Welcome to the Hotline’s deep dive into the primary half of the 2022 season …
High storyline I: Return to reLAvance
With competent teaching at USC, a veteran roster at UCLA and stellar quarterback play on each campuses, the crosstown rivals reached 6-0 in the identical season for the primary time since 2005. Our view: It doesn’t matter a lick that the uptick is coming months after their introduced departures for the Large Ten. The transfer isn’t chargeable for their success in any style, and so they aren’t leaving for 21 months. What issues is the Trojans and Bruins have helped the Pac-12 regain a footing on the nationwide stage.
High storyline II: Teaching dismissals
Arizona State’s Herm Edwards and Colorado’s Karl Dorrell didn’t final till the midpoint of the center month, thus bringing to 5 the variety of Pac-12 in-season teaching dismissals because the begin of 2021. Neither transfer got here as a shock: The Buffs have been winless and lifeless underneath Dorrell whereas Edwards’ tenure in Tempe lasted for much longer than it ought to have given the NCAA investigation. (If we’re being trustworthy, it shouldn’t have ever began.) We don't anticipate further terminations over the following six weeks.
High storyline III: Factors manufacturing
A surge in scoring has fueled the convention’s general resurgence. There are 19 FBS groups averaging no less than 40 factors per recreation, and 5 reside within the Pac-12: Washington, Oregon, USC, UCLA and Utah. We anticipate manufacturing to lower with convention play in full swing, however the Pac-12 is nonetheless on tempo to generate extra high-level offense than it has in eons. It’s superb what high quality teaching and quarterback play can do.
High storyline IV: Switch expertise
The listing of influence gamers is stocked with newcomers. The inflow of beginning quarterbacks (seven) has been nicely documented, however the switch portal delivered playmakers throughout the rosters, from Washington tailback Wayne Taulapapa to Arizona receiver Jacob Cowing, from UCLA edge Latu Laiatu to Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez, from USC linebacker Eric Gentry to ASU tailback X Valladay. Quite a lot of are intra-conference transfers.
Finest coach: UCLA’s Chip Kelly
We debated whether or not to honor Kelly as a result of the Bruins’ schedule has been pillowy-soft. However he deserves credit score for having the Pac-12’s final remaining unbeaten crew, creating quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and accumulating items by the switch portal that match completely inside his system. No offense is healthier designed, and the protection has improved. Runners up: Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith, USC’s Lincoln Riley and Washington’s Kalen DeBoer.
Finest offensive participant: Arizona receiver Jacob Cowing
We gave severe consideration to a handful of quarterbacks, however Cowing has carried out on the highest degree nationally relative to his place and performed so towards strong competitors. He’s within the prime 10 in a slew of key statistical measures and has created probabilities for teammates due to the eye he attracts. Runners up: UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, USC QB Caleb Williams, Washington QB Michale Penix Jr., Oregon OT T.J. Bass and Utah TE Dalton Kincaid.
Finest defensive participant: USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu
The sophomore has been an unstoppable drive up entrance, main not solely the convention however the nation in sacks (seven) and rating second nationally in tackles-for-loss (12.5). USC’s protection has been each wobbly and higher than anticipated, and the advance begins with Tuipulotu, a worthy inheritor to the likes of previous USC stars Shaun Cody, Mike Patterson and Leonard Williams. Runners up: Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III, Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez, UCLA edge Laiatu Latu, Oregon State cornerback Rejzohn Wright and Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley
Finest place: Quarterback
Largely due to transfers like Penix, Williams and Oregon’s Bo Nix, the extent of quarterback play throughout the convention is increased than it has been in years. Positive, teaching performs a key position, nevertheless it’s a gifted, skilled assortment that has thrived the place its predecessors flopped. Put one other means: A possible first-round decide within the 2023 NFL Draft, Stanford’s Tanner McKee, is merely seventh within the Pac-12 in effectivity ranking.
Finest recreation: Utah 43, USC 42
Essentially the most anticipated convention recreation of the primary half delivered on the hype, after which some. The showdown proved loads worthy of its prime-time TV window with large performs, large momentum swings, greater than 1,000 yards of offense and a riveting end. Add the officiating controversy, and it checked all of the bins for gripping leisure.
Largest twist: Non-conference outcomes
What if we instructed you the Pac-12 would report victories over Notre Dame (highway), Wisconsin (highway) and Michigan State (dwelling) — and none of them packed a punch? Welp, verify the standings: MSU and Wisconsin are every 1-3 in Large Ten play, and the Irish (3-3) misplaced at dwelling to Marshall. Which leaves us with the next providing for the Pac-12’s finest non-conference win: UCLA over South Alabama.
Worse than anticipated I: Cal’s offense
The bar is rarely excessive for the Bears, but they've nonetheless managed to underperform underneath playcaller Invoice Musgrave. The previous two video games have been significantly dreadful with 9 factors towards Washington State and 13 towards lowly Colorado.
Higher than anticipated I: Washington State’s protection
A unit that returned just one all-conference-team choice (Ron Stone Jr.) has been constantly efficient, leads the convention in tackles-for-loss and permits simply 20.7 factors per recreation. Its biggest problem has been the erratic assist from WSU’s offense.
Worse than anticipated II: Arizona’s protection
No one anticipated an up to date model of Desert Swarm, however the degree of returning and incoming expertise recommended some enchancment over the turnstile unit we watched final 12 months (and the 12 months earlier than that, and the 12 months earlier than that). As a substitute, it’s extra of the identical. Even Cal scored 49 on the Wildcats.
Higher than anticipated II: Washington’s offense
No, it couldn’t have been any worse underneath the brand new teaching workers than it was final 12 months (utterly inept), however we didn’t anticipate fairly as many factors (42.1) or yards (513.1) per recreation from the Huskies. Usually, the receivers are vast open, a credit score to the scheme deployed by DeBoer and Co.
Worse than anticipated III: Utah’s protection
It’s straightforward to clarify (younger line, lack of Devin Lloyd, and many others.), however we’re not accustomed to seeing the Utes quit 40 factors in back-to-back video games or rank a hundredth nationally — a hundredth! — in yards-per-play allowed (5.91). Final 12 months, they have been No. 39 in that class.
Higher than anticipated III: Oregon State’s protection
New coordinator Trent Bray has arguably the very best secondary within the convention and is profiting from it: The Beavers held USC to 17 factors and are even higher than the 24.7 points-per-game allowed on condition that their quarterbacks have thrown 11 interceptions.
Largest stain: Georgia 49, Oregon 3
A frightening task for the Geese went unimaginably improper as they trailed the defending nationwide champs 28-3 at halftime and by no means mustered a rally. The ultimate end result and lasting picture might hang-out the Pac-12 in the course of the playoff choice course of, particularly if the Geese find yourself as a one-loss convention champion.
High stat I: AP ballot
For the primary time in years, the Pac-12 is a top-heavy league — a necessity for prime-time matchups, nationwide recognition and playoff consideration. 4 groups are ranked within the prime 15 of the present Related Press ballot (No. 9 UCLA, No. 10 Oregon, No. 12 USC and No. 15 Utah). That’s greater than any convention besides the SEC, which additionally has 4.
High stat II: Heisman Trophy odds
USC’s Williams is the No. 3 betting favourite at 7-to-1 whereas UCLA’s Thompson-Robinson is 20-to-1 with a golden alternative to achieve floor this weekend (at Oregon). The success of the L.A. QBs evokes recollections of 1988, when USC’s Rodney Peete completed second within the Heisman voting and UCLA’s Troy Aikman was third. (The winner? Some man named Barry Sanders.)
High stat III: Bowl math
Two groups are already eligible (USC and UCLA), 4 are inside one victory of qualifying (Oregon, OSU, Washington and Utah) and one has an affordable path to the postseason (WSU). What’s extra, the convention stays alive within the playoff chase — an enchancment! — and is healthier positioned for a number of berths within the New 12 months’s Six than it has been in years. The second half must be riveting.
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