College Football Nation: Mike MacIntyre
Colorado still believes after three weeks off
September, 26, 2013
Sep 26
5:30
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
There's nothing like being unbeaten in college football. Food tastes better. The air smells sweeter. Love pervades the campus community, enveloping the football team with warm fuzzies.
It's been a long time since Colorado could feel good about its football team, but the Buffaloes will enter Pac-12 play Saturday at Oregon State at 2-0, feeling pretty darn good about themselves, particularly after a dismal, 1-11 campaign in 2012.
"It's the energy and the spirit around this place, not only with the football team but with the school," defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe said. "You're getting a lot more students coming up to you, wishing you good luck and congratulating you on the 2-0 start. It makes you want to practice even harder."
Of course, there's a catch for the Buffs. They've been riding a 2-0 high for almost three weeks, as they last played on Sept. 7. So the euphoria has died down a bit. Moreover, their Sept. 14 game with Fresno State was canceled due to serious flooding, which led to loss of life and significant property damage.
Instead of playing a revenge game against the Bulldogs, who pummeled the Buffs 69-14 in 2012, the Colorado players served meals to emergency personnel and flood victims. It became a moment for perspective. There are emotional swings with 2-0 as well as 0-2, but real-world events possess a far greater gravity.
Some players were directly affected by the flooding, so coach Mike MacIntyre gave his team a couple of days off to get things back in order in their personal lives.
Now, attention turns back to football. MacIntyre's chief task is rebooting the early momentum so his team doesn't look rusty and out of sorts against the Beavers.
"It seems like three years ago since we last played," he said. "We've been trying to do everything we can to keep up the speed of the game. This is almost like another opening game for us."
The early returns from the 2-0 start suggest that MacIntyre has his team's attention. In both games, a squad that seemed to lack mental toughness a year ago took control in the fourth quarter. Colorado has outscored foes 39-10 in the fourth quarter this season. Last year, despite being hopelessly behind in most cases, the Buffs were outscored 112-59 in the fourth.
"I think it's the coaching," said Uzo-Diribe, when asked what the biggest difference from last year is. "A lot of the guys playing now are the same guys who played last year, but with this coaching staff, we are starting to take on an identity on defense and on offense. We really all bought into a system and schemes."
The Buffs seem more detail-oriented. For example, the biggest play of the victory over Colorado State was cornerback Greg Henderson's 53-yard scoop and score in the fourth quarter, which made Colorado's lead 33-24. Uzo-Diribe caused the fumble.
Not only had the defense taken a renewed focus on creating turnovers during spring and preseason practice, they'd scouted tendencies from Rams running back Kapri Bibbs, who sometimes was careless with ball security. That popped into Uzo-Diribe's head as he came up behind Bibbs.
"We came into the week after watching the film knowing that their running back's ball security wasn't great," Uzo-Diribe said. "Last season, both [running backs] showed that they fumbled the ball a lot. It was something we had in our mind that when we saw that running back -- get a strip attempt on the ball."
Turnovers could be critical Saturday because it's likely both defenses will have their hands full. Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion ranks second in the nation with 401 yards passing per game. Colorado quarterback Connor Wood is fourth with 370.5. Wood's go-to guy is Paul Richardson, who leads the nation with 208.5 yards receiving per game. Beavers receiver Brandin Cooks is second with 159.8 yards per game. Cooks leads the nation with 10.8 receptions per game; Richardson is second at 10.5.
So it's a heck of a matchup of pass-catch combinations playing against defenses that remain works in progress.
Of course, it's likely the game will come down to who gets more out of their seeming weaknesses. Both teams have struggled to run the ball this year. Oregon State has 11 sacks in four games. Colorado has just three in two games. Both teams are positive so far in turnover margin. The Beavers are down three starters on their offensive line because of injury.
For the Beavers, a victory would set them up at 4-1 and 2-0 in Pac-12 play, with four consecutive wins putting some distance between them and an opening weekend loss to Eastern Washington, an FCS team. With a bye next week, the conference's most injury-ravaged team also could start to get healthy.
For the Buffaloes, an upset road victory would probably win over more than a few folks who have been slow to jump on the bandwagon in Boulder. At 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference, it would be reasonable to speculate about potential bowl eligibility, particularly if the school is able to schedule a patsy to replace the lost Fresno State game.
Uzo-Diribe said the Buffs locker room already believes.
"The past couple of seasons we've said that, but as the season went on, we didn't really believe it," he said. "I feel like this season, guys see it, guys believe it. They are working towards it."
It's been a long time since Colorado could feel good about its football team, but the Buffaloes will enter Pac-12 play Saturday at Oregon State at 2-0, feeling pretty darn good about themselves, particularly after a dismal, 1-11 campaign in 2012.
"It's the energy and the spirit around this place, not only with the football team but with the school," defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe said. "You're getting a lot more students coming up to you, wishing you good luck and congratulating you on the 2-0 start. It makes you want to practice even harder."
Of course, there's a catch for the Buffs. They've been riding a 2-0 high for almost three weeks, as they last played on Sept. 7. So the euphoria has died down a bit. Moreover, their Sept. 14 game with Fresno State was canceled due to serious flooding, which led to loss of life and significant property damage.
Instead of playing a revenge game against the Bulldogs, who pummeled the Buffs 69-14 in 2012, the Colorado players served meals to emergency personnel and flood victims. It became a moment for perspective. There are emotional swings with 2-0 as well as 0-2, but real-world events possess a far greater gravity.
Some players were directly affected by the flooding, so coach Mike MacIntyre gave his team a couple of days off to get things back in order in their personal lives.
Now, attention turns back to football. MacIntyre's chief task is rebooting the early momentum so his team doesn't look rusty and out of sorts against the Beavers.
[+] Enlarge
Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY SportsMike MacIntyre and the Colorado Buffaloes haven't played since a victory over Central Arkansas on Sept. 7.
The early returns from the 2-0 start suggest that MacIntyre has his team's attention. In both games, a squad that seemed to lack mental toughness a year ago took control in the fourth quarter. Colorado has outscored foes 39-10 in the fourth quarter this season. Last year, despite being hopelessly behind in most cases, the Buffs were outscored 112-59 in the fourth.
"I think it's the coaching," said Uzo-Diribe, when asked what the biggest difference from last year is. "A lot of the guys playing now are the same guys who played last year, but with this coaching staff, we are starting to take on an identity on defense and on offense. We really all bought into a system and schemes."
The Buffs seem more detail-oriented. For example, the biggest play of the victory over Colorado State was cornerback Greg Henderson's 53-yard scoop and score in the fourth quarter, which made Colorado's lead 33-24. Uzo-Diribe caused the fumble.
Not only had the defense taken a renewed focus on creating turnovers during spring and preseason practice, they'd scouted tendencies from Rams running back Kapri Bibbs, who sometimes was careless with ball security. That popped into Uzo-Diribe's head as he came up behind Bibbs.
"We came into the week after watching the film knowing that their running back's ball security wasn't great," Uzo-Diribe said. "Last season, both [running backs] showed that they fumbled the ball a lot. It was something we had in our mind that when we saw that running back -- get a strip attempt on the ball."
Turnovers could be critical Saturday because it's likely both defenses will have their hands full. Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion ranks second in the nation with 401 yards passing per game. Colorado quarterback Connor Wood is fourth with 370.5. Wood's go-to guy is Paul Richardson, who leads the nation with 208.5 yards receiving per game. Beavers receiver Brandin Cooks is second with 159.8 yards per game. Cooks leads the nation with 10.8 receptions per game; Richardson is second at 10.5.
So it's a heck of a matchup of pass-catch combinations playing against defenses that remain works in progress.
Of course, it's likely the game will come down to who gets more out of their seeming weaknesses. Both teams have struggled to run the ball this year. Oregon State has 11 sacks in four games. Colorado has just three in two games. Both teams are positive so far in turnover margin. The Beavers are down three starters on their offensive line because of injury.
For the Beavers, a victory would set them up at 4-1 and 2-0 in Pac-12 play, with four consecutive wins putting some distance between them and an opening weekend loss to Eastern Washington, an FCS team. With a bye next week, the conference's most injury-ravaged team also could start to get healthy.
For the Buffaloes, an upset road victory would probably win over more than a few folks who have been slow to jump on the bandwagon in Boulder. At 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference, it would be reasonable to speculate about potential bowl eligibility, particularly if the school is able to schedule a patsy to replace the lost Fresno State game.
Uzo-Diribe said the Buffs locker room already believes.
"The past couple of seasons we've said that, but as the season went on, we didn't really believe it," he said. "I feel like this season, guys see it, guys believe it. They are working towards it."
Pac-12 assessments at the quarter pole
September, 24, 2013
Sep 24
10:30
AM ET
By
Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com
We’re four weeks into the season and the Pac-12 has (mostly) made short work of its nonconference foes. Now the fun starts. League play kicks off conference-wide this week. But before we look forward, the ESPN blogosphere is looking back at some of the best and worst through the first four weeks of each conference.
Best game: In terms of excitement, it’s tough to beat an overtime shootout. And that’s what happened when Oregon State traveled to Utah in Week 3. After building a 27-10 lead early in the third quarter, it looked like the Beavers would cruise. But Travis Wilson would lead the Utes back and they’d eventually grab a 38-37 lead. The teams swapped touchdowns in the closing three minutes to force overtime, where the Sean Mannion-to-Brandin Cooks connection gave the Beavers a 51-48 victory.
Best player: For as shaky as Oregon State’s defense has been, its offense has been sensational. So we’re going to give the nod to Cooks, who has 10 more receptions than anyone else in FBS football. Through four games he leads the nation in catches (43), receiving touchdowns (7) and first-down receptions (23). Mannion gets honorable mention, since someone has to throw the ball. But Cooks is head-and-shoulders above the rest of nation’s receivers right now. Another honorable mention to Washington’s Bishop Sankey, who has emerged over the last nine or so games as one of the country’s elite running backs.
Best performance: How about the Washington State defense -- that’s right, defense -- for its performance in the 10-7 win at USC. Damante Horton nabs a pair of interceptions, including a game-changing pick-six. Daquawn Brown makes his first career start and has a team-high 11 tackles and two pass breakups. Toni Pole blocks a kick, the front seven gets 7.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. You can say USC’s offensive inefficiency played a role. And you’d be right. But give credit where it’s due. Mike Breske had the boys ready to go and the Cougs came to town and pushed their way to a win.
Best surprise: Though his team has played in only two games so far this season, it’s hard not to feel good about the comeback of Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson -- and really the rebirth of the Buffs under Mike MacIntyre. Richardson has 417 yards in just two games, which puts him eighth in the country. Had Colorado played its game against Fresno State (which was postponed due to flooding), it’s likely we’d see Richardson toward the top with Cooks. As for the Buffs in general, we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. They still have a long way to go. But you can definitely see an air of confidence about this team that’s been lacking the last couple of seasons.
Biggest disappointment: Head’s: Oregon State's defense. Tails: USC's offense. Go ahead and flip. Either way, you're right. Both have been disappointing. Anytime a BCS conference team loses to an FCS team, it’s disappointing. Anytime one of the country’s proudest football institutions is averaging 22 points per game through four games, it’s disappointing. Anytime a team -- once ranked in the top 25 (I guess that actually applies to both schools) -- is allowing an average of more than 35 points per game, it’s disappointing. Both teams are 3-1. And probably counting their blessings that (1) USC's defense has been that good and (2) Oregon State's offense has been that good.
Best game: In terms of excitement, it’s tough to beat an overtime shootout. And that’s what happened when Oregon State traveled to Utah in Week 3. After building a 27-10 lead early in the third quarter, it looked like the Beavers would cruise. But Travis Wilson would lead the Utes back and they’d eventually grab a 38-37 lead. The teams swapped touchdowns in the closing three minutes to force overtime, where the Sean Mannion-to-Brandin Cooks connection gave the Beavers a 51-48 victory.
[+] Enlarge
Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY SportsBrandin Cooks leads the nation in catches, receiving touchdowns and first-down receptions. Yeah, that's good enough to get our best player vote.
Best performance: How about the Washington State defense -- that’s right, defense -- for its performance in the 10-7 win at USC. Damante Horton nabs a pair of interceptions, including a game-changing pick-six. Daquawn Brown makes his first career start and has a team-high 11 tackles and two pass breakups. Toni Pole blocks a kick, the front seven gets 7.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. You can say USC’s offensive inefficiency played a role. And you’d be right. But give credit where it’s due. Mike Breske had the boys ready to go and the Cougs came to town and pushed their way to a win.
Best surprise: Though his team has played in only two games so far this season, it’s hard not to feel good about the comeback of Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson -- and really the rebirth of the Buffs under Mike MacIntyre. Richardson has 417 yards in just two games, which puts him eighth in the country. Had Colorado played its game against Fresno State (which was postponed due to flooding), it’s likely we’d see Richardson toward the top with Cooks. As for the Buffs in general, we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. They still have a long way to go. But you can definitely see an air of confidence about this team that’s been lacking the last couple of seasons.
Biggest disappointment: Head’s: Oregon State's defense. Tails: USC's offense. Go ahead and flip. Either way, you're right. Both have been disappointing. Anytime a BCS conference team loses to an FCS team, it’s disappointing. Anytime one of the country’s proudest football institutions is averaging 22 points per game through four games, it’s disappointing. Anytime a team -- once ranked in the top 25 (I guess that actually applies to both schools) -- is allowing an average of more than 35 points per game, it’s disappointing. Both teams are 3-1. And probably counting their blessings that (1) USC's defense has been that good and (2) Oregon State's offense has been that good.
What we learned in the Pac-12: Week 2
September, 8, 2013
Sep 8
10:00
AM ET
By
Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com
Five things we learned about the Pac-12 in Week 2.
- The Pac-12 can rally: After going 7-3 in Week 1, the most disappointing of those losses being Oregon State’s loss to Eastern Washington, the Pac-12 bounced back in Week 2, going 8-0 in its nonconference games. Most were blowouts. Some were dicier (cough, Cal, cough, Colorado, cough, Oregon State, sort of), but they were wins nevertheless. It was the kind of week the Pac-12 needed heading into a Week 3 that will see a significant uptick in the competition. The Pac-12 faces four Big Ten teams, three of which are ranked. And through the first two weeks of the season, the combined record of the nonconference foes in Week 3 is 18-2. The bar is raised. Despite the close calls, some very strong performances from ASU, Arizona, Utah and Stanford should not go unmarked. And does anyone else get the feeling that when Central Arkansas took a 24-17 lead in the fourth, the old Buffs would have wilted? Kudos to Mike MacIntyre for rallying his team (getting turnovers helps).
- Good can be better: We know Oregon is good. We also know the Ducks can be better. For the second straight week, De'Anthony Thomas and Marcus Mariota rushed for at least 100 yards (124 for DAT, 122 for Mariota) and the scoreboard shows a dominating performance over Virginia. But there were uncharacteristic drops. Four drives stalled and turned into punts. And while we concede that Oregon will in fact have to punt from time to time, we certainly don’t expect drives of three plays, 2 yards; three plays, minus-1 yard; three plays, minus-9 yards. Take it as a compliment that you can beat a BCS conference opponent, on the road, 59-10 and still have things to work on.[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Andrew ShurtleffDe'Anthony Thomas had little trouble against Virginia, but the Oregon offense wasn't perfect. - Lane Kiffin is on fire (not in a good way): The hottest seat in America just got a healthy dusting of thermite. The quarterback soap opera, which is now turning into horrific reality TV, is overshadowing what should be a couple of great performances from USC’s defense. And it’s actually gotten to the point where the quarterback play is hurting the defense. In USC's loss to Washington State, Cody Kessler was 8-of-13 for 41 yards with a pick-six. Max Wittek was 3-of-8 for 13 yards with an interception. Through two games, the quarterbacks are a combined 26-of-50 for 226 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Want some perspective? Arizona safety Tra'Mayne Bondurant has more interceptions returned for touchdowns (two) than both USC quarterbacks have touchdown passes. This make-or-break season for Kiffin is breaking, rapidly. Hats off to the Cougs, who have beaten two Top 25 teams in their last three games.
- Goff and Wilson, young guns: The Utes have been star-crossed at quarterback the last couple of seasons, but they appear to have something special in Travis Wilson. Per ESPN Stats and Information, Wilson’s showing against Weber State was one of the finest quarterback performances in the last decade. His raw QBR rating was 99.7. Raw meaning it will be adjusted to reflect quality of competition -- so it will drop. Still, he averaged 16.2 yards per play, accounted for five touchdowns and his rating of 99.7 is the eighth-ranked single-game score by any quarterback with at least 25 action plays since 2004 (fifth in the last five seasons). It’s the highest total QBR with that many action plays since Andrew Luck posted a 99.9 versus Cal back in November 2010. If you still aren’t up on the QBR, click here. You’ll be seeing it a lot on the blog this season -- especially with quarterbacks like Mariota, Brett Hundley, Taylor Kelly, Kevin Hogan, Keith Price and apparently, Wilson. Speaking of bright young quarterbacks, also per our friends at Stats and Info, Cal's Jared Goff has 930 passing yards in two games. That’s the second most by a quarterback in his team's first two games since 2000 (Colt Brennan had the most in 2007).
- Stanford owns Cali: Stanford coach David Shaw improved to a perfect 10-0 against schools from California. The Cardinal’s 34-13 win over San Jose State moved him to 3-0 against the Spartans since taking over in 2011. He’s also 2-0 against USC, 3-0 against UCLA and 2-0 against California. If anyone is curious, the margin of victory in those 10 games is 16.1 points. But that’s a bit skewed by a pair of 2011 victories over San Jose State (57-3) and UCLA (45-19). There have been some tight ones, like the three-overtime USC game in 2011, 31-28 over Cal in 2011, 20-17 over San Jose State in 2012, 27-24 over UCLA in 2012 and 21-14 over USC in 2012. Still, perfect is perfect.
A few storylines to keep an eye on in Week 2.
- Heavy favorites: The Pac-12 is favored in all eight of its nonconference games this week. In fact, the league is favored by at least 10 points in every game and by at least 20 points in six of the eight. It should be a strong week for the conference. Should being the operative word.
- League play kicks off: The ninth game this week features the first conference showdown of the season with Washington State traveling to USC. The Cougs are coming off a tough loss at Auburn, where Connor Halliday completed 35 of 65 passes for 344 yards and a touchdown. Cody Kessler is expected to start for the Trojans, but Max Wittek likely will see time again. USC’s defense had four interceptions and seven sacks in its Week 1 win over Hawaii. WSU's last win at USC was in 2000.
- Debuts: After spending last Saturday lounging around and watching football, Arizona State coach Todd Graham and Stanford coach David Shaw have to get back to work. The Sun Devils open the season on the cusp of the Top 25 and host Sacramento State on Thursday night. Stanford hosts San Jose State in the Bill Walsh Legacy Game. The Cardinal opened the season ranked No. 4 but got bumped down to No. 5 for their Week 1 laziness.
- Off and running: The Pac-12 had seven players rush for at least 100 yards in Week 1, headlined by Washington’s Bishop Sankey. He and the Huskies are off this week prepping for their game against Illinois on Sept. 14. Three of those seven came from Oregon -- a school record with De’Anthony Thomas, Byron Marshall and Marcus Mariota all eclipsing 100 yards. The other 100-yard rushers were Jordon James (UCLA, which is off this week), Daniel Jenkins (Arizona) and Tre Madden (USC).
- 2-oh? Colorado snapped an eight-game losing streak last week with its win over Colorado State. The Buffs host Central Arkansas on Saturday with a chance to start 2-0 for the first time since 2008.
- Crazy eights: Stanford and San Jose State are both riding eight-game winning streaks dating back to last season. That’s the first time in all of the years the schools have played that both have enjoyed simultaneous streaks.
- Dominating the MWC: The Pac-12 went 5-0 against the Mountain West last week with Utah (Utah State), Colorado (Colorado State), USC (Hawaii), Washington (Boise State) and UCLA (Nevada) all scoring victories. The Pac-12 has three more games against the Mountain West this week with Arizona traveling to UNLV, Hawaii visiting Oregon State and San Jose State at Stanford. It was a rough opening weekend for the West Coast’s little brother league, which went just 3-9.
- Road warriors: No. 2 Oregon goes on the road for the first time this season and is riding the nation’s best winning streak away from home. The Ducks have won 15 straight road games. Alabama and Northern Illinois are tied for second with nine. Oregon’s last road loss was at Stanford in 2009.
- Strong debuts: The three new coaches in the Pac-12 went 2-1 in their season openers. Mark Helfrich (Oregon) rolled over Nicholls State (no shocker there). Mike MacIntyre led Colorado to an emotional win over an in-state rival in Colorado State, and Sonny Dykes’ California team put up a gritty effort in defeat against Northwestern.
- Suspensions lifted: After being suspended for Week 1, Arizona running back Ka’Deem Carey, the nation’s leading rusher last season, will make his debut against UNLV. Daniel Jenkins filled in quite nicely, rushing for 139 yards on 12 carries, including a 91-yard touchdown run. Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who was also suspended for Week 1, is expected to be on the field when the Huskies return to action next week. Cal linebacker Chris McCain had his suspension rescinded after he was ejected per the NCAA’s new targeting rule and will play against Portland State.
3-point stance: Picking starting QB key
August, 28, 2013
Aug 28
5:00
AM ET
By
Ivan Maisel | ESPN.com
1. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly explained why coaches like to know who their starting quarterback is early in preseason camp. Senior Tommy Rees, Kelly said, has been able to focus on his ability to extend plays. He can work on his communication with his wideouts and moving within the pocket. Coaches trying to name a starter, Kelly said, are “focused on reps and calling plays and evaluating ... (There's) so many other things that we were able to work on this year.”
2. One popular line of thought regarding Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is that if there’s any question regarding his eligibility, the Aggies shouldn’t play him against Rice on Saturday. Because, after all, it’s Rice. Well, no one is saying the Owls have the same talent as the Aggies. But Rice does have 19 fifth-year seniors who rose up from a 2-6 start last season to win its last five games. Rice will win a lot of games on experience alone.
3. Nine teams finished last season with at least a five-game winning streak. Yet only two lost their head coaches: Utah State (Gary Andersen to Wisconsin) and San Jose State (Mike MacIntyre left for Colorado). The other surprise? Three of the nine schools play in the Southeastern Conference and none of them -- Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and South Carolina -- is Alabama. The two-time defending BCS champ starts with “only” a four-game winning streak.
2. One popular line of thought regarding Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is that if there’s any question regarding his eligibility, the Aggies shouldn’t play him against Rice on Saturday. Because, after all, it’s Rice. Well, no one is saying the Owls have the same talent as the Aggies. But Rice does have 19 fifth-year seniors who rose up from a 2-6 start last season to win its last five games. Rice will win a lot of games on experience alone.
3. Nine teams finished last season with at least a five-game winning streak. Yet only two lost their head coaches: Utah State (Gary Andersen to Wisconsin) and San Jose State (Mike MacIntyre left for Colorado). The other surprise? Three of the nine schools play in the Southeastern Conference and none of them -- Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and South Carolina -- is Alabama. The two-time defending BCS champ starts with “only” a four-game winning streak.
And so it begins.
Welcome to game week. These are the preseason power rankings. You can see our post-spring power rankings here. They are different.
1. Stanford: Both Kevin and Ted went against the popular grain -- as in the Pac-12 media poll -- and picked Stanford to win the Pac-12. The biggest reason for that, other than the Cardinal winning in Eugene in 2012 and welcoming back a strong crew of starters, is the continuity in the head coaching office.
2. Oregon: The Ducks are again a preseason top-five team and national title contender, with their North Division rivalry with Stanford becoming one of college football's must-see games. There are plenty of reasons to believe that new coach Mark Helfrich, stepping up from offensive coordinator, will maintain the juggernaut Chip Kelly built, including having just about all of Kelly's assistant coaches coming back. But there is certainty only in seeing it happen on the field. The Ducks do have an advantage in terms of schedule, with Stanford playing USC, UCLA and Arizona State, and Oregon missing the Trojans and Sun Devils. And Stanford doesn't play Colorado, either.
3. Arizona State: The South Division seems to be a three-team toss-up. When Kevin and I tossed our coin, it came up with the Sun Devils. Taylor Kelly leads the offense and Will Sutton leads the defense. Pretty good start. Of course, the early schedule will reveal a lot.
4. UCLA: The Bruins have the toughest conference schedule among South Division teams, mostly because they play Oregon. ASU and USC do not. There are some questions, but QB Brett Hundley and OLB Anthony Barr are a pair of future NFL first-round picks.
5. USC: The Trojans were seventh in the spring, in large part because of residual fumes from a horribly disappointing 2012 campaign. Also, coach Lane Kiffin sits on the hottest seat in the conference. But if you look at the Trojans on paper, well, it's not too difficult to imagine this team getting on a roll, one that could lead it back into the nation's top 10.
6. Washington: The Huskies not only have 20 starters back, they also are getting back several former starters who were injured last season, most notably DE Hau'oli Kikaha -- who changed his last name from Jamora -- and OG Colin Tanigawa. Both topped the depth chart released this weekend. This team, after three consecutive seven-win seasons, sets up for a return to national relevance. The opener in newly remodeled Husky Stadium against Boise State is, well, huge.
7. Oregon State: The Beavers still haven't named a starting quarterback -- the Pac-12 blog is of the mind we'll likely see both Sean Mannion and Cody Vaz in at least the first two games. The big question, however, remains: How will things work out at defensive tackle? If that question is answered, it could be a big year in Corvallis.
8. Arizona: The Wildcats are operating under the radar because of two questions: 1) QB play; 2) defense. They are replacing the highly productive Matt Scott, and even though a lot of folks are back on defense, that unit got run over in 2012. The defense is going to be better. How much is a fair question. And how much can the guy behind center do his best Scott imitation?
9. Utah: The transition to the Pac-12 probably hasn't been as easy as most Utah folks -- coaches, players and fans -- expected. Still, if QB Travis Wilson takes a step forward under new co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson and the Utes fill some holes on defense, this team could move up at least to the middle of the conference. Needs to stay healthy, though.
10. California: When you look at the Bears' depth chart, this seems low, even with a true freshman, Jared Goff, taking over behind center with a brutal early schedule. Still, there might be some growing pains under new coach Sonny Dykes, as his schemes on both sides of the ball are very different compared with what the Bears did under Jeff Tedford.
11. Washington State: The Cougars welcome back 17 starters, and they seem certain to be improved in the second season under coach Mike Leach. The defense has sneaky-good talent, and the deep crew of receivers seems perfect for Leach's "Air Raid" scheme. Of course, dramatic improvement might mean only five victories against a rugged schedule, including the opener at Auburn.
12. Colorado: The Buffaloes should be better this season under first-year coach Mike MacIntyre, but that likely won't be enough for them to move up in this conference.
Welcome to game week. These are the preseason power rankings. You can see our post-spring power rankings here. They are different.
1. Stanford: Both Kevin and Ted went against the popular grain -- as in the Pac-12 media poll -- and picked Stanford to win the Pac-12. The biggest reason for that, other than the Cardinal winning in Eugene in 2012 and welcoming back a strong crew of starters, is the continuity in the head coaching office.
2. Oregon: The Ducks are again a preseason top-five team and national title contender, with their North Division rivalry with Stanford becoming one of college football's must-see games. There are plenty of reasons to believe that new coach Mark Helfrich, stepping up from offensive coordinator, will maintain the juggernaut Chip Kelly built, including having just about all of Kelly's assistant coaches coming back. But there is certainty only in seeing it happen on the field. The Ducks do have an advantage in terms of schedule, with Stanford playing USC, UCLA and Arizona State, and Oregon missing the Trojans and Sun Devils. And Stanford doesn't play Colorado, either.
3. Arizona State: The South Division seems to be a three-team toss-up. When Kevin and I tossed our coin, it came up with the Sun Devils. Taylor Kelly leads the offense and Will Sutton leads the defense. Pretty good start. Of course, the early schedule will reveal a lot.
4. UCLA: The Bruins have the toughest conference schedule among South Division teams, mostly because they play Oregon. ASU and USC do not. There are some questions, but QB Brett Hundley and OLB Anthony Barr are a pair of future NFL first-round picks.
5. USC: The Trojans were seventh in the spring, in large part because of residual fumes from a horribly disappointing 2012 campaign. Also, coach Lane Kiffin sits on the hottest seat in the conference. But if you look at the Trojans on paper, well, it's not too difficult to imagine this team getting on a roll, one that could lead it back into the nation's top 10.
6. Washington: The Huskies not only have 20 starters back, they also are getting back several former starters who were injured last season, most notably DE Hau'oli Kikaha -- who changed his last name from Jamora -- and OG Colin Tanigawa. Both topped the depth chart released this weekend. This team, after three consecutive seven-win seasons, sets up for a return to national relevance. The opener in newly remodeled Husky Stadium against Boise State is, well, huge.
7. Oregon State: The Beavers still haven't named a starting quarterback -- the Pac-12 blog is of the mind we'll likely see both Sean Mannion and Cody Vaz in at least the first two games. The big question, however, remains: How will things work out at defensive tackle? If that question is answered, it could be a big year in Corvallis.
8. Arizona: The Wildcats are operating under the radar because of two questions: 1) QB play; 2) defense. They are replacing the highly productive Matt Scott, and even though a lot of folks are back on defense, that unit got run over in 2012. The defense is going to be better. How much is a fair question. And how much can the guy behind center do his best Scott imitation?
9. Utah: The transition to the Pac-12 probably hasn't been as easy as most Utah folks -- coaches, players and fans -- expected. Still, if QB Travis Wilson takes a step forward under new co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson and the Utes fill some holes on defense, this team could move up at least to the middle of the conference. Needs to stay healthy, though.
10. California: When you look at the Bears' depth chart, this seems low, even with a true freshman, Jared Goff, taking over behind center with a brutal early schedule. Still, there might be some growing pains under new coach Sonny Dykes, as his schemes on both sides of the ball are very different compared with what the Bears did under Jeff Tedford.
11. Washington State: The Cougars welcome back 17 starters, and they seem certain to be improved in the second season under coach Mike Leach. The defense has sneaky-good talent, and the deep crew of receivers seems perfect for Leach's "Air Raid" scheme. Of course, dramatic improvement might mean only five victories against a rugged schedule, including the opener at Auburn.
12. Colorado: The Buffaloes should be better this season under first-year coach Mike MacIntyre, but that likely won't be enough for them to move up in this conference.
It's Pac-12 media week -- coast to coast! -- and I am at this very moment on a flight to the home office in Bristol, Conn., in order to chat with conference coaches as they go with what ESPN likes to call the "car wash."
What's that?
Well, there's this big machine at ESPN headquarters with giant rollers that soaks, soaps, scrubs and waxes down the coaches, giving them a fine 2013 season coaching sheen! It likely will be the only shower many of them take the entire season.
Or ... it's about going through a series of interviews with various ESPN media platforms, including your favorite platform: yours truly.
The North Division coaches will be on hand Wednesday, the South on Thursday. I will, of course, be providing updates -- videos and tidbits of interest. So check in.
Then all 12 coaches and yours truly will jet back across the country for the official Pac-12 media day on Friday in Los Angeles. We will be joined there by Kevin, who apparently spent last week climbing Mt. Everest wearing only his favorite red Speedo.
So there's a lot going on. And that means the offseason has hit its home stretch. Games are just around the corner.
Yesss!
What's that?
Well, there's this big machine at ESPN headquarters with giant rollers that soaks, soaps, scrubs and waxes down the coaches, giving them a fine 2013 season coaching sheen! It likely will be the only shower many of them take the entire season.
Or ... it's about going through a series of interviews with various ESPN media platforms, including your favorite platform: yours truly.
The North Division coaches will be on hand Wednesday, the South on Thursday. I will, of course, be providing updates -- videos and tidbits of interest. So check in.
Then all 12 coaches and yours truly will jet back across the country for the official Pac-12 media day on Friday in Los Angeles. We will be joined there by Kevin, who apparently spent last week climbing Mt. Everest wearing only his favorite red Speedo.
So there's a lot going on. And that means the offseason has hit its home stretch. Games are just around the corner.
Yesss!
There is no sugarcoating Colorado's 2012 season. So quarterback Connor Wood won't even try. It was miserable.
But misery teaches more lessons than easy comfort and success. Those lessons aren't fun. But they can have great value. At least if they are assiduously applied in the future.
"As a quarterback, I've learned that no matter what the score was the previous week, you've got to come in -- no matter who you are playing -- and have the mindset you are going to win the ballgame," Wood said. "No matter if the score was 50 to nothing last Saturday, you've got to come in on Monday ready to go to work. And that's week after week after week.
"No matter if you get your gut kicked in, as a leader of the team, you've got to have your head held high and have that face of confidence for the team. I think that can be in business or with your family. Even if you're struggling, you're the head of the house and you have to have the same mindset. Even if you just got fired."
Wood is the front-runner to be the starting quarterback in coach Mike MacIntyre's first season in Boulder, and that might have been true even if Shane Dillon and Nick Hirshman hadn't transferred or Jordan Webb didn't blow out his knee. Sure, he could be challenged by touted incoming freshman Sefo Liufau, and Jordan Gehrke, a transfer from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College who signed after spring practices, might be a wildcard.
But Wood sees the starting job as his.
"That's exactly how I am," he said. "My attitude going into fall camp is I will be the starter. You've got to have your mind thinking that way. It's how you work. It's how you talk to your teammates. That's my mindset. That I'm the guy here."
That sort of talk should be encouraging for Colorado fans. The Buffs need leadership. They need confidence. They need the moxie to want to spit into the eyes of those casting them as one of FBS football's worst teams.
There isn't anyone predicting more than a couple of wins this season, much less a bowl game. Colorado might be better, the general offseason consensus goes, but that's pretty much based on it being inconceivable that things could be worse.
Wood, much like his team, had a poor 2012 season. He saw spot action and made one start, and his numbers were bad: 50 percent completion rate, four interceptions, one touchdown. A 6-foot-3, 230-pound former Texas signee, he looked the part. Only he wasn't playing it.
And, yeah, it was hard for a guy who had been a high school superstar and a celebrated Longhorns signee to flounder.
"Confidence was an issue for me -- in my throws, in my decision-making. It was declining," he said. "But that's something I learned as well for this upcoming season. No matter if you throw an interception or two interceptions the previous game or on the previous series, you have to be mentally tough to be confident in that next throw, and be sure what you see."
If you listen to Wood and other Buffaloes players, you sense that they are swallowing what MacIntyre is spooning them. That's relentless optimism and hard work. Such notions, of course, are a sliver away from cliche and certainly won't launch a revolution in coaching philosophy, but they are a critical foundation for a potential Colorado rebirth.
Nietzsche noted "That which does not kill us makes us stronger," but that's not entirely true. The lessons from adversity must be applied. And not just one weekend. Over and over, in every practice as well as games.
"I've grown so much since I've been here," Wood said. "I've been tested on so many levels. If you want to talk about football specifically, I've been tested with perseverance, with a program that has been down for years, being a part of the season we had last year. The lessons that I've learned this past year and a half have been priceless.
"I'm so much of a better quarterback and better man because of my being here and the experiences I've had."
Now the question for this fall becomes how do those experiences translate to more success on the football field for Wood and the Buffs?
But misery teaches more lessons than easy comfort and success. Those lessons aren't fun. But they can have great value. At least if they are assiduously applied in the future.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/David ZalubowskiColorado quarterback Connor Wood believes last season's adversity will benefit the team this season.
"No matter if you get your gut kicked in, as a leader of the team, you've got to have your head held high and have that face of confidence for the team. I think that can be in business or with your family. Even if you're struggling, you're the head of the house and you have to have the same mindset. Even if you just got fired."
Wood is the front-runner to be the starting quarterback in coach Mike MacIntyre's first season in Boulder, and that might have been true even if Shane Dillon and Nick Hirshman hadn't transferred or Jordan Webb didn't blow out his knee. Sure, he could be challenged by touted incoming freshman Sefo Liufau, and Jordan Gehrke, a transfer from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College who signed after spring practices, might be a wildcard.
But Wood sees the starting job as his.
"That's exactly how I am," he said. "My attitude going into fall camp is I will be the starter. You've got to have your mind thinking that way. It's how you work. It's how you talk to your teammates. That's my mindset. That I'm the guy here."
That sort of talk should be encouraging for Colorado fans. The Buffs need leadership. They need confidence. They need the moxie to want to spit into the eyes of those casting them as one of FBS football's worst teams.
There isn't anyone predicting more than a couple of wins this season, much less a bowl game. Colorado might be better, the general offseason consensus goes, but that's pretty much based on it being inconceivable that things could be worse.
Wood, much like his team, had a poor 2012 season. He saw spot action and made one start, and his numbers were bad: 50 percent completion rate, four interceptions, one touchdown. A 6-foot-3, 230-pound former Texas signee, he looked the part. Only he wasn't playing it.
And, yeah, it was hard for a guy who had been a high school superstar and a celebrated Longhorns signee to flounder.
"Confidence was an issue for me -- in my throws, in my decision-making. It was declining," he said. "But that's something I learned as well for this upcoming season. No matter if you throw an interception or two interceptions the previous game or on the previous series, you have to be mentally tough to be confident in that next throw, and be sure what you see."
If you listen to Wood and other Buffaloes players, you sense that they are swallowing what MacIntyre is spooning them. That's relentless optimism and hard work. Such notions, of course, are a sliver away from cliche and certainly won't launch a revolution in coaching philosophy, but they are a critical foundation for a potential Colorado rebirth.
Nietzsche noted "That which does not kill us makes us stronger," but that's not entirely true. The lessons from adversity must be applied. And not just one weekend. Over and over, in every practice as well as games.
"I've grown so much since I've been here," Wood said. "I've been tested on so many levels. If you want to talk about football specifically, I've been tested with perseverance, with a program that has been down for years, being a part of the season we had last year. The lessons that I've learned this past year and a half have been priceless.
"I'm so much of a better quarterback and better man because of my being here and the experiences I've had."
Now the question for this fall becomes how do those experiences translate to more success on the football field for Wood and the Buffs?
Redshirt freshman quarterback Shane Dillon is leaving Colorado because he wants to play college basketball, the school announced Tuesday.
Dillon, who was coming back from shoulder surgery, struggled during spring practices, when Connor Wood seemed to take the lead in the Buffaloes' quarterback competition. In the four main spring scrimmages, he completed 19-of-39 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns (one interception), and rushed for 26 yards on 10 attempts.
But Dillon, 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, said this isn't about football but about his favorite sport being basketball.
“I’ve grown up playing basketball my entire life, I’ve always been a basketball kid and have played since I was 4 years old,” said Dillon in a statement released by the school. “I was a late bloomer in football and never started playing quarterback until halfway through my sophomore year.
“I always kind of felt my decision that I had to play football was forced upon me a little bit,” he added. “People told me I had to make a decision by the end of my junior year between football and basketball because quarterbacks all seemed to commit pretty early. Basketball has always been my passion, and even though I really enjoyed my year here, I felt the time is now for me to make the change.”
Dillon's departure is another blow at the position for the Buffs. Jordan Webb, the 2012 starter, blew out his knee during spring practices. Nick Hirschman opted to transfer to Akron. It's possible incoming freshman Sefo Liufau will be Wood's backup.
Dillon averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds as a senior, and 25 and 12, respectively, as a junior, at Christian High School in El Cajon, Calif., and was recruited by several schools for basketball.
“We hate to see Shane go, he’s truly a phenomenal young man, but we understand what he wants to pursue,” Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said. “I felt like he definitely had a future in football, but as Shane and I discussed, it was going to take hard work to succeed in football, and it’s also the same for basketball. Instead of throwing passes for three hours in practice, he’ll be shooting baskets."
According to the news release, Dillon spoke with basketball coach Tad Boyle about the possibility of joining the CU men’s team, but all scholarships in 2013-14 are spoken for, so he would have had to be a walk-on and then try to earn a scholarship a year from now. Said Dillon, “That’s something my family really can’t afford right now, or I would definitely have considered that option.”
Dillon, who was coming back from shoulder surgery, struggled during spring practices, when Connor Wood seemed to take the lead in the Buffaloes' quarterback competition. In the four main spring scrimmages, he completed 19-of-39 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns (one interception), and rushed for 26 yards on 10 attempts.
[+] Enlarge
Ric Tapia/Icon SMIShane Dillon says basketball has always been his first love.
“I’ve grown up playing basketball my entire life, I’ve always been a basketball kid and have played since I was 4 years old,” said Dillon in a statement released by the school. “I was a late bloomer in football and never started playing quarterback until halfway through my sophomore year.
“I always kind of felt my decision that I had to play football was forced upon me a little bit,” he added. “People told me I had to make a decision by the end of my junior year between football and basketball because quarterbacks all seemed to commit pretty early. Basketball has always been my passion, and even though I really enjoyed my year here, I felt the time is now for me to make the change.”
Dillon's departure is another blow at the position for the Buffs. Jordan Webb, the 2012 starter, blew out his knee during spring practices. Nick Hirschman opted to transfer to Akron. It's possible incoming freshman Sefo Liufau will be Wood's backup.
Dillon averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds as a senior, and 25 and 12, respectively, as a junior, at Christian High School in El Cajon, Calif., and was recruited by several schools for basketball.
“We hate to see Shane go, he’s truly a phenomenal young man, but we understand what he wants to pursue,” Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said. “I felt like he definitely had a future in football, but as Shane and I discussed, it was going to take hard work to succeed in football, and it’s also the same for basketball. Instead of throwing passes for three hours in practice, he’ll be shooting baskets."
According to the news release, Dillon spoke with basketball coach Tad Boyle about the possibility of joining the CU men’s team, but all scholarships in 2013-14 are spoken for, so he would have had to be a walk-on and then try to earn a scholarship a year from now. Said Dillon, “That’s something my family really can’t afford right now, or I would definitely have considered that option.”
Two weeks and counting. Ted and I are gearing up for media day. Are you? Here's what you should know.
When: July 26
Where: Sony Studios, Los Angeles
Who will be there (all times PT):
Who won’t be there: The biggest name missing is Arizona running back Ka'Deem Carey, who led the nation in rushing last season. Coaches tend to bring veterans and guys with experience. Yankey is a great spokesman for Stanford and a good candidate, but I know others wouldn't mind hearing some thoughts from Cardinal QB Kevin Hogan.
Five storylines:
Ted and I will be trying something new this year (we think). Instead of the on-the-stage posts, we'll be doing a live chat during the entire stage session and bringing you info real time. So take note of the times (in Pacific, to save you the math) and be ready to interact.
When: July 26
Where: Sony Studios, Los Angeles
Who will be there (all times PT):
- 9 a.m. Larry Scott, Pac-12 commissioner
- 9:15 a.m. Washington State -- Coach Mike Leach, Elliott Bosch (OL), Deone Bucannon (DB)
- 9:30 a.m. California -- Coach Sonny Dykes, Bryce Treggs (WR), Nick Forbes (LB)
- 9:45 a.m. Washington -- Coach Steve Sarkisian, Keith Price (QB), Sean Parker (DB)
- 10 a.m. Oregon State -- Coach Mike Riley, Brandin Cooks (WR), Rashaad Reynolds (DB)
- 10:15 a.m. Oregon -- Coach Mark Helfrich, Marcus Mariota (QB), Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (CB)
- 10:30 a.m. Stanford -- Coach David Shaw, David Yankey (OL), Shayne Skov (LB)
- 10:45 a.m. Break
- 11 a.m. Colorado -- Coach Mike MacIntyre, Paul Richardson (WR), Chidera Uzo-Diribe(DE)
- 11:15 a.m. Utah -- Coach Kyle Whittingham, Jake Murphy (TE), Trevor Reilly (DE)
- 11:30 a.m. Arizona -- Coach Rich Rodriguez, Terrence Miller (WR), Jake Fischer (LB)
- 11:45 a.m. USC -- Coach Lane Kiffin, Marqise Lee (WR), Hayes Pullard (LB)
- Noon Arizona State -- Coach Todd Graham, Taylor Kelly (QB), Will Sutton (DT)
- 12:15 p.m. UCLA -- Coach Jim Mora, Xavier Su’a Filo (OL), Anthony Barr (LB)
Who won’t be there: The biggest name missing is Arizona running back Ka'Deem Carey, who led the nation in rushing last season. Coaches tend to bring veterans and guys with experience. Yankey is a great spokesman for Stanford and a good candidate, but I know others wouldn't mind hearing some thoughts from Cardinal QB Kevin Hogan.
Five storylines:
- Hitting? Scott is expected to announce the league's health and safety initiative, which will limit how much hitting can be done in practice. This isn't a new concept, but the league jumped in front of it by being the first to make a conference-wide mandate.
- Bowl updates? We know the status of the Rose, Alamo, Holiday, Kraft Fight Hunger and Sun bowls. Not sure if the rest of the lineup for beyond this season will be announced at media day. But one of us will ask.
- New coaches: This is the meet-the-world opportunity for the new head coaches in the league: Dykes, MacIntyre and Helfrich. Expect the requisite questions on the difficulty of changing cultures and rebuilding programs.
- Preseason poll: Is there any fodder better than preseason polls? Oregon or Stanford? Stanford or Oregon? ASU, UCLA or USC? Your Pac-12 bloggers will be submitting their ballots this weekend after a visit to the Oracle of Delphi, a seance channeling Nostradamus and a dartboard.
- Quirky questions: With the access of media day comes the spectacle of media day. Granted, it's not as bad as some of the quirks at Super Bowl media day. But there's bound to be a couple of left-field questions -- and they'll probably be directed at Leach, who is great and usually has fun with them. Last year he was asked which Pac-12 coach he'd go hunting with and which Civil War generals he'd compare some of his players to.
Ted and I will be trying something new this year (we think). Instead of the on-the-stage posts, we'll be doing a live chat during the entire stage session and bringing you info real time. So take note of the times (in Pacific, to save you the math) and be ready to interact.
The problem with crystal balls is no one has one that actually works. So projecting what the Pac-12 will look like three years from now (will it still even be the Pac-12?) can be a bit of a challenge. All we can do is work with the information we have today.
What makes this task particularly more difficult is that 2013 is such an intriguing year for the league. Coaching positions could be up for grabs (or solidified) by the end of the season, and the league has already welcomed seven new coaches the past two years. We still don't know if the Air Raid will fully catch on at Washington State or the Bear Raid at Cal. We think they will, but again, no crystal ball. Is all the Arizona State hype justified? Will Oregon and Stanford stay on top another three years?
I'd prefer to do this by separating the squads into categories, but then you wouldn't have as much Kevin-hates-my-team fodder.
As Ted likes to say when he does the weekly power rankings, if you don't like where you're ranked, play better. Well, if you don't like where you're ranked three years from now, complain tirelessly.
1. Oregon: We're still waiting to hear on whatever sanctions might come down from the NCAA. If they are harsh, Oregon could easily slip from this spot. If not, the chain of succession from coach to coach has been silky in Eugene the past few go-arounds. As long as the Ducks continue to bring in -- and develop -- the types of athletes they have in recent years, they will consistently stay atop the rankings.
2. Stanford: As long as David Shaw is head coach there, Stanford will compete for titles. The program has been able to reinvent itself without really reinventing itself the past few seasons. The players change, the philosophy and mentality don't. This list has to be a 1-through-12, but if a 1/1A were allowed, Oregon and Stanford would be interchangeable. Maybe they won't be top five every year, but they aren't going anywhere, either.
3. UCLA: The program might take a step back in 2013 before it takes a step forward in the years to come. The schedule will be tougher and the Bruins are still learning to adjust to life under coach Jim Mora. But he and his staff have poured all of that NFL experience into a team on the rise. And they can recruit big-time players. If Mora stays on board -- no promises, but no indications either that he wants to leave after minor flirtations with the NFL this offseason -- the Bruins could be regulars in the league title game.
4. Washington: The Huskies are on the verge of something special … maybe. If they can only get over that pesky seven-win hump. The recruiting has been solid, and the right coaching staff is in place. It's just a matter of taking that next step. They have the experience this year to do it and very good depth. A big season in 2013 sets the stage for a solid run in future years. Washington might not win the North in three years, but it will press the top two and should be going to the league's top-tier bowl games.
5. Oregon State: The Beavers will have some really good years, some really bad years and a lot of seven- or eight-win seasons in between. Mike Riley is an outstanding coach and has done a solid job recruiting talent to Corvallis. But the North is going to be brutal in years to come -- especially if Cal and Washington State close the gap and Washington surges as expected. But there's little reason to think OSU won't consistently stay ranked. Also, don't underestimate the ability to maintain continuity on a coaching staff -- something Riley has been very good at.
6. USC: The Trojans will always bring in five-star talent simply because of the brand name. And for that reason alone, they will always be in the hunt for the South division. That includes this year, 2016 and beyond. But with just one double-digit-win season in the past three, you have to wonder if it's a one- or two-year hiccup, or a return to the rest of the pack? There is also the slippery footing of coach Lane Kiffin, leaving us to wonder if he'll be on the sidelines three years (or one year) from now.
7. Arizona State: By 2016, the Sun Devils could be at the top of this list. Or near the bottom. Or exactly at No. 7. We think they are going to be really good this season, but we've thought they were going to be really good before. I do think Todd Graham is the right guy, and I love what he did in Year 1. Show me a 10-win season, a national ranking and some consistency, and three years from now I'll gladly season up some crow and shovel it down.
8. Arizona: A lot of the reasoning that applies to Arizona State also applies to Arizona. Rich Rodriguez is the right guy for the job, and the South looks to be up for grabs this season -- and maybe three seasons from now. Finding the right players and truly building a program will take time, but three years from now, the Wildcats could fall anywhere in the 3-8 range.
9. California: The Bears are dealing with a coaching change for the first time since 2002. The Pac-12 blog is on record as saying that Sonny Dykes' offense will be a good fit for Cal and the conference. But will it take one season? Three seasons? Five? In 2016, there's a chance that whoever is starting at quarterback this season will still be the guy. That could be huge. Or Cal could still be trying to figure things out. The Bears have talent -- and if we were projecting receiving corps in three seasons, I'd put them in the top three. But, as of today, there are too many unknowns to justify a higher ranking.
10. Washington State: Recruiting to Pullman has been, and probably always will be, a challenge. Upgraded facilities should help. And the Pac-12 blog still thinks Mike Leach will bring the Cougars back to the postseason in the next few years. But maintaining a consistent program that competes for titles every season is going to be tough -- especially in the North.
11. Utah: If this were a five-year projection, I think the Utes would be higher. But I also think they need to go through at least a full class cycle before they can really start climbing the Pac-12 hierarchy. Our preseason hype last season was misguided, and the Utes' lack of depth was exposed. It takes time to build not only a starting lineup that can win in the Pac-12, but also the depth behind those starters. The facility upgrades are a good step in the right direction.
12. Colorado: By Year 3, Mike MacIntyre had his San Jose State team ranked. During that time, the Spartans saw only two ranked conference opponents -- and both in 2010. There might be similarities to rebuilding programs. But San Jose State wasn't facing a surging Pac-12 South that could have three or four ranked teams, plus the interdivision matchups with the North. Colorado has a lot of rebuilding to do. I'm a MacIntyre fan, but it's going to take more than three seasons. And when the Buffs actually go 9-3 in 2016, I'm buying the first round for RMoysters and buffnaustin. Right after Mac deletes my number from his cell.
What makes this task particularly more difficult is that 2013 is such an intriguing year for the league. Coaching positions could be up for grabs (or solidified) by the end of the season, and the league has already welcomed seven new coaches the past two years. We still don't know if the Air Raid will fully catch on at Washington State or the Bear Raid at Cal. We think they will, but again, no crystal ball. Is all the Arizona State hype justified? Will Oregon and Stanford stay on top another three years?
I'd prefer to do this by separating the squads into categories, but then you wouldn't have as much Kevin-hates-my-team fodder.
As Ted likes to say when he does the weekly power rankings, if you don't like where you're ranked, play better. Well, if you don't like where you're ranked three years from now, complain tirelessly.
1. Oregon: We're still waiting to hear on whatever sanctions might come down from the NCAA. If they are harsh, Oregon could easily slip from this spot. If not, the chain of succession from coach to coach has been silky in Eugene the past few go-arounds. As long as the Ducks continue to bring in -- and develop -- the types of athletes they have in recent years, they will consistently stay atop the rankings.
2. Stanford: As long as David Shaw is head coach there, Stanford will compete for titles. The program has been able to reinvent itself without really reinventing itself the past few seasons. The players change, the philosophy and mentality don't. This list has to be a 1-through-12, but if a 1/1A were allowed, Oregon and Stanford would be interchangeable. Maybe they won't be top five every year, but they aren't going anywhere, either.
3. UCLA: The program might take a step back in 2013 before it takes a step forward in the years to come. The schedule will be tougher and the Bruins are still learning to adjust to life under coach Jim Mora. But he and his staff have poured all of that NFL experience into a team on the rise. And they can recruit big-time players. If Mora stays on board -- no promises, but no indications either that he wants to leave after minor flirtations with the NFL this offseason -- the Bruins could be regulars in the league title game.
4. Washington: The Huskies are on the verge of something special … maybe. If they can only get over that pesky seven-win hump. The recruiting has been solid, and the right coaching staff is in place. It's just a matter of taking that next step. They have the experience this year to do it and very good depth. A big season in 2013 sets the stage for a solid run in future years. Washington might not win the North in three years, but it will press the top two and should be going to the league's top-tier bowl games.
5. Oregon State: The Beavers will have some really good years, some really bad years and a lot of seven- or eight-win seasons in between. Mike Riley is an outstanding coach and has done a solid job recruiting talent to Corvallis. But the North is going to be brutal in years to come -- especially if Cal and Washington State close the gap and Washington surges as expected. But there's little reason to think OSU won't consistently stay ranked. Also, don't underestimate the ability to maintain continuity on a coaching staff -- something Riley has been very good at.
6. USC: The Trojans will always bring in five-star talent simply because of the brand name. And for that reason alone, they will always be in the hunt for the South division. That includes this year, 2016 and beyond. But with just one double-digit-win season in the past three, you have to wonder if it's a one- or two-year hiccup, or a return to the rest of the pack? There is also the slippery footing of coach Lane Kiffin, leaving us to wonder if he'll be on the sidelines three years (or one year) from now.
7. Arizona State: By 2016, the Sun Devils could be at the top of this list. Or near the bottom. Or exactly at No. 7. We think they are going to be really good this season, but we've thought they were going to be really good before. I do think Todd Graham is the right guy, and I love what he did in Year 1. Show me a 10-win season, a national ranking and some consistency, and three years from now I'll gladly season up some crow and shovel it down.
8. Arizona: A lot of the reasoning that applies to Arizona State also applies to Arizona. Rich Rodriguez is the right guy for the job, and the South looks to be up for grabs this season -- and maybe three seasons from now. Finding the right players and truly building a program will take time, but three years from now, the Wildcats could fall anywhere in the 3-8 range.
9. California: The Bears are dealing with a coaching change for the first time since 2002. The Pac-12 blog is on record as saying that Sonny Dykes' offense will be a good fit for Cal and the conference. But will it take one season? Three seasons? Five? In 2016, there's a chance that whoever is starting at quarterback this season will still be the guy. That could be huge. Or Cal could still be trying to figure things out. The Bears have talent -- and if we were projecting receiving corps in three seasons, I'd put them in the top three. But, as of today, there are too many unknowns to justify a higher ranking.
10. Washington State: Recruiting to Pullman has been, and probably always will be, a challenge. Upgraded facilities should help. And the Pac-12 blog still thinks Mike Leach will bring the Cougars back to the postseason in the next few years. But maintaining a consistent program that competes for titles every season is going to be tough -- especially in the North.
11. Utah: If this were a five-year projection, I think the Utes would be higher. But I also think they need to go through at least a full class cycle before they can really start climbing the Pac-12 hierarchy. Our preseason hype last season was misguided, and the Utes' lack of depth was exposed. It takes time to build not only a starting lineup that can win in the Pac-12, but also the depth behind those starters. The facility upgrades are a good step in the right direction.
12. Colorado: By Year 3, Mike MacIntyre had his San Jose State team ranked. During that time, the Spartans saw only two ranked conference opponents -- and both in 2010. There might be similarities to rebuilding programs. But San Jose State wasn't facing a surging Pac-12 South that could have three or four ranked teams, plus the interdivision matchups with the North. Colorado has a lot of rebuilding to do. I'm a MacIntyre fan, but it's going to take more than three seasons. And when the Buffs actually go 9-3 in 2016, I'm buying the first round for RMoysters and buffnaustin. Right after Mac deletes my number from his cell.
The Pac-12 features three new coaches: California's Sonny Dykes, Colorado's Mike MacIntyre and Oregon's Mark Helfrich.
Each faces distinct challenges. We break those challenges down.
CALIFORNIA: Sonny Dykes
Who he replaced: Jeff Tedford (82-57, 11 years)
Who is he? Dykes, 43, went 22-15 in three years at Louisiana Tech, where he was hired after coordinating Arizona's offense for three seasons.
Why he's there: After Tedford built Cal into a Pac-12 and national power, the Bears plateaued and then regressed his final three seasons, going 15-22. It's also noteworthy that the team declined significantly on the academic side of things.
What's the good news? Dykes didn't inherit a team devoid of talent or one that can't remember winning. Further, he's going to benefit from massive facilities upgrades that were only completed last year. The Bay Area is a pretty fair place to live.
What's the bad news? Well, Dykes inherited perhaps the nation's toughest schedule, which will make it tough to produce an immediate turnaround, even if the Bears play much better. It's also tough playing in the Pac-12 North where Oregon and Stanford have dominated play of late. Oh, and it's an issue that Big Game partner, Stanford, shows no signs of slowing down.
How can he make fans happy in 2013? If Dykes can somehow squeeze six wins out of this schedule, thereby earning a bowl berth, his fans should be thrilled.
COLORADO: Mike MacIntyre
Who he replaced: Jon Embree (4-21, 2 years)
Who is he? MacIntyre, 48, went 16-21 in three years at San Jose State, resurrecting the Spartans to a 10-2 finish in 2012. Before that, he was defensive coordinator at Duke for two years.
Why he's there: Look at Embree's record.
What's the good news? Sorry for saying this again, Buffs, but MacIntyre would be hard-pressed to make things any worse. The roster also looks stronger than the 2012 version, most notably the return of receiver Paul Richardson. Last year, the Buffs played a lot of young players, who weren't ready for Pac-12 play. Those youngsters should be better and more prepared this fall.
What's the bad news? This team isn't big enough or fast enough to compete in the Pac-12. The fan base is put off by the program's slide over the past decade. Oh, and athletic director Mike Bohn was just controversially fired.
How can he make fans happy in 2013? The bar isn't very high for MacIntyre in Year 1. He could double the Buffs' win total and that would just mean two victories. The biggest thing is being more competitive. Going 3-9 wouldn't be a disaster if those nine games aren't dropped by an average of 30 points. It's also important to win at least one conference game.
OREGON: Mark Helfrich
Who he replaced: Chip Kelly (46-7, 4 years)
Who is he? Helfrich, 39, was the Ducks' offensive coordinator for the past four years under Kelly. Before that, he was offensive coordinator at Colorado.
Why he's there: After leading the best run in school history -- four consecutive BCS bowl games and three Pac-12 titles -- Kelly bolted for the Philadelphia Eagles. Helfrich then was promoted, as Kelly had been under Mike Bellotti, and Bellotti had been under Rich Brooks.
What's the good news? Helfrich inherited a well-oiled machine with a lot of talent, starting with quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Ducks are widely viewed as national title contenders, even without Kelly. They are favored to win every game. Further, Helfrich knows his school, his team and his staff, considering eight of nine assistant coaches are back.
What's the bad news? The bar couldn't be higher. A disappointing season for Oregon now is two losses. The only way Helfrich can exceed Kelly is by winning a national title. He falls short by going 11-2 and winning the Alamo Bowl. Oh, and there's the pending ruling from the NCAA on L'Affair de Willie Lyles.
How can he make fans happy in 2013? There's only one way he can thrill them: 14-0. They'd settle for 13-1 if that includes a national title. A Rose Bowl win would be considered OK.
Each faces distinct challenges. We break those challenges down.
CALIFORNIA: Sonny Dykes
Who he replaced: Jeff Tedford (82-57, 11 years)
Who is he? Dykes, 43, went 22-15 in three years at Louisiana Tech, where he was hired after coordinating Arizona's offense for three seasons.
Why he's there: After Tedford built Cal into a Pac-12 and national power, the Bears plateaued and then regressed his final three seasons, going 15-22. It's also noteworthy that the team declined significantly on the academic side of things.
What's the good news? Dykes didn't inherit a team devoid of talent or one that can't remember winning. Further, he's going to benefit from massive facilities upgrades that were only completed last year. The Bay Area is a pretty fair place to live.
What's the bad news? Well, Dykes inherited perhaps the nation's toughest schedule, which will make it tough to produce an immediate turnaround, even if the Bears play much better. It's also tough playing in the Pac-12 North where Oregon and Stanford have dominated play of late. Oh, and it's an issue that Big Game partner, Stanford, shows no signs of slowing down.
How can he make fans happy in 2013? If Dykes can somehow squeeze six wins out of this schedule, thereby earning a bowl berth, his fans should be thrilled.
COLORADO: Mike MacIntyre
Who he replaced: Jon Embree (4-21, 2 years)
Who is he? MacIntyre, 48, went 16-21 in three years at San Jose State, resurrecting the Spartans to a 10-2 finish in 2012. Before that, he was defensive coordinator at Duke for two years.
Why he's there: Look at Embree's record.
What's the good news? Sorry for saying this again, Buffs, but MacIntyre would be hard-pressed to make things any worse. The roster also looks stronger than the 2012 version, most notably the return of receiver Paul Richardson. Last year, the Buffs played a lot of young players, who weren't ready for Pac-12 play. Those youngsters should be better and more prepared this fall.
What's the bad news? This team isn't big enough or fast enough to compete in the Pac-12. The fan base is put off by the program's slide over the past decade. Oh, and athletic director Mike Bohn was just controversially fired.
How can he make fans happy in 2013? The bar isn't very high for MacIntyre in Year 1. He could double the Buffs' win total and that would just mean two victories. The biggest thing is being more competitive. Going 3-9 wouldn't be a disaster if those nine games aren't dropped by an average of 30 points. It's also important to win at least one conference game.
OREGON: Mark Helfrich
Who he replaced: Chip Kelly (46-7, 4 years)
Who is he? Helfrich, 39, was the Ducks' offensive coordinator for the past four years under Kelly. Before that, he was offensive coordinator at Colorado.
Why he's there: After leading the best run in school history -- four consecutive BCS bowl games and three Pac-12 titles -- Kelly bolted for the Philadelphia Eagles. Helfrich then was promoted, as Kelly had been under Mike Bellotti, and Bellotti had been under Rich Brooks.
What's the good news? Helfrich inherited a well-oiled machine with a lot of talent, starting with quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Ducks are widely viewed as national title contenders, even without Kelly. They are favored to win every game. Further, Helfrich knows his school, his team and his staff, considering eight of nine assistant coaches are back.
What's the bad news? The bar couldn't be higher. A disappointing season for Oregon now is two losses. The only way Helfrich can exceed Kelly is by winning a national title. He falls short by going 11-2 and winning the Alamo Bowl. Oh, and there's the pending ruling from the NCAA on L'Affair de Willie Lyles.
How can he make fans happy in 2013? There's only one way he can thrill them: 14-0. They'd settle for 13-1 if that includes a national title. A Rose Bowl win would be considered OK.
William Mancebo/Getty ImagesIn Mike Leach's offense, WSU's Gabe Marks, left, looks like a good bet to have a 1,000-yard season.The conference featured four 1,000-yard receivers last year. One is off to the NFL: Oregon State's Markus Wheaton. One is out for the season -- or at least a significant part of it -- with a knee injury: Arizona's Austin Hill. Two others are back:
- Marqise Lee, USC: 118 receptions, 1,721 yards, 14 TDs
- Brandin Cooks, Oregon State: 67 receptions, 1,151 yards, 5 TDs
That's a good start. Lee was a unanimous All-American and Cooks could push for such recognition this fall.
There's plenty of talent after them. This is hardly a down position in the conference. In fact, several teams feel pretty good about their chances to produce a 1,000-yard pass-catcher.
Arizona: The Wildcats not only lost Hill, they also are replacing quarterback Matt Scott. Moreover, their No. 2 receiver in 2012, Dan Buckner, is gone, and the No. 3 guy was running back Ka'Deem Carey. There's solid experience returning at the position, but no one player looks like the go-to guy. The Wildcats are more likely to have three guys with over 600 yards receiving than to have one with 1,000.
Arizona State: Receiver is the Sun Devils' most questionable position. At this point, the most likely guy to go over 1,000 yards is tight end Chris Coyle. But if you were to imagine who will be the Sun Devils' top wideout in 2013, a good bet is touted juco transfer Jaelen Strong.
California: Keenan Allen is gone, but the Bears have plenty of young talent at receiver, a list topped by Chris Harper and Bryce Treggs. With new coach Sonny Dykes' new high-flying spread passing offense, it's difficult to imagine the Bears don't produce a 1,000-yard receiver.
Colorado: The Buffaloes' only legitimate A-list player is receiver Paul Richardson. He'd start for just about any Pac-12 team. And, considering how much new coach Mike MacIntyre likes to throw, Richardson seems likely to hit the 1,000-yard mark if he stays healthy.
Oregon: The Ducks are expected to throw more this season for a number of reasons -- new coach, questions at running back, etc. -- but the chief reason is because quarterback Marcus Mariota is a highly capable passer. Last year, we saw flashes of what he could do. We'll see plenty more in 2013. With De'Anthony Thomas slated to be primarily a running back, expect Josh Huff to become Mariota's favorite target.
Stanford: Stanford isn't the sort of team that produces a 1,000-yard receiver, and its most likely candidates in recent years were tight ends. But if things fell a certain way, Ty Montgomery might make a run at it.
UCLA: If you were to make a list of most likely new members of the 1,000-yard club in 2013, Bruins wide receiver Shaquelle Evans would be on it. He caught 60 passes for 877 yards last year in quarterback Brett Hundley's first year as a starter. With no Johnathan Franklin at running back, the Bruins should be throwing plenty.
Utah: The Utes should be much better throwing the ball this season. For one, quarterback Travis Wilson can only be more mature after starting as a true freshman. Second, new co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson likes to spread defenses out and throw the ball. Dres Anderson and Kenneth Scott are a good tandem, and one or the other could make a run at 1,000 yards.
Washington: The Huskies have two legit candidates -- wide receiver Kasen Williams and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. But Jenkins is working through a DUI arrest that has him presently suspended. Williams, who caught 77 passes for 878 yards a year ago, is a strong bet to be Keith Price's go-to guy.
Washington State: That list with likely new 1,000-yard receivers? Colorado's Richardson, UCLA's Evans and Washington's Williams would be on it. But atop the list would be Washington State's Gabe Marks. If he stays healthy, he's almost a sure thing, considering how much coach Mike Leach likes to throw the ball.
Mike Bohn's sudden resignation as Colorado's athletic director Tuesday is a bit of a surprise. Apparently it was even to Bohn himself, who texted Denver sportscaster Vic Lombardio that he was "floored."
Mark Johnson of 850 KOA first reported Bohn's departure.
So resignation or firing -- semantics! -- the end-result is Colorado is looking for a new athletic director after: 1. Colorado gave Bohn a five-year contract extension in 2011 that ran through 2017; 2. Bohn fired coach Jon Embree after just two seasons and hired Mike MacIntyre away from San Jose State to replace him; 3. The school announced a $50 million facilities fundraising campaign for a $170 million multiyear upgrade of the school's -- read: football's -- athletics facilities.
So a lot is going on at Colorado as it concludes its second year in the Pac-12.
“Mike Bohn led CU-Boulder athletics in a time of great transition and change,” Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano said in a statement released by the school. “We are grateful to him for his vision, passion and commitment, and for his key role in revitalizing men’s and women’s basketball, helping us to join the Pac-12 Conference, and in taking important steps to upgrade athletic facilities at CU-Boulder. We wish him well.”
Bohn's resignation is effective June 3. DiStefano said he will in the coming days appoint a search committee to conduct a national search for Bohn’s successor.
What will Colorado be looking for? Here's a guess, inferring a subtext within the school's official release, is there's a major sense of urgency about fundraising.
From the release:
A couple of take-aways here.
First, football rules. While Bohn made a seemingly savvy hire of Tad Boyle to resurrect a poor-to-middling men's basketball program, his two football choices before MacIntyre -- Embree and Dan Hawkins -- produced a 23-60 record.
Second, now MacIntyre will be working for an athletic director who didn't hire him. Most coaches find that worrisome, though that connection failed to help Embree. And winning solves everything.
The timing here, of course, feels strange. Perhaps there's more to the story that will come out in the next few days.
Mark Johnson of 850 KOA first reported Bohn's departure.
So resignation or firing -- semantics! -- the end-result is Colorado is looking for a new athletic director after: 1. Colorado gave Bohn a five-year contract extension in 2011 that ran through 2017; 2. Bohn fired coach Jon Embree after just two seasons and hired Mike MacIntyre away from San Jose State to replace him; 3. The school announced a $50 million facilities fundraising campaign for a $170 million multiyear upgrade of the school's -- read: football's -- athletics facilities.
So a lot is going on at Colorado as it concludes its second year in the Pac-12.
“Mike Bohn led CU-Boulder athletics in a time of great transition and change,” Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano said in a statement released by the school. “We are grateful to him for his vision, passion and commitment, and for his key role in revitalizing men’s and women’s basketball, helping us to join the Pac-12 Conference, and in taking important steps to upgrade athletic facilities at CU-Boulder. We wish him well.”
Bohn's resignation is effective June 3. DiStefano said he will in the coming days appoint a search committee to conduct a national search for Bohn’s successor.
What will Colorado be looking for? Here's a guess, inferring a subtext within the school's official release, is there's a major sense of urgency about fundraising.
From the release:
DiStefano said the university will be seeking “a dynamic leader” as athletic director -- someone who, he said, “can focus on our key goals of fundraising, building a dynamic organization, and creating long-term sustainability in the athletics mission.”
A couple of take-aways here.
First, football rules. While Bohn made a seemingly savvy hire of Tad Boyle to resurrect a poor-to-middling men's basketball program, his two football choices before MacIntyre -- Embree and Dan Hawkins -- produced a 23-60 record.
Second, now MacIntyre will be working for an athletic director who didn't hire him. Most coaches find that worrisome, though that connection failed to help Embree. And winning solves everything.
The timing here, of course, feels strange. Perhaps there's more to the story that will come out in the next few days.
Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesOdds are good that UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley will throw for at least 2,500 yards in 2013.And, of course, the conference's top two passers, Arizona's Matt Scott and USC's Matt Barkley, are both off to the NFL.
The returning members of the 2.5 K Club are:
- UCLA's Brett Hundley (3,740 yards, 29 TDs, 11 Ints, No. 4 in passing efficiency)
- Arizona State's Taylor Kelly (3,039 yards, 29 TDs, 9 Ints, No. 2 in passing efficiency)
- Washington's Keith Price (2,728 yards, 19 TDs, 13 Ints, No. 8 in passing efficiency)
- Oregon's Marcus Mariota (2,677 yards, 32 TDs, 6 Ints, No. 1 in passing efficiency)
There's a reason why Oregon, UCLA and Arizona State are highly thought of heading into 2013: Proven production returning behind center. And if Washington can get Price back to top form, the Huskies become a top-25 team.
So how does everyone else stack up? Which teams seem likely to get 2,500 yards passing next fall?
Well, there's lots of "To be determined" intrigue.
TBD, Arizona: B.J. Denker will enter fall camp atop the depth chart, but this one is far from over. If USC transfer Jesse Scroggins, who owns by far the biggest arms on the roster, wins the job, the Wildcats are almost sure to pass for 2,500 yards. Coach Rich Rodriguez, though widely viewed as a spread-option coach, showed last year he's comfortable throwing, so Denker or incoming freshman Anu Solomon also could put up solid passing numbers.
TBD, California: New coach Sonny Dykes likes to throw the rock around. Louisiana Tech averaged 351 yards passing per game last year. So whoever wins the QB job -- we're betting on Zach Kline -- will almost certainly hit the 2,500-yard mark.
TBD, Colorado: The Buffaloes struggled to the throw the ball last year, but new coach Mike MacIntyre might solve that, seeing his San Jose State Spartans passed for 332 yards a game last fall. Connor Wood, the frontrunner to win the job, has the arm to throw the ball around, but it's a matter of putting it all together.
TBD, Oregon State: Sean Mannion nearly made the above list, passing for 2,446 yards and 15 TDs with 13 interceptions last year, ranking fifth in the conference in passing efficiency and fourth in passing yards per game with 244.6. But he's still knotted with Cody Vaz in the competition for the starting job. If one guy starts the entire season, he will put up strong passing numbers because Mike Riley teams always do.
Kevin Hogan, Stanford: The Cardinal ranked 10th in the conference in passing last year with just 200 yards per game, but part of that was a scheme that played to a rugged defense and Hogan not winning the job until after midseason. Hogan is plenty capable, and his supporting cast is solid. Expect Hogan to at least hit the 2,500-yard mark.
TBD, USC: Whether it's Cody Kessler or Max Wittek, the USC QB will throw for at least 2,500 yards if he maintains his hold on the job. While Lane Kiffin likes balance, there are too many passing game weapons not to attack downfield, starting with All-American receiver Marqise Lee.
Travis Wilson, Utah: The Utes were last in the Pac-12 and 97th in the nation in passing in 2012, but Dennis Erickson is now their co-offensive coordinator. One of the original architects of the spread passing attack, it's highly likely Utah will substantially boost the 190.7 yards passing a game it produced last fall. Wilson is fully capable of throwing for 2,500 yards, and the Utes are solid at the receiver position.
Connor Halliday, Washington State: Halliday still isn't free-and-clear of redshirt freshman Austin Apodaca, but he's a solid frontrunner in the competition. Whoever wins the job, he will put up big numbers in Mike Leach's "Air Raid" system. The Cougars couldn't stick with a QB last year, going back and forth with Halliday and Jeff Tuel, but they still led the Pac-12 with 330.4 yards passing per game. If Halliday starts 12 games, he'll throw for 4,000 yards.
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