A Look Back At the PAC-12, 2016
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The PAC-12, historically known as the Rodney Dangerfield of the Power 5 conferences as it gets little-to-no-respect. It is partly because of their games are late while the rest of the nation sleeps, or another part is the fact we've seen teams in the PAC-12 not stack up with the other conferences with their style of play, or it could be because people do not take the PAC-12 seriously.
Not the case this year.
Ironically it started out very poorly for the conference as we saw UCLA, perennial favorite to win the conference, lose to Texas A&M, USC got walloped by Alabama, Washington State lose to a FCS school, and Arizona losing to BYU. "PAC-12 gonna......PAC-12" was most of the comments. However, things started to change.
The historic knock of the PAC-12 was the fact that the teams would get bullied by the likes of the other powers up front like Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Michigan, etc. You can look at the 2014 National Championship of seeing Ohio State doing that to Oregon and even this year with Alabama doing it to USC. Texas A&M did the same with UCLA. But things started to change. Stanford has been near the top of the conference for years because they had strong lines on both sides. But a trend started. Colorado, who came out of nowhere, started to build up the lines. Washington built their lines under Chris Peterson and even the likes of Washington State got it.
USC's run to the Rose Bowl was nothing short of amazing after the sluggish start they had.
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The conference was very top-heavy. Washington is looking like what Peterson has wanted to do when he came over from Boise State and has gotten the Huskies back to national prominence. Washington State still uses the Air Raid offense, but has modified it to where their defense is not worn out and played a solid physical game themselves so you have to credit Mike Leach for his ways. Stanford is still Stanford, playing that physical defense. Colorado surprised everybody this year with a good balanced attack and won the PAC-12 South. USC, who got off to a sluggish start, got it going and looks to be set for the future. Utah is also building a similar blueprint to Stanford and Washington and they are always considered a threat in the PAC-12 with their style of play and good physical defense as well.
Oregon went from being a top dog of the conference to pretty much the doormat in 2016
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But the other half of the PAC-12? Ugh. But you're seeing the spread, quick-strike offenses who use it religiously such as California, Oregon, Arizona, and Arizona State, all of whom fell badly in 2016. Oregon State is still searching for an identity under Gary Anderson. And UCLA crashed and burned this year. So as a whole, the bottom half needs to change the ways or they will remain in the bottom half.
Like I've done for the ACC, SEC, and the Big Ten, I want to take a look a back at my PAC-12 predictions before the season started. Let's see how I panned out.
The Apple Cup was meaningful as I had picked. Just thought the outcome would have been different. Oh well....
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WHAT I GOT RIGHT? While I didn't get the projection of Washington State winning the division correct, I did think the Apple Cup would have great meaning and it did. I also expected both Arizona teams to collapse as well. Pretty much it.
UCLA's play stunned many and they also found themselves at the bottom of barrel as well.
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WHAT I GOT WRONG? Oregon and UCLA I was way off with the picks. But Oregon should have been one I've seen given the style of play the Ducks had going, they were going to be bullied, and were by teams. UCLA was a shock as they just fell off a cliff with all the returning starters. They were just bad. And Colorado surprised many with how they played winning the division. So my picks were all over the place.
TOP QUESTIONS TO ASK FOR GOING INTO 2017:
1. Can Oregon get back to the top of the conference under Willie Taggart? Yes, if they start playing more physical on the lines and on defense. The Ducks have been bullied for the last 3 years and really their offense covered some gaping holes on the team. When the offense fell back, the Ducks were exposed badly. But I don't think they are winning any conference championship next year.
2. Will USC and Washington repeat 2016? Yes. The players are there and in the Huskies case they have a great head coach. Sam Darnold for USC is a Heisman favorite in 2017 so you can bet the Trojans will be there.
3. Which bottom half of the PAC-12 team has a shot at getting out of the doldrums in 2017? I like Oregon. If Taggart can get the lines and play more physical on the defensive side, they could give Washington a run. I don't see RichRod's Wildcats or Graham's Sun Devils really making the necessary changes to get better as their style isn't working. How both of them still have a job is beyond me. Another team to keep an eye on is the Ducks in-state rivals, Oregon State. They could pull a Colorado.
4. Will Clay Helton get the Trojans over the top? He doesn't have the look or the vibe of a national championship coach and I am not sure if he does, so no. Yes, they won the Rose Bowl and had Sam Darnold, but I need to see more of how he calls games before I completely praise him or rip him. 2018 will decide how great of a coach he is. Honestly, my answer is no for now.
5. Was Colorado a one-time thing or are they legit? Legit. I think they understand how to go about playing and how to win up front. I think they are still a bit inexperienced, but overall they gained it and I can see them winning 9 or 10 games in 2017 again. Plus, Colorado this way is great for the PAC-12-and college football in general.
