The Pac-12′s 2023 media preseason football poll comes out in advance of Friday’s conference media day festivities in Las Vegas.
USC is the likely choice as league favorite, but it’ll be competitive among five teams. Here’s how Nick Daschel, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Oregon State beat reporter, voted (with comment):
1. USC
Best quarterback, offense and offensive mind (coach Lincoln Riley) in a conference that remains wanting on the defensive side.
2. Oregon State
It’s not all about the roster. The schedule matters, too. The Beavers’ 2023 slate is as good as it gets when it comes to being favorable. If OSU’s offense is marginally better than a year ago, the Beavers should land a Pac-12 title game berth.
3. Washington
Second and third place may come down to the Huskies’ Nov. 18 game at Oregon State. But UW has survive a November three-game run of at USC-Utah-at Oregon State, possibly the toughest stretch for a Power 5 team this season.
4. Oregon
The Ducks have a key component for success with quarterback Bo Nix returning. But Oregon has much to prove defensively, and probably need to win a road game at either Washington or Utah to move into the top two.
5. Utah
If quarterback Cam Rising successfully bounces back (again) from a serious knee injury, then fifth place looks laughable. Then again, the Utes schedule is as challenging as any, with road games at USC, Washington and Oregon State.
6. UCLA
The Bruins will finish anywhere from first to eighth, depending on the maturation of freshman quarterback Dante Moore. UCLA’s defense should keep it in games.
7. Arizona
Everyone’s sleeper team. Quarterback Jayden de Laura is talented but mercurial, and the Wildcats will score plenty. With one returning starter on defense, we’ll need to see proof that this side of the ball is effective, and not a liability.
8. California
Been burned too many times by the storyline of the Bears ready to turn the corner. Cal should look a little like Oregon State: a run-first team that has a pretty good defense.
9. Washington State
The Cougars are the Pac-12′s surprise team in the opposite direction. Constant coaching turnover and roster defections are bound to take a toll as WSU misses the bowl season for only the second time in nine years.
10. Arizona State
The Sun Devils receive few scheduling breaks as they play Oklahoma State and Fresno State during non-conference, and Stanford is one of ASU’s conference misses. Possibility that Arizona State surprises because of talented transfers, but we’re not counting on it.
11. Colorado
This team is built from the outside in. It’ll become evident that the lack of offensive and defensive lines will be one of the Buffaloes’ downfalls during coach Deion Sanders first year.
12. Stanford
First-year coach Troy Taylor has hit it big on the recruiting trail, but that won’t impact a 2023 roster woefully lacking in talent.
–Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel