Pac-12: Utah
Projecting the bowls based on the opening week.
Rose Bowl Game: Stanford vs. Big Ten
Valero Alamo: Oregon vs. Big 12
Bridgepoint Education Holiday: Arizona State vs. Big 12
Hyundai Sun: California vs. ACC
MAACO Las Vegas: Arizona vs. Mountain West
Kraft Fight Hunger: Washington vs. ACC or Army
Gildan New Mexico: Utah vs. Big 12
Rose Bowl Game: Stanford vs. Big Ten
Valero Alamo: Oregon vs. Big 12
Bridgepoint Education Holiday: Arizona State vs. Big 12
Hyundai Sun: California vs. ACC
MAACO Las Vegas: Arizona vs. Mountain West
Kraft Fight Hunger: Washington vs. ACC or Army
Gildan New Mexico: Utah vs. Big 12
Pac-12 lunch links: No penalties for Kiffin
August, 24, 2011
8/24/11
2:30
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?
- Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey can run, but can he block? The Wildcats might have a new kicker.
- Arizona State is uncertain at kicker, punter. Injured cornerback Omar Bolden, who is a team captain, defends linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who is not.
- Some depth chart updates at California, including who won the No. 2 quarterback job.
- A former Oregon State baseball player is hoping to contribute for Colorado. This freshman receiver is ready to play.
- LSU-Oregon? It's huge. Ducks defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti isn't sweating LSU.
- A youngster needs to step up at cornerback for Oregon State. More from the Beavers scrimmage.
- Interesting story about Stanford's Skov brothers.
- Still no resolution at quarterback for UCLA. Alert! UCLA avoids bad injury news!
- USC coach Lane Kiffin will not be sanctioned for secondary violations at Tennessee. USC frosh by the numbers.
- Utah's budget is not in line with the Pac-12 just yet. Leadership from the big guys at the end of the line.
- Washington's depth at receiver means veterans are fighting for touches. Some practice notes.
- Washington State coach Paul Wulff wasn't happy with practice. Hope or nope for the Cougs?
- You can listen to me ramble on this podcast with the fellows from "Solid Verbal."
Our countdown of the Pac-12's top 25 players continues.
You can see the final post-2010 top 25 here. It doesn't, however, include players from Colorado or Utah.
4. Chris Polk, RB, Washington
2010 numbers: Polk ranked second in the Pac-10 with 1,415 yards rushing -- his 108.9 yards per game ranked 13th in the nation -- and he scored nine touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 180 yards.
2010 ranking: No. 7
Making the case for Polk: Polk, second-team All-Pac-10 in 2010, became a dominant running back over the home stretch of the 2010 season, when the Huskies won four in a row, including their first bowl victory since 2000. It was Polk, not QB Jake Locker, who ended up being the Huskies most important player. He rushed for 138 yards against UCLA, 86 at California -- including the winning fourth-and-1 plunge on the game's final play -- and 284 yards at Washington State, the second-best rushing total in school history. Then, in the Holiday Bowl against a good Nebraska defense, he rushed for 177 yards on a career-high 34 carries and was named the offensive MVP. His 260 total carries ranked second in the Pac-10 and were third-most in school history. The rising junior's second-consecutive 1,000-yard season pushed him to No. 6 on the Huskies all-time rushing list with 2,561 yards. Polk has become an all-around back. He's a good receiver, has break-away speed and is highly physical, gaining most of his yards after contact. The Huskies are breaking in a new QB -- Keith Price -- and the depth at running back is banged up. It's likely Polk will shoulder even more of the load in 2011, and he could put up numbers that earn him All-American and even Doak Walker Award consideration.
5. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
6. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
7. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
8. Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
9. Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon
10. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
11. Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford
12. T.J. McDonald, S, USC
13. Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington
14. Matt Kalil, OT, USC
15. Delano Howell, S, Stanford
16. Mychal Kendricks, LB, California
17. Rodney Stewart, RB, Colorado
18. Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington
19. Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford
20. Jeff Tuel, QB, Washington State
21. Robert Woods, WR, USC
22. Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA
23. David Paulson, TE, Oregon
24. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
25. Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
You can see the final post-2010 top 25 here. It doesn't, however, include players from Colorado or Utah.
4. Chris Polk, RB, Washington
2010 numbers: Polk ranked second in the Pac-10 with 1,415 yards rushing -- his 108.9 yards per game ranked 13th in the nation -- and he scored nine touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 180 yards.
2010 ranking: No. 7
Making the case for Polk: Polk, second-team All-Pac-10 in 2010, became a dominant running back over the home stretch of the 2010 season, when the Huskies won four in a row, including their first bowl victory since 2000. It was Polk, not QB Jake Locker, who ended up being the Huskies most important player. He rushed for 138 yards against UCLA, 86 at California -- including the winning fourth-and-1 plunge on the game's final play -- and 284 yards at Washington State, the second-best rushing total in school history. Then, in the Holiday Bowl against a good Nebraska defense, he rushed for 177 yards on a career-high 34 carries and was named the offensive MVP. His 260 total carries ranked second in the Pac-10 and were third-most in school history. The rising junior's second-consecutive 1,000-yard season pushed him to No. 6 on the Huskies all-time rushing list with 2,561 yards. Polk has become an all-around back. He's a good receiver, has break-away speed and is highly physical, gaining most of his yards after contact. The Huskies are breaking in a new QB -- Keith Price -- and the depth at running back is banged up. It's likely Polk will shoulder even more of the load in 2011, and he could put up numbers that earn him All-American and even Doak Walker Award consideration.
5. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
6. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
7. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
8. Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
9. Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon
10. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
11. Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford
12. T.J. McDonald, S, USC
13. Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington
14. Matt Kalil, OT, USC
15. Delano Howell, S, Stanford
16. Mychal Kendricks, LB, California
17. Rodney Stewart, RB, Colorado
18. Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington
19. Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford
20. Jeff Tuel, QB, Washington State
21. Robert Woods, WR, USC
22. Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA
23. David Paulson, TE, Oregon
24. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
25. Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
Fifth in a series looking at potential dream and nightmare scenarios for all Pac-12 teams.
Understand: These are not predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction. You can read last year's versions here.
We're going in reverse order of my post-spring power rankings (which might not be identical to my preseason power rankings).
Up next: Utah
Best case
When 94,000 people gasp at the same time, it creates something even more dramatic than the bedlam that inevitably follows.
Everyone in the Coliseum saw USC cornerback Nickell Robey fall down. They saw Utah receiver DeVonte Christopher turn and sprint alone up the visitor's sideline. And they saw Utes quarterback Jordan Wynn recognize the situation, and, with a notably relaxed setup and sendoff, launch what became an 85-yard touchdown pass for a 35-28 victory over the Trojans.
The Utes all-time Pac-12 record becomes 1-0.
"I think the Utes proved they belong," says ESPN GameDay's Kirk Herbstreit. "They will be a factor in the Pac-12 South."
Utes coach Kyle Whittingham seems amused with fans and reporters immediately building monuments to commemorate the moment. "It's one football game," he said. "You know, we've beaten some pretty good teams before."
The Utes don't have too much time to celebrate, considering their turnaround game is a visit to BYU for "Holy War."
A secret meeting of the MUSS executive counsel is set for Monday to plan a variety of "classless" strategies. The 12 members properly devise all sorts of horrible things to do to BYU fans, particularly Cougars players' families.
The Utes stomp the Cougars 33-10. Utah fans remains classy throughout. Smug, but classy.
The Utes move up to 10th in the nation with a win over Washington, which sets up a critical showdown with unbeaten South rival Arizona State.
Linebacker Brian Blechen grabs a late interception to preserve a 24-21 victory.
"Are the Utes going to go to the Rose Bowl their first year in the Pac-12?" ESPN's Chris Fowler asks. "What does that say about the old members of the Pac-10?"
"I don't know if it says anything other than it confirms what we suspected: The Utes are good," Herbstreit replies.
After whipping Pittsburgh 31-10, however, the wheels come off at California. The Utes yield four sacks and commit four turnovers in a 21-17 defeat.
They bounce back at home with a win over Oregon State, but the Utes secondary gets picked apart in Tucson by Arizona quarterback Nick Foles in a 38-24 defeat. That creates a three-way tie with the Utes, Wildcats and Sun Devils atop the South Division.
"Do I think the grind of the Pac-12 schedule is finally getting to us?" Whittingham says, repeating a reporter's question. "If you mean does playing a tougher schedule make it tougher to win every week, I'd say yes. That's not exactly quantum mechanics, is it?"
The Utes bounce back with a win over UCLA and a double-overtime victory at Washington State. After Arizona State beat Arizona, the Utes only need to beat Colorado to win the inaugural South Division championship.
But there is intrigue.
"Coach Embree's daughter's bike was painted red?" a befuddled Whittingham asks. "Is the Pac-12 going to be weird like this all the time?"
Despite the Buffaloes using the "Red Bike Incident" for motivation, Wynn tosses three touchdown passes in a 31-24 win.
The Utes finish the regular season 10-2 and ranked ninth. They also win the South Division and earn a berth opposite top-ranked Stanford in the first Pac-12 championship game.
Stanford prevails 38-24 as Andrew Luck passes for 305 yards and two TDs and rushes for another.
"The story here is Luck surely sewing up the Heisman and the Cardinal playing Alabama for the national title," Fowler says. "But what a first season in the Pac-12 for Utah."
The Utes whip Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl 33-17 and finish ranked eighth.
They then sign their first top-25 recruiting class. "Coach," a reporter asks, "how's it feel to be ranked 21st in the ESPN.com recruiting rankings?"
"Oh, I don't care about recruiting rankings -- we just sign guys who want to come here and we think can help us," Whittingham says. "But it was 20th. Get it right."
Worst case
USC quarterback Matt Barkley throws for 380 yards and three touchdowns against a rebuilt Utah secondary as the Trojans roll over the Utes 42-20.
"No, that's a good team; we respect them," Barkley says afterwards. "But we wanted them to get a proper welcome to the Pac-12. This ain't the Mountain West."
The Utes still seem shell-shocked a week later, and rival BYU takes advantage. Jake Heaps throws a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes as the Cougars win the "Holy War" 28-17.
"They think they're all that because they're in the Pac-12," Heaps says. "But they're still just the second-best program in Utah."
After the game, it's revealed that Utes quarterback Jordan Wynn "tweaked" his shoulder and that Jon Hays will start against Washington after the bye week.
"We hope to get Jordan back for the Arizona State game," coach Kyle Whittingham says.
The Huskies roll over the Utes 31-17.
Wynn comes back against Arizona State, but struggles early and gets up slowly after a sack from Sun Devils linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
Hays starts the third quarter, and Burfict and the Sun Devils defense dominate, holding the Utes to 28 yards in the second half.
"Lots of talk in the preseason about Utah being immediately competitive in the Pac-12," remarks ESPN's Chris Fowler. "I know Wynn's been hurt, but so far the old Pac-10 is being fairly rude to its new member."
It's announced that Wynn is done for the season.
Hays and the Utes win at Pittsburgh to improve to 2-4, but they get dominated at California, 41-10. They slip Oregon State at home, but Arizona QB Nick Foles throws for 405 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-20 Wildcats win in Tucson.
UCLA doesn't have a quarterback who can exploit the struggling Utes secondary, but Washington State does. The Cougars win 33-30 in overtime, and the Utes fall to 4-7. The season finale is at home against Colorado.
"I've got a lot more things to worry about other than a vandalized bike, of which I know nothing about," Whittingham says.
Denver Post headline: "Whittingham doesn't care about Embree's daughter's bike. Or her feelings!"
Colorado picks up its seventh win with a 30-21 victory. Buffaloes 6-foot-8 guard Ryan Miller walks out of Rice-Eccles Stadium among his celebrating teammates holding a gold and black bike above his head, one that appears to have been vandalized with cheap, red spray paint.
BYU, now an Independent, signs a broadcast deal with ESPN that will pay it an average of $25 million a year over the next 12 years.
"We are classy," BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe says. "And rich!"
The Pie closes.
Understand: These are not predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction. You can read last year's versions here.
We're going in reverse order of my post-spring power rankings (which might not be identical to my preseason power rankings).
Up next: Utah
Best case
When 94,000 people gasp at the same time, it creates something even more dramatic than the bedlam that inevitably follows.
Everyone in the Coliseum saw USC cornerback Nickell Robey fall down. They saw Utah receiver DeVonte Christopher turn and sprint alone up the visitor's sideline. And they saw Utes quarterback Jordan Wynn recognize the situation, and, with a notably relaxed setup and sendoff, launch what became an 85-yard touchdown pass for a 35-28 victory over the Trojans.
The Utes all-time Pac-12 record becomes 1-0.
"I think the Utes proved they belong," says ESPN GameDay's Kirk Herbstreit. "They will be a factor in the Pac-12 South."
Utes coach Kyle Whittingham seems amused with fans and reporters immediately building monuments to commemorate the moment. "It's one football game," he said. "You know, we've beaten some pretty good teams before."
The Utes don't have too much time to celebrate, considering their turnaround game is a visit to BYU for "Holy War."
A secret meeting of the MUSS executive counsel is set for Monday to plan a variety of "classless" strategies. The 12 members properly devise all sorts of horrible things to do to BYU fans, particularly Cougars players' families.
The Utes stomp the Cougars 33-10. Utah fans remains classy throughout. Smug, but classy.
The Utes move up to 10th in the nation with a win over Washington, which sets up a critical showdown with unbeaten South rival Arizona State.
Linebacker Brian Blechen grabs a late interception to preserve a 24-21 victory.
"Are the Utes going to go to the Rose Bowl their first year in the Pac-12?" ESPN's Chris Fowler asks. "What does that say about the old members of the Pac-10?"
"I don't know if it says anything other than it confirms what we suspected: The Utes are good," Herbstreit replies.
After whipping Pittsburgh 31-10, however, the wheels come off at California. The Utes yield four sacks and commit four turnovers in a 21-17 defeat.
They bounce back at home with a win over Oregon State, but the Utes secondary gets picked apart in Tucson by Arizona quarterback Nick Foles in a 38-24 defeat. That creates a three-way tie with the Utes, Wildcats and Sun Devils atop the South Division.
"Do I think the grind of the Pac-12 schedule is finally getting to us?" Whittingham says, repeating a reporter's question. "If you mean does playing a tougher schedule make it tougher to win every week, I'd say yes. That's not exactly quantum mechanics, is it?"
The Utes bounce back with a win over UCLA and a double-overtime victory at Washington State. After Arizona State beat Arizona, the Utes only need to beat Colorado to win the inaugural South Division championship.
But there is intrigue.
"Coach Embree's daughter's bike was painted red?" a befuddled Whittingham asks. "Is the Pac-12 going to be weird like this all the time?"
Despite the Buffaloes using the "Red Bike Incident" for motivation, Wynn tosses three touchdown passes in a 31-24 win.
The Utes finish the regular season 10-2 and ranked ninth. They also win the South Division and earn a berth opposite top-ranked Stanford in the first Pac-12 championship game.
Stanford prevails 38-24 as Andrew Luck passes for 305 yards and two TDs and rushes for another.
"The story here is Luck surely sewing up the Heisman and the Cardinal playing Alabama for the national title," Fowler says. "But what a first season in the Pac-12 for Utah."
The Utes whip Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl 33-17 and finish ranked eighth.
They then sign their first top-25 recruiting class. "Coach," a reporter asks, "how's it feel to be ranked 21st in the ESPN.com recruiting rankings?"
"Oh, I don't care about recruiting rankings -- we just sign guys who want to come here and we think can help us," Whittingham says. "But it was 20th. Get it right."
Worst case
USC quarterback Matt Barkley throws for 380 yards and three touchdowns against a rebuilt Utah secondary as the Trojans roll over the Utes 42-20.
"No, that's a good team; we respect them," Barkley says afterwards. "But we wanted them to get a proper welcome to the Pac-12. This ain't the Mountain West."
The Utes still seem shell-shocked a week later, and rival BYU takes advantage. Jake Heaps throws a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes as the Cougars win the "Holy War" 28-17.
"They think they're all that because they're in the Pac-12," Heaps says. "But they're still just the second-best program in Utah."
After the game, it's revealed that Utes quarterback Jordan Wynn "tweaked" his shoulder and that Jon Hays will start against Washington after the bye week.
"We hope to get Jordan back for the Arizona State game," coach Kyle Whittingham says.
The Huskies roll over the Utes 31-17.
Wynn comes back against Arizona State, but struggles early and gets up slowly after a sack from Sun Devils linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
Hays starts the third quarter, and Burfict and the Sun Devils defense dominate, holding the Utes to 28 yards in the second half.
"Lots of talk in the preseason about Utah being immediately competitive in the Pac-12," remarks ESPN's Chris Fowler. "I know Wynn's been hurt, but so far the old Pac-10 is being fairly rude to its new member."
It's announced that Wynn is done for the season.
Hays and the Utes win at Pittsburgh to improve to 2-4, but they get dominated at California, 41-10. They slip Oregon State at home, but Arizona QB Nick Foles throws for 405 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-20 Wildcats win in Tucson.
UCLA doesn't have a quarterback who can exploit the struggling Utes secondary, but Washington State does. The Cougars win 33-30 in overtime, and the Utes fall to 4-7. The season finale is at home against Colorado.
"I've got a lot more things to worry about other than a vandalized bike, of which I know nothing about," Whittingham says.
Denver Post headline: "Whittingham doesn't care about Embree's daughter's bike. Or her feelings!"
Colorado picks up its seventh win with a 30-21 victory. Buffaloes 6-foot-8 guard Ryan Miller walks out of Rice-Eccles Stadium among his celebrating teammates holding a gold and black bike above his head, one that appears to have been vandalized with cheap, red spray paint.
BYU, now an Independent, signs a broadcast deal with ESPN that will pay it an average of $25 million a year over the next 12 years.
"We are classy," BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe says. "And rich!"
The Pie closes.
While recruiting rankings are more accurate than not, they can only tell us so much. We don't know how guys will respond when they arrive on campus and guys suddenly are bigger and faster than everyone they have played against.
Plenty of four- and five-star guys struggle, and plenty of two-star guys make an immediate impact.
So, with preseason camps winding down, which true freshmen are in line to start or see significant playing time?
Here's a list, though please understand it will be incomplete.
Arizona
CB Cortez Johnson
RB Ka'Deem Carey
LB Hank Hobson
LB Rob Hankins
DB Tramayne Bodurant
Note: None likely to start but each could be in a regular rotation.
Arizona State
S Ezekiel Bishop
LB Isreal Marshall
Note: The Sun Devils are a veteran team so their are few voids on the depth chart. Mike Bercovici could end up the No. 2 quarterback. Injuries at linebacker opened the door for Marshall.
California
LB Chris McCain
LB Cecil Whiteside
CB Stefan McClure
DT Viliami Moala
S Avery Walls
Note: Cal has closed practices so good information is limited. McCain has been the biggest surprise. McClure injured his thumb and will be in a cast for a bit, which might hurt his prospects. This list every well could be longer because it appears most of the incoming freshman are living up to their advanced billing.
Colorado
WR Tyler McCulloch
CB Greg Henderson
OG Paulay Asiata
SS Kyle Washington
K Will Oliver
P Darragh O'Neill
Note: McCulloch is listed as a co-starter and has been compared to Ed McCaffrey. Henderson has won a starting job as have Oliver and O'Neill. The Buffs have never had two true freshmen manning both specialists spots.
Oregon
TE Colt Lyerla
RB De'Anthony Thomas
Note: Running back Tra Carson, at 220 pounds, also could fill the "big" back role, but he still figures to be the fourth option. Lyerla is David Paulson's likely backup. Thomas is too good to sit.
Oregon State
RB Malcolm Agnew
WR Brandin Cooks
RB Terron Ward
S Tyrequek Zimmerman
K Trevor Romaine
Note: Romaine, a grayshirt, is the only sure starter here, but Agnew and Ward are almost certain to get touches. Cooks is a threat to beat out Darrell Catchings at flanker (where James Rodgers will play when he comes back).
Stanford
WR Ty Montgomery
LB James Vaughters
CB Wayne Lyons
Note: None of this troika appear headed for the starting lineup -- in Week 1 at least -- but all three have been impressive and will see significant action.
UCLA
OL Jacob Brendel
WR Devin Lucien
Note: Neither is likely to start -- both play positions with plenty of veteran players -- but both should see action.
USC
WR Marqise Lee
OG Aundrey Walker
LB Lamar Dawson
RB Amir Carlisle
Note: A bit of a surprise that Lee and not George Farmer is the standout freshman receiver of preseason camp. Walker could win a starting job at some point this season. Dawson will backup Chris Galippo, who has a fairly lengthy injury history. Keeping up with the running back competition has been difficult, but it seems unlikely Carlisle will redshirt.
Utah
DE Nate Fakahafua
RB Harvey Langi
DB Eric Rowe
Note: Rowe is currently a starting safety. Fakahafua is pressing to start. Langi has the talent to start but will at least get plenty of touches.
Washington
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins
WR Kasen Williams
LB John Timu
DT Danny Shelton
Note: Seferian-Jenkins and Timu look like starters. Williams and Shelton have been so impressive they will be in the regular rotation from game one.
Washington State
LB Chester Su’a
LB Darryl Monroe
Note: Both are in line to provide depth, but it's a good sign for the Cougars that the depth chart isn't littered with true freshmen.
Plenty of four- and five-star guys struggle, and plenty of two-star guys make an immediate impact.
So, with preseason camps winding down, which true freshmen are in line to start or see significant playing time?
Here's a list, though please understand it will be incomplete.
Arizona
CB Cortez Johnson
RB Ka'Deem Carey
LB Hank Hobson
LB Rob Hankins
DB Tramayne Bodurant
Note: None likely to start but each could be in a regular rotation.
Arizona State
S Ezekiel Bishop
LB Isreal Marshall
Note: The Sun Devils are a veteran team so their are few voids on the depth chart. Mike Bercovici could end up the No. 2 quarterback. Injuries at linebacker opened the door for Marshall.
California
LB Chris McCain
LB Cecil Whiteside
CB Stefan McClure
DT Viliami Moala
S Avery Walls
Note: Cal has closed practices so good information is limited. McCain has been the biggest surprise. McClure injured his thumb and will be in a cast for a bit, which might hurt his prospects. This list every well could be longer because it appears most of the incoming freshman are living up to their advanced billing.
Colorado
WR Tyler McCulloch
CB Greg Henderson
OG Paulay Asiata
SS Kyle Washington
K Will Oliver
P Darragh O'Neill
Note: McCulloch is listed as a co-starter and has been compared to Ed McCaffrey. Henderson has won a starting job as have Oliver and O'Neill. The Buffs have never had two true freshmen manning both specialists spots.
Oregon
TE Colt Lyerla
RB De'Anthony Thomas
Note: Running back Tra Carson, at 220 pounds, also could fill the "big" back role, but he still figures to be the fourth option. Lyerla is David Paulson's likely backup. Thomas is too good to sit.
Oregon State
RB Malcolm Agnew
WR Brandin Cooks
RB Terron Ward
S Tyrequek Zimmerman
K Trevor Romaine
Note: Romaine, a grayshirt, is the only sure starter here, but Agnew and Ward are almost certain to get touches. Cooks is a threat to beat out Darrell Catchings at flanker (where James Rodgers will play when he comes back).
Stanford
WR Ty Montgomery
LB James Vaughters
CB Wayne Lyons
Note: None of this troika appear headed for the starting lineup -- in Week 1 at least -- but all three have been impressive and will see significant action.
UCLA
OL Jacob Brendel
WR Devin Lucien
Note: Neither is likely to start -- both play positions with plenty of veteran players -- but both should see action.
USC
WR Marqise Lee
OG Aundrey Walker
LB Lamar Dawson
RB Amir Carlisle
Note: A bit of a surprise that Lee and not George Farmer is the standout freshman receiver of preseason camp. Walker could win a starting job at some point this season. Dawson will backup Chris Galippo, who has a fairly lengthy injury history. Keeping up with the running back competition has been difficult, but it seems unlikely Carlisle will redshirt.
Utah
DE Nate Fakahafua
RB Harvey Langi
DB Eric Rowe
Note: Rowe is currently a starting safety. Fakahafua is pressing to start. Langi has the talent to start but will at least get plenty of touches.
Washington
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins
WR Kasen Williams
LB John Timu
DT Danny Shelton
Note: Seferian-Jenkins and Timu look like starters. Williams and Shelton have been so impressive they will be in the regular rotation from game one.
Washington State
LB Chester Su’a
LB Darryl Monroe
Note: Both are in line to provide depth, but it's a good sign for the Cougars that the depth chart isn't littered with true freshmen.
The heart's in it then, spinning dreams, and torment is on the way. The heart makes dreams seem like ideas.
- Arizona cornerback Trevin Wade has regained his focus and swagger.
- Arizona State defensive tackle Corey Adams is emerging mostly because he's healthy.
- Trying to figure out how to feel about California's situation at quarterback.
- Colorado has a walk-on punter and other depth chart notes. Jon Embree is not afraid to play freshmen.
- Lache Seastrunk's departure likely means a couple of freshmen will see action. Frosh tight end Colt Lyerla is now a backup.
- Where do things stand with Oregon State receiver James Rodgers? What are the issues as the Beavers scrimmage today?
- Stanford was mostly impressive in its scrimmage. Ticket sales are up significantly.
- UCLA is still uncertain at kicker. Some notes, including frosh quarterback Brett Hundley's return to practice. More on that here.
- Competitions continue on USC's defense. Predicting the depth chart: offense and defense. The D will be better with two minutes left.
- Apparently the transition to Norm Chow as offensive coordinator -- which included a pair of demotions -- has been smooth at Utah. If there's a full moon, this Utes running back might be money.
- Washington cornerback Desmond Trufant is ready for his close-up. Sean Parker also looks to be a hit in the secondary.
- Washington State wideout Jared Karstetter is hoping for a payoff after remaining true to the Cougars. Making the case for Coug optimism.
CBSSports.com's Brett McMurphy looks at the biggest AP preseason poll busts since 2001, and three Pac-12 teams make the list.
2002: No. 9 Washington (finished 7-6)
2001: No. 11 Oregon State (finished 5-6)
2009: No. 12 Cal (finished 8-5)
Easy to remember each of those teams.
The 2002 Huskies featured quarterback Cody Pickett, who passed for 4,458 yards that season, and wide receiver Reggie Williams. The season began with a last-second loss at Michigan due to a massive coaching blunder that cost the Huskies the game. Said then-coach Rick Neuheisel: "We switched substitution groups, which we're going to kick ourselves about for a thousand years."
The Huskies seemed to lose their mojo, but they then rallied for three consecutive wins to finish the regular season -- Neuheisel memorably created the "Northwest Championship" -- over Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State to earn bowl eligibility.
That Oregon State team was touted -- Sports Illustrated ranked the Beavers preseason No. 1 -- after an 11-1 finish in 2000, with quarterback Jonathan Smith and running back Ken Simonton returning. Things immediately fell apart with a blowout loss at Fresno State. A 1-3 start, in fact, featured a 38-7 home loss to UCLA.
As for Cal, at least one writer [insert uncomfortable cough] celebrated the 2009 Bears as a potential national title contender. (They were stacked with talent: backs Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen, defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Tyson Alualu, linebackers Mike Mohamed and Devin Bishop, cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, etc.) After a 3-0 start, the Bears headed to Oregon ranked sixth.
SPLAT! Cal goes down 42-3. The next weekend, just in case we didn't get the message, USC ripped the Bears 30-3 in Berkeley. Suffice it to say, there was nothing subtle about Cal's unmasking.
Here's this year's preseason top 10. So who becomes the bust this year?
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. LSU
5. Boise State
6. Florida State
7. Stanford
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma State
10. Nebraska
2002: No. 9 Washington (finished 7-6)
2001: No. 11 Oregon State (finished 5-6)
2009: No. 12 Cal (finished 8-5)
Easy to remember each of those teams.
The 2002 Huskies featured quarterback Cody Pickett, who passed for 4,458 yards that season, and wide receiver Reggie Williams. The season began with a last-second loss at Michigan due to a massive coaching blunder that cost the Huskies the game. Said then-coach Rick Neuheisel: "We switched substitution groups, which we're going to kick ourselves about for a thousand years."
The Huskies seemed to lose their mojo, but they then rallied for three consecutive wins to finish the regular season -- Neuheisel memorably created the "Northwest Championship" -- over Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State to earn bowl eligibility.
That Oregon State team was touted -- Sports Illustrated ranked the Beavers preseason No. 1 -- after an 11-1 finish in 2000, with quarterback Jonathan Smith and running back Ken Simonton returning. Things immediately fell apart with a blowout loss at Fresno State. A 1-3 start, in fact, featured a 38-7 home loss to UCLA.
As for Cal, at least one writer [insert uncomfortable cough] celebrated the 2009 Bears as a potential national title contender. (They were stacked with talent: backs Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen, defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Tyson Alualu, linebackers Mike Mohamed and Devin Bishop, cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, etc.) After a 3-0 start, the Bears headed to Oregon ranked sixth.
SPLAT! Cal goes down 42-3. The next weekend, just in case we didn't get the message, USC ripped the Bears 30-3 in Berkeley. Suffice it to say, there was nothing subtle about Cal's unmasking.
Here's this year's preseason top 10. So who becomes the bust this year?
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. LSU
5. Boise State
6. Florida State
7. Stanford
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma State
10. Nebraska
How much do returning starters matter?
August, 23, 2011
8/23/11
12:00
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
My guess is you will find this interesting: The Importance of Returning Starters. 
The conclusion is as you might expect: Nuanced.
So we rely too much on returning starters when predicting potential success.
But we are Pac-12 fans. We also know that all returning starters are not created equal. There is a major reason some of us feel the national pundits are selling the conference short this fall.
Hello, Andrew Luck, Darron Thomas, Matt Barkley, Nick Foles, Jeff Tuel, Jordan Wynn, Ryan Katz, Tyler Hansen and Kevin Prince.
But other positions, not surprisingly, matter more, too.
Then let's look at Pac-12 teams with their QB returning who also have at least one -- or both -- of the above: Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Washington State.
Obviously, there is no exact science to correlate returning starters to a successful season, but this would be my formula: a standout QB, both offensive tackles and the center, one All-Conference defensive lineman, one All-Conference cornerback.
Experience at the toughest position -- QB -- is a key one, but certainly not insurmountable -- see Oregon last year. Then there's the O-line. The veteran tackles provide the savvy, speed-rush protection on the edge, while the veteran center means you get the right line calls. Of course, that's also not always a given: Oregon State had its center and both tackles back in 2010, and the results weren't good. On the D-line, it seems to me having at least one guy who commands special attention -- two blockers -- is key. Finally, a lockdown corner who cancels one side of the field is certainly a nice thing to have.
Who most meets those measures? Many teams are close, but none get an exact match.
Which leaves us here with no climactic end for you. Sorry.
The conclusion is as you might expect: Nuanced.
Since 2004, FBS teams have averaged approximately 12.97 returning starters per season. Teams with 13 or more starters returning from the previous season won a combined 53 percent of their games during that time period. Teams with 12 or fewer starters won about 50 percent of their games since 2004 -- hardly a huge disparity.
Even smaller is the difference between experienced squads. Teams with 16 or more returning starters have won about 54 percent of their games since 2004.
So we rely too much on returning starters when predicting potential success.
But we are Pac-12 fans. We also know that all returning starters are not created equal. There is a major reason some of us feel the national pundits are selling the conference short this fall.
We looked at BCS teams since 2000 to determine which positions were most important to the most successful teams in college football, and discovered that 80 percent of all quarterbacks who have led their teams to a BCS bowl game were returning starters.
Hello, Andrew Luck, Darron Thomas, Matt Barkley, Nick Foles, Jeff Tuel, Jordan Wynn, Ryan Katz, Tyler Hansen and Kevin Prince.
But other positions, not surprisingly, matter more, too.
Besides quarterback, BCS teams have the highest return rate at offensive tackle (71 percent of tackles on BCS teams are returning starters), cornerback (71 percent) and free safety (72 percent).
Then let's look at Pac-12 teams with their QB returning who also have at least one -- or both -- of the above: Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Washington State.
Obviously, there is no exact science to correlate returning starters to a successful season, but this would be my formula: a standout QB, both offensive tackles and the center, one All-Conference defensive lineman, one All-Conference cornerback.
Experience at the toughest position -- QB -- is a key one, but certainly not insurmountable -- see Oregon last year. Then there's the O-line. The veteran tackles provide the savvy, speed-rush protection on the edge, while the veteran center means you get the right line calls. Of course, that's also not always a given: Oregon State had its center and both tackles back in 2010, and the results weren't good. On the D-line, it seems to me having at least one guy who commands special attention -- two blockers -- is key. Finally, a lockdown corner who cancels one side of the field is certainly a nice thing to have.
Who most meets those measures? Many teams are close, but none get an exact match.
Which leaves us here with no climactic end for you. Sorry.
No one likes a bad poll voter. It's only that there seems to be plenty of disagreement on just who are the worst poll voters, and opinions curiously seem to vary according to region.
The Pac-12 blog has always held a special place for Howard Schnellenberger, who apparently got a painful wedgie from a Pac-10 fan at some point and took out his passive-aggressive revenge with his buffoonish coaches poll votes through the years.
But that's just me. You surely have your special guy who you rant and rave about.
So to help out, here are a list of 2011 AP voters, arranged so you can see who is in and who is out.
Further, here's a great website that takes you behind the scenes into the AP poll: PollSpeak. It's interactive, so you can vote on which voters you like and don't like.
Further, there's plenty of interesting information, such as the historically most overrated and underrated teams in in the AP poll -- Pac-12 teams are featured in both categories.
In any event, the Pac-12 blog gets plenty of mail from irate fans, ranting about various pollsters. Not saying I don't love those notes, but PollSpeak is where you should take those complaints.
The Pac-12 blog has always held a special place for Howard Schnellenberger, who apparently got a painful wedgie from a Pac-10 fan at some point and took out his passive-aggressive revenge with his buffoonish coaches poll votes through the years.
But that's just me. You surely have your special guy who you rant and rave about.
So to help out, here are a list of 2011 AP voters, arranged so you can see who is in and who is out.
Further, here's a great website that takes you behind the scenes into the AP poll: PollSpeak. It's interactive, so you can vote on which voters you like and don't like.
Further, there's plenty of interesting information, such as the historically most overrated and underrated teams in in the AP poll -- Pac-12 teams are featured in both categories.
In any event, the Pac-12 blog gets plenty of mail from irate fans, ranting about various pollsters. Not saying I don't love those notes, but PollSpeak is where you should take those complaints.
Our countdown of the Pac-12's top 25 players continues.
You can see the final post-2010 top 25 here. It doesn't, however, include players from Colorado or Utah.
5. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
2010 numbers: Burfict led the Sun Devils -- and was ninth in the Pac-10 -- with 90 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss. He also forced two fumbles.
2010 ranking: No. 13
Making the case for Burfict: Burfict might be the best linebacker in college football. The true junior might be the first linebacker taken in this spring's NFL draft. And the "might" qualification has nothing to do with talent questions. When Burfict is just playing football, he's a dominant, physical presence who plays sideline-to-sideline with uncanny speed and instincts on a solid 6-foot-3, 252-pound frame. But Burfict still hasn't mastered his own emotions. For the most part over the previous two seasons, that's been about stupid penalties -- unsportsmanlike conduct and personal foul penalties. The talk during the spring and offseason was of newfound maturity and leadership. But a locker room fight with 200-pound receiver Kevin Ozier the first week of preseason camp clouded that a bit. Is Burfict ready to grow up and into a great player, one who could win the Butkus Award? Burfict, though only second-team All-Pac-10 in 2010, earned All-American attention last fall and is a consensus preseason All-American. ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper ranks Burfict the No. 1 junior linebacker in the country, writing, "There are some scary hitters on this list, starting with Burfict, who was most productive against ASU's toughest competition last season. The guy was a force, quite literally, the moment he stepped on campus." But can Burfict become an entirely positive force, one who always helps the Sun Devils win? Or will he continue to do things that help them lose?
6. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
7. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
8. Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
9. Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon
10. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
11. Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford
12. T.J. McDonald, S, USC
13. Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington
14. Matt Kalil, OT, USC
15. Delano Howell, S, Stanford
16. Mychal Kendricks, LB, California
17. Rodney Stewart, RB, Colorado
18. Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington
19. Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford
20. Jeff Tuel, QB, Washington State
21. Robert Woods, WR, USC
22. Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA
23. David Paulson, TE, Oregon
24. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
25. Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
You can see the final post-2010 top 25 here. It doesn't, however, include players from Colorado or Utah.
5. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
2010 numbers: Burfict led the Sun Devils -- and was ninth in the Pac-10 -- with 90 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss. He also forced two fumbles.
2010 ranking: No. 13
Making the case for Burfict: Burfict might be the best linebacker in college football. The true junior might be the first linebacker taken in this spring's NFL draft. And the "might" qualification has nothing to do with talent questions. When Burfict is just playing football, he's a dominant, physical presence who plays sideline-to-sideline with uncanny speed and instincts on a solid 6-foot-3, 252-pound frame. But Burfict still hasn't mastered his own emotions. For the most part over the previous two seasons, that's been about stupid penalties -- unsportsmanlike conduct and personal foul penalties. The talk during the spring and offseason was of newfound maturity and leadership. But a locker room fight with 200-pound receiver Kevin Ozier the first week of preseason camp clouded that a bit. Is Burfict ready to grow up and into a great player, one who could win the Butkus Award? Burfict, though only second-team All-Pac-10 in 2010, earned All-American attention last fall and is a consensus preseason All-American. ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper ranks Burfict the No. 1 junior linebacker in the country, writing, "There are some scary hitters on this list, starting with Burfict, who was most productive against ASU's toughest competition last season. The guy was a force, quite literally, the moment he stepped on campus." But can Burfict become an entirely positive force, one who always helps the Sun Devils win? Or will he continue to do things that help them lose?
6. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
7. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
8. Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
9. Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon
10. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
11. Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford
12. T.J. McDonald, S, USC
13. Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington
14. Matt Kalil, OT, USC
15. Delano Howell, S, Stanford
16. Mychal Kendricks, LB, California
17. Rodney Stewart, RB, Colorado
18. Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington
19. Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford
20. Jeff Tuel, QB, Washington State
21. Robert Woods, WR, USC
22. Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA
23. David Paulson, TE, Oregon
24. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
25. Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
Fifth in a series looking at potential dream and nightmare scenarios for all Pac-12 teams.
Understand: These are not predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction. You can read last year's versions here.
We're going in reverse order of my post-spring power rankings (which might not be identical to my preseason power rankings).
Up next: UCLA
Best case
Someone forgot to tell Datone Jones UCLA's visit to Houston was supposed to be about the quarterbacks.
Jones provided three of the Bruins six sacks against Case Keenum, while Bruins starter Kevin Prince turned in a solid, unspectacular performance in UCLA's 28-24 win.
"I read in the Pac-12 blog that Jones was supposed to be good, but against my better judgment I chose to ignore the Pac-12 blog," Keenum says. "I have learned my lesson. Dude's a beast. Jones, not the Pac-12 blog, who I hear is very nice."
Prince and most of the other starters sit out the second half of a 55-10 win over San Jose State. Up next is Texas, which comes to town talking about revenge for the 34-12 whipping administered by the Bruins last year when the Longhorns were ranked seventh.
"We want revenge," Longhorns quarterback Garrett Gilbert says. "We're Texas. You're not supposed to mess with us, particularly if you wear pastels, though my mother thinks I look good in powder blue."
Prince passes for 250 yards and two scores and rushes for 85 in a 35-21 Bruins victory.
"Does that guy only play well against us?" queries Texas coach Mack Brown.
It's not an unfair question. But it's one Prince answers well at Oregon State, running for a score and passing for another in a 30-27 victory. UCLA, at 4-0, moves up to No. 15 in the national polls.
Headline in Los Angeles Times: "Neuheisel seat no longer so hot."
Headline in Seattle Times: "Miami scandal? Neuheisel's fault!"
Of course, Prince is no Andrew Luck. Luck, the Heisman Trophy favorite, throws three touchdown passes in a 35-24 Cardinal victory, though Jones does beat All-American tackle Jonathan Martin for a sack.
"Those two are going to be going at it 10 years from now," observes play-by-play man Brent Musburger.
The Bruins nip Washington State on a 55-yard field goal from Kip Smith, but they fall at Arizona in overtime. They beat California at home, which sets up a critical Pac-12 South showdown with Arizona State.
Down 28-21, Prince finds Cory Harkey, who hasn't dropped a pass all season, for a 17-yard TD with 38 seconds remaining.
"I'm going to tell you why we are going to go for two," coach Rick Neuheisel tells his gathered offense on the sideline during a time out. "It's because we need to show everyone who we are right now."
On a quarterback draw, Prince runs over Sun Devils linebacker Vontaze Burfict for the winning points.
UCLA, in a classic let-up scenario, goes down at Utah the following weekend. The Bruins bounce back with a 31-24 win over Colorado.
They head to the Coliseum to play arch-rival USC with the Pac-12 South Division title on the line. If the Trojans beat the Bruins for the 12th time in 13 years, they will be the South champions, even though they're not eligible for the postseason. If the Bruins win, they will be tied for first with Utah and Arizona State, which beat the Utes, but would win a tiebreaker for a spot in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game.
"Is it more motivating to win the first South division crown or to stop UCLA from doing it?" USC quarterback Matt Barkley says, repeating a reporter's question. "Well, I'd like to say us winning the division but really there's nothing better than making those guys miserable. Was I even alive the last time they beat us?"
Barkley recovers: "Oh, yeah, you're right. I was alive in 2006."
Jones sacks Barkley three times as the Bruins roll over the Trojans 33-17.
Before the Bruins play top-ranked Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game, Neuheisel is named conference Coach of the Year.
Says USC coach Lane Kiffin, "Yeah, I voted for him. He deserved it. He outcoached me."
"Vindicated?" says Neuheisel. "You know what? Tough times don't last, tough people do."
Whispers Prince to a nearby reporter: "He says that, like, five times a day."
Oregon nips the Bruins 33-31 on a 44-yard field goal at the end of regulation. The Bruins are invited to the Alamo Bowl, where they whip No. 10 Texas A&M 41-20 to finish 10-4 on the season and ranked 14th.
"We sort of own the state Texas, don't we?" Jones says.
Andrus Peat, Shaq Thompson, Kyle Murphy and Davonte Neal announce commitments to the Bruins the night of the bowl game. The Bruins 31-player class -- six elite prospects are brought in early to count against the 2011 class -- ranks sixth in the nation.
"It was great to cherry-pick Southern California recruiting," says Neuheisel. "So much talent. Glad we had a full allotment of scholarships."
Worst case
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel had pointed to the road trip to Houston as a game his Bruins needed to win in order to establish early-season momentum. If so, the season's momentum starts off flowing in the wrong direction.
Case Keenum, whose season ended in the 2010 game at UCLA, throws for 330 yards and three TDs in a 35-21 win, as the Bruins passing game again sputters with Kevin Prince under center.
Neuheisel repeatedly berates Prince as he walks off the field. "He has to play better," Neuheisel says after the game. "We've taught him what to do. He's just not doing it."
"So the coaching isn't working?" LA Times columnist T.J. Simers volunteers.
The Bruins beat San Jose State 24-10 but get humiliated at home by revenge-minded Texas, which keeps its starters in the game well into the fourth quarter of a 44-10 victory.
"Richard Brehaut will start at Oregon State," Neuheisel says. The Bruins lose 28-17 in Corvallis.
"Kevin Prince will start at Stanford," Neuheisel says. The Bruins lose 51-13 in Palo Alto.
Writes Simers, "I'm trying to figure out who is a worse coach, the Bruins head coach or its quarterbacks coach. It's hard to say who is more clueless."
Neuheisel began the 2011 season on the hotseat. It's clear he's pretty much sitting naked in a pool of lava after a 1-4 start.
"Tough times don't last, tough people do," Neuheisel says.
Neuheisel is fired after a home loss to Washington State. Offensive line coach Bob Palcic is named interim head coach.
The Bruins slog through the rest of the season with Prince and Brehaut sharing the QB duties. It works curiously to perfection in an upset of Arizona State, but the Bruins head to the Coliseum to play unbeaten arch-rival USC at 2-9.
"Do we hope AP voters rank us No. 1 if we finish unbeaten?" USC coach Lane Kiffin asks. "Well, sure. We're pretty good. We just beat No. 1-ranked Oregon. Stanford's only losses this year are to us and Oregon. Arizona State's only loss is to us and Oregon. Notre Dame's only loss is to us, though Stanford will probably beat them. "
It's pointed out to Kiffin that UCLA upset the Sun Devils. "Really?" he says. "How the hell did that happen?"
Matt Barkley throws four touchdown passes as USC rolls the Bruins 42-3. Barkley nips Stanford QB Andrew Luck for the Heisman Trophy. When Oregon beats Alabama in the BCS national championship game, the AP votes USC No. 1.
On Jan. 12, NCAA president Mark Emmert announces that after a double-secret meeting, all remaining sanctions against USC are revoked. Says Emmert: "It's easy. A Committee of Infractions hearing chaired by former Miami athletic director Paul Dee has zero credibility. I personally reviewed the case. Those penalties were exorbitant. So the Trojans get time served -- a two-year postseason ban. But they will get all their scholarships back."
Kiffin sweeps across the country, tearing away commitments from major powers in every AQ conference.
Says ESPN recruiting guru Tom Luginbill on national signing day, "It might be the best recruiting class in history."
Meanwhile, UCLA hires Paul Hackett as its head coach.
"He has a track record in Southern California," says athletic director Dan Guerrero.
Understand: These are not predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction. You can read last year's versions here.
We're going in reverse order of my post-spring power rankings (which might not be identical to my preseason power rankings).
Up next: UCLA
Best case
Someone forgot to tell Datone Jones UCLA's visit to Houston was supposed to be about the quarterbacks.
Jones provided three of the Bruins six sacks against Case Keenum, while Bruins starter Kevin Prince turned in a solid, unspectacular performance in UCLA's 28-24 win.
"I read in the Pac-12 blog that Jones was supposed to be good, but against my better judgment I chose to ignore the Pac-12 blog," Keenum says. "I have learned my lesson. Dude's a beast. Jones, not the Pac-12 blog, who I hear is very nice."
Prince and most of the other starters sit out the second half of a 55-10 win over San Jose State. Up next is Texas, which comes to town talking about revenge for the 34-12 whipping administered by the Bruins last year when the Longhorns were ranked seventh.
"We want revenge," Longhorns quarterback Garrett Gilbert says. "We're Texas. You're not supposed to mess with us, particularly if you wear pastels, though my mother thinks I look good in powder blue."
Prince passes for 250 yards and two scores and rushes for 85 in a 35-21 Bruins victory.
"Does that guy only play well against us?" queries Texas coach Mack Brown.
It's not an unfair question. But it's one Prince answers well at Oregon State, running for a score and passing for another in a 30-27 victory. UCLA, at 4-0, moves up to No. 15 in the national polls.
Headline in Los Angeles Times: "Neuheisel seat no longer so hot."
Headline in Seattle Times: "Miami scandal? Neuheisel's fault!"
Of course, Prince is no Andrew Luck. Luck, the Heisman Trophy favorite, throws three touchdown passes in a 35-24 Cardinal victory, though Jones does beat All-American tackle Jonathan Martin for a sack.
"Those two are going to be going at it 10 years from now," observes play-by-play man Brent Musburger.
The Bruins nip Washington State on a 55-yard field goal from Kip Smith, but they fall at Arizona in overtime. They beat California at home, which sets up a critical Pac-12 South showdown with Arizona State.
Down 28-21, Prince finds Cory Harkey, who hasn't dropped a pass all season, for a 17-yard TD with 38 seconds remaining.
"I'm going to tell you why we are going to go for two," coach Rick Neuheisel tells his gathered offense on the sideline during a time out. "It's because we need to show everyone who we are right now."
On a quarterback draw, Prince runs over Sun Devils linebacker Vontaze Burfict for the winning points.
UCLA, in a classic let-up scenario, goes down at Utah the following weekend. The Bruins bounce back with a 31-24 win over Colorado.
They head to the Coliseum to play arch-rival USC with the Pac-12 South Division title on the line. If the Trojans beat the Bruins for the 12th time in 13 years, they will be the South champions, even though they're not eligible for the postseason. If the Bruins win, they will be tied for first with Utah and Arizona State, which beat the Utes, but would win a tiebreaker for a spot in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game.
"Is it more motivating to win the first South division crown or to stop UCLA from doing it?" USC quarterback Matt Barkley says, repeating a reporter's question. "Well, I'd like to say us winning the division but really there's nothing better than making those guys miserable. Was I even alive the last time they beat us?"
Barkley recovers: "Oh, yeah, you're right. I was alive in 2006."
Jones sacks Barkley three times as the Bruins roll over the Trojans 33-17.
Before the Bruins play top-ranked Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game, Neuheisel is named conference Coach of the Year.
Says USC coach Lane Kiffin, "Yeah, I voted for him. He deserved it. He outcoached me."
"Vindicated?" says Neuheisel. "You know what? Tough times don't last, tough people do."
Whispers Prince to a nearby reporter: "He says that, like, five times a day."
Oregon nips the Bruins 33-31 on a 44-yard field goal at the end of regulation. The Bruins are invited to the Alamo Bowl, where they whip No. 10 Texas A&M 41-20 to finish 10-4 on the season and ranked 14th.
"We sort of own the state Texas, don't we?" Jones says.
Andrus Peat, Shaq Thompson, Kyle Murphy and Davonte Neal announce commitments to the Bruins the night of the bowl game. The Bruins 31-player class -- six elite prospects are brought in early to count against the 2011 class -- ranks sixth in the nation.
"It was great to cherry-pick Southern California recruiting," says Neuheisel. "So much talent. Glad we had a full allotment of scholarships."
Worst case
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel had pointed to the road trip to Houston as a game his Bruins needed to win in order to establish early-season momentum. If so, the season's momentum starts off flowing in the wrong direction.
Case Keenum, whose season ended in the 2010 game at UCLA, throws for 330 yards and three TDs in a 35-21 win, as the Bruins passing game again sputters with Kevin Prince under center.
Neuheisel repeatedly berates Prince as he walks off the field. "He has to play better," Neuheisel says after the game. "We've taught him what to do. He's just not doing it."
"So the coaching isn't working?" LA Times columnist T.J. Simers volunteers.
The Bruins beat San Jose State 24-10 but get humiliated at home by revenge-minded Texas, which keeps its starters in the game well into the fourth quarter of a 44-10 victory.
"Richard Brehaut will start at Oregon State," Neuheisel says. The Bruins lose 28-17 in Corvallis.
"Kevin Prince will start at Stanford," Neuheisel says. The Bruins lose 51-13 in Palo Alto.
Writes Simers, "I'm trying to figure out who is a worse coach, the Bruins head coach or its quarterbacks coach. It's hard to say who is more clueless."
Neuheisel began the 2011 season on the hotseat. It's clear he's pretty much sitting naked in a pool of lava after a 1-4 start.
"Tough times don't last, tough people do," Neuheisel says.
Neuheisel is fired after a home loss to Washington State. Offensive line coach Bob Palcic is named interim head coach.
The Bruins slog through the rest of the season with Prince and Brehaut sharing the QB duties. It works curiously to perfection in an upset of Arizona State, but the Bruins head to the Coliseum to play unbeaten arch-rival USC at 2-9.
"Do we hope AP voters rank us No. 1 if we finish unbeaten?" USC coach Lane Kiffin asks. "Well, sure. We're pretty good. We just beat No. 1-ranked Oregon. Stanford's only losses this year are to us and Oregon. Arizona State's only loss is to us and Oregon. Notre Dame's only loss is to us, though Stanford will probably beat them. "
It's pointed out to Kiffin that UCLA upset the Sun Devils. "Really?" he says. "How the hell did that happen?"
Matt Barkley throws four touchdown passes as USC rolls the Bruins 42-3. Barkley nips Stanford QB Andrew Luck for the Heisman Trophy. When Oregon beats Alabama in the BCS national championship game, the AP votes USC No. 1.
On Jan. 12, NCAA president Mark Emmert announces that after a double-secret meeting, all remaining sanctions against USC are revoked. Says Emmert: "It's easy. A Committee of Infractions hearing chaired by former Miami athletic director Paul Dee has zero credibility. I personally reviewed the case. Those penalties were exorbitant. So the Trojans get time served -- a two-year postseason ban. But they will get all their scholarships back."
Kiffin sweeps across the country, tearing away commitments from major powers in every AQ conference.
Says ESPN recruiting guru Tom Luginbill on national signing day, "It might be the best recruiting class in history."
Meanwhile, UCLA hires Paul Hackett as its head coach.
"He has a track record in Southern California," says athletic director Dan Guerrero.
Pac-12 lunch links: Oregon's depth chart?
August, 22, 2011
8/22/11
2:30
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
I'll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Aspen.
- Arizona's game plan? Go deep.
- Arizona State turns its focus to its opener against UC Davis. Tough times for former Sun Devils quarterback Samson Szakacsy.
- California coach Jeff Tedford got the old band back together: Will it play beautiful music?
- Colorado quarterback Tyler Hanson no longer has to look over his shoulder.
- Rob Moseley projects Oregon's depth chart. Some thoughts on the transfer of Lache Seastrunk, who left the Ducks for a variety of reasons, but chiefly because of his spot on the depth chart.
- Meet Oregon State's old man. The Beavers get a commitment from a big tight end.
- Getting to know Stanford's linebackers.
- UCLA's assistant coaches have taken a pay cut. Are the Bruins about to have a second go-around with a defensive tackle transfer? Some observations from the scrimmage.
- Five observations from USC's scrimmage.
- Some more observations from Utah's final scrimmage.
- A visit with former Washington coach Don James. The Huskies aren't there yet.
- An update on some Washington State players and their eligibility. What about the Cougars rebuilding special teams?
Lots of Pac-12 scrimmages over the weekend. Here are some recaps.
- Freshman running back Ka'Deem Carey shined for Arizona.
- Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler was sharp for the Sun Devils.
- Colorado's offense sputtered on Friday.
- Stanford's running game struggled -- not sure if I view that as bad or good, considering the questions on the D-line.
- It's still unclear who UCLA's starting QB will be.
- Receiver Robert Woods made a statement at USC's scrimmage.
- Utah's offense looked better in its scrimmage.
- Washington was sloppy, but Steve Sarkisian wasn't unsatisfied.
Longtime sports media executive Gary Stevens has been hired as the head of the new Pac-12 Enterprises company.
According to the press release on Stevens' hire, that means he will be in charge of "the Pac-12 Networks, the Pac-12 Digital Network, and Pac-12 Properties, which will handle all sponsorship, licensing and event management [including the new Pac-12 Football Championship Game and Pac-12 Basketball Tournaments] for the Conference. He will also be responsible for creating a new integrated sales team across all of the new Conference owned media and event platforms, and for creating and executing a strategy to extend Pac-12 programming to international audiences, especially in the Pacific Rim."
So here's a guess he'll keep fairly busy. From the press release:
Stevenson brings 30-plus years of experience to the Pac-12 including senior positions at the NBA, the PGA TOUR, the Golf Channel, and as head of his own highly successful consulting firm, OnSport.
“Gary is one of the true visionaries of the sports and entertainment world and I am thrilled he has agreed to join us,” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement “He will lead Pac-12 Enterprises at an exciting time in our Conference’s history, just as we are poised to serve millions of our fans via our innovative new media platforms.”
Last month, the Pac-12 announced the creation of six regional cable networks and a national network, in conjunction with four leading U.S. cable companies.
Before coming to the Pac-12, Stevenson was chairman and CEO of OnSport, a consulting company he founded in 1997 and sold 10 years later to the Wasserman Media Group, which he joined as a principal. OnSport’s clients included American Express, Nationwide, Travelers, NASCAR, the PGA TOUR, the Big Ten and the then-Pac-10. It was a major force in the sports world as the principal architect of the Wachovia Championship, the U.S. Tennis Association’s U.S. Open Series, and NASCAR’s Nationwide Series.
From 2000-2007, he taught “The Business of Sport” at Duke University, and in 2003 he received a grant from the Kellogg Foundation to create a summer internship program that placed students in such major organizations as ESPN, Comcast, NBC Sports, and elsewhere. He also helped create and launch the Minority Internship Program at the PGA TOUR, which helped introduce many worthy candidates to the world of sports marketing.
Prior to founding OnSport, Stevenson headed NBA Properties’ Marketing and Media Group, where he spearheaded the launch of the WNBA. Before that, he was Executive Vice President of Business Affairs at the PGA TOUR, and had been Chief Operating Officer at The Golf Channel at its inception in 1995.
Stevenson holds a B.A. from Duke University and an M.B.A. from The George Washington University.
According to the press release on Stevens' hire, that means he will be in charge of "the Pac-12 Networks, the Pac-12 Digital Network, and Pac-12 Properties, which will handle all sponsorship, licensing and event management [including the new Pac-12 Football Championship Game and Pac-12 Basketball Tournaments] for the Conference. He will also be responsible for creating a new integrated sales team across all of the new Conference owned media and event platforms, and for creating and executing a strategy to extend Pac-12 programming to international audiences, especially in the Pacific Rim."
So here's a guess he'll keep fairly busy. From the press release:
Stevenson brings 30-plus years of experience to the Pac-12 including senior positions at the NBA, the PGA TOUR, the Golf Channel, and as head of his own highly successful consulting firm, OnSport.
“Gary is one of the true visionaries of the sports and entertainment world and I am thrilled he has agreed to join us,” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement “He will lead Pac-12 Enterprises at an exciting time in our Conference’s history, just as we are poised to serve millions of our fans via our innovative new media platforms.”
Last month, the Pac-12 announced the creation of six regional cable networks and a national network, in conjunction with four leading U.S. cable companies.
Before coming to the Pac-12, Stevenson was chairman and CEO of OnSport, a consulting company he founded in 1997 and sold 10 years later to the Wasserman Media Group, which he joined as a principal. OnSport’s clients included American Express, Nationwide, Travelers, NASCAR, the PGA TOUR, the Big Ten and the then-Pac-10. It was a major force in the sports world as the principal architect of the Wachovia Championship, the U.S. Tennis Association’s U.S. Open Series, and NASCAR’s Nationwide Series.
From 2000-2007, he taught “The Business of Sport” at Duke University, and in 2003 he received a grant from the Kellogg Foundation to create a summer internship program that placed students in such major organizations as ESPN, Comcast, NBC Sports, and elsewhere. He also helped create and launch the Minority Internship Program at the PGA TOUR, which helped introduce many worthy candidates to the world of sports marketing.
Prior to founding OnSport, Stevenson headed NBA Properties’ Marketing and Media Group, where he spearheaded the launch of the WNBA. Before that, he was Executive Vice President of Business Affairs at the PGA TOUR, and had been Chief Operating Officer at The Golf Channel at its inception in 1995.
Stevenson holds a B.A. from Duke University and an M.B.A. from The George Washington University.
Oregon and LSU are Nos. 3 and 4 in the preseason AP poll, just as they were in the Coaches Poll.
So buckle up for the Sept. 3 showdown, one of the best early season nonconference games in years.
Oklahoma was No. 1 and Alabama No. 2 in the AP poll, which was released Saturday.
Oregon received four No. 1 votes.
Stanford was ranked seventh by the AP after being ranked sixth by the Coaches.
USC, at 25th, is the only other Pac-12 team in the poll. The Trojans aren't eligible for the Coaches Poll due to NCAA sanctions.
Arizona State rated 28th and Utah 30th among the "others receiving votes." Arizona and Washington also received votes.
So buckle up for the Sept. 3 showdown, one of the best early season nonconference games in years.
Oklahoma was No. 1 and Alabama No. 2 in the AP poll, which was released Saturday.
Oregon received four No. 1 votes.
Stanford was ranked seventh by the AP after being ranked sixth by the Coaches.
USC, at 25th, is the only other Pac-12 team in the poll. The Trojans aren't eligible for the Coaches Poll due to NCAA sanctions.
Arizona State rated 28th and Utah 30th among the "others receiving votes." Arizona and Washington also received votes.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-12. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in the 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kevin Gemmell
Gemmell covered San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference for three years before joining ESPN.com. As a Santa Clara graduate, his hope is that the Broncos will one day re-institute football. Until then, he lives vicariously through his readers. Gemmell lives in California with his wife and son.
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