Pac-12 hotline:
Jon Wilner We are seven months from the most anticipated Pac-12 football season in ages, with a lineup of quarterbacks, coaches, Top 25 teams, playoff contenders and Heisman Trophy candidates — not to mention two departing schools — that will generate unlimited storylines on the field and off.
1. WashingtonThe hottest team in the conference at the end of the 2022 season is our pick to win the title in 2023, largely because of what has transpired over the past month. The return of quarterback Michael Penix and a slew of playmakers on both sides of scrimmage elevates the Huskies to frontrunner status. But with the returnees come expectations that haven’t existed on Montlake since the height of the Chris Petersen era. The same cast of characters can produce entirely different chemistry.
4. USCYear 2 under Lincoln Riley looks mighty familiar. The Trojans should field a first-class offense with quarterback Caleb Williams at the controls, but will the defense improve enough to support a conference title and playoff berth? We’re skeptical. This much is clear: The otherworldly turnover margin that saved USC repeatedly won’t be repeated. Any reversion to the mean, without a commensurate uptick in defense, will lead to more losses and a disappointing final season in the Pac-12.
7. Washington StateThe Cougars were a tick above .500 overall and a tick below in league play after a season of stout defense and spotty offense. The extent to which the former holds and the latter improves will set the course for ’23. We see two new coordinators, holes on the offensive line and more of the same on the scoreboard. Of course, that wouldn’t be so bad: WSU has made seven consecutive bowl appearances , the longest streak in the conference for a team not named Utah.
10. CalThe Bears peaked in 2019, lost all momentum when the pandemic struck and have plunged into a rut: solid on defense, wayward on offense and seemingly destined to win or lose by a score of 24-17. Next season will bring a system change under new playcaller Jake Spavital, an Air Raid practitioner. But the talent is lacking up front, and the loss of receiver J. Michael Sturdivant cuts deep. We expect more of the same, with Cal losing ground relative to its competition.
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