2020 Pac-12 Football Power Rankings: Week 1

Our three senior Pac-12 football writers rank the teams heading into opening weekend

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Posted on November 3, 2020


  By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports

With other college football conferences well into their seasons, the Pac-12 kicks off its first week of games on Nov. 7.

Accordingly, we launch our coverage with these “Week 1” Power Rankings based on the composite rankings of our three senior football writers. (Our respective rankings appear in a table at the bottom of this page.)

Preseason rankings are speculative at best, and they can—and often do—change rapidly. So take our initial assessment with a grain of uncertainty, and buckle in for what figures to be a wild ride.

1. Oregon (0-0)

The Ducks open the season with Playoff expectations on their minds and the talent to get there. Despite the opt-outs of Thomas Graham Jr., Jevon Holland, Brady Breeze, and Penei Sewell, Oregon is the highest ranked team in the Pac-12 heading into the opening week. Assuming a viable quarterback emerges to replace Justin Herbert, UO has the depth to return to college football’s promised land. CJ Verdell is back to lead the multi-pronged Duck rushing attack, and the reloaded defense, which features a flock of speedy five-stars, shouldn’t miss a beat.

2. USC (0-0)

Kedon Slovis and offensive coordinator Graham Harrell enter their second year together under the Trojan’s revamped Air Raid offense. Last season, USC put up 32.5 points per game, and Slovis once again has a stable of NFL-caliber wide receivers to work with. The return of offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker gives the unit a real boost, even as defensive lineman Jay Tufele remains opted out. First-year defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is tasked with implementing a new system, but Clay Helton’s squad is projected to win the South and challenge Oregon for a possible spot in the College Football Playoff.

3. Washington (0-0)

First-year head coach Jimmy Lake faces a tough challenge with a Covid-shortened offseason. The question at quarterback is the glaring issue heading into the first game of the year, but the opt-outs of defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike and linebacker Joe Tryon haven’t helped either. Fortunately, the Dawgs have enough weapons on both sides of the ball to overcome. Running back Richard Newton and wide receivers Puka Nacua and Terrell Bynum should provide plenty of options for whoever ends up starting under center. And the secondary remains as vaunted as any in the Pac-12. In the end, the success of the freshmen class, particularly outside linebacker Sav’ell Smalls, could end up being the wildcard in Washington’s divisional race with Oregon.

4. California (0-0)

When Chase Garbers was healthy, the Bears were almost unbeatable in 2019. Justin Wilcox and his staff hope to replicate that success this season behind one of the best defenses in the Conference. Future NFL defensive back Cam Bynum initially opted out, but has since decided to return to play for Tim DeRuyter’s defense. Bynum’s return was a significant boost for Cal, as it seeks to challenge Oregon and Washington in the North. With 18 starters returning, including the entire offense and seven on defense, the Bears are a trendy dark horse pick to upend the Conference race.

5. Arizona State (0-0)

The Sun Devils lost Brandon Aiyuk and Eno Benjamin to the NFL, but return Frank Darby and Jayden Daniels in Herm Edward’s third season in Tempe. Marvin Lewis and Antonio Pierce have been named as co-defensive coordinators tasked with implementing a new 4-3 formation. And former Boise State offensive coordinator Zak Hill has been brought in to revamp the ASU offense, effectively rebranding both sides of the ball. On the bright side, the Sun Devils’ top four leading tacklers, top three interception leaders, top three leaders in forced fumbles, and sack leader all return to the desert.

6. Utah (0-0)

Utah enters its opening game with Arizona after losing nine starters on defense and its starting quarterback and running back. It’s not all bad, though, as the team’s leading tackler, Devin Lloyd, returns along with potential All-Conference lineman Mika Tafua. The coronavirus opt-outs haven’t effected the Utes, either, and future NFL tight end Brant Kuithe returns for his junior campaign. The question, though, is who will start under center? South Carolina graduate transfer Jake Bentley has emerged as the favorite, and the offense’s success could ride on his decision making.

7. Oregon State (0-0)

Tristan Gebbia has been announced as the Beavers’ starting quarterback, setting the stage for the continued revitalization in Corvallis. Last season, OSU won more games than in the previous two years combined, and Jonathan Smith has upgraded across the board. Jermar Jefferson is back to assume the brunt of the rushing attack, and linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr. is poised to lead the defense once again. It’s likely going to take a committee of wide receivers to replace the production formerly provided by Isaiah Hodgins, but the early announcement of Gebbia at QB should do wonders for the confidence of the team on both sides of the ball.

8. Stanford (0-0)

Due to the difficulty of Stanford’s graduate programs, the Tree lost 13 players to the transfer portal, including the team’s leading tackler, two starting offensive lineman, and two starting defensive lineman. To make matters worse, cornerback Paulson Adebo and offensive lineman Walker Little have opted-out. As a result, the Cardinal’s nine-year streak of opening the season ranked in the Top 25 has come to an end. However, David Shaw has six four-star freshmen recruits to build around. The young talent will be expected to contribute early, and quarterback Davis Mills must remain consistent to improve on his 1-5 record as a starter in 2019.

9. Washington State (0-0)

Nick Rolovich takes over the helm in Pullman after the departure of Mike Leach to Mississippi State. The former Hawaii head coach brings his Run-and-Shoot offensive system to the Palouse, a similar enough system to the Air Raid to provide some semblance of continuity. The Cougs will be breaking in a new starting quarterback, but have arguably the Conference’s best running back in Max Borghi to lean on. Former Wyoming defensive coordinator Jake Dickert was brought in to revamp the Washington State defense that allowed 31.4 points per game in 2019. Assuming Rolovich’s offense works as planned, improvement on defense will be the key to WSU’s success in 2020.

10. UCLA (0-0)

In what feels like a make-or-break year for Chip Kelly, the Bruins enter the season with heightened expectations. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is in his third year under the Kelly offense, and most expect his junior campaign to be his finest to date. Behind DTR, Demetric Felton takes over the rushing attack and sophomore wideout Kyle Phillips is fresh off his record setting freshman year. But to truly take UCLA to the next level, the defense must improve. Freshmen linebackers Damian Sellers and Jonathan Vaughns could be the sparks that ignite the rebirth. Regardless, the Bruins’ success and Kelly’s legacy in Westwood likely ride on improved defensive performances.

11. Colorado (0-0)

Mel Tucker left the Buffs in a bind after departing for Michigan State in February. Athletic Director Rick George moved quickly to hire former Miami Dolphins wide receiver coach Karl Dorrell, but the betrayal won’t soon be forgotten. In a sign of strength in the CU football brand, nearly the entire recruiting class that Tucker built remained committed to playing in Boulder. That should provide a solid base for Dorrell to build around, though depth along the offensive line is an immediate concern. Senior Sam Noyer has been named the starting quarterback, but the team’s strength is at running back and wide receiver with Alex Fontenot, Jaren Mangham, and K.D. Nixon.

12. Arizona (0-0)

Grant Gunnell leads a Wildcat offense that features a stable of capable running backs and budding All-Conference wide receiver Jamarye Joiner. None of that matters, though, if new defensive coordinator Paul Rhoades is unable to shore up the defense that gave up 35.8 points per game in 2019. Problematically, the Cats lost some of their best players on that side of the ball to the transfer portal, including linebackers Colin Schooler and Tony Fields II. The losses on defense present an extra challenge, as Rhoades converts to a 3-4 formation without any linebacker depth. In the end, Arizona success likely comes down to its offense outscoring opponents.

How Our Senior Football Writers Voted

Rank	Dane Miller	Jack Follman	Nick Bartlett
1	Oregon	Oregon	Washington
2	USC	USC	Oregon
3	Washington	Cal	USC
4	Cal	Washington	Cal
5	ASU	Utah	ASU
6	Utah	ASU	Stanford
7	Stanford	OSU	Utah
8	OSU	WSU	OSU
9	WSU	UCLA	WSU
10	UCLA	Stanford	UCLA
11	Arizona	Colorado	Colorado
12	Colorado	Arizona	Arizona