Fansided

Pac-12 football 2018 season preview: Breakout stars, biggest games, predictions

By Charles Rahrig V

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 8
Next

The Pac-12 needs to rebound in a major way in 2018. Who will step up and lead the conference under the national spotlight?

The Pac-12 needs to turn the ship around in 2018. After a disastrous bowl season and the conference seemingly falling behind the rest of the Power-5 conferences, this would be a great time for a program or multiple to step up and get things back on track.

Fortunately, this could be a great year for the conference and they have a program that could very well turn things around. In 2017, the USC Trojans claimed the conference championship and now they will turn a new leaf with a new look at quarterback.

The Washington Huskies boast one of the most impressive rosters in all of college football and are a legitimate playoff contender. The Stanford Cardinal and Oregon Ducks want to show that they’re right there as well in the Pac-12 North.

New faces lead programs in the south with Herm Edwards and Kevin Sumlin taking over Arizona State University and Arizona in the south. The biggest though is Chip Kelly making his return to college football and the conference he excelled in. The UCLA Bruins will look to make big strides in their first year under their coach. This is a chance for the conference to make noise in the right direction.

Here’s what fans should expect in 2018.

SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 28: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal looks at the scoreboard in the first half of the Valero Alamo Bowl against the TCU Horned Frogs at Alamodome on December 28, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 28: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal looks at the scoreboard in the first half of the Valero Alamo Bowl against the TCU Horned Frogs at Alamodome on December 28, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Offensive Player of the Year: Bryce Love, RB – Stanford

Stanford running back Bryce Love was an absolute beast in the 2017 season. He even put his name up with the likes of Saquon Barkley. That’s how well he was running the ball and he would have been a likely first-round pick had he entered the draft.

However, he chose to return to the Cardinal for another season and now he’s going to have the running back spotlight on himself out west. He’ll be the offensive catalyst for the Cardinal and will have to put the offense on his back if they’re going to contend in the North.

300-plus yard games are always a possibility with Love touching the ball and he’s going to get a healthy amount of carries. There are plenty of great options for the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, but Love is the safest bet.

Justin Herbert of Oregon and Khalil Tate of Arizona are also players to keep an eye on as well. Both quarterbacks are aiming for big things in 2018 and could very well end up winning the Offensive Player of the Year award.