Fansided

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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October 08, 2016: Colorado (23) Phillip Lindsay (RB) avoids a tackle from USC (23) Jonathan Lockett (DB) during the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
October 08, 2016: Colorado (23) Phillip Lindsay (RB) avoids a tackle from USC (23) Jonathan Lockett (DB) during the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Game of the Year: November 11, USC at Colorado

Prior to the 2016 college football season, the Colorado Buffaloes were a joke in the Pac-12. When head coach Mike MacIntyre took over the program, he inherited a team that went 1-11 the season prior. He managed to win four games his first season, but then had a two-win season, followed by another four-win campaign.

Heading into 2017, there was no reason to believe his team could contend in a very loaded Pac-12 South Division. In fact, a lot of the publications had them finishing dead last in the conference. Well, the Buffaloes proved everybody wrong, finishing atop the division, and clinching a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

The USC Trojans are a program that always has lofty expectations, but nobody really felt they were a championship-caliber team in 2016. However, once they inserted Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback, their season turned around, as they reeled off nine straight wins to end the season. Darnold led his Trojan teammates to a Rose Bowl win, and many believe they will unseat Colorado in the Pac-12 South this season.

Fast forward to November 11 of this year and these two teams will meet in what should be an outstanding game. The Buffaloes have a lot of talent returrning on both sides of the ball, including star running back Phillip Lindsay. USC is a sexy pick to make it to the College Football Playoff this season, so this one is going to go down to the wire.

Last season, the Trojans beat the Buffaloes 24-17 at home, but the game will be played in Colorado in 2017. Colorado is a program on the rise, and for USC, they may be getting back to being a national power. Something has to give, making this matchup late in the season our pick for Game of the Year.