Oregon, two time conference champions, are the favorite to win the PAC-12 North again. Mario Cristobal returns as head coach with Anthony Brown at QB and phenom Kayvon Thibodeax at defensive end. Currently sitting at No. 11 on the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll, the Ducks fortunes could soar in Week 2 as they take on No. 4 Ohio State on the road at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. If they can win this game and stay clean the rest of the way the PAC-12 have a real shot at breaking back into the national football playoff.
Also hoping to make a splash on the national stage with a trip to Ann Arbor in Week 2 to take on Michigan–Washington, sitting at No. 20 on the AP Top 25, is expected to give the Ducks a run for their money in Jimmy Lakes second season and first full season as head coach of the Huskies. With a top notch offensive line and a second year starter in Dylan Morris who can throw deep and accurate don’t be surprised when all the dust settles to find Washington representing the North in the PAC-12 Championship game.
Cal comes in third on that list but has proven to be a difficult out in the past despite an inability to regularly score a lot of points. Justin Wilcox returns to coach his fourth season for a Bear team that brings back a Senior QB as well as six of the top seven starting wide receivers and tight ends. It may come down to the offensive line which has not been able to consistently provide protection or create holes for the running game.
David Shaw, although considered one of the best coaches in college football, has a record of 8-10 since going 9-4 in 2018 and winning the Sun Bowl. In sports, where what have you done for me lately seems to weigh heavily, the Cardinal are looking at just six or seven wins max according to the media polls and landed at No. 4 in the preseason poll.
Oregon State comes in fifth even though three of their losses last year were by less than six points and they defeated Oregon who ended up winning the PAC-12 Conference Title. Head coach Jonathan Smith is in his fourth year and has made good progress every year after starting 2-10. They lost their star RB Jemer Jefferson to the NFL who ran for 226 yards and two TD’s against the Ducks, but return with all five starters on an offensive line that was ranked 13th in the nation in fewest tackles for loss.
Washington State sits at the bottom of the North according to the PAC-12 Media Poll and with Nick Rolovich making more headlines with his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine than his football decisions it was probably a given that a media poll would place him in the basement. But all is not lost with the Cougars as they have four offensive line starters returning, their two best receivers, maybe the best back in the league in Max Borghi, and a QB transfer from Tennessee that could make the Cougars far more interesting than expected.