2018 pac12 season

Based on the recruiting rankings to date for 2018, the five-year aggregate rankings predict the following conference standings for next year:

1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Oregon
4. Stanford
5. Arizona St
6. Washington
7. Utah
8. Cal
9. Washington St
10. Arizona
11. Colorado
12. Oregon St

Charts!

Here are the year-by-year trends for each team in the study. Keep in mind that higher standings are worse, so you want to stay closer to the bottom of the chart.

Projected average: 5.1

Standings average: 5.6

 

Projected average: 4.5

Standings average: 6.8

 

Projected average: 10.6

Standings average: 10

 

Projected average: 9.9

Standings average: 6.4

 

Projected average: 7.9

Standings average: 7.2

 

Projected average: 3.8

Standings average: 5.9

 

Projected average: 3.7

Standings average: 3.4

 

Projected average: 1

Standings average: 2.8

 

Projected average: 5.7

Standings average: 4.7

 

Projected average: 8.9

Standings average: 7.1

 

Projected average: 5.3

Standings average: 6.9

 

Projected average: 10.2

Standings average: 8.2

 

PAC 12 North – Projected 2018 Standings

(1) Washington Huskies

(2017 record: 7-2 / 10-3)

Chris Landon

Key Losses: DL Vita Vea, OL Coleman Shelton, WR/KR Dante Pettis, LB Keishawn Bierria, TE Will Dissly, K Tristan Vizcaino

Key Returners: QB Jake Browning, OL Trey Adams, RB Myles Gaskin, DB Taylor Rapp, DL Greg Gaines, DB Byron Murphy, LB Ben Burr-Kirven, OL Kaleb McGary, WR Chico McClatcher

 

(2) Stanford Cardinal

(2017 record: 7-2 / 9-5)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: OL David Bright, DL Harrison Phillips, LB Bobby Okereke, TE Dalton Schulz, DB Quenton Meeks, DB Justin Reid, LB Peter Kalambayi, LB Joey Alfieri, QB Keller Chryst, OL Casey Tucker

Key Returners: RB Bryce Love, WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, OL Foster Sarell, QB K.J. Costello, OL Nate Herbig, DL Dylan Jackson, LB Curtis Williams

 

(3) Oregon Ducks

(2017 record: 4-5 / 7-6)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: RB Royce Freeman, OL Tyrell Crosby, WR Charles Nelson, DB Tyree Robinson, DL Henry Mondeaux, RB Kani Benoit, DB Arrion Springs

Key Returners: QB Justin Herbert, LB Troy Dye, WR Dillon Mitchell, OL Calvin Throckmorton, DB Thomas Graham Jr., DL Jalen Jelks, LB/DB Lamar Winston

(4) Washington State Cougars

(2017 record: 6-3 / 9-4)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: QB Luke Falk, WR Tavares Martin, OL Cody O’Connell, DL Hercules Mata’afa, OL Cole Madison, RB Jamal Morrow, K Erik Powell, DL/LB Frankie Luvu, DL Daniel Eukale

Key Returners: WR Kyle Sweet, LB Jahad Woods, WR Davontavean Martin, LB Peyton Pelluer, OL Andrew Dillard, DB Jalen Thompson, WR Jamire Colvin, WR Renard Bell, DL Logan Tago

 

(5) Cal Bears

(2017 record: 2-7 / 5-7)

Key Losses: RB Vic Enwere, LB Devante Downs, RB Tre Watson, WR Jordan Veasy, DL James Looney, LB Raymond Davison, K Matt Anderson, DB Darius Allensworth

 

(6) Oregon State Beavers

(2017 record: 0-9 / 1-11)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: RB Ryan Nall, LB Manase Hungalu, QB Darell Garretson, WR Jordan Villamin, RB Thomas Tyner

Key Returners: QB Jake Luton, DB Jalen Moore, TE Noah Togiai, WR Timmy Hernandez, LB Bright Ugwoegbu, RB Artavis Pierce, DB David Morris, LB Andrzej Hughes-Murray

 

PAC 12 South – Projected 2018 Standings

(1) USC Trojans

(2017 record: 8-1 / 11-3)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: QB Sam Darnold, RB Ronald Jones, OLB Uchenna Nwosu, S Chris Hawkins, DL Josh Fatu

Key Returners: RB Stephen Carr, LB Cameron Smith, WR Tyler Vaughns, OL Chuma Edoga, DB Iman Marshall

 

(2) UCLA Bruins

(2017 record: 4-5 / 6-7)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: QB Josh Rosen, DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, OL Scott Quessenberry, WR Darren Andrews, LB Kenny Young

Key Returners: WR Theo Howard, RB Soso Jamabo, RB Bolu Olorunfunmi, DB Adarius Pickett, DL Jaelan Phillips, DL Boss Tagaloa

 

(3) Utah Utes

(2017 record: 3-6 / 7-6)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: WR Darren Carrington, DL Kylie Fitts, DL Lowell Lotulelei, QB Troy Williams

Key Returners: QB Tyler Huntley, DL Bradlee Anae, DB Chase Hansen, LB Cody Barton, RB Zach Moss, LT Jackson Barton

 

 

(4) Arizona Wildcats

(2017 record: 5-4 / 7-6)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: QB Brandon Dawkins, RB Nick Wilson, DB Dane Cruikshank, LB Deandre’ Miller

Key Returners: QB Khalil Tate, LB Colin Schooler, RB J.J. Taylor, LB Tony Fields, DE Kylan Wilborn, WR Shun Brown, OL Layth Freikh

 

(5) Colorado Buffaloes

(2017 record: 2-7 / 5-7)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: CB Isaiah Oliver, WR Bryce Bobo, RB, Philip Lindsay, WR Shay Fields, WR Devin Ross, OL Jeromy Irwin, DL Leo Jackson III, TE George Frazier, LB Derrick McCartney

Key Returners: QB Steven Montez, LB Drew Lewis, LB Rick Gamboa, WR Jay MacIntyre, WR Juwann Winfree, OL Isaac Miller

 

(6) Arizona State Sun Devils

(2017 record: 6-3 / 7-6)

 Chris Landon

Key Losses: RB Kalen Ballage, RB Demario Richard, DL Tashon Smallwood, QB Brady White (transfer to Memphis), DL Alani Latu, LB D.J. Calhoun, LB Christian Sam

Key Returners: WR N’Keal Harry, QB Manny Wilkins, WR Jalen Harvey, P Michael Sleep-Dalton, WR Kyle Williams, DB Chase Lucas, DL Rennell Wren

 

Outside perspective from UW on Utah

Comments: Utah had a crazy season in 2017. They pulled off just three wins in conference play. However, four of their six losses were all within a single possession. They are also the only team in the conference to have won a postseason game.

The Utes project as a more balanced team in 2018. They have most of their key offensive pieces coming back including Huntley, Moss and WR Raelon Singleton. The offensive line looks fairly well set. They are, however, going to have to do some defensive rebuilding. Anae, Barton, DB Julian Blackmon and DL Leki Fotu look like the key building blocks.

UW fans are spread all across the board on Utah. While there is a clear convergence around 2nd and 3rd place predictions, nearly 13% of respondents thought that Kyle Whittingham has what it takes to lead the Utes to a division title in 2018. We shall see.