The Pac-12 is dying, but its final football season will be awesome

The Pac-12 could be dying as we converse.

With USC and UCLA packing their baggage for B1G-ger, greener pastures subsequent 12 months, the opposite Pac-12 faculties are scrambling to search out protected footing simply in case issues disintegrate for the convention. The Arizona Board of Regents have referred to as a gathering to debate Arizona and Arizona State doubtlessly transferring to the Huge 12, which instantly seems much more secure than the Pac-12 regardless of the convention lately shedding Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC:

On high of that, you may have the Huge Ten persevering with to poke round Oregon, Washington, Stanford and Cal, to attempt to get them to leap ship as nicely. Simply, don’t inform the Huge Ten that what they’re doing is extraordinarily apparent and contributing to the downfall of the Pac-12, as a result of the B1G believes they function on a better ethical code than everybody else (which is bullshit).

Oh yeah, and the Pac-12 won’t have a TV deal both. Rumors are that the proposed deal is with Apple TV+, however nothing has been set in stone. This additionally comes after Arizona and Arizona State have just about skedaddled, so, good job commish. The numbers on the projected deal additionally don’t look to nice:

So yeah, every little thing is on fireplace within the Pac-12 which has everybody speaking about realignment and new conferences with lower than a month left till the common season begins. Which actually sucks as a result of:

The Pac-12 is the most effective and best convention in soccer this 12 months.

It’s a disgrace that every little thing else is overshadowing that truth, as a result of the convention is extraordinarily deep, gifted and will make for some very enjoyable and thrilling video games.

Let’s begin with the QB spot, the place the convention has the deepest assortment of expertise within the nation. Beginning with reigning Heisman Trophy winner (and projected No. 1 choose within the 2024 NFL Draft) Caleb Williams, who seems to guide USC to its first School Soccer Playoff berth. With Lincoln Riley nonetheless dialing up the offense and Williams on the helm, USC goes to be thrilling to look at … on offense (we’ll get to the protection later). Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. is a beneficiary of the additional COVID years and the switch portal. After transferring from Indiana, he put collectively a implausible 12 months for the Huskies and will play himself into very severe NFL Draft conversations. On the surface, he has his high receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan returning, in addition to head coach Kalen DeBoer. They could be one of many favorites to win the convention, however they’re going to need to undergo Bo Nix and the Oregon Geese. I didn’t assume I’d be saying this in 2023, however Bo Nix is a severe Heisman candidate going into the upcoming season. The Geese misplaced offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham to Arizona State, however made an inner rent to maintain the offense rolling. With Nix on the wheel, they’ll proceed to be favorites.

Even outdoors of the highest three, the QB depth within the convention is exceptional, and a mirrored image of the advantages behind the switch portal and NIL. DJ Uiagalelei transfers to Oregon State from Clemson, Colin Schlee transferred from Kent State to UCLA, and naturally, Shedeur Sanders transferred from Jackson State to Colorado, following his father Deion. On high of that, there are the returning QBs like Cameron Ward at Washington State (who’s REALLY enjoyable) and Cameron Rising at Utah, and incoming UCLA freshman Dante Moore was regarded in the identical caliber as Arch Manning in his recruiting class. The QBs on this convention are various, and extra importantly, actually freaking good.

As well as, the Pac-12 is so enjoyable due to the on-field storylines. Let’s begin with Sanders and Colorado. Just about everybody on the roster is a switch, together with the aforementioned Shedeur Sanders and CB/WR/baller Travis Hunter. How the one-year roster turnover will impression their on-field efficiency goes to be fascinating to look at in a convention as loaded as this one.

Utah is the reigning champions, primarily as a result of coach Kyle Wittingham and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig have created an offense that batters the defenses within the Pac-12 right into a paste. With QB Cameron Rising recovering from a knee damage, nevertheless, their odds for three-peating as champs are a bit decrease than years earlier than. If Rising is wholesome, then the crew ought to go far on this convention.

Lastly, Stanford is working an precise offense this 12 months! David Shaw stepped down as head coach within the offseason, and in steps Troy Taylor, former head coach at Sacramento State. His offenses on the FCS stage have been prolific (go watch Sac-State vs. Incarnate Phrase within the FCS playoffs final 12 months. Greatest recreation of 2022 and it was on at 2 am, it was like driving a motorbike into Valhalla), and seeing Stanford with an virtually new offensive philosophy needs to be enjoyable this 12 months, even when they won’t be good immediately.

So, don’t let the upcoming finish of the convention scare you away from caring or having fun with this convention. It’s nonetheless superb, very enjoyable and deserves your consideration.