PAC-12 FOOTBALL
Josh Rosen missed the final six games of last season because of a shoulder injury. Averaging just 2.9 yards per carry, UCLA also had the worst run game of any team in a Power 5 conference and second-worst among the 128 FBS teams.
Mora replaced all but one member of his offensive coaching staff, hiring Jedd Fisch from Michigan to serve as coordinator. Fisch will be tasked with melding elements of the pro-style offense Mora wanted to implement last season to the more wide-open approach better suited to UCLA’s players.
But getting Rosen back is what could vault UCLA back up in a muddled Pac-12 South. Rosen threw for 3,668 yards and 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions as a freshman in 2015, immediately vaulting himself into the conversation of future NFL franchise quarterbacks.
“I think Josh has grown tremendously as a player and a person,” UCLA offensive lineman Scott Quessenberry said. “He’s a world-class guy, world-class competitor and a worldclass player. Can’t really replace a guy like that, and it’s really, really good to have him back.”
Arizona also dealt with uncertainty at quarterback last season, using three different starters because of poor play and injuries. There were major health and depth issues across the roster, forcing Arizona to use a converted wide receiver at running back late in the year and an undersized defensive front that was completely overwhelmed.
Significant roster turnover, with Rodriguez saying nearly 50 new players will be on the team this fall, and more familiarity with second-year defensive coordinator Marcel Yates are the primary reasons for optimism at Arizona.
“Just judging on the way the guys have worked out in the last six or seven months, and judging by what’s going to happen the next three or four weeks, the attitude will be right where we want it,” Rodriguez said.
That mindset will be tested by another setback as linebacker DeAndre Miller suffered a foot injury last week and missed media days as a result. The senior was expected to help bolster an anemic pass rush while providing a defensive presence that could pair with the offense’s return to form to take Arizona back to a bowl game.
“This year, it’s kind of a reboot,” Rodriguez said. “That sounds kind of strange being in your sixth year, but that’s what it is.”
LOS ANGELES — Southern California is the preseason pick to win the Pac-12 in a poll of football media, and defending champion Washington is favored to win the North Division.
The conference announced the results Wednesday before its preseason media availabilities in Hollywood.
USC got 28 of 52 overall first-place votes, topping the Huskies’ 22. Both schools were clear favorites in their respective divisions, getting 49 of the 52 votes for the top spot.
The Trojans won their final nine games last season behind returning quarterback Sam Darnold, culminating in a thrilling Rose Bowl victory over Penn State. Although USC must replace playmakers at several key positions, coach Clay Helton returns for his second full season with the school’s usual roster loaded with NFL-caliber talent.
USC has been greeted annually with frenzied preseason expectations, particularly since the dominant Pete Carroll era. The Trojans have far more coaching changes than conference titles in the past decade, failing to take the crown after being installed as the preseason favorites in 2012 and 2015.
Another word of warning for the Trojans: The media has correctly picked the conference champion only twice in the last decade.
Washington went 12-2 and won the conference title game over Colorado last season. The Huskies lost to Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal, but star quarterback Jake Browning returns along with several key components of coach Chris Petersen’s burgeoning powerhouse.
The Buffaloes are picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 South behind Utah and UCLA despite their breakthrough season under coach Mike MacIntyre. Arizona State ranked fifth in the division, and Arizona was last.
Stanford is picked second in the North after going 10-3 last season. The Cardinal are followed by revitalized Washington State and rebuilding Oregon, which replaced coach Mark Helfrich with Willie Taggart after going 4-8 last fall for its worst season in a quarter-century.
Oregon State is picked fifth in the North, with California expected to finish last under new coach Justin Wilcox.
Oregon and Utah got one vote apiece as Pac-12 title game champions.
- Associated Press