Stanford 2nd, Cal last in poll
LOS ANGELES — Stanford was tabbed to finish second to Washington in the North Division in the 2017 Pac-12 media poll, which was released Wednesday morning before the first of the conference’s two media days.
Fifty-two media members participated in the poll, which listed USC as the favorite to emerge from the South Division and win the Pac-12 title game and Cal to place last among the six North Division teams.
Cal running back Tre Watson said being picked to finish last is motivating. Stanford head coach David Shaw, running back Bryce Love and defensive tackle Harrison Phillips will address the media Thursday.
The media correctly has selected the conference champion in only two of the past 10 polls and 29 of the previous 56. Levi’s Stadium agreement: The Pac-12 Football Championship Game will continue to be held in Santa Clara through at least 2019, Commissioner Larry Scott announced. The new agreement adds two years, with an option to extend through 2020.
The championship game moved to Levi’s Stadium in 2014, its first time at a neutral site after being hosted on Pac-12 campuses for three years. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday for the game, which is scheduled for Dec. 1. Plans to shorten games: In an effort to shorten televised games, Scott said the conference will experiment with a pilot program that intends to cut halftimes from 20 to 15 minutes and shrink commercial breaks.
“Just because metrics show robust ratings and attendance, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be experimenting and piloting with formats that will keep the sport attractive,” Scott said. “... With the combination of the incredible experience viewing football on TV now, the many other choices people have with their time and just changing tastes, it’s incumbent upon us to look at the presentation of the sport and make sure the pace of play is moving as much as possible, and without changing the fundamentals of the game, we look to make the presentation as tight as possible.”
Scott said the rules committee also is examining clock stoppages that extend the length of games.
The pilot program will include nonconference games, but the schedule won’t be finalized until next month. The commissioner said on-screen branding and advertising could be used to offset the loss of commercial revenue. Cal injuries: Head coach Justin Wilcox didn’t address injuries, but the school said defensive end Zeandrae Johnson, offensive lineman Daniel Juarez, running back Billy McCrary III and safety Evan Rambo are expected to miss the season. Johnson was expected to start opposite James Looney at defensive end, and Rambo was in the running with Derron Brown for one starting safety spot.