The 2019 season of Pac-12 football should make for some exciting play, as there is talent all over the conference, including some potential first round picks.
During the 2018 college football season, the Pac-12 was dominated by the two teams from Washington, as the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars battled it out for the North Division. In the South, the Utah Utes edged out Arizona State, and head into 2019 as the team to beat in the conference.
Here are our initial Pac-12 power rankings entering the first full week of the season.
The Utah Utes come into the 2019 season fresh off a South Division win in 2018, and they have more talent than they did last season. The defense is absolutely loaded up front, as Bradlee Anae and Leki Fotu are both preseason first-team all-conference players, while the defensive backfield has special stars in Jaylon Johnson and Julian Blackmon. Zack Moss could be the best running back in the Pac-12, and Tyler Huntley is back under center.
Fresh off a 2018 Pac-12 title, the Washington Huskies come into the 2019 campaign loaded on both sides of the ball. The addition of Jacob Eason to replace Jake Browning was big for a program that has to make do without legendary running back Myles Gaskin, who will be replaced by the very capable Salvon Ahmed. They have the talent up front on offense to move the ball with ease in 2019, and should once again be in the running for a Pac-12 title.
The Oregon Ducks offense features the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, as Justin Herbert decided to return for another go-around in Eugene. Autzen Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in all of college football, and with a stellar offensive line, to go along with an elite linebacker in Troy Dye, the Ducks will certainly be in play for a Pac-12 North title in 2019.
In order for the Washington State Cougars to compete in the Pac-12 this season, they will have to replace quarterback Gardner Minshew, who was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2018. Anthony Gordon, not Gage Grubrud, will get the first crack at running head coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, and the expectation is that it is going to be next man up for the Cougars in 2019, and they will compete in a tough Pac-12 North.
The USC Trojans finished last season with a record below .500, so it is no big surprise that head coach Clay Helton would be on the hot seat entering 2019. The Trojans have elite talent at the wide receiver position, as Michael Pittman Jr. is an absolute star, but there are question marks on defense, and if they get off to a slow start this Fall, there could be big changes in the program.
K.J. Costello is one of the better quarterbacks in the conference heading into 2019, as the Stanford Cardinal look to remain strong on offense without star running back Bryce Love. Cameron Scarlett has shown throughout his career that he can be the featured back for the Cardinal, and if Stanford can get guys to step up, especially up front on defense, they have the coaching staff to make a run in the North.
Herman Edwards did a fantastic job in his first season as head coach of the Arizona Sun Devils last season, nearly leading the program to a first-place finish in the Pac-12 South Division. Herm will once again have his work cut out for him in Year No. 2, but he has a special talent at running back in Eno Benjamin, who could be the best overall back in the entire country as a Sophomore. Linebacker Merlin Robertson is an elite talent at his position.
Chip Kelly will look to continue to turn around the UCLA Bruins football program in 2019, after struggling to get his first win last season, starting out 0-5. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is entering his second season with the Bruins and should gain on some valuable experience as a freshman in 2018. The Bruins do not have a ton of talent, but you can never count out a Chip Kelly-led college football team.
The California Golden Bears are a team to keep an eye on in 2019, as Chase Garbers enters his second season as the team’s starting quarterback. The Golden Bears have some quality talent in their secondary with guys like Jaylinn Hawkins and Ashtyn Davis, while Evan Weaver is one of the premier linebackers in college football. If the offense can get going, Cal has the defense to beat anybody in the Pac-12.
The Arizona Wildcats got their season started off on the wrong foot on Saturday night, losing on the road to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors by the score of 45-38. This is an Arizona team that has some elite talent on both sides of the ball, especially at quarterback and running back, as Khalil Tate and J.J. Taylor should produce at a high level in 2019. Colin Schooler is a tremendous linebacker talent, but losing to Hawaii is not the kind of start they were looking for.
The Colorado Buffaloes begin the season as the No. 11 ranked team in our initial power rankings, but they have the talent to rocket up the list if they get off to a hot start. They have a veteran quarterback in Steven Montez, as well as a first round talent at wide receiver in Laviska Shenault Jr., and if the defense can play on a more consistent basis, the Buffaloes could surprise some people in 2019.
When it comes to the Oregon State Beavers football program, they have been synonymous with losing over the past seven seasons. They have had only one winning season since 2012, but they do return a running back that is one of the best in college football in Jermar Jefferson. Jefferson tore up the Pac-12 as a freshman in 2018, but quarterback Jake Luton is a wildcard, and this team is only going to go as far as he takes them this fall.