It took a mere eight years for all six teams to win the Pac-12 South championship.

The Hotline would argue that the best came last.

Utah isn’t the best of the eight division champs. (We’d take USC ’17 over any of ’em.)

Heck, this might even be the best Utah team of the division era. (The ’15 version was pretty good.)

But from our vantage point, the Utes’ path in 2018 was the most challenging, thereby making their accomplishment the most impressive.

It came with a twist, too:

The Utes have been knocked off course before under more favorable circumstances. When confronted by obstacles at every turn this year, they managed to endure and overcome.

Their 0-2 start in conference play included a close loss at Washington State in which the Utes were on the wrong end of several questionable calls.

They lost starting quarterback Tyler Huntley in the second half of a close game at at ASU on Nov. 3, then starting tailback Zack Moss to a freak injury (at his home) a few days later.

And because of the division rotation, they were the only team in the South that had to play all the best teams in the North, which have a 31-12 combined record.

Utah drew Washington State (10-1), Washington (8-3), Oregon (7-4) and Stanford (6-4) …

USC missed Washington and Oregon.

Arizona missed Stanford and Washington.

ASU missed Washington State.

UCLA missed Washington State.

Colorado missed Stanford and Oregon.

Seeking context on Utah’s accomplishment, the Hotline examined the paths traveled by the seven previous South winners and found the Utes can credibly claim to have faced the most challenging cross-division schedule.

2017 USC: Missed 10-3 Washington and 7-6 Oregon

2016 Colorado: Missed 12-2 Washington

2015 USC: Missed 9-5 Washington State

2014 Arizona: Missed 8-5 Stanford

2013 ASU: Missed 11-2 Oregon

2012 UCLA: Missed 12-1 Oregon

2011 USC: No significant misses and the only division champ to face a road comparable to Utah’s. But the Trojans didn’t lose Matt Barkley on the first Saturday of November.

Well done, Utes.

Well done.

1. Washington State (10-1/7-1)

Last week: 1

Result: Beat Arizona 69-28

Next up: vs. Washington (Friday)

Comment: Apple Cup? For the Cougars, it has been the Apple Turnover: They have 15 of ’em in the past three years. Another multi-giveaway game this week, and the result will be the same.

2. Washington (8-3/6-2)

Last week: 2

Result: Beat Oregon State 42-23

Next up: at Washington State (Friday)

Comment: First came the bye week; then came Oregon State; now comes life as the underdog. Chris Petersen must be in Husky heaven.

3. Utah (8-3/6-3)

Last week: 3

Result: Won at Colorado 30-7

Next up: vs. Brigham Young

Comment: Despite Jason Shelley’s terrific performances, the Utes won’t have a quarterback controversy next season … until the first so-so game from Tyler Huntley.

4. Stanford (6-4/4-3)

Last week: 4

Result: Big Game postponed

Next up: at UCLA

Comment: If Oregon had taken a knee, the Cardinal would be stuck on five wins and anything but a lock for another bowl bid with roadies against ascending opponents.

5. Oregon (7-4/4-4)

Last week: 6

Result: Beat Arizona State 31-29

Next up: at Oregon State (Friday)

Comment: Nobody in the conference is better at trying to give games away. So the Ducks have that going for them.

6. Arizona State (6-5/4-4)

Last week: 5

Result: Lost at Oregon 31-29

Next up: at Arizona

Comment: Sun Devils are one of just three teams in the Power Five with fewer than 10 turnovers. So much to be said for not beating yourself.

7. Cal (6-4/3-4)

Last week: 7

Result: Big Game postponed

Next up: vs. Colorado

Comment: I was a few weeks ago if Justin Wilcox would win Pac-12 Coach of the Year if the Bears got to 8-4. My response: Not unless WSU collapses.

8. UCLA (3-8/3-5)

Last week: 9

Result: Beat USC 34-27

Next up: vs. Stanford

Comment: I couldn’t have been alone in expecting a UCLA victory over the Trojans. Just look at the trajectories of the teams. Look at the discipline, at the deployment of personnel.

9. USC (5-6/4-5)

Last week: 8

Result: Lost at UCLA 34-27

Next up: vs. Notre Dame

Comment: Everyone scores on Oregon State, so let’s dismiss that result. In the past two games with Clay Helton as play-caller, the Trojans have produced a total of four touchdowns. (They should score four on UCLA alone.)

10. Arizona (5-6/4-4)

Last week: 10

Result: Lost at Washington State 69-28

Next up: vs. Arizona State

Comment: Wildcats have nearly as many abysmal performances (three: Houston, Utah and WSU) as they have conference wins (four).

11. Colorado (5-6/2-6)

Last week: 11

Result: Lost to Utah 30-7

Next up: at Cal

Comment: Outscored 44-0 in the second half of the past two games. (Note: Commentary on the coaching situation will be published later this morning.)

12. Oregon State (2-9/1-7)

Last week: 12

Result: Lost at Washington 42-23

Next up: vs. Oregon (Friday)

Comment: Prediction: If OSU has zero turnovers in the Civil War, OSU wins the Civil War. The difference in execution could very well offset the difference in talent.

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