USC had a lot of high profile skill position transfers, but I really question their defense overall. I think USC is a year away. They’ll have a great season I expect, but they won’t go from last year’s 4-8 to winning the Pac-12 and being a playoff contender. I expect them to be 8-4 or 9-3.
Oregon is also in a transition period. I think they have more cohesion than USC and fewer questions, but won’t necessarily be better than last year. And if they can’t get solid to great QB play, they may not even win the North (*i.e have the best record of North teams considering the change to CG).
Honestly, if Utah is going to make the playoff. This is the year to do it. NIL and paying players changes the game for Utah and I question whether Utah can even remotely compete in the future. All the pieces are in place for the Utes to do it and they should be the unquestionable favorit to win the Pac-12 this season.