Around The Conference Table: Preseason 2023

Room Key Please

This season we go around our writers for their takes on the other conference games that went on in gameweek.

pac12conference

A post shared by @pac12conference

ASU

TD_24 - It's rebuilding season for the Sun Devils. If they come into Berkeley and beat Cal........

SoCal Nick - My good friend went to ASU and hates Michael Crow's guts. I now also hate Michael Crow's guts.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - Good luck in the Big12. I hope you have a good season and kill things down there. I'd say I'd miss you, but I don't think a normal football game has happened involving our schools in the state of Arizona.

Nick Kranz - They'll be the 2022 Arizona of the season, which is to say bad but fun and with promise for future seasons when they'll be in another conference and I won't give a crap about them anymore.

Rob Hwang - Can Dillingham really keep this team motivated with no post-season?

Christopher_h - I think Kenny Dillingham is going to build a good offense at ASU, but it's not going to happen overnight. They're probably in for a rough season.

Avinash Kunnath - Their AD just self-imposed a bowl ban two weeks before the season, the university president is still talking about how great the Pac-12 TV deal is, and freshman Jaden Rashada is now the starting QB. It's a rebuilding season. Very excited to be tied with them in the 4th quarter in a month.

Arizona

TD_24 - However much the Wildcats improved their defense will determine the ceiling of this team, who had a good offense last season.

SoCal Nick - Trying to muster up competitive rage against Jedd Fisch is like trying to get made at a warm glass of milk. I’m still hurting from the Hill Mary, but I just can't find the juice for this one.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - Good luck in the Big12. I hope you have a good season and kill things down there. I'd say I'd miss you, but I don't think a normal football game has happened involving our schools in the state of Arizona.

Nick Kranz - They're sticking with Jayden de Laura despite [gestures at everything off the field], but there's no reason to think that the defense will be significantly better than the 2022 disaster unit.

Rob Hwang - Insert Gattuso GIF.

Christopher_h - Not a fan of Jayden de Laura apologist Jedd Fisch. Their performance at the Pac-12 Media Day left an awful taste in my mouth. Apparently, leadership at Arizona is all about how many passing yards you have and how many touchdowns you score; nothing else matters. I'll be rooting against them.

Avinash Kunnath - Their AD just self-imposed a bowl ban two weeks before the season, the university president is still talking about how great the Pac-12 TV deal is, and freshman Jaden Rashada is now the starting QB. It's a rebuilding season. Very excited to be tied with them in the 4th quarter in a month. This will be one of the most explosive offenses in college football that will continue to struggle to produce points in goal-line situations because of a middling offensive line. And their defense is likely to remain horrendous. Their schedule is manageable for a bowl run, but they are going to have to shore up their weaknesses.

Utah

TD_24 - Run the ball, inflict pain. Eat, sleep, repeat. Kyle Whittingham will always have my respect for his football mind.

SoCal Nick - Coach Wittingham, please remember that none of this *gestures around the Pac-12* was our fault.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - Good luck in the Big12. I hope that conference comes to fear you like most of the Pac12 now does.

Nick Kranz - Really not happy about having to take what will probably be another nightmare trip to SLC before they bolt the conference. The defense has to replace a few parts, but does anybody really expect Whittingham and company to have any trouble reloading on that side of the ball? They're my pick for South champs.

Rob Hwang - If one of the underdog teams like Oregon State, WSU or even Us doesn’t win the title, just send it back to Utah. Better than any of the other options.

Christopher_h - Somehow the two-time reigning Pac-12 champ is only a dark horse for the title this year, as most people are already trying to hand the title directly to USC before the season even starts. If they can stay healthy (and it's a big "if" with Rising still out with an injury), I'd expect them to take the title again. They're the champ to me until proven otherwise.

Avinash Kunnath - This is the year the schedule catches up to the defending Pac-12 champs. Florida and at Baylor to start, then the other five Pac-12 title contenders in their first seven Pac-12 games, three on the road. There's probably a path to 10-2 in there, but it'll be by far the hardest path the Utes will need to overcome.

Colorado

TD_24 - The Buffs have a lot of people's attention this season. Deion Sanders like him or not will have you watching his team whether it is to see if he can adapt or if you're looking for his downfall.

SoCal Nick - I want to destroy Colorado. Like, nuke them from orbit, and we don't even play them.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - Congratulations on moving from the bottom of the Pac12 to the bottom of the Big12.

Nick Kranz - I think this season will be a disaster of epic proportions with a tremendous blowhard at head coach making it all the worse, and I look forward to laughing at these Pac-12 turncoats every step of the way.

Rob Hwang - Social media hype but I don’t buy a single ounce of it.

Christopher_h - Colorado and Deion Sanders will get all the hype, but I'd be surprised with anything more than a 4-8 season.

Avinash Kunnath - I don't think Colorado is going to be anything special this season, but this is a superior coaching staff in every which way from the previous one, and the 53 transfers the Buffs brought in will make them far more dangerous week-to-week. I wouldn't be surprised to see an unexpected win or two against a superior Pac-12 team.

Oregon

TD_24 - Dan Lanning is one spicy man in the media. Can the Ducks overcome their mental lapses from last season?

SoCal Nick - Wouldn't it be hilarious if we went to Autzen, hung a 50 burger on Oregon and left with a still undefeated record?

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - I wish you middling success in the Big10. I know this isn't your fault but still...

Nick Kranz - Can Dan Lanning get more from an Oregon defense that always seems to underproduce relative to its talent? Seems like he would be the guy to do it, but the 2022 season was pretty meh on that side of the ball, and it's what is holding Oregon back from true playoff contention.

Rob Hwang - I think we all know theyre good. Can Lanning take that next step as a HC? We shall see.

Christopher_h - Another conference title contender. Bo Nix is back, but I'm not sure about their receiver room and new defensive backfield. How those units perform will probably dictate how their season goes.

Avinash Kunnath - It's Bo Nix season. The Ducks have so much talent at every position that on paper they should be able to run roughshod over most of their opponents. The schedule is lined up for a 6-1/7-0 start. The problem for them is their coaching, which hasn't been terribly impressive in gameday situations. When the games get close, can Dan Lanning's staff make the right adjustments?

Oregon State

TD_24 - Jonathan Smith for the win. Can he work magic with DJ enroute to a Pac 12 title?

SoCal Nick - I just spent 25 minutes trying to think of a good wood pun and I got nothing. I'm gonna miss playing Oregon State, but also, it's time for the show to go on the other foot and now we can ruin their season when they come to town

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - If we could bring you along I would. Love you Beavs.

Nick Kranz - The only cast-off with the talent to make it happen, I'm willing them to be 2023 Pac-12 champs into existence based purely on spite.

Rob Hwang - As I said previously, It’s the final year of the Pac. Chaos. Bring on OSU, WSU, or us as the Champions to silence the realignment talks.

Christopher_h - I love Oregon State and hate that they're being left behind in conference realignment. For years, I have been hyping them up as underrated, but I think the pendulum has finally swung the other direction. I'd love for them to go on a Pac-12 revenge tour and crush the LA schools and whoever else, but I'm not convinced they'll be in title contention as some may think.

Avinash Kunnath - The Beavers have maybe a top three coaching unit in the conference and now have enough talent to boot to win with it. I don't know if DJ Uiagalelei could be a Pac-12 champion quarterback, but I think this offensive line will be a bunch of marauders.

Washington

TD_24 - Much of the same as Arizona, except on a bigger scale. The Huskies offense was stellar last season and if not for the bottleneck at the top of the Pac 12, they may have gotten a NY6 bowl.

SoCal Nick - I can tell you first hand that the Washington Husky, like the actual living, breathing dog, is the softest, most adorable g*d damn dog I've ever seen and when I got to hug that dog at a rec softball game was one of the best sports days of my life. The football team can kick rocks.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - I wish you middling success in the Big10. I know this isn't your fault but still...

Rob Hwang - They can implode this season.

Christopher_h - Washington returns most of their starters from last year's 11-2 team, including Penix Jr who threw for more yards than pretty much anyone in the country. If Penix can have another healthy season, UW may be in postseason contention.

Avinash Kunnath - Washington loses some key contributors on each side, so there could be a slight sophomore slump with Kalen Deboer. But could Michael Pennix improve enough that the Huskies are just fine?

Washington State

TD_24 - Jake Dickert retools after the portal somewhat ravages the team. Just how high the ceiling is in Pullman remains a mystery post the late Mike Leach.

SoCal Nick - Do yourself a favor and get some Cougar Gold. I don't care that it is a 2 point chode can of cheese. Trust me, it's the best thing to come out of Pullman since 2014 when Connor Halladay set the FBS passing record and lost to us and I got to see it in person.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - If we could bring you along I would. Love you Cougs..

Nick Kranz - Lost a lot of talent that made their 2022 defense surprisingly strong, so this will be an early test for Jake Dickert and his ability to reload to the tough Wazzu recruiting environment.

Rob Hwang - For our dear friend Jeff Nussar. I hope they win, except against us.

Christopher_h - In contrast to Fisch at Arizona, coach Jake Dickert seemed like a really genuine dude at Media Day and I'm rooting for them as a result. They still have Cam Ward and an explosive offense, so they'll be a tough (yet still overlooked) team. The Pac-12 really is stacked this year, just in time for... oh, nevermind.

Avinash Kunnath - Washington State settled into the average category last season, so they're flying under the radar. But they're losing a lot on offense, so the defense will have to carry theem.

USC

TD_24 - We would all like Caleb Williams under center. He better be on the Raiders this time next season.

SoCal Nick - Super Saiyan Sonny Dykes is going to have you right on the cusp forever and you are never going to get there.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - Get absolutely all the way bent. I hope you enjoy your sorry ass loss in a Minnesota Blizzard while you count your money and lose 28-7 in a game your West Coast offense absolutely shits the bed because you can't throw and your run game is stopped by corn-fed o-linemen. Sorry we beat your ass so bad that you had to flee the conference.

Nick Kranz - The best offense in the conference that will also inevitably be let down by their defense in 2-3 games this year, and I'll be there to point and laugh whenever that happens.

Rob Hwang - It’s early but they still showed some flaws in the SJSU game in Week 0. Fully expect them to improve but hoping for some consistent flaws all season for some teams to exploit.

Christopher_h - Caleb Williams is obviously ridiculous, but a future #1 NFL Draft pick can't carry a defense. (This sounds oddly familiar for some reason.) Nevertheless, these Carol Dolt and these conference traitors deserve to lose every game. They won't, but they still deserve it. They'll be getting the blue blood bump in the national polls again now that Helton is gone.

Avinash Kunnath - The USC offense is going to put up bonkers points and the USC defense is going to give them all back. Many NFL teams will be tanking starting Week 1 for a shot to get Caleb Williams. A very high ceiling team with plenty of potential to crash down.

UCLA

TD_24 - I'm not as high on the Bruins as others. No DTR, Charbonnet, Mafi, and Gaines? That's a lot of production to replace and I'm not no sure they have it for their final year in the Pac.

SoCal Nick - Former Twitter User Mpete91 probably already did this, but just in case only comment here is a very loud, wet fart.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - In trying to escape being Cal's little brother, UCLA proved that it is nothing more, just a sad, glittering, money-driven, Hollywood elite with a fake façade and no soul. As much as I hope USC falls in a blizzard, I know that you're about to be a perineal bottom-tier conference dweller that will absolutely chew you up and thank you for being their playoff hope fodder. Congrats on the move little bro, now pay up.

Nick Kranz - Expecting them to take a massive step back on offense after losing a ton of production, and if Chip keeps the offense humming that will be a big sign that he's still got it.

Rob Hwang - heh. just. heh.

Christopher_h - I think it's going to be a tough year for the second best UC school in the conference. 12-year starter Dorian Thompson-Robinson has finally moved on, and a true freshman (but 5 star QB) is taking over. There will be growing pains, but at least he'll have players like future NFL WR J. Michael Sturdivant on the other end of those throws to make that transition easier.

Avinash Kunnath - Who knows with UCLA. They finally had a lot of pieces working together these last two seasons, but replacing Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Zach Charbonnet will be tough. It's going to stink watching J.Michael Sturdivant and Femi Oladejo help them with the rebuild.

Stanford

TD_24 - Should be a tire fire next season. However Troy Taylor has them on their way for 2024.

SoCal Nick - I hope that you enjoy your football version of Mark Madsen you absolute turds. I can't wait to win in Palo Alto again this year.

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - Enemies to Rivals to...Lovers? Just kidding get bent see you in November we got the Axe!

Nick Kranz - I'm going to do my best to stay in the moment and enjoy what should be a train wreck of a season on the farm, because I strongly fear that Troy Taylor will turn them around sooner rather than later, goddammit.

Rob Hwang - I weirdly hope Troy Taylor works out for them. But this season? It’s going to be ROUGH.

Christopher_h - I believe the media picked Stanford to finish last in the conference, but I think people are sleeping on this Troy Taylor team. They'll finally have an exciting offense after however many years it was, so I can finally preview Stanford games again without feeling like I have narcolepsy.

Avinash Kunnath - Thanks for sticking with us, frenemy. You're going to be awful this year and lose every game by three touchdowns. But you did the right thing.

Any other thoughts?

TD_24 - Welcome to the Pac 9

Former Twitter User Mpete91 - Get all the way bent Los Angeles.

Nick Kranz - BURN IT ALL DOWN IN A HAIL OF SPITE AND HATRED TOWARDS ALL

Rob Hwang - We could be a part of the ACC by the time you’re reading this.

Christopher_h - I think Cal is going to be a lot better this year, but unfortunately so is everyone else. Just Cal's luck.