It's time for the final installment of this blog's summer reading series. This week we take a look at the schedules of the teams in the Pac 12. We still miss you, Jim Murray.
The Pacific 12 Conference
The Pac 12 conference remains unchanged from last year with 12 teams split into two divisions.
North Division
California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington and Washington State
South Division
Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, USC, UCLA and Utah
Top Six Out of Conference Games
(Note: The USC-Notre Dame game isn't on this list because everyone who reads this blog knows how important this game is every year)
8/31- Oregon v. Auburn- Jerryworld, Arlington TX: If there ever was time to root for Oregon, it's now. No deep analysis of schedules or manpower needed here. If the Pac 12 is to remain in the national conversation for the CFP, Oregon has to win. A close loss does the league no good at all. Moral victories don't cut it with the playoff committee. When you're regarded as the fifth conference among the Power Five, there is no grace granted for a near miss. (Thanks, Leisure Suit Larry Scott)
8/31- Fresno State at USC: Last year under HC Jeff Tedford, The Bulldogs won 12 games for the first time in program history and the Mountain West Title. While much of the talent that won the MWC is now gone, nobody thinks the Bulldogs will show up unprepared for the Trojans. The big question is will USC be prepared to play? After a disastrous 5-7 season, HC Clay Helton was inexplicably retained despite the football program having, according to AD Lynn Swann, "deficiencies in areas that include culture, discipline, schemes, personnel, and staff." Major changes have been made at SC. A slew of new coaches are on staff and USC has gone to the Air Raid Offense. Yes folks, old Tailback U has embraced the Mike Leach offense. On the defensive side of the ball, DC Clancy Pendergast has simplified his system in order to try and jump start a defense that forced only 10 turnovers last year. Will this grand overhaul work? We just don't know. A Trojan flop in the newly remodeled Coliseum will hasten what many feel is an already overdue departure of Clay Helton from the sidelines.
8/31- Eastern Washington at Washington: Yes, this is a matchup between a Big Sky school and a Pac 12 school, but this could easily end up being a pretty exciting contest. The EWU Eagles are coming off a 13-2 campaign where they lost the FCS title game to the football championship machine known as North Dakota State. The Eagles have lost a lot of talent from that squad, but the cupboard ain't exactly bare at EWU. Do I expect the Huskies to win this game? Yes. I also think it will be a close battle as UW breaks in a new QB to go with a defense that returns only two starters from last year. This one might be worth some DVR space.
9/7- Nebraska at Colorado: Last year's game in Lincoln was a barn-burner that also created just a little bad blood between these old foes. Cornhusker QB Adrian Martinez's late knee injury that seemed to be caused by bottom of the pile underhandedness by CU LB Jacob Collier derailed Nebraska's season . Just a little twist After the injury to Martinez, CU mounted a drive that would produce a controversial 33-28 win. So it looks like a very angry and motivated bunch of Huskers will make the trip to Boulder. Nebraska is starting year two under HC Scott Frost with a healthy Martinez and some rather lofty expectations for winning a Big Ten West title. This will be Colorado's second game with new HC Mel Tucker in charge. Tucker inherits a decent offense led by QB Steven Montez and All-Everything WR Laviska Shenault. However, the Buffs only return four starters on the defensive side of the ball. That doesn't bode well against a motivated Nebraska offense. Look for Martinez to have a big game and lead the Big Red to a big win.
9/14- Stanford at UCF: This is not the game the Cardinal expected when they Scheduled this home and home affair with the Knights back in 2014. Sure, the first game was easy with Stanford throttling then winless UCF, 31-7 back in 2015. Now, the Cardinal come to Orlando facing a Knights squad that has gone 25-1 over the last two years. That 25-1 mark includes a split with Auburn and LSU in a pair of New Year's Six bowls. One thing in Stanford's favor is that the QB that led UCF the past two years, McKenzie Milton is till trying to recover from a horrific knee injury that almost resulted in his lower leg being amputated. Harsh to say, but that has to be how Stanford sees this. Replacing Milton is ND transfer Brandon Wimbush. Stanford will have a great size advantage over UCF 's defensive front, but will only be able to take advantage of it if the Cardinal return to their winning formula under Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw. Last year, only Wazzu rushed for fewer yards than Stanford in the Pac 12. Yes folks, the Cardinal were 11th in the league in rushing in 2018. For Stanford to win this game they need to run the ball effectively and then use their size advantage of their TEs and WRs. to open their passing game. If that doesn't happen, the door is open for UCF to grab the win.
9/14- Oklahoma at UCLA: Last year in Norman, OU slapped around UCLA in game that wasn't as close as the 49-21 score indicates. UCLA is in year two of the Chip Kelly regime and is expected to make a bowl this year. The bRuins have an experienced squad returning as a ton of freshman and sophomores saw significant action last season. In fact, 19 starters return for the bRuins. Meanwhile, the Sooners a very talented squad that will be young on offense and experienced on defense. OU does has a huge talent edge in this game and their defense should carry the day in a maybe-closer-than expected-game. However, these teams have never played a close contest. OU's average margin of victory is 29.5 points while UCLA's lone win in the series is by 17.
Kinda-Sorta Interesting Game
8/30- Oklahoma State at Oregon State: Who doesn't think this orange and black clash should be on Halloween? It will be the first meeting between these two schools and I know it will be weird to see The Mullet, OSU HC Mike Gundy on a Corvallis sideline. This game should easily go to the Cowboys as they have way too much talent for the Beavers to handle. However, it will be interesting to see what damage RB Jermar Jefferson can do to the Okie State defense.
Top 4 Conference Games plus the Stanford Factor
9/14 Utah at USC: This will be the game that sets the tone in the South. The Winner has the inside track to the league title game and the loser is left scrambling. The home team has won this game each of the last six years. If Utah is to live up to the hype and stake their claim as the South's best team, they have to take down the Trojans at the Coliseum. For USC, a win is another step back on the road to respectability while a loss would have folks sending Urban Meyer's contact info to Heritage Hall before the final seconds tick off.
10/19 Oregon at Washington: The Ducks will go to Husky Stadium with 10 returning starters on offense including QB Justin Herbert. That does not bode well for a very inexperienced Dawgs defense. Couple that with a new starter at QB for UW and it looks like Oregon should win this game and grab the inside track to the P12 title game.
10/19 Arizona State at Utah: The Sun Devils need this win if they are to have any stake in the South race. A win here is not out of the question as ASU has won 13 of the or last 15 against the Utes which includes a 30-10 upset win at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2017. Utah comes into this one after a breather of a road trip to Oregon State. The last few years, Utah has made a habit of dropping winnable games. Game that cost the Utes conference title shots. A win here keeps them racing towards the conference crown.
11/2- Oregon at USC: Nothing like having a November game that can shake up either division. Fun thing is this game could easily mean a lot to both teams, one team or neither team as far as the division races go. Both steams will have already faced Stanford and Washington, While Oregon will have faced Wazzu and USC will have played Utah. Nigthmare scenario for SC fans is that this game may be an Oregon team hitting on all cylinders v. the last vestiges of the Clay Helton era.
Washington or Oregon v. Stanford: Much like Wisconsin in the Big Ten West, Stanford has either won the Pac 12 North or lost to the eventual division champ every year since the league expanded and split into two divisions in 2011. So both UO and UW have to beat Stanford to have a shot at the division title.
Interesting Conference Games
10/5 Arizona at Colorado: The last time the Wildcats visited Colorado in 2017, the Buffaloes unleashed QB Khalil Tate on the Pac 12. Early in the 1st quarter, the CU defense nailed UofA QB Brandon Dawkins on the sideline with alate hit. The late hit first cost the Buffaloes 15 yards, then later the game. Khalil Tate stepped in for Dawkins and then set an FBS QB rushing record with 327 yards to go with four TDs in a 45-42 Wildcats win. Last year, injuries and bad decisions saw Tate fade from the scene. It would be neat to see Tate see if he can create that same magic in Boulder this year.
11/23- California at Stanford: Will Cal finally get a The Axe back or will Stanford make it a clean sweep this decade over the Golden Bears? I can see the "Decade of Dominance" shirts being prepped in Palo Alto right now.
Pac 12 Scheduling Notes and Other Observations
...Hosed again; Everyone in the FBS has two byes this year. However, the Pac 12 found a way to hose USC anyway. SC's second bye is the week after their regular season finale with UCLA. So, unless the Trojans make the Pac-12 title game, it's pretty useless. (Thanks, Leisure Suit Larry Scott)
...Exercising demons; Oklahoma would love to erase some bad memories at the Rose Bowl. Their last trip here was a 54-48 2OT loss to Georgia in the CFP back in the 2017 season.
...Weakness in the league; ASU and Wazzu share the title for weakest out of conference slates this year. Yes, ASU does go Michigan State , but their other two games are home games against MAC Bottom feeder Kent St and Big Sky doormat Sacramento State. Meanwhile Wazzu does road trip to Houston but their two home games are against hapless New Mexico State and Northern Colorado who shares the basement of the Big Sky Conference with Sac St.
...Cougar namesakes; Two sets of Cougars will meet when Wazzu takes on Houston this year. Why Cougars twice? Well, because when Houston was first founded as junior college back in 1927, one of their early football head coaches was John R. Bender. He was a Wazzu grad and adopted the Cougar mascot for his new team.
...Confessions of a football junkie; You know you are addicted to this game when you're stoked to find a website that previews all 126 FCS teams. Facepalm for myself here.
...Something's gotta give; Oregon is rated as having the #1 O-line in the nation this year by none other than Phil Steele. He also rates Auburn as having the #2 D-line in the country. This could be an epic clash between them on 8/31.
...Tough draw; In addition to their Pac 12 South opponents, Arizona draws Washington, Stanford and Oregon from the North. Of that trio, only Washington travels to Tucson. Ouch.
...Easier draw; ASU gets Washington, USC, Oregon and arch-rival Arizona all in Tempe this year. Their toughest road game comes 10/19 at Utah.
...O's and WSU; Wazzu is 9-0 in their last nine games combined v. Oregon and Oregon State.
...Tough triple; Colorado ravels to Oregon for a Friday night game on 10/11, then heads to Wazzu before returning home for another Friday night clash with USC. Counting their opener with Colorado State, the Buffs will play three Friday right games this season. SMH
...Non-poetic A-B-A-B stanza; Stanford opens up with Northwestern, goes to USC and UCF, then heads home for Oregon. That's hard to whipsaw between conference and non-conference foes that way.
...No Fridays, but; UCLA doesn't play a Friday game this year. However they do play two road Thursday games with Cincinnati on 8/29 and Stanford on 10/17. Facepalm.
...The big ones at home; Washington's Pac 12 home game slate is pretty packed. The Huskies will host Cal, USC, Oregon, Utah and Wazzu.
...The Saturday game; Arizona is the only Pac 12 team that plays all its' games on Saturday this year.
...A happy pirate; Mike Leach has a debt of gratitude to pay to Eastern Washington form making it to the FCS title game last year. Their run gave Leach a transfer QB. Heres the story...
A toe, a run and a medical redshirt
...82-24; Thats the combined 2018 record of USC, Stanford and UCLA's out of conference opponents. Oh, and that's only counting ND once despite being on both USC and Stanford's schedule.
...Front loaded; USC's first six opponents this year sported a combined .728 wining percentage last season. Their last six opponents .486. Hmmmmmmmm
...A very little 3; Oregon State has won only 3 road games in then last five seasons.
Pac 12 Fall Camp Storylines
Here's some links to some storylines around the rest of the Pac 12...
There's some concern over D-line depth at ASU. 6 Bodies
Meanwhile, UofA is cautiously happy over their D-Line. A Full Load
A double shot here from Cal. One HC Juston Wilcox has decided on a QB. Garbers Is it
Two, Cal is going to sell alcohol at games and install metal detectors. A Combo Deal
Oregon unveiled their latest clown suits form Nike. Cover Your Eyes
Oregon State isn't settled on the O-line. Not a Fab Five
Stanford is working to revive their rushing attack. Running to Daylight
Washington has a kid recovering form his third ACL tear. Tough Triple
Wazzu will Have its' own Hard Knocks. HB-Uh Oh!
The Pac 12 Network is high on CU HC Mel Tucker. Game Changer?
Utah is happy with their secondary. Pick Sixers
UCLA has a 31-year old Australian Punter A Footballer
Until next time folks, if you renovate it, people will come, but they only stay if you win.
-The Commissioner
