🏈 The Pac-12's Last Dance

This season marks the end of an era out West, as USC, UCLA and Colorado are all set to head to new conference. There's a chance more follow, but coming off an impressive season for the conference as a whole, this year has a lot of intrigue. Let's take a look at title favorites 💪 (2 min read)

Author

Will Gendron
August 02, 2023

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

The Last Dance

This year’s Pac-12 college football season marks one last dance for three teams, with USC, UCLA and Colorado headed to new conferences for the 2024-25 season. While both California teams are heading to the Big Ten, Colorado will join the Big 12 🦬

After an abysmal season last year, the Buffs decided to shake things up, tasking Deion Sanders to turn the program around after leading Jackson State to an undefeated regular season before falling to North Carolina Central in the Cricket Celebration Bowl. Deion has already made some noise, and with the season approaching fast, take a look at Pac-12 odds in what should be an interesting year 👇

  • USC: +200

  • Oregon: +310

  • Washington: +340

  • Utah: +550

  • UCLA: +1000

  • Oregon State: +1200

This year is really USC’s to lose, considering the Trojans’ high-powered offense returns 82 players from the 2022 team, including their quarterback and reigning Heisman winner, Caleb Williams 💪

Last year ended brutally for the Trojans, who collapsed in the Pac-12 Championship game - a win that would have punched their ticket to the College Football Playoffs. USC was outscored by Utah 44-7 to end the game, losing 47-24. Lincoln Riley will have his chance at revenge during Week 8 of the season, when the Utes travel to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, October 21st. Mark your calendars for that one 📆

With six teams finishing in last season’s Top-25, one of the better years for the Pac-12, there are certainly a bunch of high powered games to watch this season. Peep my favorite matchups of the year (full schedule) 🏈

  • Week 1: Florida @ Utah

  • Week 2: Utah @ Baylor

  • Week 3: Washington @ Michigan State

  • Week 4: Colorado @ Oregon

  • Week 7: USC @ Notre Dame

  • Week 9: Oregon @ Utah

  • Week 12: UCLA @ USC

Some of these games will be Pac-12 late night on Friday’s, always a good week when you have an extra night of football 🍺

As for my sleeper pick out West, keep an eye on Oregon State, who finished last season 10-3, culminated with back-to-back wins over Oregon and Florida. Two of their three losses were close, losing by three to both USC and Washington. Plus, former 5-star Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei is in the building, and while he hasn’t earned any starting honors yet, watch out 👀

Trivia Question: Can you name all six Pac-12 teams who finished last season ranked in the Top-25?

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Trivia Answer: No. 8 Washington, No. 10 Utah, No. 12 USC, No. 15 Oregon, No. 17 Oregon State and No. 21 UCLA