This article covers one thing each PAC-12 team can do to take a step forward this fall.
Arizona
Hold on to the football
In the offensive-focused Pac-12, the Wildcats generally had a good unit led by quarterback Jayden De Laura. For all their offensive strengths, Arizona needs to prioritize ball security. When Jedd Fisch’s team held onto the ball, they showed they could defeat nearly everybody in the conference. Arizona didn’t turn the ball over in an upset win over UCLA and played USC in a one-score game. The Wildcats’ defense did have problems, but fixing the turnover problem will give more rest and extended fields for opposing offenses.
Arizona State
Be Disciplined
With a head coach fired after three games and multiple assistants fired/on leave due to NCAA recruiting violations, Arizona State’s program didn’t have the leadership and discipline a team should have and it showed on the field. The Sun Devils led the Pac-12 penalized 7.3 times for 72.3 yards a game. Among the challenges of being the youngest power five coach, Kenny Dillingham will have to focus on improving Arizona State’s discipline.
California
Revamp the Rushing Offense
The Golden Bears only ran for 96.6 yards per game, 3.6 yards per carry, and ten total touchdowns. Take away 354 yards, 9.3 yards per carry, and four touchdowns against Arizona and the numbers for the remaining games get considerably worse. California had costly offensive line injuries, so Justin Wilcox’s team can have a big bounce back next year if they stay healthy.
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Colorado
Let Coach Prime Cook, and be Patient
The Buffaloes were a horrible football team last year, winning one game and only playing two competitive games. Among Pac-12 teams, Colorado had the fewest total yards, passing yards, and points; and the most total yards, rushing yards, and points allowed. There is no one problem that can easily be fixed with this Colorado team, and Deion Sanders has a huge rebuild in store for 2023. With the major additions and subtractions Colorado has already made with the portal, the team will certainly be different next year. The question is how improved will they be?
Oregon
Generate More Sacks and Tackles For Loss
Dan Lanning may have initially been a questionable hire, but he proved the doubters wrong and finished with another ten-win season. Alongside Kenny Dillingham and Bo Nix, the offensive was reinvigorated, but there was an important part of the defense which regressed: disruptive plays. Oregon finished tenth in the Pac-12 with 1.39 sacks per game and tied for last with 4.08 tackles for loss. For a program that’s put many defensive linemen in the NFL, their disruptive plays need to improve next season.
Oregon State
Develop a passing game
Despite shocking the country by going 10-3, Oregon State could have done so much more in 2022. The Beavers’ passing game was not good; finishing bottom three in the conference with 2,594 passing yards, and sixteen passing touchdowns to thirteen interceptions. If not for throwing four interceptions against USC, the Beavers probably win that game and play in the Pac-12 Championship game. Oregon State has landed former five-star and Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei from the transfer portal, so they hopefully can develop a passing game next year.
Stanford
Reverse the Turnover Differential
No team in the Pac-12 forced fewer turnovers and only one team turned the ball over more than Stanford did in 2022. The Cardinal turned the ball over twenty-four times, yet only got the ball back twelve times. When David Shaw’s team didn’t turn it over, his team could have been much better. Against Notre Dame, Stanford didn’t turn the ball over but forced two fumbles in the upset win. Former Sacramento State head coach Troy Taylor will have to prioritize flipping the turnover differential as he enters his first season in Palo Alto.
UCLA
Work on the Pass Defense
Chip Kelly had a few rough years when he first started in Westwood but has since turned UCLA into a nine-win team. However, the poor Bruins’ pass defense held them back from cracking double-digit wins. UCLA gave up an average of 275.7 yards per game, up over fifteen yards from 2021. In their biggest game of the year, hosting USC the pass defense folded by giving up 470 and 48 points in the loss. The Bruins need to reverse the concerning pass defense trend to improve in 2023.
USC
Allow Fewer Explosive Plays
Lincoln Riley rebuilt the Trojans in one year with an incredible offensive and opportunistic defense. The defense gained twenty-nine turnovers, the most in the Pac-12 in fifth most in the country. But while reaching for turnovers, the defense gave up substantial amounts of big plays. Among conference teams, USC finished bottom three in big plays of ten or more, twenty or more, all the way to sixty or more yards. The Trojans need to limit big plays and make teams drive the full field to score in 2023.
Utah
Become More Consistent on Offense
The Pac-12 champions were led by an elite defense, with an offense that sometimes was elite. Utah scored ninety points and 1097 yards in two games against USC, but only had 326 total yards and three interceptions in a 20-17 loss to Oregon. If the Utes can play twelve complete games, there’s a very real chance they can go 12-0, but that will be seen next year.
Washington
Stop the Pass on Defense
First-year Kalen DeBoer exceeded all expectations with an eleven-win season and deadly offense, but his team can improve their passing defense. U-Dub didn’t give up a lot of yards, but they did finish second to last in the Pac-12 giving up twenty-five passing touchdowns to only seven interceptions. Washington also had the fewest pass breakups and deflections in the conference with fifty-nine. Similar to Utah, if the Huskies can improve their pass defense, they can have a special year.
Washington State
Toughen up the Offensive Line
Former FCS player of the year Cameron Ward and coach Jake Dickert were both solid in their first year in Pullman, but they would both improve with a better offensive line. Washington State quarterbacks were sacked thirty-six times, easily the most in the Pac-12, and tied for the third most nationally. The offensive line also held back the running game which only ran for 107.1 yards per game, second to worst in the conference. There is potential for a big year next year, but the offensive line needs to get better for that to happen.
