ESPN College Football

2011 overall record: 10-2
2011 conference record: 7-2 (1st, South)
Returning starters: Offense: 9; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners
QB Matt Barkley, S T.J. McDonald, OL Khaled Holmes, WR Robert Woods, WR Marqise Lee, RB Curtis McNeal, DL Devon Kennard, DL Wes Horton, CB Nickell Robey, LB Dion Bailey, LB Hayes Pullard, K Andre Heidari

Key losses
OL Matt Kalil, DL Nick Perry, FB Rhett Ellison, DL DaJohn Harris, DL Christian Tupou, LB Chris Galippo, RB Marc Tyler, WR Brandon Carswell, LS Chris Pousson

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Curtis McNeal* (1,005 yards)
Passing: Matt Barkley* (3,528 yards)
Receiving: Robert Woods* (1,292 yards)
Tackles: Dion Bailey*, Hayes Pullard* (81)
Sacks: Nick Perry (9.5)
Interceptions: T.J. McDonald* (3)

Spring answers

1. Marqise Lee is ready for prime time: It’s no secret that Lee is a talented player who put together a terrific freshman season, but he took that performance to an even higher level this spring when he was the best player on the field for the Trojans. We’re seeing a rare athlete in Lee, one whose acrobatic style is being compared to Lynn Swann.

2. The USC defense is worthy of mention: There is so much attention paid to Matt Barkley and his offensive weapons -- and deservedly so -- but this spring was a reminder that the Trojans defense is going to be pretty good too. The back seven will be a strength, as the starters return intact plus there is a nice supply of talented depth.

3. The future of the USC quarterback spot is in good hands: Spring was an extended audition for Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, as Barkley was limited in his reps. Both players had their moments as they look to settle into the No. 2 role and the inside track to be Barkley’s heir apparent. The Trojans also got a verbal commitment from Max Browne (No. 2 rated pocket passer in ESPN 150), who will enroll next spring.

Fall questions

1. Interior of the D-line: One of the keys of spring was replacing two senior starters from the middle of the line. George Uko stepped in at defensive tackle and had flashes of real solid play. After Uko, however, things are not so clear. There is no established backup for him and no set starter at nose tackle, as J.R. Tavai and Antwaun Woods continue to battle for the job.

2. Lack of depth at tailback: The Trojans have a returning 1,000-yard rusher in Curtis McNeal but not a lot of experience behind him. D.J. Morgan had 42 carries in 2011, Buck Allen redshirted last season and Nelson Agholor has yet to join the team. That’s the extent of the playing time for the 2012 USC reserve tailbacks.

3. Protecting the blind side: There wasn’t a ton of worry last year about left tackle with Matt Kalil but replacing him has not been easy. Kevin Graf got the first look, but then the coaches moved Aundrey Walker into the spot. Lane Kiffin said Walker was not consistent but he showed enough with the potential of the size benefits he brings that he will stay as the starter heading into fall camp.

Some quotes from the Pac-12 coaches conference call earlier today.

• Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez on how his players grasped his philosophy: "I think they grasped it pretty well from the progress from the first practice to the last. We tried to coach them up and educate them on how practice is going to run and the tempo we were going to go out and the things we wanted to achieve in each and every practice. For the first practice, which was tough on guys, about halfway through they were gassed and done and struggling to the end, to the last practice of spring they were moving around a little better ... I think they saw a whole other level of continuing we have to be in just to get through practice, let alone to play at the pace we want to play at."
• ASU coach Todd Graham on the quarterback situation: "Obviously, we're a lot closer than what it appears probably from the outside. It was a great evaluation for us. And to be honest it's very difficult to rep three guys and I was very impressed that we were able to install the amount of the offense that we did install and we did it with three different guys."
• Cal coach Jeff Tedford on the progress of quarterback Zach Maynard: "I thought he did a nice job. We were so far ahead of last year when he was new into the system. We were able to do much more on offense this spring and move along and much more efficient. You could really tell his experience from the season had really paid off with the speed of the game and the management of the game. He really improved obviously through a year. Spring was very effective for him."
• Colorado coach Jon Embree on splitting quarterback reps this fall: "With two to three going after it you have to be creative. We'll do some different things to make sure they get quality reps. It may be by day, it may be by drill ... if it's a clear cut deal, I'm not going to waste time. I think it's important that the team knows and that quarterback know that they're going to be leading the team."
• Oregon coach Chip Kelly on quarterback Bryan Bennett after the spring game: "He was fine. I saw him Monday and he was good. There's not much we can do about the games of the past. He's getting in and watching film on his own because we're in that part of the season. I saw him in there watching tape and getting ready for camp coming up. Everything is a learning experience for everybody in our program. It was a good learning experience for Bryan to go through."
• Oregon State coach Mike Riley on Sean Mannion's progress: "To summarize it, I think he had a very valuable freshman year. He's a tremendously hard worker. Conscientious. So what we're looking for is just continued growth. Quarterbacking is a never-ending story of decision making, getting the ball out of your hands. Getting it to the right guy. I thought he had an excellent spring that way. He'll take all of that work into the summertime and be prepared for fall camp so we're just looking for bigger and better things."
• Stanford head coach David Shaw on The Big Game in October: "I think the biggest change is all of the activities around the game, it's going to be hard to do all of those because they're not at the end of the season. The last couple of years it's been the second to last game of the regular season. But now, so early in the season, we've got too much work to do. We can't afford to have too many distractions. I've talked to coach Tedford and we're going to try to organize that week to where we can still do some of the traditional things, maybe just earlier in the week. We're just mid-season. We can't have too many other things going on."
• UCLA coach Jim Mora on the need to cut scholarships (he said they need to cut three): "Probably a combination of both [grayshirting and current players]. I've talked to all our recruits and all our current players about their futures at UCLA."
• USC coach Lane Kiffin said he wants to see improvements in the running game: "I think we did improve in the second half of the season comparable to the first half ... obviously we lost our left tackle Matt Kalil, so that will be tough to replace. But Curtis coming back after a 1,000-yard season. He's coming into his senior year. I'm looking for him to improve with D.J. Morgan going into his second year of playing with us. We aren't very deep, but we would like to definitely improve our rushing stats."
• Utah coach Kyle Whittingham on what he learned in the first year in the Pac-12: "I don't know if we learned anything new. We had an idea going in that it was going to be very competitive ... it was very apparent on tape that there was a lot of good athletes in this conference and some great coaching and that was the case. I can't say that anything surprised us."
• Washington coach Steve Sarkisian on finding a third wide receiver: "We know who Kasen Williams is. We know who James Johnson is. Who's going to be the third guy that's a consistent contributor. Can Cody Bruns get healthy and do it? Can a young guy? Can a Jamaal Jones, DiAndre Campbell, a Marvin Hall, one of those types of guys, step up. That will be big."
• Washington State defensive coordinator Mike Breske on the new system: "Speaking for my first go-around with coach Leach going through spring ball, it was a little bit unusual in terms of 70-75 percent of the balls in the air from a defensive perspective. Growing process, [it was] coaches learning kids, kids learning about their coaches and how to practice, that type of thing. Once we got to practice 15 we accomplished a lot of the things we were looking for going into the spring."

All players are equal, but some players are more equal than others. That's the basis of our Most Important Player series.

First off, quarterbacks are excluded to make things more interesting. It goes without saying that Arizona's Matt Scott, USC's Matt Barkley and Washington's Keith Price are their teams' most important players. Their losses would be catastrophic.

And most important doesn't necessarily have to be "best." An All-American's backup can be pretty darn good too.

Our most important guys are players who could swing a win total one way or the other, based on their living up to expectations. Or their absence.

USC: DT George Uko

2011 production: The Trojans No. 3 DT in 2011, Uko started two games and played in all 12. He had 18 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Why Uko is so important: Look I get it: QB Matt Barkley is the Trojans most important player beyond a shadow of a doubt. The leading Heisman Trophy candidate, he might be the most valuable player in the nation. If Barkley got hurt, his likely replacement would have no game experience. So, yes, Uko is not the Trojans' most important player. But can't we have some latitude to escape obvious land?

So why is Uko is so critical to the Trojans fortunes? First, he has tons of potential to be a breakout player, perhaps even All-Pac-12. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound sophomore saw significant action last year and was productive when he did. But it's not just about Uko. It's about the lack of depth at defensive tackle for the Trojans. No. 1 nose tackle J.R. Tavai, just 6-foot-2, 270 pounds, is the next most experienced interior defensive lineman. He had four tackles last year. Running back Curtis McNeal -- another candidate for Most Important After Barkley -- had three. The next three guys -- Christian Heyward, Antwaun Woods and converted center Cody Temple -- are redshirt freshman. Zero game experience. You might wonder if the Trojans could bring an end inside -- perhaps 275-pound redshirt freshman Greg Townsend -- but all the choices would be undersized. The depth at end isn't exactly great either. Small DTs who don't command double-teams are particularly an issue when you are small at linebacker, as the Trojans are. If the Trojans lost Barkley, their season script would need an immediate rewrite. If the Trojans lost Uko? Let's just say not many teams win conference and national titles with gaping holes in the center of their D-lines.

This is a preview -- and only a preview, mind you -- of USC's nightmare scenario.

The Trojans are so solid in their starting 22, but so questionable in their depth that one major injury to a load-bearing player could cause the whole thing to collapse.

Linebacker-turned-running back Tre Madden isn't that load-bearing player. But he certainly was expected to take some of the pressure off of Curtis McNeal. News broke earlier today that Madden will miss the entire 2012 season with a torn ligament in his left knee -- a non-contact injury that occurred when he planted off his left leg.

Writes Erik McKinney of WeAreSC.com:

Through only a handful of practices after making the transition from outside linebacker, Madden had impressed with his combination of balance and forward lean and looked like he would make a case to become the big back the Trojans could rely on this season.

With Madden out of the lineup, the Trojans are again down to three scholarship tailbacks, as redshirt senior Curtis McNeal will be relied on heavily to carry the load this year.

Madden, a 6-0, 220-pound sophomore from Aliso Vieja, Calif., was the talk of USC's spring ball for both his versatility to make the position change and his athleticism. As a true freshman, he appeared in all 12 games last season at linebacker and special teams, notching 15 tackles and one for a loss. He started one game at Colorado and had a career high three tackles against Washington.

This kind of scenario was always the elephant in the room for the Trojans -- whether they could last an entire season without having to dip too far into the depth chart. Madden's injury leaves the Trojans right back where they were before spring in terms of running backs. Only now, they are also down a linebacker.

We've given you our thoughts recently on which Pac-12 player has the best shot at winning the Heisman. You've given your thoughts (an extremely tight poll) and now the folks at HeismanPundit.com have offered up their darkhorse candidates for 2012.

They looked at 12 not-as-mainstream candidates who could contend for the Heisman Trophy, and four of them are from the Pac-12.

First, the list:

• Eddie Lacy, Alabama
• Curtis McNeal, USC
• Fitzgerald Toussaint, Michigan
• Kenjon Barner, Oregon
• James Franklin, Missouri
• Braxton Miller, Ohio State
• Kiehl Frazier, Auburn
• Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State
• Cierre Wood, Notre Dame
• Christine Michael, Texas A&M
• Jesse Callier, Washington
• De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon

Their thoughts on each of the Pac-12 players:

On McNeal: A total of 150 carries have departed the program and there is little depth behind the senior, who will benefit from defenses focusing on USC’s strong passing attack. Give McNeal at least half of those departed carries and you are looking at a possible 1,500 yard season, if not more.

On Barner: There were times the rest of the year when he looked as good as, if not better than, James. This year, the Ducks lose not only James’ 247 carries, but also the 45 of freshman Tra Carson and the 56 of quarterback Darron Thomas, for a total of 347 carries to be redistributed.

On Callier: I actually think there is a good chance that Washington experiences no dropoff at this position and that Callier establishes himself as one of the top backs in the Pac-12 with a season exceeding 1,300 yards on the ground.

On Thomas: Thomas is obviously an interesting case since he is such an all-around dynamo. Last year, he had just 140 touches, with 39 of them coming in the return game. This was a wise move by Oregon, as keeping the rather slight Thomas fresh and healthy is the key to his effectiveness. It worked, as he had 18 touchdowns and 2,235 total yards. In that vein, Oregon might be tempted to put a huge workload on him in 2012, but I don’t foresee it unless there is a desperate need.

Fun list. With frontrunner Matt Barkley out there, along with Washington quarterback Keith Price, a couple of USC wide receivers and A-list running backs like John White IV and Stepfan Taylor, there is certainly no wanting for offensive talent in the conference. Per usual.

Which players emerge will definitely be one of the more fascinating stories to follow in 2012.

The Pac-12 is the conference of quarterbacks. The SEC is all about defense.

Oh, and winning national championships.

But as good as the defenses are in the SEC, what role does poor-to-middling offense play in that perception? As in, what would happen if those defenses played against a series of future NFL quarterbacks, as Pac-12 (and Big 12) defenses do?

The question before us is this: How would USC quarterback Matt Barkley do against those rough-tough SEC defenses?

Ted Miller: It’s sort of a chicken and the egg question. Are SEC defenses so good because they rarely play against A-list quarterbacks? Or do Pac-12 quarterbacks pile up eye-popping numbers because they don’t play against SEC defenses?

Is it more notable that four of the top 11 quarterbacks in the nation in terms of passing efficiency in 2011 were from the Pac-12, compared to none in the top 20 from the SEC? Or is it more important that six SEC defenses ranked in the top 17 in pass efficiency defense compared to zero for the Pac-12?

It’s hard to say. It’s likely a person’s home -- Los Angeles or Baton Rouge -- has a large influence on his or her opinion.

Pac-12 fans would be prone to point out: In 2005, LSU ranked No. 3 in the nation in passing efficiency defense. But in the Tigers' trip to Tempe that season, Arizona State’s Sam Keller completed 35 of 56 passes for 461 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 35-31 defeat.

Or this: LSU’s defense did a nice job against Oregon’s offense in the 2011 season opener. Of course, the Ducks scored more points on LSU than ANY OF THE OTHER 13 TEAMS LSU PLAYED.

Apologies for the caps lock. Reckless typing.

While we can all acknowledge the SEC -- at least the elite teams -- play better defense than the rest of the nation, it is also worth noting that when future first-round NFL draft picks played quarterback in the SEC, they put up good numbers, whether we’re talking about the Manning brothers, Matt Stafford or Cam Newton. And I’m sure, one day in the future --perhaps this decade! -- we’ll be able to add a name to that list.

There are some nice quartebacks in the SEC: Tyler Wilson, AJ McCarron and Aaron Murray. All three seem like they’d have a good chance of winning the backup job at USC. Maybe.

Chris Low: No way am I going to argue that Barkley wouldn't have success in the SEC.

He's a future pro and probably the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012.

The question is: How much success would he have, and would he hit the proverbial wall going against SEC defenses on a weekly basis?

My feeling is that all quarterbacks hit that wall. Any coach will tell you (ask your buddy Lane Kiffin) that what separates SEC defenses is the speed in the front seven, particularly in the defensive line. There are fast players all over the country in college football, but the SEC has cornered the market on fast, explosive defensive linemen and pass-rushers who also have the size and strength to overpower people.

That's the difference, and that's where Barkley would notice the greatest difference.

It wasn't a banner year for quarterbacks in the SEC last season. And, yes, I realize that's an understatement. But it was a banner year for premier defensive players. That's why the first round of the NFL draft next month is going to look like an SEC who's who. As many as 10 SEC defensive players could go in the first round.

Don't sleep on the SEC's quarterback class this coming season, either. Wilson may be a future first-rounder. Murray has thrown nearly 60 touchdown passes in his first two seasons, and we all saw what McCarron did in the BCS title game against an LSU defense that was outstanding.

Barkley's a big-time talent, no question. But it's a different game when you're trying to throw from your back.

And in this league, ALL QUARTERBACKS (sorry, my caps tend to lock up, too) encounter that problem.

Ted Miller: Truth is, Wilson, Murray and McCarron are good quarterbacks who look like guys with NFL futures. Loved how McCarron handled the pressure of the title game, and Murray has Pac-12-type talent.

We're trash talking here, but if you can't acknowledge what is real, well, then it's just noise.

And the reality of this debate is this: Barkley would be more challenged on a weekly basis by SEC defenses than by Pac-12 defenses -- which I believe are underrated but still a step behind the SEC for the reasons the Inimitable Low mentioned above. If Barkley played at Vanderbilt, Mississippi State or Kentucky, he'd just be the best quarterback in the history of those programs while leading those teams to "historic" seasons. Like a third-place finish in their divisions.

Yet what makes Barkley, Barkley is not just Barkley. It's USC. It's his supporting cast. It's receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, who will both have NFL careers. And two tight ends who will also. And a good offensive line, and a 1,000-yard rusher who averaged 6.9 yards per carry in 2011 (Curtis McNeal).

By the way, if you wonder where USC's true potential Achilles heel is this year, it's the defensive line. The Trojans have three A-listers -- guys who would be touted in the SEC -- but are thin thereafter. That's a problem for a team that views itself as a national title contender.

That's ultimately the rub here, too. If all goes according to plan, Barkley and USC should be in position to play for the national title. It's hard to imagine that wouldn't be against another SEC team.

Now, Chris, wouldn't it be fun if it were USC and LSU? Recall that in 2003, LSU won 1/16 of the national title when no one in the entire world thought LSU was better than USC, other than computers obviously loaded with all sorts of viruses.

Or USC-Alabama? Great history, and Saban versus Barkley & Co. would certainly attract plenty of eyeballs.

Chris Low: One of the most compelling things that could happen to college football next season would be for USC and Barkley to take their shot at an SEC defense in the money game.

Then, we could quit debating and let it play out on the field. As much as I knew that Alabama and LSU were the two best teams in the country last season, there was a part of me that wanted to see Oklahoma State against either the Alabama or LSU defense in the BCS title game.

It's the matchup we all want to see: A high-powered offense versus a suffocating defense.

Maybe that's what we'll be treated to this fall.

Of course, I go back to the 2010 national title game, and Oregon had been short-circuiting scoreboards all season long. The Ducks go up against an Auburn defense that had been opportunistic, but wasn't one of the best in the SEC that season statistically. But in that game, Auburn put the clamps on Oregon and won 22-19.

The Tigers won because the Ducks couldn't block Nick Fairley.

And that's what the Trojans would run into if they find themselves up against an SEC team next January in Miami.

It won't come down to Barkley. Sure, he'll make a few plays. He's legit. But what it will come down to is the group of guys blocking for Barkley, and that's where it always gets ugly against SEC defenses.

In the meantime, just make sure the Trojans get there. They've been known to stumble along the way, and what we're left with is a bunch of hollow chatter about what they would have done (or could have done) had they made it to the party.

We'll check the guest list in December and chat again then.

Who are the potential breakout running backs in 2012? Glad you asked, because ESPN's KC Joyner tackled that very question and a pair of Pac-12 running backs landed on his top five list .

USC running back Curtis McNeal checks in at No. 1 overall. With a moderate strength of schedule and four returning offensive linemen, here's what Joyner had to say about McNeal:

Losing first-round NFL draft pick Matt Kalil at left tackle is a negative, but getting the other four starting offensive linemen back means the quality portion of these numbers can be replicated. And since McNeal is likely to get a significant portion of the 125 carries Marc Tyler (lost to graduation) posted last season, it means McNeal's chances of getting an increased quantity of carries are also quite strong.

Not far behind McNeal in the No. 3 spot is Oregon running back Kenjon Barner, who is expected to have three of his big men back in front of him next season.

Here's Joyner's take:

The Ducks' run-blocking win rate was also quite impressive, so much so that Barner would likely have ranked higher than this were it not for Oregon losing two starting offensive linemen to graduation. Losing quarterback Darron Thomas also could cause some early transition issues, even though Bryan Bennett, Thomas' likely replacement, should be able to put together a strong season.

And even though he's not on Joyner's list, I'm going to throw Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor in there as well. Maybe I'm biased because I'm the Stanford blogger. Or maybe it's that the guy has rushed for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons while in a four-back rotating system and no one outside of Palo Alto seems to recognize the skills. (Actually, five backs when you consider Stanford's use of the fullback.)

Granted, this list is "breakout" backs. But Taylor's contributions continually seem to get overlooked. So much so that every year it feels like he has to have another "breakout" season just to get recognition. So keep an eye on that guy also in 2012.

We chatted Thursday about the Pac-12 and a foolproof way to make $5 million immediately following the chat.

You missed it? Too bad.

Here's the unexpurgated transcript -- other than the business tip.

And here are some highlights.

Mike (Elk Grove): What chance does USC have in getting Isaac Seumalo to switch from Oregon State...

Ted Miller (3:00 PM): Always a chance but the "Dad is a coach at Oregon State" deal feels like it would be hard to break, particularly when the Beavers & coach Mike Riley are facing an important season.

DawgFan09 (Snowpocalypse - WA): Hey Ted - bet you're glad you're not around the Seattle area for our icestorm With the new hires and recruiters we have - who are the biggest names the Dawgs can pull in on Feb 1?Banner included? we need the beef!

Ted Miller (3:02 PM): Hey, the weather down here in Scottsdale isn't great either... yesterday I saw some clouds and it was only in the mid-60s. As for the Huskies: I wouldn't expect too many dramatic changes for this recruiting class. There may be 1 or 2 surprises, but it's so late in the process. Of course, we'll see.

James (WA): UW has upped the ante on coaches' salaries. Is UW simply the first of a wave of raises to occur throughout the conference (outside of USC)? Or is UW simply committing more financially to football than other schools?

Ted Miller (3:07 PM): Washington, historically, has paid more for football. Recall how everyone reacted to Rick Neuheisel getting $1 million in 1999. But salaries are going to go up throughout the conference. The interesting thing is, failure is forcing up the prices. Programs that fired head or assistant coaches are bouncing salaries. Programs that are stable don't seem to be.

Brian (LA): best running back in the conference next season? McNeal?

Ted Miller (3:13 PM): maybe, but he's got to stay healthy. Some good ones coming back: John White at Utah, Isi Sofele at Cal, Stepfan Taylor at Stanford, Cameron Marshall at ASU, Kenjon Barner at Oregon, Johnathan Franklin at UCLA... and there are always young guys who emerge. But McNeal should benefit from all the weapons USC has on offense. Can't gang up on running game.

duck (a pond): Darron Thomas to NFL???

Ted Miller (3:15 PM): odd decision in my view... it will be interesting to see if he gets drafted. I wish him luck. It's a hit for the Ducks, but Bryan Bennett looked pretty good when he came of the bench and the offense has plenty of playmakers.

Colt (SLC): Do the Utes get their first ever Top 25 Recruiting Class this year?

Ted Miller (3:16 PM): I don't think it will get to top-25, but it likely will be one of the better classes Utah has signed.

beachDuck (SD): which team is the biggest surprise in the Pac-12 this year? Which new coach performs the best?

Ted Miller (3:26 PM):Utah, if it gets a healthy Jordan Wynn back, looks strong in the South. And I think Cal has a nice shot of finishing second in the North.

Geezer (Anchorage): The week 4 starter at QB for Stanford will be Mr. ______?

Ted Miller (3:27 PM):Brett Nottingham.

Joey Buttafuoco (NY): yo Teddy, what are the three most intriguing PAC 12 games this season?

Ted Miller (3:33 PM):Oregon at USC; USC at Utah; Oregon at Cal. And I'll throw Washington at LSU and Notre Dame at USC.

Miller Time (Pasadena):Any chance that Mora would go with a young/new QB (Hundley) with a new offense over the Seniors Prince and Brehaut??

Ted Miller (3:36 PM): absolutely... that completion figures to be wide-open, with Mora eyeballing the future. I think Prince/Brehaut have to be decisively better to win the job. That, by the way, could happen.

McCartney (Colorado):Will the bleeding in Boulder stop this year. Is a return to relevance near?

Ted Miller (3:37 PM):I think 2012 will be another tough one, in large part because the offense is rebuilding with a new QB. But the young guys playing this year and next will be the foundation for a step forward in 2013.

Capn Morgan (Pullman, WA):With the fanfare of Mike Leach and all the new things he's bringing to Pullman, what should be a reasonable expectation for WSU fans? I get the feeling going to the Macaroni Bowl isn't going to cut it this year.

Ted Miller (3:53 PM):I think Coug fans, after this horrible downturn, should be pleased with any bowl. I see 6-6 or 7-5 as reasonable. As good as Leach is, he's breaking in new schemes with new players. I'd be surprised if he suddenly produces a 9-win team.

Lou (San Jose): Ted, to follow-up on earlier question, do you think UW's hiring of Kiesau specifically was driven more by filling their own need, or hurting an opponent

Ted Miller (4:02 PM):It would be pretty silly to hire a receivers coach and name him offensive coordinator just to hurt his former team. After Tedford hires another guy, you're left with an offensive coordinator. Sark needed a guy to help with the passing offense who was OK with not calling plays. Kiesau is highly respected. It seems like a good hire, whether it hit Cal hard or not.

After six consecutive national titles, it's clear the path to the national championship goes through the SEC. But ESPN's Brock Huard believes he's found the team to break the string.

USC.

Huard lists five reasons: 1. The abundance of talent; 2. The level of production; 3. The surroundings and the schedule; 4. The improving defense; 5. The Barkley factor.

USC's case is strong and Huard makes it. No team will approach the top-level skill talent the Trojans have on offense with QB Matt Barkley, WRs Robert Woods and Marqise Lee and RB Curtis McNeal. There are NFL teams that would trade with USC straight up with those four spots. And you probably could throw in the tight end combination of Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, too.

Yes, the defense, with eight starters back, should take a step from solid to good in 2012. And, yes, the schedule sets up well, with both Notre Dame and Oregon coming to the Coliseum.

But there is one major issue: depth. The sort of players USC recruits don't like to think of themselves as "depth," which is why they often leave when it's clear they are backups or reserves. The latest is WR Kyle Prater, a once-touted recruit who fell behind due to injuries and being less good than his recruiting pedigree. The Trojans previously lost RB Amir Carlisle, who's transferring to Notre Dame, and RB Dillon Baxter, who fell afoul of coach Lane Kiffin. It also appears that WR Brice Butler is leaving.

The point: Things are thin behind Woods, Lee and McNeal. And they are even more worrisome on the lines. Sure, the Trojans welcome back four starters on the offensive line but there's a significant step back on the second team. Further, the defensive line is replacing three starters, though the depth there is better.

The most important thing for USC next fall is simple: staying healthy. The Trojans' likely starting 22 as it stands today will be a tough match for any team, SEC or otherwise. But the difference between the 2012 Trojans and, say, the 2004 version, is a lack of A-list depth.

USC is a almost certain preseason top-five team in 2012, along with LSU, Alabama, Oregon and probably Oklahoma. And if things fall into place, we might finally have that USC versus the SEC national title game we've been lacking in the BCS era, for whatever reason.

Of course, Oregon fans might have some thoughts on this.

This past season, it was certain the Pac-12 would have a Heisman Trophy candidate, considering the conference welcomed back two 2010 finalists: Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and Oregon running back LaMichael James.

Next year? Not so certain.

Of course, if USC quarterback Matt Barkley opts to return for his senior year, he'll instantly become the favorite. But who's betting he'll return? James also could return, but that seems unlikely. The same could be said for Washington running back Chris Polk.

After that?

USC receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee? Washington quarterback Keith Price? Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler? Cal wide receiver Keenan Allen? Washington State wide receiver Marquess Wilson? Utah running back John White?

My take: Woods and Oregon's multipurpose threat De'Anthony Thomas are the Pac-12's top candidates, as of today.

But this uncertainty is not just a Pac-12 thing. As the venerable Heisman Pundit points out, it should be a wide open race nationally. It's quite possible that the preseason list of Heisman candidates won't include the eventual winner (and, really, who had Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III in their Heisman pool in August?).

The race for the 2012 Heisman appears to be wide open, especially assuming you can cross the following names off this year’s top 10 in the voting list due to either early entry into the NFL draft or expiration of eligibility:

1. Robert Griffin III 2. Andrew Luck 3. Trent Richardson 4. Montee Ball
5. Tyrann Mathieu
6. Matt Barkley 7. Case Keenum 8. Kellen Moore 9. Russell Wilson 10. LaMichael James

Whereas this past season had five of the top six finishers in the Heisman race returning, it’s very likely that nine of 10 from this season will not return (something that hasn’t happened since 2005). That means the race for the 2012 Heisman is likely to be wide open, with no real front runner in place.

And HP is not a believer in Mathieu coming back and winning next fall.

He does, however, make his own list, which includes Thomas but not Woods. He also includes USC running back Curtis McNeal.

On Thomas: "An electric will o’ the wisp who can score on the ground, in the air or by returning kicks and punts. Should be the star of yet another fine Oregon team."

On McNeal: "The USC running back position is a favorite of Heisman voters. McNeal averaged 120 yards per game and nearly 7 yards per carry in his last six games, which could point to an even bigger season in 2012."

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson likely starts out the 2012 season as the favorite, which probably means he won't win -- see Luck. After that, everyone is just going to list returning offensive players who had good numbers in 2011.

Here's a quick look at Week 13 in the Pac-12.

All times are ET.

Friday

Colorado (2-10, 1-7) at Utah (7-4, 4-4) 3:30 p.m., FSN: No word -- yet -- on the fate of Jon Embree's daughter's bike. The newest bitter rivalry in the Pac-12 is actually not that new. Colorado leads the series 30-24-3, though the last meeting was in 1962, a 37-21 Buffaloes win. Buffs RB Rodney Stewart needs 41 receiving yards to become the 27th player in FBS history to have 3,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in his career. John White's 42 carries against Washington State was the second-highest total in school history. White's 14 rushing TDs has tied a Utah record. The Utes are 7-0 when White rushes for 100 yards.

California (6-5, 3-5) at Arizona State (6-5, 4-4) 10:15 p.m., ESPN: California leads the series 16-14. The Bears won 50-17 last year. Arizona State must win in order to keep its Pac-12 South Division hopes alive. The Sun Devils have lost three in a row and four of five. Sun Devils QB Brock Osweiler has 3,377 passing yards. He is the fifth QB in program history to eclipse 3,000 yards passing. California is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in total defense.

Saturday

Oregon State (3-8, 3-5) at No. 10 Oregon (9-2, 7-1) 3:30, ABC/ESPN2: Oregon leads the series 58-46-10. The Ducks won 37-20 last year. The Ducks need to win to clinch the Pac-12 North Division title. If they lose, Stanford is the North champion. Beavers QB Sean Mannion has 3,033 yards passing. He is the fifth QB in program history to eclipse 3,000 yards passing. RB LaMichael James is now the Ducks' leader in career all-purpose yards with 5,310. Ducks QB Darron Thomas has thrown a TD pass in 23 consecutive games.

Louisiana-Lafayette (8-3) at Arizona (3-8) 4 p.m.: This is the first meeting between these teams. The Ragin' Cajuns started 6-1, losing only to Oklahoma State, but they've lost two of their past four games to Western Kentucky and Arkansas State. Wildcats QB Nick Foles set a school record with 3,982 passing yards, which ranks third all-time in the Pac-12. He needs 77 passing yards to move passed Oregon State's Derek Anderson (4,058) to move into second place. But Foles is questionable for the game with a back injury.

Washington State (4-7, 2-6) at Washington (6-5, 4-4) 7:30 p.m., Versus: Washington leads the series 66-31-6. The Huskies won 35-28 in Pullman last year. This year's game will be played in CenturyLink Field, the Seattle Seahawks' home stadium because Husky Stadium is undergoing renovations. This is the first time since 1980 the Apple Cup has not been played on either campus. Senior Marshall Lobbestael will start at QB for the Cougars after freshman Connor Halliday was hospitalized after the Utah game with a lacerated liver. Keith Price will start for the Huskies at QB. He needs two TD passes to tie Cody Pickett's season record of 28 set in 2001.

No. 22 Notre Dame (8-3) at No. 6 Stanford (10-1, 8-1) 8 p.m., ABC: Notre Dame leads the series 17-8. Stanford won 37-14 last year in South Bend. Stanford RB Stepfan Taylor has rushed for 1,036 yards this season, making him the third Cardinal back to produce multiple 1,000-yard seasons, joining Darrin Nelson (three times) and Toby Gerhart (twice). Cardinal QB Andrew Luck has 31 TD passes, one short of his own school record set last year. He has 76 career TD passes, one short of John Elway's school record of 77. The Cardinal missed a field goal against California last weekend. That's important because it was the first time this season Stanford failed to score in the red zone. They are 61 of 62 this season.

UCLA (6-5, 5-3) at No. 10 (AP) USC (9-2, 6-2) 9 p.m., FSN: USC leads the series 45-28-7. The Trojans won 28-14 last year. UCLA is 4-0 in Pac-12 home games this year, but the Bruins' only road conference win came at Oregon State. The Bruins beat Colorado 45-6 last weekend. It was the most points they've scored since Sept. 1, 2007., when they also had 45 in a win over Stanford. UCLA is 14-0 under coach Rick Neuheisel when holding an opponent under 20 points. USC is looking to post a 10-win season for the eighth time in 10 years and for the 25th time in school history. Trojans WR Robert Woods needs four catches to break Keyshawn Johnson's Pac-12 single-season receptions record (102). Trojans RB Curtis McNeal need 119 yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark. Trojans QB Matt Barkley has 33 TD passes, fourth most in the nation.

EUGENE, Ore. -- Is Oregon the next team to fall out of the national title hunt? USC leads 21-7 at the half.

Best player in the half: USC quarterback Matt Barkley completed 15 of 19 throws for 186 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was simply outstanding in the first half.

Best call: USC went three-and-out and fumbled on its first three possessions. Then coach Lane Kiffin dialed up a deep route, and Barkley connected with Marqise Lee for a 59-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. From then on, the Trojans offense rolled.

What USC needs to do, What Oregon needs to do: Oregon running back LaMichael James fumbled inside the Trojans 10-yard line late in the first half, so the Ducks didn't take any positive momentum into halftime. But they get the ball to open the second half. They need points on that possession to get things turned around. The Trojans need to continue their present trajectory -- attacking on offense and being opportunistic on defense. Running back Curtis McNeal also could have an impact in the second half, help to pile up first downs and eat clock.

Happy Friday.

• A young defensive end has caught up at Arizona.
• Arizona State running back Cameron Marshall has speed and family on both sides of the Territorial Cup.
• A win against Stanford could turn frowns upside down at California.
• Colorado's players are starting to figure out what coach Jon Embree wants.
• Oregon football players learn sign language and ... "O no!" suspended Ducks cornerback Cliff Harris has a court date.
• Oregon State seniors get ready for the final home game.
• Stanford intends to get its running game back on track.
• The final UCLA injury report. And if quarterback Kevin Prince gets hurt, freshman Brett Hundley will burn his redshirt.
• USC running back Curtis "Moody" McNeal has traveled a long way to land in the spotlight. Receiver Robert Woods will be a game-time decision.
• A strong finish is not a new thing for Utah.
• Quarterback Nick Montana gets his first start for Washington at Oregon State.
• Washington State gets ready for the tough Utah defense.
• College football has a new commissioner, and his name is Stewart Mandell.

Who gets a helmet sticker for a job well done?

Oregon's defense: It doesn't seem like a great night when you hold an offense to 30 points, but when that's Stanford and Andrew Luck, it's something. The Ducks forced five turnovers during their 53-30 victory from a team that entered the game with seven.

Rodney Stewart, Colorado: The Buffaloes running back rushed for 181 yards and three TDs on 24 carries as Colorado rolled over Arizona 48-29.

John White, Utah: The Utes running back rushed 33 times for 167 yards with two touchdowns in the 31-6 win over UCLA.

Curtis McNeal, USC: The Trojans running back rushed for 148 yards on 18 carries with a TD in USC's 40-17 win over Washington.

Isi Sofele, California: The California running back rushed for a career-high 190 yards and one touchdown in the Bears 23-6 win over Oregon State.

Connor Halliday, Washington State: The Cougars freshman QB came off the bench and threw for 494 yards and four TDs in the 37-27 upset win over Arizona State. He completed 27 of 36 passes with no interceptions.