The Washington Huskies won the Pac-12 in 2016, but the USC Trojans enter our weekly power rankings as the No. 1 team in the conference.
The 2016 Pac-12 season was an action packed year, which culminated with the Washington Huskies reigning as champions. This season, there are plenty of solid teams in the conference, including the USC Trojans. The Trojans took the country by storm after inserting Sam Darnold as their quarterback in Week 4 last season, and enter this year ranked No. 1 in our weekly power rankings.
In 2017, the Pac-12 is going to be known for its quarterback play, as the conference boasts some of the best talent in the country at that position. In addition to Darnold, Washington’s Jake Browning, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, and Washington State’s Luke Falk are just a few of the top signal-callers in America. With two Pac-12 teams already taking the field this season, we take a look at our first edition of the Pac-12 power rankings.
There were plenty of expectations for Cal last season, as transfer QB Davis Webb was supposed to make them a force in the Pac-12. However, after going 4-3 to open the season, the Golden Bears lost four in a row, before a season-ending win against the UCLA Bruins. The expectations for the Golden Bears are a lot smaller in 2017, as they appear destined to finish near the bottom of the Pac-12 North Division.
Replacing Webb at quarterback will be Ross Bowers, who beat out Chase Forrest to be named the team’s starter this past week. Bowers was a four-star recruit in high school, and aside from Forrest, had to beat out two other QBs to earn the nod. He will be under center when the Golden Bears open up their 2017 campaign against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels on September 2.
Cal does have some talented players, including wide receiver Demetrius Robertson. Alongside defensive lineman James Loney, Robertson was named a preseason Third-Team All-Pac-12 selection, and will be tasked with replacing Chad Hansen, who led the Pac-12 in receiving yards last season. Kicker Matt Anderson was a First-Team selection, and should have his fair share of opportunities in the kicking game this season.
The Arizona Wildcats struggled through a 3-9 season in 2016, their first with head coach Rich Rodriguez at the helm. Once considered one of the best coaching prospects in college football, Rodriguez has fallen on hard times, but is trying to build up a football program at a basketball school at Arizona. He has a talented quarterback returning, who proved to be one of the better dual threats in the Pac-12 last season.
Brandon Dawkins supplanted Anu Solomon as the team’s starter after Solomon failed to stay healthy enough to be effected. Once the starter, Dawkins proved he can do it with his arm, and his feet, racking up 18 total touchdowns. If he can build on last season, the Wildcats may be able to surprise some teams in 2017.
Running back Nick Wilson got some good time last season, finishing with an almost 6.0 yards per carry average. They have one of the better offensive lineman in the country in Jacob Alsadek, and kicker Josh Pollack is a preseason Third Team selection. They open up on September 2 against Northern Arizona, which is a very winnable game, but I do not see more than four or so wins on their schedule this season.