The Rise and Fall of the Conference of Champions: Pac-12 Preview

 Did you know that the Pac-12 has won 553 National Championships? Well, if you've ever watched a game with a  Pac-12 team, then you would know that they call themselves the Conference of Champions. 233 of those championships announced they were headed to the Big Ten (USC and UCLA), while another 27 waltzed out earlier this week to rejoin the Big 12 (Colorado). Then Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah suddenly announced that they were leaving for the Big 12 as well. This led Oregon and Washington to head for the Big Ten. Luckily for the champs, that leaves Washington State and Oregon State who have won a combined 6 National Championships in their various sports.

With such an uncertain future playing out, the Pac-12 really should have seen this coming. Their TV deal is a hot mess as the Pac-12 Network is nearly impossible to find on the most popular streaming and cable packages. Everything I've ever used has had access to the Big Ten, SEC, and ACC Networks, but the Pac-12 is always an add-on. In fact, I had to do a free trial of FUBU just to watch EMU play (and win) against Arizona State.

The lack of relevance for the conference when it comes to football is also the reason for the seismic change. I was in high school the last time USC won the National Championship was in 2004, and the last time the Pac-12 won an NCAA title not by USC was in 1954 when UCLA did it (Colorado won in 1990, but was a member of the now Big 12 at the time). By the time the exodus begins in 2024, Cal will remain as the only Pac-12 school with a National Title and they did that when players were wearing leather helmets (1920-22).

The Pac-12 is the last of the Power 5 conferences to win a National Championship, though they did lose to Texas in 2005, the last Big 12 team to win one. The Big Ten last won in 2013 (Ohio State), the ACC in 2018 (Clemson), and the SEC has won the last four (LSU, Alabama, and Georgia). With Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC, the Big Ten and Big 12 have jumped on their weaker counterpart and left them with scraps.

The last hooray for the Pac-12 as we know it should be a competitive one.

Washington

Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer (2nd Season, 11-2)

Last Year Record (Rank): 11-2 (10)

Preseason Rank: 6

Prediction: 10-2

What's Ahead: Michael Pennix Jr. thought he left the Big Ten after transferring from Indiana, but that's where his Huskies will head next season. 2023 should be another special year for the boys from Seattle, but they may be once again on the outside looking in when the Pac-12 Championship game happens.

USC

Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (2nd Season 11-3)

LYR: 11-3 (12)

PR: 10

Prediction: 10-2

What's Ahead: Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is back for the Trojans, who ended on a skid losing the Pac-12 Championship to Utah and then a heartbreaker to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl. The good news for USC is that Utah won't be following them to the Big Ten, but the Utes could be the thorn in the men of Troy's side once again.

Oregon

Head Coach: Dan Lanning (2nd Season, 10-3)

LYR: 10-3 (14)

PR: 14

Prediction: 9-3

What's Ahead: A much improved Bo Nix brought the Ducks to relevance in the playoff picture after they laid an egg in the opener against Georgia. Fortunately, they open this season at home against Portland State (FCS) and have a fairly easy September before they visit Washington for their first real test on Oct. 14 (a future Big Ten matchup, yuck). The Ducks have the offense to hang with anyone, but can the defense stop USC, Utah, and Washington from scoring.

Oregon State

Head Coach: Jonathan Smith (6th Season, 26-31)

LYR: 10-3 (16)

PR: 15

Prediction: 7-5

What's Ahead: The Beavers are going to be out for blood as they are one of the last four schools remaining in the depleted Pac-12 after this season. Damien Martinez will provide the smash, but can Clemson transfer D.J. Uiagalelei provide the spark at quarterback?

Utah

Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham, (19th Season, 154-74)

LYR: 10-4 (22)

PR: 18

Prediction: 9-3

What's Ahead: Perhaps the last two Rose Bowl experiences for the Utes led them to join the Big 12 after back-to-back losses to Ohio State and Penn State. Cam Rising is back as the hardnosed quarterback and the Utes are always a tough task under Kyle Whittingham. They are missing some returning starters at the skills positions, but they do have a receiver named Money Parks. Utah has the toughest first two weeks of almost anyone as they welcome Florida to Utah before heading to Baylor in Week 2.

UCLA

Head Coach: Chip Kelly (6th Season, 27-29)

LYR: 9-4 (30)

PR: 21

Prediction: 8-4

What's Ahead: Chip Kelly finally got things rolling the way he wanted to in 2022, but now he'll have to replace an NFL quarterback to keep the Bruins rolling all the way into the Big Ten in 2024. They are young at a lot of positions on offense and could take their lumps against the big boys. 

Washington State

Head Coach: Jake Dickert (2nd full Season, 10-9)

LYR: 7-6 (65)

PR: 51

Prediction: 8-4

What's Ahead: The Cougars could be a spoiler in the Pac-12 race, but probably won't be a factor in the Championship game. Cam Ward returns under center and will have Nakia Watson to support him on the ground. Wazzu might be one of the last four schools left in the conference, but they are going to try and make their opponents pay in 2023.

Arizona

Head Coach: Jedd Fisch (3rd Season, 6-18)

LYR: 5-7 (90)

PR: 70

Prediction: 6-6

What's Ahead: Jayden de Laura is a big play machine under center but is also prone to turnovers with 17 in 2022. The Wildcats were the straw that broke the camel's back when they jumped to the Big 12, but unlike the other schools jumping ship, this one probably helps more in basketball and softball than it does football.

Cal

Head Coach: Justin Wilcox (7th Season, 30-36)

LYR: 4-8 (107)

PR: 91

Prediction: 4-8

What's Ahead: Cal and Stanford are like that old couple in Titanic that cuddle each other as the ship goes down. Perhaps they can convince the entire Mountain West to join and make it a Super 16 conference. Jayden Ott nearly ran for 1,000 yards last season and their quarterback is named Sam Jackson V, so that's pretty cool.

Arizona State

Head Coach: Kenny Dillingham (1st Season)

LYR: 3-9 (116)

PR: 99

Prediction: 4-8

What's Ahead: Kenny Dillingham might have the most ridiculous promo photo I've ever seen for a head coach. He also gets Drew Pyne from Notre Dame to try and be his quarterback. He's got a year to figure things out before the Sun Devils join the Big 12.

Stanford

Head Coach: Troy Taylor (1st Season)

LYR: 3-9 (119)

PR: 102

Prediction: 4-8

What's Ahead: At least Stanford has a strong academic history, because in football, things have been down in the dumps since last season. The stability of longtime coach David Shaw is gone and Sacramento State (FCS) head coach Troy Taylor takes over. Then everybody left them for BIGger conferences. The on-field product doesn't look any better. Get Connor Weselman out here to punt the 2023 season away.

Colorado

Head Coach: Deion Sanders (1st Season)

LYR: 1-11 (128)

PR: 109

Prediction: 6-6

What's Ahead: The most electrifying hiring in all of college football, the Deion Sanders experience will only get one season in the Pac-12 before heading back to the Big 12 (which is where they should have stayed). Sanders brings some elite talent from Jackson State (FCS) with him and it will be interesting to see if his quarterback and son Shedeur, and two-way player Travis Hunter will be as effective at the FBS level. However the season goes, there is no doubt that headlines will be made and feelings hurt as Coach Prime takes on Boulder and the rest of the Pac-12.