The Pac-12 is coming off a solid 2016 season and looking for more heading into 2017.
Washington made its first trip to the College Football Playoff after winning the conference in Chris Petersen’s third season. USC won a thrilling Rose Bowl against Penn State and in Clay Helton’s first season.
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Washington’s Jake Browning and USC’s Sam Darnold are legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates, and that’s why the Huskies and Trojans will be the popular picks to win the Pac-12 in 2017. They aren’t the only exciting quarterbacks in the conference.
What about everybody else? Here’s a reason to be excited (and skeptical) for every Pac-12 team:
Washington
Reason to be excited: Petersen’s process clearly is working, and the Huskies might have a powerhouse in the works. It’s good to start with Browning, who returns after throwing 43 TDs with just nine interceptions last season.
Why you should be skeptical: Browning had shoulder surgery after the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl loss to Alabama, and the Huskies still have little margin for error given their schedule.
Arizona
Reason to be excited: Quarterback Brandon Dawkins is another exciting quarterback Rich Rodriguez can build around. Dawkins rushed for 944 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry. He needs to make strides in the passing game (53.8 completion percentage), but the potential is there.
Why you should be skeptical: Arizona is 10-15 since reaching the Pac-12 championship game in 2014. Can Rodriguez turn this thing around? An early-season test against Houston on Sept. 9 will serve as a barometer.
Arizona State
Reason to be excited: Todd Graham has several quarterbacks to choose from. Manny Wilkins and Brady White were highly-recruited quarterbacks who saw action last season, and Alabama transfer Blake Barnett could figure into the mix when he’s eligible to play. This is a good problem to have.
Why you should be skeptical: Can new defensive coordinator Phil Bennett shore up a defense that ranked 124th in the FBS at 39.8 points per game last season?
Colorado
Reason to be excited: Mike MacIntyre led the Buffaloes on a fantastic 10-win run to a Pac-12 South championship last season, and Steven Montez gained experience at quarterback.
Why you should be skeptical: Season-ending losses to Washington (41-10) and Oklahoma State (38-8) showed Colorado isn’t there quite yet. Where will they be when Washington visits Boulder, Colo., on Sept. 23?
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Cal
Reason to be excited: Cal hired Justin Wilcox away from Wisconsin, and that should lead to a change in philosophy and more emphasis on defense.
Why you should be skeptical: How long will that take? The Golden Bears ranked 127th in scoring defense last season at 42.6 points per game.
Oregon
Reason to be excited: The Ducks moved in a different direction with Willie Taggart, who is paired with an exciting young quarterback in Justin Herbert. Oregon has the resources to get back to the top of the Pac-12 North.
Why you should be skeptical: Do they have the defense? Jim Leavitt, a former South Florida coach, is tasked with renovating that unit. The offseason also didn’t get off to a good start after a few players were hospitalized during winter workouts.
Oregon State
Reason to be excited: Oregon State beat Oregon for the first time since 2007 and doubled its win total in Gary Andersen’s second season.
Why you should be skeptical: The Beavers still won just four games last year and are 0-5 against ranked teams since 2015. Andersen’s next priority is sorting out a quarterback derby in spring practice.
Stanford
Reason to be excited: David Shaw is still Stanford’s head coach. He’s led the Cardinal to 10 or more wins in five of the last six seasons.
Why you should be skeptical: The quarterback situation is uncertain. Ryan Burns left as a graduate transfer and Keller Chryst is out after suffering an injury in the Sun Bowl. Will Shaw turn the offense over to redshirt freshman K.J. Costello?
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USC
Reason to be excited: Darnold finished 9-1 as a starter and had 31 TDs and nine interceptions. The Trojans have a Heisman-caliber quarterback, and that’s when the program is at its best.
Why you should be skeptical: USC will likely have its highest preseason ranking since it started No. 1 in 2012. The Trojans finished 7-6 under Lane Kiffin that season. How will Clay Helton deal with those heightened expectations?
UCLA
Reason to be excited: UCLA hired Jedd Fisch away from Michigan as the new offensive coordinator, and that’s good news for junior quarterback Josh Rosen, who is coming off shoulder surgery.
Why you should be skeptical: The Bruins are 12-13 since Rosen arrived; not the expected results. Will the five-star quarterback and Jim Mora get UCLA back to a 10-win season in a tough division?
Utah
Reason to be excited: The Utes are a steady Pac-12 player under Kyle Whittingham, and that’s come in the form of a 28-11 record and three bowl victories in three years. Troy Williams is yet another experienced quarterback in the Pac-12 South.
Why you should be skeptical: All 11 of those losses are in Pac-12 play. The Utes have a brutal road schedule with trips to BYU, USC, Oregon and Washington. It’s one of the toughest paths to the Pac-12 championship.
Washington State
Reason to be excited: Luke Falk, who has 76 passing TDs and just 19 interceptions the last two seasons, returns to lead Mike Leach’s pass-happy attack.
Why you should be skeptical: The Cougars are 3-3 in September the last two seasons, and that includes a pair of losses to FCS schools. Washington State’s first two games against FCS Montana State and Boise State offer a chance to prove it.
