The Last Hurrah of the PAC-10

For over 30 years now, ten west coast schools have competed for pride, honor, bragging rights, and occasionally national championships. A confernce quite literally built around blood rivalries, teams all added two at a time, all in-state rivalries, and memorable moments good and bad. The PAC-10 has been the best and worst college football has had to offer since the 1920's, when Oregon and Oregon State played the only 0-0 final score after regulation game in the history of college football. To the 2000's when USC was the most feared team in the country, playing for 2 national championships, and having the BCS cheat them out of one more, whilst winning seven straight conference title. Arizona, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Stanford, and California have have made up the PAC-10, a chaotic, crazy, and often underated league.

This year will mark the end of that era. Next year Colorado and Utah join the fray, two teams with no rivalry to speak of, a short list of historical achievements, and the addition of more teams will end the days of every team playing each other every season. It will be a new era for the PAC-10, and with end of era, comes great bragging rights to the squad that wins the final PAC-10 championship. Fittingly, the league that seems to always be decided in the final week of the season is as wide open as ever, and will likely have, once again, the most contenders in the country. USC, who has dominated the last decade now finds themselves without accomplished head coach Pete Caroll. Last seasons winner, Oregon, has seen a large amount of off field turmoil this offseason that included the dismissing of star QB and Heisman hopeful Jeremiah Masoli. With no clear favorite, at least six teams have a decent shot at the conference crown.



I will attempt to interpret the chaos and pick a top to bottom rankings of the teams, including picks on where the team will sit bowl wise.



Best players: There is a lot here, the PAC-10 probably has the most standout offense players of any conference in the country

1. Washington QB Jake Locker - Locker is an incredible talent who in one season was taught how to be an incredible pocket passer, can scramble very effectively if needed, and is a legitimate Heisman candidate. Locker is already being penciled in as a top 5 NFL draft pick next season and has a lot of expectations to live up to.

2. Oregon RB LaMichael James - LaMichael was supposed to be the backup season, but when star RB LaGarret Blount decided to make like a Duck and get suspended, James found himself carrying the offense, running for over 1,600 yards

3. Stanford QB Andrew Luck - See Locker, Jake. Less experience puts him here instead of one.

4. Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers - LaMichael James numbers, less offield issues. Unquestionable talent, but the line in front of him is suspect.

5. Arizona QB Nick Folks - Is he better than the Arizona defense? The Wildcats hope so, he was last year.

6. Oregon QB Nate Costa - People were in a panic when Masoli was suspended for the season, I don't really know why. Costa was supposed to be the starter last year before a preseason injury put Masoli under center. Costa throws the ball beautifully and while he doesn't run well, he can actually throw a spiral.

7. USC QB Matt Barkely - Talented but struggled down the stretch last year.



I could go on, but you get the point. The point is, the league is loaded with offensive talent, and in a league where offense is so good, I think the most consistent defense wins the conference, you can't out shoot em' every week.



1. Conference Winner: Oregon State - Rose Bowl

The Beavers have had the chance to win the conference heading into the Civil War two years running, I see no reason why the title won't be on the line again this year. The defense is stacked, returning seven starters, all of which were arguably the best on the squad last year as well. Most importantly, the Beavers look to have the best defensive secondary in the league, an invaluable asset in a league where everyone heaves the ball on a wing and a prayer (well except Washington State, but they don't matter). The schedule is in their favor as well, with both USC and Oregon heading to Corvallis this year. The Beavers, who I believe will lose only one conference game, will not be a national title contender this year beacuse with both TCU and Boise State on the out of conference schedule, this team will have at least two losses by seasons end.



2. Oregon - BCS at-large contender - Holiday Bowl

The Ducks are loaded on offense and questionable on defense, which was exactly how it was last year when they high-stepped to the conference championship by winning the most shootouts. This year, however, most of the in conference heavyweights will be road games. Oregon State, USC, and California are all games on the road. I suspect the Ducks will run the table through an easy out of conference schedule, and lose twice in PAC-10 play, with one of those losses coming in the last week of the season against the Beavers, leaving the Ducks in the BCS discussion all season long.



3. Stanford - Conference title contender - Sun Bowl

It is amazing how quickly this program has turned around under head coach Jon Harbaugh. Three years ago, the Cardinal were touted as having pulled of the upset of the century after beating the top-ranked USC Trojans, last year they did it again and no one cared. The Cardinal are stacked with talent on offense and no one on the schedule is out of their league. Starting QB Andrew Luck is already being chatted as a top five draft pick next year and he has only played one season. The loss of Heisman finalist Toby Gerhart will hurt but the offense will surivie without him. The schedule is favorable as well, with Oregon State, USC, and Arizona coming to Stanford Stadium. The scary road date will of course be in Autzen where the Ducks will be looking to avenge last seasons loss.

4. Washington - Definitely Going to a Bowl - Las Vegas Bowl

The Huskies are better than they have been since 2003 and they will show it by making a bowl for the first time in seven years. The Huskies have maybe the best QB-WR-RB tandem in the nation with Jake Locker, Chris Polk, and Jermaine Kearse. The defense is suspect but this is the PAC-10, shootouts happen a lot, and Washington is well stacked for those types of games. The schedule is an absolute beast, the Huskies will go on the road against the conferences two most talented teams in USC and Oregon, and face Nebraska and BYU out of conference. Anything more than 8 wins would be incredible for this team, but they should be good enough to finish above .500 in the PAC-10.

5. USC - Bowl Ineligible - Watching less talented teams at home on TV's the University pays for

The Trojans are way, way better than a fifth place team. The Trojans unfortunately also have a new coach whose main accomplishments in college football are taking a well respected University, making enemies out of all their conference rivals by running his mouth, recruiting a bunch of morons who struggle to stay out of handcuffs, and then leaving after one year. I also think a bowl ban will just kill the motivation for the players. Freshman and Sophmores will undoubtedly treat the season as a neccesary building-block to better seasons and if the Trojans don't appear to be in position to win the conference, juniors and seniors will have no reason not to just give up long before seasons end. There is too much talent here to not get 8-9 wins, especially with the ease of the out of conference schedule but I don't think players will put up enough of a fight to finish any higher than third.

6. Arizona - Going to a Bowl - Emerald Bowl

The Wildcats are a pretty easy team to figure out, they have a great quarterback, a few great offensive linemen, and a pretty average team every where else. Since I have already given a full review of the team in my countdown, I don't have much to add here. The Wildcats are good but not good enough to finish at the top of the conference.

7. California - Probably Going to a Bowl - Poinsettia Bowl

I know some people think the Bears are better than this, but let me just cut you off and say that last year, they were ranked 4th in the nation at one point, and this is exactly where they ended up. Sure there is more talent here than a seventh place finish but there is every year, and Cal has very rarely lived up to the hype.

8. UCLA - Toss-Up - Some Bowl Slot a MAC or C-USA team couldn't fill

Same as last year, seems about right. The Bruins are better, but not as better as the rest of the teams right above them are. I think the Bruins are good enough to make a bowl with an average schedule, but they decided on Kansas State, Texas, and Houston for out of conference opponents. All of whom are good enough to make bowls themselves, Texas is a top ten team, and Houston has a legitimate shot at being a BCS buster. The only truly easy game on the Bruin schedule is Washington St.

9. Arizona St. - Not Going to a Bowl - The Coach Could Compete for the Starting QB Job

The defense is okay, the offense makes Nebraska look like Boise State, their best player doesn't play on either of these units. When your best player is a kicker, it's time to work towards next year.

10. - Washington State - No Chance in Hell - Worst AQ Program of Last Three Years

Seriously, I could walk on to this team. If anyone out there is having a hard time paying for school and played high school football, I recommend a move to Pullman.

That wraps up my PAC-10 preview. I am hoping to get all the major conferences done in a similar style before the season starts. Any preference on who comes next?