Pac-12 football finally joins play on Saturday
On Saturday the Pac-12 becomes the final Power 5 conference to begin its version of a pandemic-impacted football season. Each team is playing five divisional games and one crossover game against a non-division opponent, and will add a seventh in mid-December depending on how they stand — and whether they qualify for the conference championship game on Dec. 18.
Here is a look at the players and teams to watch:
Players to watch
QB Kedon Slovis, Soph., USC: Slovis was an unexpected surprise, earning Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year honors after stepping in for starter J.T Daniels who was injured in the season opener. Slovis, who graduated from Scottsdale Desert Mountain, threw for 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns with nine interceptions and was so good that Daniels decided to hit the transfer portal rather than return to Troy.
QB Jayden Daniels, Soph., Arizona State: Had it not been for Slovis, Daniels would have been the consensus pick for Freshman of the Year. He showed poise under pressure, directing the Sun Devils to three last-second victories, two against then-ranked foes, not to mention outplaying veteran Justin Herbert in ASU’s 31-28 upset of Oregon. He threw for 2,943 yards and 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions and will be able to shine this year in a new offense tailored to him.
DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Soph., Oregon: The 6-foot-5, 242-pounder was the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2019, so he’ll be looking to build on the stellar debut in which he set the program freshman record with a nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He recorded a nation-high seven sacks in the fourth quarter and ranked second among FBS freshman in sacks and third in tackles for loss
LB Hamilcar Rashed, Sr., Oregon State: The 6-foot-4, 238-pounder was one of the breakout stars in the conference last year, finishing with 22.5 tackles for a loss which led all Division I FBS players. The former Cesar Chavez and Chandler star tallied 14 sacks, which led the conference and ranked third nationally and managed 62 tackles, a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles which helped land him second-team All
Pac-12 honors.
North Division
California
2019: 8-5, 4-5
Coach: Justin Wilcox (fourth year, 2018)
Top returning players: QB Chase Garbers, RB Christopher Brown, CB Camryn Bynum, LB Kuony Deng
Top newcomer: LB Muelu Iosefa Outlook: The Bears were one of the surprise teams early last season before QB Chase Garbers got hurt. Cal was 7-0 when he started and finished a game and 1-5 when he didn’t. Cal has a new OC in Bill Musgrave, who will likely implement a more pro-style offense that it hopes can produce more points. All backs return led by Chris Brown (914 yards, 8 TDs).
Oregon
2019: 12-2, 8-1
Coach: Mario Cristobal (third year, 21-7) Top returning players: DL Kayvon Thibodeaux, RB C.J. Verdell, CB Deommodore Lenoir, NT Jordan Scott
Top newcomers: LB Justin Flowe, LB Noah Sewell, CB Dontae Manning
Outlook: The reigning Pac-12 and Rose Bowl champ is favored despite the departure of QB Justin Herbert because of what returns on defense. That would be nine starters from a team that ranked No. 9 nationally in scoring defense and had six games in which it allowed a touchdown or less. Leading that entourage is DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, last year’s Defensive Freshman of the Year. The back end of the defense took some hits with NB Jevon Holland CB Thomas Graham and S Brad Breeze opting out and declaring for the draft. The Ducks have a new OC in Joe Moorhead, who will be deciding on a starter at quarterback. Sophomore
Tyler Shough, Herbert’s backup, took all the first team reps in the four spring practices Oregon had. Junior C.J. Verdell (87.1 ypg) is the leading returning rusher in the Pac-12 and is more than capable of shouldering more of a load than he did last year. Key newcomers include five-star recruits in Flowe and Noah Sewell, Penei’s younger brother. Oregon State
2019: 5-7, 4-5
Coach: Jonathan Smith (third year,
7-17)
Top returning players: DL Hamilcar Rashed, RB Jermar Jefferson, OL Brandon Kipper, LB Omar Speights
Top newcomers: CB Rejzohn Wright, RB Isaiah Newell
Outlook: The Beavers have made progress under Smith, improving from one win to two his first year, then to five in 2019. His squad was in position to make a bowl game for the first time since 2013 but lost three of its last four to come up short. The top three skill position players are gone with junior Tristan Gebbia, last year’s backup, the favorite to land the QB spot.
Stanford
2019: 4-8, 3-6
Coach: David Shaw (ninth year, 86-34) Top returning players: C Drew Dalman, WR Michael Wilson, DL Thomas Booker, K Jet Toner
Top newcomers: OL Myles Hinton, RB E.J Smith
Outlook: Shaw is regarded as one of the better coaches in the conference and he will be tested this season. Last season was one in which the Cardinal were decimated by injuries, particularly up front. The number of transfers leaves Shaw with no depth so staying healthy is a must if Stanford is to bounce back from its first losing season since 2008.
Washington
2019: 8-5, 4-5
Coach: Jimmy Lake (first year)
Top returning players: DB Elijah Molden, LB Ryan Bowman, TE Cade Otton, OL Jaxson Kirkland
Top newcomers: OLB Sav’ell Smalls, WR Jalen McMillan
Outlook: Count the Huskies among the teams that will be without marquee players with LB Joe Tryon and DL Levi Onwuzurike declaring for the draft. Washington is one of three conference teams with new coaches as Lake, formerly defensive coordinator, takes over after the surprising exit of Chris Petersen. This team will have to rely on defense, with a new OC in John Donovan, zero quarterbacks who have started a game and not having had any spring practice.
Washington State
2019: 6-7, 3-6
Coach: Nick Rolovich (first year)
Top returning players: RB Max Borghi, RT Abraham Lucas, LB Jahad Woods, K Blake Mazza
Top newcomer: QB Jayden de Laura Outlook: The Cougars are a team in transition with Rolovich coming over from Hawaii, replacing Mike Leach and bringing in new coordinators on both sides of the ball. The run-and-shoot of Rolovich isn’t much different than Leach’s Air Raid but should lend itself to more running and the Cougars have a quality back in Borghi. At quarterback there are returners in Cammon Cooper and Gunner Cruz, neither of whom has played in a game, as well as true freshman Jayden de Laura. Whoever wins the job will be the third starter in as many years.
South Division
Arizona
2019: 4-8, 2-7
Coach: Kevin Sumlin (third year, 9-15) Top returning players: C Josh McCauley, WR Jamarye Joiner, OL Donovan Laie, CB Lorenzo Burns
Top newcomer: DT Aaron Blackwell, DT Roy Lopez
Outlook: It’s year three of the Kevin Sumlin era and the pressure is on after the Wildcats ended 2019 on a sevengame losing streak during which Sumlin bagged three defensive coaches. And the Wildcats start this season against Utah, USC and Washington, all of whom they’ll be a heavy underdog out of the box. Most problematic was that defense which surrendered 35.8 points and 471.4 yards per game, both conference-worsts. The yards per game also was 120th out of 130 FBS teams. The Wildcats lost four of their five leading tacklers, including three who transferred to other Division I programs including Colin Schooler, the top player on that side of the ball. Sophomore Grant Gunnell inherits the starting quarterback role, taking over from Khalil Tate, with whom he split time in the last few games last season. The Wildcats need to find a RB after the departure of J.J. Taylor. Gary Brightwell and Nathan Tilford got carries last year and are capable of shouldering more of the load.
Arizona State 2019:
Coach:
8-5, 4-5
Herm Edwards (third year, 1511)
Top returning players: QB Jayden Daniels, WR Frank Darby, S Evan Fields, CB Jack Jones, LB Merlin Robertson, CB Chase Lucas
Top newcomers: OT Kellen Diesch, RB DeaMonte Trayanum, WR Johnny Wilson
Outlook: ASU can contend for South honors if it finds replacements for RB Eno Benjamin and WR Brandon Aiyuk, both of whom were drafted. QB Jayden Daniels had a stellar freshman campaign, engineering three final drive victories in addition to a late-season win over an Oregon team then in the hunt for a playoff berth. Coach Herm Edwards went conservative with the offense with a rookie quarterback and a patchwork offensive line that also featured two true freshman. The reins are off now with the addition of new coordinator Zak Hill from Boise State, who will run an offense more suited to Daniels’ skill set. The needs up front were addressed with grad transfers Kellen Diesch (Texas A&M) and Henry Hattis (Stanford). The defense returns eight starters but is also in transition with Antonio Pierce and Marvin Lewis sharing coordinator duties and moving from the 3-3-5 to more conventional fourman front. The biggest chore will be to generate more pass rush.
Colorado
2019: 5-7, 3-6
Coach: Karl Dorrell (first year)
Top returning players: DE Mustafa Johnson, ILB Nate Landman, RB Alex Fontenot, DE Terrance Lang
Top newcomer: RB Aashad Clayton Outlook: The Buffaloes are going to be behind the eight-ball with coach Mel Tucker leaving for Michigan State. Dorrell wasn’t appointed until late February and didn’t have the benefit of even one spring practice. Tucker left behind a solid recruiting class and Dorrell retained four coaches from the previous staff. The Buffs return six starters on offense and eight on defense but the losses were huge.
Southern California
2019: 8-5, 7-2
Coach: Clay Helton (sixth year 40-22) Top returning players: QB Kedon Slovis, DE-LB Drake Jackson, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, DB Talanoa Hufanga, OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
Top newcomer: WR Gary Bryant Outlook: Helton has seemingly been on the hot seat forever and after a 13-12 mark the last two years combined, his team best not struggle out of the gate. The Trojans return 18 starters and loom as the division favorite led by QB Kedon Slovis, who excelled in place of injured starter J.T. Daniels who has since transferred.
UCLA
2019: 4-8, 4-5
Coach: Chip Kelly (third year 7-17)
Top returning players: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, WR Kyle Phillips, RB-KR Demetric Felton, DL Osa Odighizuwa
Top newcomer: LB Damian Sellers Outlook: Add Chip Kelly to the list of coaches under the gun in 2020 The Bruins are just 7-17 overall and 9-9 in conference play in his two seasons and have had a massive turnover of players in his tenure already. Dorian ThompsonRobinson will be in his third year as a starter and while showing flashes of brilliance he has also been erratic.
Utah
2019: 11-3, 8-1
Coach: Kyle Whittingham (16th year, 131-64)
Top returning players: OT Nick Ford, WR-KR Britain Covey, TE Brant Kuithe, LB Devin Lloyd, C Orlando Umana
Top newcomers: CB Clark Phillips Outlook: The Utes are in rebuilding mode, especially on the defensive side of the ball where nine of the top 11 tacklers have departed from a team that ranked second nationally in total defense (269.2 ypg) and third in rushing defense (70.3 ypg). Six of the seven Utah players drafted were defenders. Junior LB Devin Lloyd should emerge as the leader on that side of the ball after recording a team-high 91 tackles a year ago.