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Final Pac-12 power rankings: How many teams actually had good years?

By Brad Weiss

PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 06: Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) back to pass in the second quarter of a game against the UCLA Bruins played on October 6, 2018 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 06: Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) back to pass in the second quarter of a game against the UCLA Bruins played on October 6, 2018 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Clay Helton, USC
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 24: USC head coach Clay Helton walks off the field after a college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans on November 24, 2018, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The USC Trojans went into the 2018 season with a freshman quarterback, as JT Daniels was given the keys to the car in year one. While he definitely played well, especially for a freshman, this Trojans team was just so inconsistent throughout, and many believed that missing out on a bowl game would lead to head coach Clay Helton being shown the door at one of the best programs in college football.

Well, Helton kept his job and added an incredible offensive coordinator in Kliff Kingsberry. Daniels finished the year with over 2,600 yards and 14 touchdowns, and the Trojans actually looked in good shape to make a bowl game, though they ended up losing their last three games of the year. Helton will get another shot to turn this thing around in 2019, but if they get out to a slow start, you can just see Kingsberry taking over for the stretch run.

The California Golden Bears made it to a bowl game this season, and it was mostly due to the fact that they had arguably the best defense in the Pac-12 in 2018. Cal turned to a freshman at starting quarterback during the season, handing Chase Garbers the keys to the car, and while he played well in spurts, his inexperience shined through in the bowl game, where he threw three interceptions in a loss to TCU.

Garbers should be back as the starter next season, but Cal is going to have to replace some incredible talent on the defensive side of the ball. Jordan Kunaszyk and Evan Weaver combined for 270 tackles this season, but are both seniors, and will be sorely missed in 2019. Cal will also have to replace running back Patrick Laird, who led the team in rushing this season, so this could be a team that struggles, at least to start the year next Fall.

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