A school from the Pac-12 hasn't won the national championship since 2004.
That school, USC, is back in the limelight again. The Trojans won a thrilling Rose Bowl last season, and quarterback Sam Darnold is the Heisman Trophy favorite heading into the 2017 season. Washington, which made the College Football Playoff with Chris Petersen and Jake Browning, figures to be back in the mix, too.
The Pac-12 has contenders, but that drought still looms large. It's on the Trojans, Huskies or somebody else to finally break through.
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With that in mind, let's break down the Pac-12 with predictions for both divisions, the hype team, sleeper team, X-factor, Heisman hopefuls, hot seat, stat that matters and biggest games that will determine who wins that championship.
Pac-12 North predictions
1. Washington
2. Stanford
3. Washington State
4. Oregon
5. Oregon State
6. California
Champion: Washington
The Huskies aren't going anywhere. Petersen's system works, Browning is a star quarterback and Myles Gaskin could lead the conference in rushing. The defense still has some key pieces back in Azeem Victor, Vita Vea and Taylor Rapp.
X-Factor: Bryce Love
Stanford lost Christian McCaffrey to the NFL Draft, but Bryce Love should help fill that void for the Cardinal. He has averaged 7.2 yards per carry in spot duty the last two seasons, and Stanford will have the same-as-usual rushing attack.
Sleeper: Oregon
It's more of a don't-know-what-to-expect-vibe in Year 1 of the Willie Taggart era, but the Ducks still have resources and offensive firepower with quarterback Justin Herbert and veteran running back Royce Freeman. How will defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt renovate a unit that was miserable in 2016?
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Pac-12 South predictions
1. USC
2. Utah
3. Colorado
4. UCLA
5. Arizona State
6. Arizona
Champion: USC
This is a different team than the one that made the Pac-12 championship game in 2015. Clay Helton’s impact can’t be understated, but the Trojans still have to weather a September that features home games against Texas and Stanford, along with a Friday road test at Washington State.
X-Factor: Utes on the road
Utah is the same solid team under Kyle Whittingham, but the Utes have a less-than-friendly schedule that includes road trips to BYU, USC, Oregon and Washington. If the Utes do better than .500 in those games, they should win the Pac-12 South.
Sleeper: Colorado
The Buffs are the defending division champions, and they get Washington and USC at home. Steven Montez should pick up the slack at quarterback, and running back Phillip Lindsay has all-conference potential. They'll be a factor in the Pac-12 South.
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Three biggest games
Stanford at USC (Sept. 9). The Cardinal beat USC 27-10 last season and have won seven of the last 10 meetings. The Trojans can't get caught peeking ahead to Texas the following week.
Utah at USC (Oct. 14). It could be a game that determines the Pac-12 South and — again — the Trojans can't get caught looking ahead, this time to a trip to Notre Dame the following week.
Washington at Stanford (Nov. 10). The Huskies blitzed the Cardinal 44-6 last year, and it's a payback game for Stanford. The winner here should be in the Pac-12 North driver's seat.
Heisman hopefuls
Sam Darnold, QB, USC. Darnold's numbers from last season (31 touchdowns, nine interceptions) and a record-setting Rose Bowl performance could be the start of something special. The next step if following in Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart’s footsteps toward the Heisman Trophy.
Jake Browning, QB, Washington. Browning threw for 43 touchdowns and just nine interceptions last season, and he enters his third year trying to build on the Huskies' playoff run. He's a nice value pick for 2017.
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA. The former five-star recruit went through an up-and-down first two years with the Bruins, but the talent is there to push toward an amazing third year. The competition with Darnold extends to the next level, too.
Hot seat: Rich Rodriguez and Todd Graham
Times have changed at Arizona and Arizona State. These two coaches played in a winner-takes-the-Pac-12-South showdown in 2014. The Wildcats are 10-17 since under Rodriguez, and Graham is a touch better at 12-14 with the Sun Devils.
Stat that matters
Why are we so high on Darnold, Browning and Rosen? All three quarterbacks averaged more than 8.0 yards per passing attempt last season. Browning led the Pac-12 at 8.8, while Darnold finished at 8.4 and Rosen at 8.3.
Pac-12 champion: USC
We know the risks of buying into the hype, and the Trojans do have questions across the offensive front. The path, however, is set up for Darnold and USC to have a special season that should get the Pac-12 back in the College Football Playoff.
All-Conference team
From the Street & Smith's Yearbook, available here:
Offense
QB: Sam Darnold, USC
RB: Myles Gaskin, Washington
RB: Royce Freeman, Oregon
WR: Dante Pettis, Washington
WR: Shay Fields, Colorado
TE: N'Keal Harry, Arizona State
OL: Trey Adams, Washington
OL: Scott Quessenberry, UCLA
OL: Cody O'Connell, Washington State
OL: Coleman Shelton, Washington
OL: Jeromy Irwin, Colorado
Defense
DL: Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State
DL: Vita Vea, Washington
DL: Lowell Lotulelei, Utah
DL: Kylie Fitts, Utah
LB: Azeem Victor, Washington
LB: Koron Crump, Arizona State
LB: Cameron Smith, USC
DB: Xavier Crawford, Oregon State
DB: Quenton Meeks, Stanford
DB: Justin Reid, Stanford
DB: Chase Hansen, Utah
Special teams
K: Aidan Schneider, Oregon
P: Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah
