came to joining forces.

In 2022, the goal is to shut haters like me up as they have some huge games scheduled. In Week 1, Oregon faces Georgia in Atlanta, while Utah goes to Florida to take on the Gators. Arizona State heads to Oklahoma State, and Washington State travels to Wisconsin in Week 2; while Washington welcomes Michigan State in Week 3. Of course, Notre Dame finds itself on three different schedules with contests against Stanford, Cal, and USC.

There will be four new faces in the coaching ranks as Lincoln Riley leaves Oklahoma to lead the Trojans, Dan Lanning replaced Mario Cristobal at Oregon, Kalen DeBoer heads north from Fresno to Washington, and Jake Dickert takes over at Wazzu after Nick Rolovich was fired last year for not getting vaccinated.

The overall power rank for the PAC-12 is +4 which is the worst among all Power 5 schools.

Oregon, Utah, UCLA, Oregon State, and Arizona State all begin the year in the Top 50 while Arizona finds itself in the 100s. Here's the full list.

North

Oregon

Head Coach: Dan Lanning (1st Season)

Last Year Rank: 28 (10-4)

Preseason Rank: 11

Prediction: 9-3

The Ducks open up as the favorites in the North and will have not only a new head coach but a new quarterback as well. Bo Nix transfers in from Auburn and hopes to drive up his draft stock by the end of the year. There's not a lot returning offensively for the Ducks but the defense will bring back most of their starters. They did lose Keyvon Thibodeaux as their best pass rusher, but Noah Sewell returns as the team's leading tackler and looks to wreak havoc again. The "neutral" site game in Atlanta with the Bulldogs will be a good measuring stick for how far the Ducks are from becoming playoff bound.

Oregon State

Head Coach: Jonathan Smith (16-28, 5th Season)

LYR: 54 (7-6)

PR: 38

Prediction: 8-4

The Beavers have plenty of returning starters on both sides of the ball and can create problems for any team they face in 2022. They'll get a mini-test in Week 1 when they host Boise State and then head to Fresno State to take on a respectable Bulldogs squad. They are at Utah, but get both USC and Oregon at home this season. Could this be the year the Beavers make an appearance in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1965?

Washington State

Head Coach: Jake Dickert (4-3, first full season)

LYR: 58 (7-6)

PR: 68

Prediction: 6-6

The Cougars had an unexpected switch in coaches after Nick Rolovich's religious exemption to the COVID vaccine was denied by the school and he was let go halfway through the season. Dickert took over and led Wazzu to a bowl appearance where they came up just short against the Chippewa's in the Sun Bowl. The offense switches back to the Air Raid style they played under Mike Leach and they'll bring in a new quarterback to do the job. Cameron Ward comes over from Incarnate Word (FCS) where he put up video game numbers last season with 4,600 yards and 47 touchdowns while leading the Cardinals to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. Speedy receiver De'Zhaun Stribling should be a big target in the new offense and the Cougars could a fun team to watch in the PAC-12.

Cal

Head Coach: Justin Wilcox (26-28, 6th Season)

LYR: 91 (5-7)

PR: 77

Prediction: 5-7

The Cal Bears have the old problem that if you have more than one starting quarterback, you don't have any. Jack Plummer transfers in from Purdue, but he's not guaranteed the job just yet. The offense doesn't have much coming back, but the defense has a few key players. The secondary is arguably the deepest area for the Bears, but the return of Brett Johnson's sweet mustache to the defensive line should help a young front line.

Washington

Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer (1st Season)

LYR: 104 (4-8)

PR: 78

Prediction: 7-5

The Huskies had a tumultuous season both on and off the field. On the field, they were embarrassed by the Montana Grizzlies (FCS), and off-the-field head coach Jimmy Lake was creating a toxic environment after he shoved a player causing him to be suspended and eventually fired. Kalen DeBoer created an exciting offense at Indiana and took that to Fresno State for a brief tenure where he went 13-6 in 1.5 seasons. DeBoer lured his old QB, Michael Penix Jr. from Indiana to help lead the offense. There's not much returning offensively, but the defense does have a couple of studs on the defensive side of the ball.

Stanford

Head Coach: David Shaw (93-45, 12th Season)

LYR: 106 (3-9)

PR: 86

Prediction: 5-7

Last year was a rough one for David Shaw, but he's got the quarterback in Tanner McKee and plenty of depth at the skill positions to help him out. The defense returns a lot of key starters including one of the best names in college football, Kyu Blu Kelly. The problem for the Cardinal will be the schedule as they are loaded with the best of the south as well as a trip to South Bend and an end-of-season visit from BYU.

South:

Utah

Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (144-70, 19th Season)

LYR: 27 (10-4)

PR: 14

Prediction: 9-3

The Utes were putting on a clinic in the Rose Bowl and they looked poised to destroy Ohio State, but then it turns out you have to cover Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Utah hopes to avoid a similar embarrassment when they travel to Florida in Week 1 to face the Gators. Cameron Rising returns, as do a plethora of other starters on both sides of the ball. The steady hand of Whittingham will promise a well-coached team, but can they win the big game and avoid the trap game in Week 3 against San Diego State?

UCLA

Head Coach: Chip Kelly (18-25, 5th Season)

LYR: 39 (8-4)

PR: 30

Prediction: 9-3

The Trojans may have all the buzz in the city, but the Bruins performed well above USC last season including a 62-33 beatdown in their head-to-head matchup. Dorian Thompson-Robinson returns to lead the offense and he'll be handing the ball off to former Wolverine and the Bruins' leading rusher, Zach Charbonnet. UCLA has by far the easiest non-conference schedule for perhaps any Power 5 school with three straight home games against BGSU, Alabama State, and South Alabama. With Colorado as their first conference game, it should be an easy breezy September.

Arizona State

Head Coach: Herm Edwards (25-18, 5th Year)

LYR: 46 (8-5)

PR: 46

Prediction: 4-8

It's getting hotter and hotter in Tempe as the NCAA should be finished wrapping up its investigation of recruiting violations at Arizona State. Herm Edwards is still there, but many of his coordinators were fired or resigned. He's hoping Florida transfer Emory Jones is the answer at the QB position and gets a nice transfer in Wyoming running back Xazavian Valladay. Hopefully, this turmoil leads to unfocused play when the men from Ypsilanti step on the field and steal and upset, or at least I can dream.

USC

 Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (1st Season)

LYR: 101 (4-8)

PR: 57

Prediction: 9-3

The hottest new coaching hire has brought some new talent to L.A. as the Trojans will be the new home for quarterback Caleb Williams (Oklahoma), running backs Travis Dye (Oregon) and Austin Jones (Stanford), and receivers Mario Williams (Oklahoma) and Brenden Rice (Colorado and son of Jerry Rice). Can they put it all together quickly enough to dominate the PAC-12? As for their low preseason rank, in this poll you've got to earn it first, there are no paper titles in the second worst ranking system behind the BCS.

Colorado

Head Coach: Karl Dorrell (8-10, 3rd Season)

LYR: 102 (4-8)

PR: 94

Prediction: 3-9

The offense was putrid last year, averaging less than 20 points per game and that led to a mass exodus of starters. The Buffs haven't won anything significant since 2001 and that's not going to happen this year either. J.T. Shrout transfers over from Tennessee to take over the QB role.

Arizona

Head Coach: Jedd Fisch (1-11, 2nd Season)

LYR: 127 (1-11)

PR: 107

Prediction: 2-10

It can only get better from here, right? The Wildcats' lone win came against a Cal team that was depleted by positive COVID tests and still barely won that game 10-3. Quarterback Jayden de Laura was the PAC-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year at Washington State, so he'll look to bring his talents to the desert.