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Pac-12 Football 2017 preview

By Brad Weiss

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 02: Washington Huskies revel in the celebration during the Pac-12 Championship game between the Washington Huskies verses the Colorado Buffaloes on December 2, 2016 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 02: Washington Huskies revel in the celebration during the Pac-12 Championship game between the Washington Huskies verses the Colorado Buffaloes on December 2, 2016 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Pac-12 was one of the more exciting conferences in college football in 2016, and the 2017 season should be even better.

During the 2016 college football season,  the Pac-12 Conference brought the action on a weekly basis. The season saw the rise of USC football back into the national picture, as they nearly played their way into the College Football Playoff. The University of Colorado went from the cellar in the Pac-12 South, to the top of the division, earning a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game against the Washington Huskies.

In the end, the Huskies would defeat the Buffaloes in the title game, and in the process, earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. While Washington proved to be the class of the conference last season, there are a handful of teams that could knock them off their thrown in 2017.

The conference has been labeled as having the best quarterback play in the entire country, and it is certain to be another wild ride this season.

In our season preview, we take a look at some players to keep an eye on, as well as who we think will eventually win the conference. We start it off with our selection for conference Offensive Player of the Year, and it  goes to a quarterback who really burst onto the scene in 2016.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Sam Darnold, USC

USC quarterback Sam Darnold started off the 2016 college football season as a backup to Max Browne. After taking a redshirt his first year on campus, as he was listed behind Browne and Cody Kessler on the Trojans depth chart, Darnold had to wait until game four to get his first start for the Trojans last season.

He made the most of his opportunity, and after the team lost his first start on the road against Utah, they would not lose again.

By the end of the regular season, the Trojans had earned a spot in the Rose Bowl, their first appearance in the game in the last eight years. All Darnold did in that game was throw for 453 yards, while setting the game’s records for touchdowns (5), and total yards (473). It was an incredible exclamation point on a season that saw the young signal-caller return the Trojans back into a national power.

Heading into the 2017 season, all eyes will be on the Trojans, who many believe will make it to the College Football Playoff. With Heisman talk surrounding their sophomore quarterback, USC has the talent around him to retake the crown in the Pac-12.

The conference has some heavy hitters in it this season, but Darnold is the best offensive player of all, and that may be enough to carry the Trojans to a conference title.

Darnold is a special player, and if he does decide to declare for the 2018 NFL Draft, he could likely be a the top overall selection. He may be the best pocket passer the Trojans have ever had, and if his first season starting is any indication, USC may be in for another championship season.

After throwing for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns last season, Darnold could reach 40 TD passes in 2017, making him our top offensive player for the upcoming season.