The Pac-12’s Strength

usc-ucla-2016-3The Pac-12 had six teams ranked in the College Football Playoff’s Top 25 poll last week, a sign of the conference’s strength. But it is also true that only six Pac-12 teams are going to be automatically bowl eligible with at least six wins. Last year the Pac-12 had 10 teams that were bowl eligible. So some of the top tier teams this season are feasting on bad competition.

For example, Stanford’s last victory over a team that has a winning record in today’s standings came against USC way back in mid-September. And the Cardinal are on course for a 9-3 record. I’d argue this is one of the conference’s worst seasons, with Oregon and UCLA complete disasters. And let’s not even discuss the Arizona schools.

23 thoughts on “The Pac-12’s Strength

  1. Think the same,plus more can be said about the all powerful SEC..Thank you “Complete Disaster” Oregon for your great last second win over Utah…..Nice Win,Nice gift.

  2. One of the conference’s worst seasons? So when the Pac-12 has 6 teams ranked in the CFPs, a better season would be when they have more than 6? When has that happened? Same with the AP, Coaches, etc polls. Where do you pull this stuff out of?

    Meanwhile… Congrats to Juju Smith-Schuster for being named a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.

  3. Half the conference is ranked nationally, the other half is terrible. Not that bad actually, of course I am not debbie downer like Wolf is. If there is a down side, Wolf will go there

    • Just replace the Washington schools with the Arizona schools.. UCLA with Colorado and its about the same number of talent in the Pac-12 as every other year that are competing.. Wolf just isn’t use to seeing different school names on the polls.

  4. There are too many bowl games. Adding the top tier games to the league playoffs would be enough. But as pointed out it’s all about the money. So welcome to Trojan Shrek Pro Bowl aka the rubber match.

  5. The mighty SEC has 1/3 of their teams under 500. Really about the same as PAC 12 when you consider they have 8 game conference schedule and play mostly non FBS schools. For example South Carolina plays 8 conference games plus Western Carolina, Massachusetts, East Carolina all at home. They are currently 6-5. The SEC knows how to schedule.

    • Anyone who has watched “mighty” Florida play this year has to serve up a mighty rolling-of-eyes at “SEC Power!”

    • Why don’t the SEC’ers get crucified for scheduling teams like….Wofford…Samford…Presbyterian?! The NCAA should start a lengthy and costly “investigation” to determine if those are real schools.

  6. The eye tests say the Pac 12 is weak, but as usual, the media, and ranking systems says something else. I’m going to trust my 20/20 vision on this one, because when teams don’t play defense, and score 60 to 70 points against each other, the that spells, W-E-A-K. The conference did horrible in bowl games last year, and based on the finesse coaching, nothing has changed this year.

    • Fred, I know you like power football. I do too. Unfortunately, these days most teams have gone away from it. AND, most of those teams lose when they play a power team. SC lost to Stanford and Alabama. But then how do you account for LSU? They are a power team but their offense hasn’t done much, even with Coach O changing things up. I’m not a football expert at all, and I’m no Al “four touchdowns in one game” Bundy. I just don’t know anymore. Of course, the QB is of utmost importance. I don’t think this USC team wins seven in a row with Browne. I don’t know what my point is here, other than just ranting that I’m confused.

      • Ed Orgeron inherited a lame, one dementional offense, that has a quarterback with no talent . So now everyone thinks he should work miracles with the garbage playbook , that former offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron left behind . Les Miles is being courted by Purdue , and if they think he’s going to turn that program around, then they are sadly mistaken. Especially in that Big Ten conference

        • I think SC is headed in the right direction now with Darnold. One more year with him probably. Then Fink? He seems in the same mold. Dang, would love to have Darnold for the full four years, or at least three. BUT, no matter who is QB, the OL and DL need the big uglies. PERIOD.

    • Your eyes need to watch some other conferences maybe if you think just because Oregon and Cal gave up those points in a couple games that that represents the whole conference, and no other conferences have such scores. Tenn over Missouri just the past weekend shows that.

      Also the Pac-12 had a 6-4 record in Bowl Games last year. The Big-10 was 5-5, the ACC 4-6.

      • The day that a PAC12 team can beat the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, LSU, Clemson the way they stack up in recent years… that’s when we gain some credibility. Stanford gobsmacking Iowa doesn’t cut it. SC bringing its D game against Wisconsin doesn’t cut it.

  7. Do you have any inclination to the killjoy that you are? You can’t be married right? What woman would live with you.

    • Or… you could just post some facts and figures that render SW’s cynicism VOID. But don’t be a snark; that’s lame.

  8. Like many of you I thought the Pac 12 was weak. But as of November 22, 2016 we look like a pretty solid football conference. 3 teams from each division ranked and 3 teams in the top 13 is nothing to sleep on.

  9. So? the point? everybody go home? that stroke I had supposedly cleared up…anybody else lost?

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