MVP • Jake Browning, Washington
Despite the preseason hype for USC’s Sam Darnold, Browning enters this season as the defending Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year coming off a season in which he tied the Pac-12 record with 43 touchdown passes. He completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,430 yards and led the conference in passing efficiency (ranked seventh nationally) last season. He’ll have an all-conference left tackle protecting his blind side as well as an all-conference senior center in the middle of the offensive line.
Team success only will bolster his profile as Washington returns 15 starters from a team that won the Pac-12 title and went on to the College Football Playoff. Washington’s defense was the best in the conference last season, and it excelled at creating turnovers (33 in 14 games) and giving the ball back to Browning and his cohorts. Washington could be a national title contender, and Browning could be leading one of the most explosive offenses in the nation for a team that goes undefeated into the late stages of the season.
Household name • Sam Darnold, QB, USC
After winning his final nine games last season, Darnold is well on his way to becoming a media darling with ESPN and Sports Illustrated already worshiping at the altar of the California native. USC seems to be able to defy the so-called East Coast bias when it comes to star quarterbacks (Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinert). He’s also got a lot of talent to go with the machine behind him. He threw for for 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns and completed 67.2 percent of his passes. He ranked ninth in the nation in both completion percentage and pass efficiency.
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Most overrated player in the league • Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
When healthy, he’s put up some gaudy yardage numbers, but part of that comes as a result of a nonexistent rushing attack (ranked 127th in FBS). Availability also is an important ability. Rosen played just six games last season. He’s also been more interception-prone (based on percentage) than either USC’s Sam Darnold or Washington’s Jake Browning. For all his projectable attributes, he’s gone 11-8 as a starter.
Most underrated player in the league • Luke Falk, QB, Washington State
The Logan High grad came to Washington State as a walk-on and has thrown for nearly 11,000 yards and 89 touchdowns while completing 69 percent of his passes in 31 games. His name might not get mentioned as often as Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen or Jake Browning, but Falk has thrown 38 touchdown passes in back-to-back seasons. He’s got both the Pac-12 career passing yards (13,600) and passing touchdowns (116) marks within reach.
Washington State quarterback Luke Falk (4) plays during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game against Minnesota Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Pac-12 Coach of the year • Clay Helton, USC
Helton appears poised to challenge Washington for the conference championship in his third full season. With a Heisman Trophy candidate QB in Sam Darnold along with a returning all-conference running back (Ronald Jones II) to go with seven returning starters on defense, Helton has a tremendous foundation to build on. USC gets Stanford, Utah and UCLA at home and won’t run into Washington unless it’s the conference title game.
Pac-12 coach on the hot seat • Jim Mora, UCLA
The past two seasons have warranted the underachieving label for Mora. UCLA has gone 12-13 overall and 7-11 in Pac-12 play over the past two seasons despite a talented roster. Highly regarded quarterback Josh Rosen has made more headlines for controversial statements than his play, and Rosen had to deal with a revolving door at offensive coordinator. Another lackluster season could have UCLA looking to move in a different direction.
UCLA coach Jim Mora watches from the sideline during the second half against Stanford in an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, Stanford, Calif. Stanford won 56-35. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Team to beat • Washington
The Huskies were ranked seventh in the nation in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, won the Pac-12 title game last season by 31 points and are coming off an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Defending Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Jake Browning returns to direct what was the highest-scoring offense in the conference last season. The defense brings back four of its top five tacklers and led the conference in pass defense, total defense and scoring defense a season ago.
Don’t sleep on • Colorado
The defending South Division champion will enter the season with a chip on its shoulder, having been picked to finish fourth in the South in the preseason poll one season after going 8-1 in Pac-12 play before losing to Washington in the league title game. The Buffaloes bring back a dynamic running back in Phillip Lindsay and four starters on the offensive line. Coach Mike MacIntyre enters his fifth season, and though tainted by scandal in the offseason, he has the chance to fill the roster with players recruited by his staff.
Colorado running back Phillip Lindsay, left, is pulled down by Washington State linebacker Peyton Pelluer in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Team you don’t want to play • Stanford
The Cardinal have failed to win 10 games or more just once in six seasons under coach David Shaw. Stanford brings back 16 starters, including four offensive linemen and five players on its defensive front. Big-play triple-threat Christian McCaffrey has moved on to the NFL, but Bryce Love appears poised to step into a prominent role. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry and rushed for 783 yards last season. Eight starters return from what was the second-stingiest scoring defense in the conference last season.
Team with no chance • California
Justin Wilcox, a first-time head coach, takes over a team coming off a 5-7 campaign. Cal will have to break in a new quarterback as well as replace the top rusher and receiver from last season. Three starters on the offensive line also must be replaced. Wilcox made his name as a defensive coordinator, but Cal’s defense allowed an average of 42.6 points per game as well as 272.8 yards rushing per game last season. The schedule won’t do Cal any favors with trips to USC, Stanford and UCLA along with the elevation of Colorado.
California head football coach Justin Wilcox speaks to reporters during a news conference Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. California officially introduced Wilcox, hoping the long-time defensive coordinator can help revive the struggling program. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Lynn Worthy’s Pac-12 predictions<br>North Division<br>1. Washington • The defending conference champion returns enough key players to expect to be back on top again.<br>2. Stanford • The Cardinal will be physical, talented and probably the only true challenger for Washington in the North Division.<br>3. Washington State • Luke Falk will continue to put up gaudy passing numbers, and he’s got a defense that should be able to keep him in games.<br>4. Oregon • The first year of the Willie Taggart Era will show promise, but the Ducks are not yet ready for prime time.<br>5. Oregon State • Progress will be made in Gary Andersen’s third season,but it will be incremental with a schedule featuring road games against Washington State, USC and Oregon.<br>6. Cal • Growing pains will be plenty as new coach Justin Wilcox gets welcomed to the Pac-12.<br>South Division<br>1. USC • As long as Sam Darnold remains healthy, Trojans appear to be the class of the division.<br>2. Utah • The Utes should find a fair amount of success mixing their trademark stingy defense with an improved offense.<br>3. Colorado • While the Buffaloes lost a lot from last year’s defense,they’ve got the offensive talent to keep pace with most teams on the schedule.<br>4. UCLA • Things do not look promising coming off a four-win campaign as the Bruins will take trips to Stanford, Washington, Utah and crosstownrival USC.<br>5. Arizona • A widespread reconstruction of the roster brought in 50 new players, but it takes time to get everyone on the same page.<br>6. Arizona State • Bringing in new coordinators won’t be enough to stop the downward trend in the Sun Devils’ win totals.
