If you have read my editions about the SEC, ACC, or Big 10, you know how this goes. If you have not, (you should) let me fill you in. I will start by reviewing each Pac 12 team’s 2018 season. I will then talk about what they have to look forward to and what to be concerned about for the 2019 season. I will then talk about their goals for the 2019 season. If you are looking for a specific team, I list them in alphabetical order.

Arizona

Last Season in Review

2018 and the Kevin Sumlin era did not start off too well for Arizona. The Wildcats stumbled out of the gate as they lost their season opener to BYU. That was followed up by a blowout loss at the hands of Houston. Wins over Southern Utah and Oregon State looked to have settled things down a bit. Arizona split their next two games, beating California, but losing to USC. Two straight losses to Utah and UCLA put the Wildcats at 3-5. Arizona righted the ship in a major way the next week by blowing out Oregon and taking down Colorado in their next outing. The Wildcats just needed to win one of their last two games to earn a bowl berth. Unfortunately, they were blown out by Washington State and lost to rival Arizona State to finish the season 5-7. The first season of the Kevin Sumlin era will go down as a disappointment, as many people had high hopes for Arizona (I definitely did not say that they were going to win their division, only an idiot would predict that).

Despite their record, Arizona had some talent on offense. Khalil Tate was solid at quarterback. Although he was worse than he was in 2017 when it came to running the ball, he improved as a passer. JJ Taylor had 1,434 rushing yards and was a big play threat anytime he touched the ball. Shawn Poindexter was a reliable threat at receiver. On defense, linebacker Colin Schooler had a strong outing with 119 total tackles and 21.5 tackles for loss, leading the team in both. PJ Johnson did well at defensive tackle, being named honorable mention all Pac 12. Cornerback Lorenzo Burns was solid in pass coverage, with 11 pass deflections.

What to Look Forward to

The duo of Khalil Tate and JJ Taylor will be back at quarterback and running back. Tate’s ability as a dual threat combined with Taylor’s ability to rip off a long run at any point will make this combination feared by opposing defenses. Four starters are back on the offensive line for the Wildcats as well. Arizona returns ten starters on defense. Linebacker Colin Schooler filled up the stat sheet in 2018 and will look to do so again in 2019. PJ Johnson will also look to build upon a solid 2018 campaign at defensive tackle. Safety Scottie Young led the team in interceptions despite missing some time. He will look to make some strides this season.

What to be Concerned About

Shawn Poindexter and Shun Brown were Arizona’s two leading receivers last season, and a big reason why Khalil Tate improved in the passing game. They will both be gone, and will be tough to replace. Safety Demetrius Flanagan-Fowles was a good player, and showed some versatility in 2018 and he will be missed. Khalil Tate regressed in 2018 and I really do not think it is his fault. Some of it has to do with batting injury later on in the season, but mostly I think he is being used incorrectly by head coach Kevin Sumlin. In 2017, Tate set the NCAA record for most rushing yards in a game by a quarterback with 327. In 2018, Tate had 224 rushing yards all season. Sumlin is trying to turn Tate into a pocket passer and that is just not what he is. It is infuriating to watch such a talented player be misused, and I worry it will happen again with Sumlin still at the helm, and a downright bad offensive coordinator at the helm in Noel Mazzone.

Goals for the 2019 Season

The Pac 12 south is in a bit of disarray at the moment, and that should be a good thing for Arizona. The Wildcats disappointed in 2018 and should expect to return to a bowl game in 2019. If Khalil Tate can return to 2017 form, they can pull off eight wins.

Arizona State

Last Season in Review

Arizona State started the Herm Edwards era off strong with a win over UTSA, and an upset win over Michigan State. The Sun Devils fell back to earth after losing to San Diego State on a controversial call and falling to Washington the week after. A win over Oregon State was followed by losses against Colorado and Stanford. Both were close, and the Stanford one was especially agonizing as Arizona State’s poor clock management on their last drive led to their demise. At 3-4, the Sun Devils rebounded nicely with wins over USC, a highly touted Utah team, and UCLA. A 31-29 loss at Oregon was tough for the team, but they ended the regular season on a high note as they took down rival Arizona in the Territorial Cup. The Sun Devils fell to Fresno Stats in the Pas Vegas Bowl to finish the season at 7-6. It was a decent start to the tenure of Herm Edwards, but there were quite a few painful losses as Arizona State lost five games by seven points or less.

Arizona State’s offense had one of the deadliest combinations in the country at quarterback, running back, and receiver. Manny Wilkins was a solid dual threat at quarterback, and was always someone to be relied upon. Eno Benjamin had a breakout season at running back, rushing for 1,642 yards. Receiver N’Keal Harry was the star of the show on offense, as he had 1,088 receiving yards, and with his massive catch radius was always able to bring down 50/50 balls thrown at him. Freshman linebacker Merlin Robertson has a very strong showing this season as he led the team in total tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. Safety and fellow freshman Aashari Crosswell had a good season as well with four interceptions. Jalen Harvey rounded out a very good secondary as he finished second on the team in total tackles despite missing four games.

What to Look Forward to

Eno Benjamin will be one of the best running backs in college football next season as he burst onto the scene in 2018. Benjamin will also be running behind an offensive line that returns four starters including second team all Pac 12 center Cohl Cabral. Linebacker Merlin Robertson will be back after a stellar freshman season, and should be even better in 2019. Aashari Crosswell made a name for himself at safety in 2018, and will look to do more of the same in 2019. Cornerback Chase Lucas is another holdover from a talented secondary as he had three interceptions last season while also finishing second on the team in solo tackles and had six tackles for loss. Arizona State brings in a solid recruiting class which is headlined by Jayden Daniels, the second ranked dual threat quarterback in the country. The Sun Devils had two new coordinators last season with Rob Likens on offense and Danny Gonzales on defense. They are both back, and both sides of the ball should be better after a year under their new systems.

What to be Concerned About

N’Keal Harry’s impact at receiver cannot be overstated. He could catch almost anything thrown his way, and was very tough to cover. His absence will make things harder on the quarterback. Speaking of quarterbacks, Manny Wilkins is also gone after being the starter for the last three seasons. Wilkins was a veteran leader on the team in 2018 and will be missed. Jayden Daniels, the likely starter in 2019, is coming in with a lot of hype but it is hard not being weary of a true freshman starting at quarterback at any P5 school. Jalen Harvey was an impact player at safety, and a big part of Arizona State’s defense who will also be gone in 2019. The Sun Devils also will have some attrition on the defensive front as Rennell Wren graduated and Jalen Bates transferred to Colorado State.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Arizona State might have a bit of overhaul to do, but this team is full of young talent. The hiring of Herm Edwards raised a lot of questions, but his doubters are quieting a bit after a solid first season. That being said, he was not hired with the expectation of going 7-6. Arizona State plays in a Pac 12 South that is a bit of a dumpster fire, and they need to capitalize on that. I think getting to eight wins and at least challenging for a division title is where the bar should be set for 2019.

California

Last Season in Review

California started off the season on a hot streak with a 3-0 record heading into conference play. Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, they ran into some hurdles after losing to Oregon, Arizona, and UCLA. The pendulum began to swing again for California as they had a resounding win over Oregon State before upsetting Washington. An upset was in the making in their following game at Washington State before the wheels fell off late. The Golden Bears secured bowl eligibility by beating in state rival USC for the first time since 2003. California was 7-4 heading into their rivalry game against Stanford, but they fell short. In their bowl game, the Golden Bears took on TCU in the Cheez-It Bowl. In what was one of the ugliest games I have ever witnessed, they fell short by a 10-7 score in overtime to finish the season 7-6.

California has success this season largely because of a strong defense led by defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter. The stars of the defense were linebackers Evan Weaver and Jordan Kunaszyk who had 155 and 143 total tackles respectively. Weaver and Kunaszyk always had a nose for the ball, and let very little get past them. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins was another impact player on the defense, as he had six interceptions. Outside linebacker Tevin Paul led the defense with 11 tackles for loss. Traveon Beck also stepped up as a shutdown corner. Defensive end Luc Bequette was another playmaker, leading the team in sacks. Offensively, running back Patrick Laird led the show as a workhorse back with 961 rushing yards while Vic Wharton led the receiving corps.

What to Look Forward to

Evan Weaver was a major defensive contributor, being named second team all Pac 12 at linebacker, and will return as the leader of the defense. Defensive end Luc Bequette will also be back after leading the team in sacks in 2018. Jaylinn Hawkins is back at safety after a strong showing in 2018. Tevin Paul led the team in tackles for loss in 2018 and will also return. The Golden Bears will return quarterback Chase Garbers in addition to bringing in Devin Modster from UCLA via the transfer portal. Four starters on the offensive line will be back for California. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter will return after making big improvements with the defense in 2018.

What to be Concerned About

Patrick Laird was a significant contributor to the offense, as he was far and away the leader in rushing yards. Laird was the only player on the offense that could consistently gain yards, and it will be tough to find that elsewhere. Vic Wharton led the team in receiving yards last season and will be tough to replace. California still could not really find a quarterback they feel confident in. Devin Modster was nice to sign, but he did not do too much to impress at UCLA. Jordan Kunaszyk was named first team all Pac 12 at linebacker and was the best player on the defense last season (and probably the best on the team) and will be tough to replace. Alex Funches was a playmaker at outside linebacker and will leave a hole at that spot.

Goals for the 2019 Season

California is coming off of a solid season in 2018. The team was good, but quite flawed. The Pac 12 North is a top heavy division that will be a bit tough to break through in. For the Golden Bears, they should expect to repeat their record from last season. Their goal should be to make progress on offense, and improve upon last season. The Golden Bears finished 2-1 against their Pac 12 opponents in the Golden State, and repeating or even improving upon that would be very good for the program.

Colorado

Last Season in Review

2018 was a tale of two seasons for Colorado. The Buffaloes won their opener over rival Colorado State in dominant fashion. This was followed up by a win at Nebraska, and a win over New Hampshire that put Colorado at 3-0 going into Pac 12 play. Colorado opened up Pac 12 play with a victory over UCLA that put them into the top 25. A win over Arizona State put the Buffaloes at 5-0. All they needed was one win to make a bowl game. Things went downhill from there. Colorado lost at USC, and at Washington the next week. While those losses were pretty understandable, their next one was not. The Buffaloes were up 34-3 on Oregon State before losing in overtime. Losses to Arizona and Washington State made Colorado 5-5, but there was still a chance to get to a bowl game. Unfortunately, the Buffaloes fell to Utah and California to finish 5-7 after starting 5-0. Shortly after the season, head coach Mike MacIntyre was fired, and Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker was hired.

Colorado’s best offensive player by far was receiver Laviska Shenault. Shenault had over 1,000 receiving yards in just nine games of action, but also was effective lining up at running back and taking direct snaps at wildcat quarterback. Virginia Tech transfer Travon McMillan led the ground game with 1,009 rushing yards. Quarterback Steven Montez was very solid as well, continuing to be a prolific passer. Linebacker Nate Landman led the defense with 104 total tackles in addition to putting up 15 tackles for loss. Defensive end Mustafa Johnson led the defense with 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. First year starter and junior college transfer Davion Taylor burst onto the scene playing the buff position on Colorado’s defense, which is a linebacker and safety combo. Taylor’s athleticism was on display at this position and he was definitely a playmaker at the position.

What to Look Forward to

Laviska Shenault will be back and will be one of the best players in the Pac 12 in 2019. I was even convinced he could be a heisman finalist before he was injured, so his presence will be great to have. Throwing to him again will be Steven Montez who will be back for his third season starting for the Buffaloes. KD Nixon was very good as a second receiver for Colorado and will also be back in 2019. Colorado returns four starters on the offensive line from last season. On defense, linebacker Nate Landman will return after a stellar performance in 2018. Davion Taylor will also be back and should be much improved after his first season with Colorado. Defensive end Mustafa Johnson led the team in tackles for loss and sacks in 2018, and will look to improve upon that next season. I also believe that Mel Tucker was a good hire at head coach, as was Tyson Summers at defensive coordinator.

What to be Concerned About

Travon McMillan led the ground game for Colorado in 2018, and will be a tough player to replace at running back. McMillan got a lions share of the carries, so someone will need to pick up the load. Jay MacIntyre was a solid player at receiver and veteran leader of the team who will be tough to replace. Linebacker Rick Gamboa was second on team in tackles in 2018 and will also be gone. Colorado will be replacing both starting safeties from last season as well, and two starters on the defensive line. Colorado’s schedule in 2019 is not a murderer’s row, but it could have been better. The Buffaloes host an improved Nebraska team, travel to Oregon and Washington State in consecutive weeks and end the season with games against Stanford, Washington, and Utah.

Goals for the 2019 Season

The 2018 season should and will be marked down as a big time disappointment for Colorado as they had the talent to do much better. With the hiring of Mel Tucker at head coach, improvement should be expected as the Buffaloes bring back some talent. Getting back to a bowl game is something that fans should expect in 2019, while eight wins should be a nice goal to set. If Mel Tucker can hit the ground running in Boulder, Colorado could be a team to look out for.

Oregon

Last Season in Review

Oregon got off to a solid 3-0 start in 2018, making mince meat of the weak non-conference schedule that they had to face. The Ducks started off conference play on a sour note, blowing a lead late and falling to Stanford. A win over California set up an important game against Washington that Oregon was able to pull out in the end to swing the rivalry in their favor. The high of that win was soon erased by a loss at Washington State, which snowballed into a blowout loss at Arizona. A win over UCLA was not enough to permanently right the ship as they lost their next game to Utah. The Ducks held off an onslaught from Arizona State before pounding Oregon State in the Civil War to set up a RedBox Bowl matchup with Michigan State. While it was not pretty, Oregon came out on top to finish 9-4, ending the first season of the Mario Cristobal era on a high note.

Oregon’s offense became a very multifaceted power by the end of the season. Justin Hebert had another strong showing at quarterback, surpassing 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. Redshirt freshman CJ Verdell became the lead back as he surpassed 1,000 rushing yards on the season. Dillon Mitchell emerged as the number one receiver for the Ducks with 1,184 receiving yards. Oregon also had a strong offensive line that allowed their run game to develop nicely. On defense, linebacker Troy Dye led the team in tackles. Fellow linebacker Justin Hollins led the team with 14.5 tackles for loss. Cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. had a great season as he racked up 18 pass deflections.

What to Look Forward to

Justin Herbert elected to return to school for his senior season, and should be one of the best quarterbacks ever in the country. Oregon also returns five starters on their offensive line that was a very strong unit in 2018. CJ Verdell will look to build upon a very strong debut season with the Ducks. On defense, linebacker Troy Dye elected to return to school and will be one of the best linebackers in the country as well. The cornerback duo of Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir will be a very strong one next season. Oregon did quite well in recruiting and in the transfer portal. Oregon brought in receiver Juwan Johnson from Penn State, who will look to take over the number one receiver spot. The Ducks also brought in the best recruiting class in the Pac 12 headlined by five-star defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, the second ranked player in the country.

What to be Concerned About

Dillon Mitchell was a player that was heavily relied upon at receiver, as he had over double the receiving yards of the second leading receiver on the team. He will be a tough player to replace. Justin Herbert is pretty injury prone and his backup at quarterback transferred out, meaning there is less depth at the position. Defensively, Jalen Jelks was a force at defensive end and will be tough to replace. Justin Hollins had a strong showing at outside linebacker, and will leave a hole at the position. Ugo Amadi was a solid player at safety and dangerous in the return game and is also gone.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Oregon looked to take a big step in the right direction in 2018 in Mario Cristobal’s first season at head coach. The Ducks bring back a lot of talent from last season and play in a conference that is still struggling. The Pac 12 is ripe for the taking, and Oregon should look to be the ones to seize the opportunity.

Oregon State

Last Season in Review

Oregon State started off a rough 2018 with a blowout loss at the hands of Ohio State, but their offense had a good day which left room for optimism. A win over Southern Utah the following week put the Beavers in high spirits. What unfortunately followed was a close loss at Nevada (where Oregon State stupidly kneeled down the clock before attempting and missing a field goal at the end of the game). Pac 12 play opened up on a rough note with a loss to Arizona, a blowout loss at Arizona State, a loss to Washington State, and a blowout at the hands of California. Oregon State then had the highlight of their season, beating Colorado in Boulder after being down 34-3. Unfortunately, Oregon State followed that up with a hard fought loss against USC, a drubbing at the hands of Stanford, a loss at Washington, and getting blown out in the Civil War against Oregon. The first season of Jonathan Smith’s tenure as head coach was not great, but there are still signs of hope.

Oregon State remained competitive in games because of a strong offense. The leader of that offense was true freshman running back Jermar Jefferson. Jefferson put up 1,380 rushing yards en route to being named a freshman All-American. Isaiah Hodgins and Trevon Bradford became a solid duo at receiver. Jake Luton eventually came out on top in a quarterback battle and had a solid season himself. Safety Jalen Moore led the team in tackles while linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr. led the team in tackles for loss.

What to Look Forward to

I do not think any FBS program hit the transfer market as hard as Oregon State did. The Beavers will bring in quarterback Tristan Gebbia from Nebraska, who was a four-star recruit in 2017. Receiver and Gebbia’s teammate at Nebraska, Tyjon Lindsey also took his talents to Corvallis. A third former Nebraska Cornhusker signed with the Beavers in linebacker Avery Roberts. Fellow linebacker Addison Gumbs signed over from Oklahoma after being a four-star recruit in 2017, and Nathan Eldridge transferred in from Arizona at offensive guard. All of these players will be eligible immediately and can make an impact in 2019. Jermar Jefferson will be back in 2019, and will look to build upon a stellar freshman campaign. Artavis Pierce also shined in the backfield in 2018 and will be back. Isaiah Hodgins and Trevon Bradford will be back at receiver. Blake Brandel anchored the offensive line in 2018, and will again next season. Jalen Moore was the best player on the defense last season, and will be back in 2019. Cornerback Kaleb Hayes was a much improved player in 2018 and should make more strides in 2019.

What to be Concerned About

Oregon State’s defense last season could not stop a parked car. The Beavers were downright awful against the run, and this was the main reason this team only won two games. While nine starters are back on defense, that side of the ball as a whole has a very long way to go before even being considered an average unit. There are also three cornerbacks in the transfer portal right now that could still leave the program even though they have not officially done so yet. On offense, receiver Timmy Hernandez is gone after being a mainstay in the passing game for Oregon State. The Beavers also have to replace three starters on the offensive line.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Oregon State has been a very downtrodden program in recent years. Jonathan Smith inherited a program that has a tough climb back to relevance. While expectations should still be low in 2019, progress needs to be shown. If Oregon State can steal a couple more games and improve enough defensively to be competitive, that will be big for this program.

Stanford

Last Season in Review

Stanford came out of the gate strong in 2018. A win over San Diego State in their opener was nice to have, as was a win over rival USC. Their record ballooned to 4-0 after a comeback win at Oregon, but the Cardinal soon fell back to earth. After the win against Oregon, Stanford was blown out at Notre Dame, which was a bit expected. What was not expected was a 40-21 drubbing at the hands of Utah. A tight win at Arizona State only temporarily stopped the bleeding as it was followed by a close loss against Washington State. The Cardinal made it four losses in five games after losing a tight one at Washington, making their record a measly 5-4 and 3-3 in Pac 12 play. Wins over Oregon State and UCLA set the ship straight, and a win over California in the Big Game put Stanford at 8-4 to end the regular season. Their season ended with a victory over Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl, which capped off a decent, but ultimately underwhelming season for the Cardinal.

Stanford’s offense looked a bit nuanced this season as it relied less on the run game. While Bryce Love was still a great running back, he was often batting injuries this season, meaning the Cardinal had to air it out a bit more. Quarterback KJ Costello showed a lot of improvement from last season as he completed 65% of his passes and three for 3,540 yards and 29 touchdowns on 8.6 yards per attempt. JJ Arcega-Whiteside was Costello’s main target, racking up 1,059 receiving yards and being a master at making a contested grab. Kaden Smith and Colby Parkinson made up a strong duo at tight end. Walker Little led a strong offensive line. On defense, redshirt freshman cornerback Paulson Adebo had a very good showing, being very clutch in coverage against some of the Pac 12’s elite receivers. Linebacker Bobby Okereke led the team in tackles.

What to Look Forward to

K.J. Costello took a big step forward in 2018, and will be back again in 2019 to build upon that. His command of the offense was a big reason Stanford did not collapse without Bryce Love. Walker Little and Foster Sarell will be back and should make up a very strong offensive line, as per usual with Stanford. Colby Parkinson will be back at tight end. Paulson Adebo will be back, and should continue to be a lockdown cornerback that is always valuable to have. Every starter on the defensive line will return, including defensive end Jovan Swann, who had a strong 2018 campaign. Kicker Jet Toner (yes that is his name) was solid in 2018 and will be back again. The Cardinal had a much improved recruiting class compared to 2018, with nine blue chip prospects. Stanford also gets to play Notre Dame, Oregon, and Washington in Palo Alto this season, which will take some pressure off for those games.

What to be Concerned About

While he was not quite as prolific as he was in 2017, Bryce Love was still an electric playmaker at running back that would strike fear into opposing defenses. Losing a weapon like that definitely hurts an offense. What is also concerning is that there is not a definitive next man up at running back like there always has been in the David Shaw era at Stanford. Cameron Scarlett will likely take over number one running back duties and while he could be good, there is much less confidence surrounding him than there usually is with a number one running back at Stanford.

JJ Arcega-Whiteside will be missed as he was a great receiver and a luxury for a quarterback to have since he was always able to come down with a jump ball. Kaden Smith will also be missed at tight end. Stanford also loses the bulk of their offensive line, which can be tough to replace. Alijah Holder was a solid player in the secondary, and will definitely leave a hole at cornerback. Bobby Okereke led Stanford in tackles and was a reliable member of the defense. His absence will be felt. Stanford possibly plays the toughest non-conference schedule in the country. They play host to Notre Dame, a playoff team in 2018, and Northwestern who won the Big 10 West in 2018. They also have to travel to UCF, who is the class of the G5 and does not look to be slowing down. Stanford will have no true cupcake game this season, which will be tough.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Stanford had a bit of a down season in 2018, and it is a bit of a cause of concern. With Washington looking like they are here to stay in terms of being a top program, Oregon back on the rise, and Washington State remaining strong, Stanford could see their place in the Pac 12 North hierarchy fall fast. For this season, Stanford should expect to beat at least one of Oregon or Washington and aim to take back the Pac 12 North crown. This team has talent, but it just needs to stave off the teams gunning for their spot.

USC

Last Season in Review

USC started the 2018 season with a win over UNLV, but quickly had their good fortunes reversed. The Trojans lost at Stanford, then were blown out at Texas the next week. From there USC bounced back with three straight wins over Washington State, Arizona, and Colorado (I feel really dumb now for thinking their game with Colorado was going to be huge for the Pac 12 South standings). Their three game win streak was soon washed out with blowout losses to Utah and Arizona State. A win over Oregon State was nice, but still concerning as it was close until the end. USC was 5-4 and just needed one win to at least salvage a bowl berth out of this season. That plan was stunted with a home loss to California for the first time since 2001, a loss to UCLA, and then another loss to Notre Dame. USC finished 5-7 and looked ready for their season to end.

USC has some definite reasons for their collapse, but there were still some bright spots. Freshman quarterback JT Daniels did admirably after being thrown into the fire behind a faulty at best offensive line. Daniels got quite a bit of help from fellow freshman and high school teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown. Daniels and St. Brown clearly had good chemistry and it showed. Michael Pittman Jr. and Tyler Vaughns were also solid at receiver. Aca’Cedric Ware led the ground game. Cameron Smith was a great veteran leader for the defense at linebacker. Porter Gustin also did well at outside linebacker before his 2018 campaign was cut short due to injury halfway into the season. Iman Marshall at cornerback and Marvell Tell at safety made up a stout secondary.

What to Look Forward to

The Trojans return their three leading receivers from last season. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyler Vaughns, and Michael Pittman Jr. were a very talented trio, and will be good to have back. JT Daniels will also be back at quarterback and should be improved after more time in the program. Christian Rector had a good showing at outside linebacker, despite missing some time due to injury. I suspect 2019 to be a breakout season for him. Marlon Tuipulotu had a good showing in his redshirt freshman season at defensive tackle and will also be back. USC got rid of some incompetent members of the coaching staff. Offensive line coach Neil Callaway was fired near the end of the season, and offensive coordinator Tee Martin was fired at the end of the season. I think Graham Harrell is a promising young coach that should be able to help spark the offense for the Trojans.

What to be Concerned About

USC loses their two leading rushers with the graduation of Stephen Carr and Aca’Cedric Ware. Three starters on an already bad offensive line are now gone as well. This should be a cause for alarm among USC fans. Multiple receivers are currently in the transfer portal, and are likely leaving the program. While none of them were major impact players in 2018, it still will cut down on depth. Porter Gustin and Cameron Smith were two veteran leaders on the defense, and their absence will be felt in ways beyond their on field performance. Marvell Tell was a good safety who will tough to replace, and the same goes for Iman Marshall at cornerback. USC had a disappointing recruiting class that was much worse than their 2018 counterpart. Bru McCoy, a five-star athlete and top 10 overall player they had signed, bailed last minute for Texas, making the class even worse.

USC also did not quite get their guy at offensive coordinator as Kliff Kingsbury was hired by the Arizona Cardinals (this guy managing to become an NFL head coach after getting fired from Texas Tech is the textbook definition of failing upwards and the kind of good luck I hope to have one day). The hiring of Kingsbury at offensive coordinator was intended to be the one reason Clay Helton kept his job at head coach, but now that he jumped ship, it is even more inexplicable as to why Clay Helton is still the head coach of the Trojans. It also must be asked what he can possibly do to keep his job, as it almost seems decided that he will be fired.

Goals for the 2019 Season

USC is in a position of limbo that is very hard to analyze properly, and is under quite a bit of pressure this season. They are taking a leap of faith for Clay Helton even though it is a consensus that he is not the guy at head coach. This team could very well be falling down the Pac 12 totem pole and digging themselves farther into that hole. If 2019 does not go well, it could easily set back this program. The goal for 2019 for USC should be to make improvements on offense, especially upfront while playing near their talent level. Despite their struggle, USC is a very talented team. They just need to hope that Helton can redeem himself, and they can still take advantage of a weak division.

UCLA

Last Season in Review

2018 and the Chip Kelly era got off to a rough start for UCLA to say the least. After losing the season opener to Cincinnati, UCLA had to go to Oklahoma where they were blown out. After licking their wounds, UCLA lost yet again to Fresno State to head into Pac 12 play at 0-3 (it should be noted that the Fresno State and Cincinnati losses were a bit more understandable after seeing the seasons those teams had). The Bruins were blown out by Colorado before playing a competitive game against Washington but still falling short. UCLA finally tasted victory when they dominated California 37-7. The Bruins built upon that with a win over Arizona the following week. They fell back to earth the next week after getting blown out by Utah, then meeting the same fate against Oregon in their next game. A close loss to Arizona State put the Bruins at 2-8. Spirits were lifted when UCLA was able to beat rival USC, but were beaten in a shootout against Stanford in their season finale to finish 3-9. While three wins is never a good thing, there were some improvements made throughout the season, and reason to be more optimistic.

One of the reasons for UCLA’s improvement later in the season was the rise of running back Joshua Kelley who transferred in from FCS school UC Davis. Kelley made the most of his increased reps and amassed 1,243 rushing yards on the season. Caleb Wilson was another great player on the offense as he put up 965 receiving yards at tight end. Safety Adarius Pickett had a very good season, leading the team with 123 tackles. Cornerback Darnay Holmes led the team with three interceptions. Outside linebacker Keisean Lucier-South led the team in tackles for loss.

What to Look Forward to

Joshua Kelley is returning, and will be the anchor of the offense again. Theo Howard will return at receiver, and is a prime candidate for a breakout season. Dorian Thompson-Robinson split time at quarterback during his freshman season and will be back as the starter in 2019. A year under UCLA and Chip Kelly’s system will be a very good thing for Thompson-Robinson, who showed flashes of brilliance as a dual threat quarterback. Darnay Holmes and Elijah Pickett became a solid duo at cornerback and will both return in 2019. Keisean Lucier-South will be back after being a playmaker at linebacker in 2018.

What to be Concerned About

Caleb Wilson was a very nice security blanket at tight end that provided a lot of help to whoever was playing quarterback. With Wilson gone, there is only one player on the roster who had more than 200 receiving yards last season. Adarius Pickett was a standout on the defense at strong safety, and will be a tough player to replace. UCLA currently has 12 players in the transfer portal, not counting the three who have already transferred. Among those who have transferred include Chigozie Nnoruka, a highly touted recruit at defensive tackle, and defensive end Jaelan Phillips, the number one overall recruit in the class of 2017. Neither of them had great production at UCLA, but were considered future stars on the team. While none of the 12 players in the transfer portal were true impact players and can still return, that many people deciding to leave a program is not a number to scoff at.

Goals for the 2019 Season

The cupboard was left pretty bare for Chip Kelly when he arrived at UCLA. Unfortunately, that still seems to be the case after year one. For next season, progress needs to be the expectation. Starting better than 0-5 would be a good start. The Bruins should hope to return to a bowl game, but at the very least continue to be competitive. I have faith in Chip Kelly, but he will not have forever to turn things around.

Utah

Last Season in Review

Utah started off 2018 with two wins over deceptively solid teams in Weber State and Northern Illinois. The Utes were knocked down a peg after losing to Washington, then losing their following game at Washington State to make them 2-2 on the season. Utah reversed that feeing in their next game as they pulled an upset win over Stanford in pretty dominant fashion. Utah continued to ride high with a blowout win over Arizona, then a victory over USC. A 41-10 win over UCLA put the Utes at 6-2 on the season. With injuries adding up, Utah fell to Arizona State in their next game, but rebounded with a win over Oregon in a tight game. The Utes won against Colorado, then mounted a successful comeback to win over rival BYU in the Holy War to finish the regular season 9-3. Utah unfortunately fell to Washington in a very ugly Pac 12 Championship game, before falling again to Northwestern in the Holiday Bowl to finish the season 9-5. 2018 had some disappointing losses, but it was a season that should be considered successful and one Utah fans should be happy with.

Utah’s offense became quite reliant upon running back Zack Moss. Moss put up 1,096 rushing yards in just nine games. Quarterback Tyler Huntley along with Moss, made up a great backfield as Huntley had a solid season as well. The two of them getting injured near the end of the season was the main reason Utah’s offense got worse. Offensive linemen Jordan Agasiva and Jackson Barton were named first team all Pac 12. Linebackers Cody Barton and Chase Hansen were both major impact players on the defense. Barton led the team with 117 total tackles while adding in 11.5 tackles for loss. Hansen led the team with 22 tackles for loss, while adding in 114 total tackles. Defensive end Bradlee Anae was another defensive playmaker, putting up 14.5 tackles for loss. Marquise Blair and Corrion Ballard were a strong duo at safety. Kicker Matt Gay and punter Mitch Wishnowsky made up what was probably the best special teams unit in the country.

What to Look Forward to

Zack Moss will be back and could take the title of best running back in the Pac 12 if he stays healthy. Tyler Huntley will also be back at quarterback, and will continue to improve. Britain Covey was an electric player at receiver and in the return game and will return for 2019. Jaylen Dixon had a strong season at receiver in 2018 that was shortened due to injury, and he will also be back. Bradlee Anae had an impressive showing in 2018 at defensive end, and should only be better next season. Jaylon Johnson and Julian Blackmon will be back and should be one of the best cornerback duos in the conference. Utah also landed linebacker transfer Manny Bowen from Penn State who should be an immediate impact.

What to be Concerned About

Utah loses three starters on the offensive line, two of which were named first team all Pac 12. This was a major reason the run game was so successful, and rushing yards will not come as easy now. The linebacker duo of Cody Barton and Chase Hansen not only were reliable when it came to making tackles, but also were the two best playmakers on the defense. Marquise Blair and Corrion Ballard were a strong duo at safety that will also be missed. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky and kicker Matt Gay made up an outstanding special teams unit and will both be gone. Second string running back Armand Shyne is in the transfer portal. Shyne took over number one running back duties after Zack Moss went down, and losing him will be a blow to the depth in the backfield.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Utah was able to win the Pac 12 South in 2018 for the first time since joining the conference. With the rest of the division in disarray, Utah can definitely come home with a division title again. For 2019, Utah should expect to repeat as Pac 12 South winners, and hope that they can win the conference.

Washington

Last Season in Review

2018 started on a sour note for Washington as they lost their opener to Auburn, which seemed to already dash their playoff aspirations. Washington started off Pac 12 play with scrappy wins over Utah and Arizona State. A win over BYU set up a rivalry game against Oregon. Unfortunately for the Huskies, they fell short in overtime in Eugene. A win over Colorado put Washington at 6-2. Washington fell to 6-3 soon after when their offense stalled out against California in a 12-10 loss. Wins over Stanford and Oregon State set up a winner take all game for the Pac 12 North at Washington State. Washington came out on top in that game, and again against Utah in the Pac 12 Championship. Unfortunately, Washington fell short in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State finishing 10-4.

Washington had a star studded offense led by running back Myles Gaskin’s 1,268 rushing yards, and was great as a workhorse back. Four year starter Jake Browning had another strong showing at quarterback. Offensive linemen Kaleb McGary and Nick Harris were named first team all Pac 12. Defensively, linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven put up an FBS leading 176 total tackles on the season. Greg Gaines led a strong defensive front, also being named first team all Pac 12. Washington also had one of the nation’s best secondary units led by cornerbacks Byron Murphy and Myles Bryant along with safeties Taylor Rapp and Jojo McIntosh.

What to Look Forward to

Washington has landed a very highly touted quarterback transfer in Jacob Eason. Eason was a five-star recruit in 2016 who has already been touted as a great pro prospect. The ceiling with Eason is definitely high. Salvon Ahmed, the likely player to take number one reps at running back in 2019, has some experience and has also looked very good in flashes. Sean McGrew is another player that I think could break out in 2019 as a running back and punt returner. Andre Baccellia and Aaron Fuller will be back in 2019 after being the leading receivers on the team in 2018. Hunter Bryant is also back at tight end after a strong showing last season. Nick Harris will also be back and should be the anchor of the offensive line. Benning Potoa’e is a breakout candidate at linebacker. Myles Bryant is back and will be one of the best cornerbacks in the country. Washington put together a solid recruiting class that features 15 blue chip prospects. This class is especially good on defense, keeping with the theme of most Chris Petersen coached Washington teams.

What to be Concerned About

Myles Gaskin was a staple in Washington’s offense, hitting the 1,000 rushing yard mark four seasons in a row. The impact he had on the offense will be very hard to replace. While his career at Washington had its ups and downs, Jake Browning was a very good quarterback and was also a staple in their offense. Washington will have to replace both starting offensive tackles from last season. All three starters on the defensive line from 2018 will be gone. Greg Gaines, Jalen Johnson, and Shane Bowman were all very talented players up front. Ben Burr-Kirven had a nose for the ball at linebacker and has graduated as well. Taylor Rapp and Byron Murphy made up a very strong secondary and will be tough to replace.

Goals for the 2019 Season

Despite winning the Pac 12, Washington came into 2018 with playoff aspirations and will surely be a bit disappointed. This season sees Washington lose a lot of talent, but they are still capable of winning the Pac 12 again. Washington should expect to finish no worse than second in the Pac 12 North while hoping to find a way to come out on top in the conference again.

Washington State

Last Season in Review

Washington State started off 2018 strong, running through a weak non-conference schedule. Washington State met their match in their Pac 12 opener as they fell to USC. A narrow win over Utah and a high scoring win over Oregon State set up a College GameDay matchup with Oregon. Washington State held on for a 34-20 win to move to 6-1. A win over Stanford put the Cougars into the top 10. A struggle win over California was soon forgotten after Washington State blew out Colorado and Arizona, setting up a winner take all game against Washington for Pac 12 North supremacy. Unfortunately, Washington State fell to their rival. A win over Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl (Washington State still should have made a NY6 Bowl) put their record at 11-2, setting a record for most wins in a season by the Cougars.

Washington State’s air raid offense was just as dangerous as ever behind East Carolina transfer Gardner Minshew at quarterback. Minshew completed 70% of his passes, throwing 4,779 yards and 38 touchdowns. Minshew spread the ball around to many different receivers as Washington State had five players with over 450 receiving yards. Tay Martin and Easop Winston tied for a team best with eight touchdowns. Dezmon Patmon led the team with 816 receiving yards. Running back James Williams led the team with 83 catches, and also did well at pass blocking. Andre Dillard was the anchor of the offensive line. The defense as a whole was a very overlooked unit that had its fair share of good players. Linebacker Peyton Pelluer led the team with 97 total tackles. Logan Tago had a strong showing at defensive end, leading the team in tackles for loss.

What to Look Forward to

Washington State returns their three leading receivers from 2018 and five of their top six. Having this many weapons on offense will definitely give opposing defensive backs fits. Max Borghi did very well in his freshman season at running back, becoming more and more relied upon as the season progressed. Abe Lucas was named freshman All-American at offensive tackle in 2018, and has nowhere to go but up for next season. Defensively, the Cougars return three of their four leading tacklers. Jahad Woods stepped up as a hard hitter and playmaker at linebacker and will be back in 2019. The same goes for safeties Skyler Thomas and Jalen Thompson who will provide some experience on a defense looked strong under defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys. Washington State brought in graduate transfer Gage Gubrud from Eastern Washington. Gubrud set an FCS record for passing yards in his last fully healthy season in 2016, and was granted a medical redshirt and the opportunity to play out his final season of eligibility with the Cougars. Gubrud looks like the perfect fit for Washington State’s offense.

What to be Concerned About

The man, the myth, the legend Gardner Minshew is gone after just one season with the Cougars. His impact was obviously massive as the led an extremely prolific offense. While his impact might not look like much on the stat sheet, running back James Williams was a very versatile player on Washington State’s offense as a ball carrier, a pass catcher, and a pass blocker. Offensive tackle Andre Dillard is also gone to the NFL Draft. It is not often that a first round draft pick strolls through Pullman, so it is always hard to replace the ones that do. Peyton Pelluer is also gone after leading the defense last season. Logan Tago was also great at disrupting plays at defensive end and will be tough to replace. Washington State’s schedule will be a bit tougher this season. The Cougars have to travel to Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Arizona State as well as playing Houston in the NRG Kickoff Classic that while technically a neutral site game, is still in Houston.

Goals for the 2019 Season

It is tough to pin a season on one game, but Washington State needs to win the Apple Cup over Washington sometime soon. Since Mike Leach began his tenure in Pullman, he has yet to beat a Chris Petersen coached Washington team in the Apple Cup, which is making Cougar fans anxious. Washington State is also undergoing some change as it appears as though winning seasons are now becoming the expectation as opposed to the exception in Pullman. Seven wins should be the expectation this season, with around nine being the goal. Beating Washington also is imperative for the Cougars sometime soon.

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On my instagram, I will show my early predictions for the Pac 12 standings in 2019. Coming up next, I will talk about the Big 12 using this same format.

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