What about the OTHER 10 teams (2022 PAC-12 Preview thread)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Look. This whole "USC/UCLA" bombshell is still making news around the nation. But I think we all forgot something.
Mainly, the other 10 teams in the PAC-12! Hopefully during this preview thread, we'll all start to discuss that.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Now before I lend my support for those poor PAC-12 teams, I gotta take a look at the teams that caused this mess. So with that...

UCLA

The first preview segment for the PAC-12 Conference: The UCLA Bruins

Last season: Finally, we got a good showing from a Chip Kelly-coached UCLA team, as the Bruins would go 8-4. Sadly, they would not play in a bowl due to a COVID outbreak. Oh, and there is the matter of that bad loss to Fresno State.
Okay, so Chip Kelly has gotten UCLA back to winning. Can he get the team to challenge for the PAC-12 title FINALLY?

Bad news: We have new coordinators on both sides of the ball, and the defense needs a good deal of improvements.

Good news: But at least the UCLA defense has experience. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is back for one more year as UCLA's QB, and he'll have breakout RB Zach Charbonnet to help him out.

2022 X-factor: All of UCLA's debt- Recently, @fishinabarrel gave me a stunning reason why UCLA is leaving the PAC-12. No, it's not the money the Big 10 has right now. It's UCLA's LACK of money that could be the problem. In fact, according to @fishinabarrel the UCLA campus is facing a debt ranging from 80 to over 100 million!
I just have one question: How in the HELL does that happen?! What the HELL were UCLA spending all of that money on?! ...Okay, enough rambling from me.

Key games:
9/24 @ Colorado (This will most definitely be UCLA's first test of the season.)
10/8 vs. Utah (A conference game with HUGE implications. UCLA is now hoping to take the PAC-12 South title, but Utah is hoping for a national title shot.)
10/22 @ Oregon (The Bruins will have a bye week to prepare for this scary trip to Autzen Stadium. Oregon clipped UCLA by 3 points last year.)
11/19 vs. USC (There we go! The battle of the backstabbers! A meeting of two teams that is about to RIP THE FOUNDATION OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL APART!!
Ahem... And it should be a great 1st meeting between Lincoln Riley and Chip Kelly.)

Bottom line: Okay, I already yelled at this whole mess with UCLA too many times. Let's now focus on the 2022 season. And in 2022, UCLA will need to make their move to win the conference, what with USC busy getting their ducks in a row and Utah coming to Pasadena. The offense will do it's part, so it'll be up to the defense to make UCLA's dreams come true.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Southern California

Preview segment: The USC Trojans

Last season: Just know that Clay Helton was finally fired, the interim head coach couldn't do anything, and USC went 4-8. And that's why they swung for the fences and got Lincoln Riley to leave Oklahoma and bail USC out of this mess.

Good news: Already, Lincoln Riley has given USC a clear direction and identity. Plus, Lincoln brought in a LOT of great players from the transfer portal, including QB Caleb Williams (his old QB at Oklahoma) and RB Travis Dye. The schedule is pretty kind as well.

Bad news: It's the old problem when you bring in a lot of transfers; can they all mesh together well? The defense has a lot of questions in the secondary (Who else besides Mekhi Blackmon can make an impact?) and up front (Can USC's recruits show up and perform well?).

Key games:

Old stand-by's:
9/10 @ Stanford (When Stanford stunned the Trojans last year 42-28, it was the final straw as Clay Helton was FINALLY let go after the loss.)
11/19 @ UCLA (See my previous post.)
11/26 vs. Notre Dame (USC has lost 5 of their last 6 meetings with the Fighting Irish. Obviously, that's something else that Lincoln Riley has to fix soon.)
Other big games:
9/24 @ Oregon State (USC actually lost at home to Oregon State last year. Scary, isn't it? Scarier now... Oregon State is starting to dream of winning a PAC-12 title!)
10/15 @ Utah (When USC hired Riley, they believed that he can get them back to PAC-12 title contention right away. Is that a dream or is it reality? This BIG game in Salt Lake City will give us the answer.)

Bottom line: UCLA moving away from the PAC-12 to pay off their big debt... I don't like it, but it's understandable. USC moving away, I REALLY don't get. They already got all the publicity they needed when they hired Riley; why make things super uncomfortable with their plans to- What? My mike's still on? Oops, sorry!
...Anyway, USC is excited, and understandably so. But the fact is, 2022 should be seen as the year when the new head coach installs his culture and philosophy, so I don't see USC doing anything big on the football field this year. Unless, of course, all of these transfers play up to their potential.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Arizona

Preview segment: The Arizona Wildcats

Last season: A miserable 1-11. Now Arizona has gone 1-17 over their last two seasons. But, hey! At least things are already a lot better over here!

Good news: Why, you ask? Arizona shocked a LOT of people with their recruiting class; what a great amount of new players we have! Plus, they landed QB Jayden de Laura (the former QB at Washington State) from the transfer portal! AND the D-line is the strongest Arizona has had in years!

Bad news: Wait. About HALF of Arizona's rosters are newcomers? It MAY take a while for all of them to mesh properly. Oh, and the O-line is still a worrisome place.

Key games:
9/3 @ San Diego State (A tricky opener for the Wildcats; not only are the Aztecs opening up their new stadium here, but SDSU beat the Aztecs last year.)
9/10 vs. Mississippi State (Ouch! Mississippi State's "Air Raid" attack is hard to stop, but at least the game's at home! And Arizona should at least defeat their FCS opponent THIS time!)
9/17 vs. North Dakota State (Wait. THESE guys?! Uff da. Uh, I forgot... HOW many FBS opponents have NDSU defeated in a row?)
10/1 vs. Colorado (This PAC-12 game looks winnable.)
11/25 vs. Arizona State (...Just know that Arizona has lost their last 5 meetings in this rivalry series.)

Bottom line: Jedd Flech and his team are riding a wave of optimism entering the 2022 season, what with all of the great new players they have. But the non-conference slate is BRUTAL, and the PAC-12 slate is no better. Oh, Arizona WILL be a better team than they were in 2020 and 2021, but 3 to 4 wins may be all they get this year.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Arizona State

Preview segment: The Arizona State Sun Devils

Last season: It started out so well for Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils as they started 5-1. But then the offense started to struggle, and ASU went 3-4 the rest of the way. For a guy that predicted Arizona State to win the PAC-12 South two years in a row, I'm kinda disappointed. But that could pale in comparison to what happens THIS year.

Good news: RB Xazavian Valladay came in from the transfer portal, and he should make an immediate difference. Also coming in is QB Emory Jones, who has the dual-purpose talent to thrive in the PAC-12.

Bad news: ASU is returning 7 starters TOTAL from last year, no doubt because of the NCAA investigation (more on that later) against ASU. Plus, Emory Jones was VERY hit-or-miss as a starter for Florida, so he'll have to prove himself.

2022 X-factor: The NCAA investigation- One of the side-effects of all of these NIL deals is that schools in the FBS can't really get in trouble with the NCAA anymore. Therefore, major schools would have to try VERY hard to piss off the NCAA.
But Arizona State was able to do it! Allegedly, they were hosting recruits during the COVID dead-period of recruiting. This has resulted in a HUGE staff shakeup, and (as you would expect) a LOT of players transferring out of the program. In Athlon Sports' CFB preview magazine, anonymous coaches are saying that "ASU is the biggest dumpster fire in college football, and it'll explode; we just don't know when". Quite a mess, to say the very least.

Key games:
9/10 @ Oklahoma State (Sooner or later, ASU will have to put aside these legal troubles and play football. And this game will be a BIG test for them and their new defense.)
9/24 vs. Utah (When ASU was 5-1, Utah punched them out 35-21. The Sun Devils were never the same after that.)
10/8 vs. Washington (Washington is rebuilding, so this PAC-12 games looks winnable for ASU.)
11/25 @ Arizona (The "Territorial Cup" game is always a draw on the west coast. Hopefully, Herm Edwards will be around to see it this year.)

Bottom line: It's official. After 2 years of supporting Arizona State in their quest for the PAC-12 title, I'm abandoning ship. If the NCAA doesn't strike down ASU this season, then the lack of talent and returning experience will. The Sun Devils might have enough to go bowling, but there are too many variables saying that they'll crash and burn.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Washington

Preview segment: The Washington Huskies

Last season: Well, the Jimmy Lake experiment was a bust, now wasn't it? In 2021, Washington's offense was beyond putrid, and that resulted in a 4-8 record. That included a loss to Montana and their first loss in the "Apple Cup" since 2012.
So after that disaster, Kalen DeBoer is coming in from Fresno State to try to revive the Washington program.

Good news: The defense might not have a lot of starting players, but it still has a LOT of talent. Watch for Zion Tupuola-Fetui to rejuvenate the Washington pass-rush.

Bad news: Questions will remain on the offensive front until people like Jaxson Kirkland and transfer QB Michael Penix Jr. can mesh together quickly.

Key games:
9/17 vs. Michigan State (These teams are meeting each other for the first time since the 1997 Aloha Bowl. Washington's new offense will be sorely tested here.)
10/1 @ UCLA (This is Washington's first road game of the season, and it's gonna be a tough one.)
11/4 vs. Oregon State (If the Huskies want ANY shot at the PAC-12 North title this season, they need to do well against the Beavers...)
11/12 @ Oregon (...and ESPECIALLY against the rival Ducks.)
11/26 @ Washington State (Did I already mention that Washington recently lost in the "Apple Cup" for the first time since 2012?)

Bottom line: Washington needed to hit the reset button, and they did that by hiring DeBoer as head coach. With the promise of a better offense, the Huskies should return to the postseason in 2022. Anything beyond that, though, will hinge on a young team performing well beyond their years.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Washington State

Preview segment: The Washington State Cougars

Last season: Kyle Whittingham won the PAC-12 Coach of the Year award in 2021. No surprise there. But I'll bet that Jake Dickert was a close 2nd! After Washington State released Nick Rolovich (who refused to get vaccinated for COVID even after a state-wide mandate took effort), Dickert had to step in... and he kept the team together! They even got a Sun Bowl berth and a rare win in the "Apple Cup".
So the big question left is "What can Dickert and his staff do now for an encore?".

Good news: The front-7 of the defense looks very sturdy, and the wide-receivers will be dangerous. QB Cameron Ward comes in from the FCS level, and he could be the catalyst for WSU's new version of their "Air Raid" offense.

Bad news: I said COULD, because the O-line did a lot of shuffling in the spring. And if Cameron goes down, all of his back-ups are freshmen. The secondary is a question mark as well.

Key games:
9/10 @ Wisconsin (A big early barometer for the Cougars in 2022. Can their defense stop Wisconsin's proud running attack, and can the Cougars O-line stand tall long enough for Cameron Ward to do his thing?)
9/24 vs. Oregon (You know, Washington State actually finished in 2nd place in the PAC-12 North last year. If Oregon is not prepared, the Cougars could take an early lead in the North division race.)
10/29 vs. Utah (Another big home game for the Cougars. Utah has won the last 3 meetings.)
11/19 @ Arizona (I normally wouldn't give a WSU/Arizona game the light of day. But two things stand out BIG time about this meeting. #1: Jayden de Laura used to be Washington State's QB... and now he's at Arizona. And #2, the Cougars has this game...)
11/26 vs. Washington (...right before the "Apple Cup" where they'll be defending it for the first time in ages.)

Bottom line: The tail-end of WSU's 2021 season was great to see, but now it's time to find out if Jake Dickert and his team can do it over a full 12-game season. The defense looks ready, but the offense is going through a LOT of changes. If it stumbles (and it might with that young O-line), Washington State could be looking at a last-place finish in the PAC-12 North this year.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Oregon

Preview segment: The Oregon Ducks

Last season: Things were going so well for Mario Cristobal and the Oregon Ducks in 2021; they started the year with a road win at Ohio State and would roll to a 9-1 start and the #3 spot in the playoff rankings. Then, the Utah Utes happened to them. Yep, Utah outclassed the Ducks 2 straight times [one of them was in the PAC-12 title game].
Fast forward to mid-January. Cristobal had left to coach the Miami Hurricanes, and Oregon was introducing Dan Lanning as their new head man. And Dan is hoping that his experience as an assistant will be enough to get Oregon back as a national title contender.

Good news: Oregon's O-line should be AWESOME, as all of it's starters are back (again). Great young talent should emerge at the skill positions (RB and WR), as well as at linebacker (Justin Flowe comes to mind right away).

Bad news: The secondary could be the team's biggest weakness; a LOT of youngsters will have to step up here.

2022 X-factor: Quarterback- Yep, we got another team hoping for a happy solution at the QB spot. Bo Nix (formerly from Auburn) is considered the frontrunner, but Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield are not out of the race yet!
...Let's just hope that whoever wins the starting QB job can spark the passing game; the last 2 starting QB's Oregon had weren't exactly fan favorites in Eugene.

Key games:
9/3 vs. Georgia [in Atlanta, GA] (Oregon's first game in the Dan Lanning era? A neutral-site game where Dan will face his former team [who he helped lead to a national title last year]. Nationally-televised season openers are a bitch, aren't they?)
9/17 vs. BYU (Another tough contest awaits the Ducks as they face a confident BYU team. But at least this game's in Eugene!)
10/22 vs. UCLA (Only 2 points separated these teams last year. The Ducks might wanna be careful.)
11/19 vs. Utah (It's time for Oregon to get revenge against the Utes! ...But they can't get too crazy, because A: Oregon might face Utah again in the PAC-12 title game.)
11/26 @ Oregon State (And B: Oregon must visit their arch-rivals right afterwards. The PAC-12 North title could be on the line if the Beavers are rolling.)

Bottom line: Dan Lanning is in a pretty good spot to get some instant success as a head coach; Oregon has a LOT of great pieces that should make it easy for the Ducks to hold on to the PAC-12 North title. But if they wanna reemerge as a national title contender, the QB spot HAS to get going and the secondary must somehow hold things together.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Oregon State

Preview segment: The Oregon State Beavers

Last season: Let's ignore what happened in that L.A. Bowl against Utah State. Just the fact that Oregon State was IN a bowl game for the first time in 8 years made the 2021 season a success for them. Now Jonathan Smith and his team has the chance to take advantage of a favorable hand to challenge for the PAC-12 North title.

Good news: Strong line-play has been a hallmark of Jonathan Smith's OSU teams, and it should be the same again this year; the D-line in particular looks NASTY. Oh, and Chance Nolan is still here as the Beavers' starting QB. In total, 17 starters from last year's team are back.

Bad news: The coaching staff needs to find Nolan some help at the RB and WR positions, and quick! And like their in-state rivals Oregon, the Beavers has some worries in the secondary.

Key games:
9/3 vs. Boise State, and 9/10 @ Fresno State (One thing Oregon State hasn't done well in recent times is getting a season off on the right foot [they haven't won a season opener since 2015]. Both Boise State and Fresno State look tough, but OSU should be able to take care of them.
But if they lost BOTH of these games...)
9/24 vs. USC (Another reason why 2021 was such a good year for the Beavers: They got a rare win over the Trojans! Can they do it again at home?)
10/1 @ Utah (Ooof. This might be the toughest game the Beavers will have all season.)
11/25 vs. Oregon (Wait. This game is no longer being called the "Civil War"?! ...Oh well, this should still have a bearing on who wins the North division.)

Bottom line: You know, this might be one of the most complete teams that Oregon State has ever had! Plus, most of the North division is down; Oregon and Washington are breaking in new coaches, and Stanford is in a rut. If the Beavers find some new stars at RB and WR, they'll be Oregon's biggest challenger for the PAC-12 North in 2022.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Utah

Preview segment: The Utah Utes

Last season: Utah was in a bad way entering PAC-12 play in 2021. They had lost to BYU, they just lost to San Diego State, and they were still mourning the loss of 2 of their teammates in the offseason.
But the team was still united. So thanks to that and a emergence of stars on offense, Utah would win the PAC-12 championship for the first time ever. AND they gave Ohio State everything they wanted in that awesome Rose Bowl! Now I'm starting to buy Utah as a playoff contender in 2022. And guess what? I'm not the only one this time!

Good news: Those stars I mentioned on offense? They are QB Cameron Rising and RB Tavion Thomas, and they are back for another run. The O-line looks strong as well, and so does the secondary.

Bad news: Utah might have playmakers on the defensive line, but replacing people like Nephi Sewell and Devin Lloyd still won't be easy to do.

Key games:
9/3 @ Florida (This is Utah's biggest season-opener in a long, long, LONG time. The Utes are facing a SEC team in the regular season for the first time since 1984, and if they win it'll be a BIG boost for their playoff chances. If they LOSE, however, it's not gonna look good for the PAC-12.)
10/1 vs. Oregon State (October will be a busy month for the Utes. First, they'll host the team that gave them their only conference loss of the 2021 season.)
10/8 @ UCLA (Then, they'll visit a determined UCLA team that wants to take away their PAC-12 South title.)
10/15 vs. USC (And then for the topper, it's Kyle Whittingham's first-ever meeting against Lincoln Riley. Don't forget, last year Utah defeated USC AT USC... for the first time since 1916! The Trojans are NOT gonna let that slide.)
11/19 @ Oregon (Great. ANOTHER tough assignment for the Utes, as they'll visit the team they embarrassed TWICE last year.)

Bottom line: I believe in Utah. I believe that the defense will hold up with some new stars on the D-line. I believe that the offense will have another fun year with Cameron and Tavion running the show. And yes, the schedule looks rough, but it comes with the territory of being a playoff contender. Utah should cruise to a repeat PAC-12 title, and if they defeat Florida in their opener...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Colorado

Preview segment: The Colorado Buffaloes

Last season: Such a shame. After seeing signs of life in 2020, we thought that Colorado might become a dark-horse contender in the PAC-12. But thanks to one of the worst offenses in the country (and maybe the worst offense in SCHOOL HISTORY), Colorado never got going. And it ended with them going 4-8.
Now Colorado is in a sadly-familiar spot: Looking up at everyone else in the PAC-12 South.

Good news: The Buffaloes defense looks good, with the D-line being particularly strong.

Bad news: A heavy amount of transfers are being counted on to fix that putrid offense.

Key games:
9/2 vs. TCU (Another strike against Colorado in 2022 is one of the hardest non-conference slates in the country. After this season opener against the Horned Frogs, the Buffaloes must go to Air Force.)
9/17 @ Minnesota (And then, Colorado visits a Minnesota team that smacked them last year 30-0.)
10/15 vs. California (This conference game looks winnable.)
11/26 vs. Utah (On one hand, Colorado should have their offense going by the time this rivalry game happens again. But on the other hand, Utah could be rolling towards a playoff berth at this time.)

Bottom line: So, what sort of team will Karl Dorrell and his coaching staff give us this year. The team that surprised a few people in 2020? Or the boring, no fun mess that struggled last year? Unless the offense gives us a monster turnaround, expect Colorado to finish in a familiar spot in the PAC-12 South: Dead last.

 

[Duckboy33]

PAC 12 Projections:

North:
1. Oregon
2. Washington
3. Oregon State
4. Washington State
5. California
6. Stanford

South:
1. Utah
2. USC
3. UCLA
4. Arizona State
5. Arizona
6. Colorado

Utah over Oregon in the PAC 12 CG

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Stanford

Preview segment: The Stanford Cardinal

Last season: Man, Stanford football really IS in a rut right now. And not just because they just finished their 3rd straight losing campaign. No, it's because when Stanford was hosting Oregon, coach David Shaw didn't rely on his team to upset the Ducks. Nope, instead he did something he NEVER thought he would ever do: He sold his soul to the Devil.
And after Stanford stunned Oregon, they lost their final 7 games (and scored a combined 59 points over the last 5). Can Stanford get out of their funk?

Good news: During last season, QB Tanner McKee started to show some awesome skills. So imagine what could happen to the Stanford offense if he continues to improve! The wide-receiver group looks great, and CB Kyu Blu Kelly is easily the best player on the Stanford defense.

Bad news: Stanford's top 2 running backs from a year ago left via the transfer portal, and the defensive line could be a HUGE liability.

2022 X-factor: The offensive line- Stanford's O-line was awful last year, but it returns mostly intact for 2022. Let's all hope that this unit will get much better, because if it doesn't Tanner McGee won't get to do much of anything.

Key games:
9/10 vs. USC (A QB duel between Tanner McGee and Caleb Williams? I'm in!)
10/1 @ Oregon (Oh boy. This will be a revenge game for Oregon, so Stanford's line play has to be on point here.)
11/5 vs. Washington State (A swing game for Stanford's postseason chances.)
11/19 @ California (The Golden Bears has the "Stanford Ax" again for the 2nd time in 3 years. Stanford MUST try to fix that problem.)

Bottom line: Stanford also has road games against UCLA, Notre Dame, and Utah?! Man, oh man! David Shaw has to flex his coaching muscles in 2022 and get the Cardinal back to the postseason. And he'll have the offensive talent to do it.
But if Stanford can't do it, Shaw should be on the hot seat entering 2023.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

California

The last preview segment for the PAC-12: The California Golden Bears

Last season: Okay, so Cal couldn't get to a bowl game in 2021. But there WERE some positive signs; they got better as the season went on (Cal went 4-2 after starting the year 1-5). They smashed Stanford IN Stanford. And their coach Justin Wilcox turned down the Oregon job in the offseason.

Bad news: Cal has newcomers EVERYWHERE on this team, especially on the offense (only 3 starters from last year are back). Oh, and QB Chase Garbers needs to be replaced.

Good news: The Bears have quality depth at running-back, wide-receiver, and linebacker (which could be Cal's strongest position). DE Brett Johnson is back after missing all of last year, and Jack Plummer seems to have the edge to be Cal's new starting QB.

Key games:
9/17 @ Notre Dame (A proud challenge match for the Golden Bears, who is 0-4 all time against Notre Dame.)
10/1 @ Washington State (A shootout could be likely in this game.)
10/29 vs. Oregon (If all goes well for Cal, they could be 6-1 entering this big home contest.)
11/5 @ USC (For the 2nd year in a row, Cal will play all of their in-state conference rivals in the month of November. First, they'll visit the Trojans, who they actually beat in last year's season finale.)
11/19 vs. Stanford (Then, they'll face their old rivals in Stanford before finishing with UCLA.)

Bottom line: California has a LOT of new players to bring up to speed this year. But while people are pessimistic about Stanford in 2022, Cal seems to be optimistic. If the new QB does well, the Golden Bears should make it back to the postseason.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

PAC-12 Previews

So Notre Dame gets to host BOTH Cal and Stanford this year? Maybe I should preview those guys on my next thread!
...Actually, I'm gonna wait until tomorrow to make that decision. But as for now, here are my predictions for the PAC-12:

North division:
1. Oregon (Maybe "New Year's Six")
2. Oregon State
3. Washington
4. California
5. Washington State
6. Stanford

South division:
1. Utah (Conference champs, maybe playoff)
2. UCLA
3. USC
4. Arizona State
5. Arizona
6. Colorado

And with that, the thread is all yours...

 

[trojanfan12]

Arizona State

Preview segment: The Arizona State Sun Devils

Last season: It started out so well for Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils as they started 5-1. But then the offense started to struggle, and ASU went 3-4 the rest of the way. For a guy that predicted Arizona State to win the PAC-12 South two years in a row, I'm kinda disappointed. But that could pale in comparison to what happens THIS year.

Good news: RB Xazavian Valladay came in from the transfer portal, and he should make an immediate difference. Also coming in is QB Emory Jones, who has the dual-purpose talent to thrive in the PAC-12.

Bad news: ASU is returning 7 starters TOTAL from last year, no doubt because of the NCAA investigation (more on that later) against ASU. Plus, Emory Jones was VERY hit-or-miss as a starter for Florida, so he'll have to prove himself.

2022 X-factor: The NCAA investigation- One of the side-effects of all of these NIL deals is that schools in the FBS can't really get in trouble with the NCAA anymore. Therefore, major schools would have to try VERY hard to piss off the NCAA.
But Arizona State was able to do it! Allegedly, they were hosting recruits during the COVID dead-period of recruiting. This has resulted in a HUGE staff shakeup, and (as you would expect) a LOT of players transferring out of the program. In Athlon Sports' CFB preview magazine, anonymous coaches are saying that "ASU is the biggest dumpster fire in college football, and it'll explode; we just don't know when". Quite a mess, to say the very least.

Key games:
9/10 @ Oklahoma State (Sooner or later, ASU will have to put aside these legal troubles and play football. And this game will be a BIG test for them and their new defense.)
9/24 vs. Utah (When ASU was 5-1, Utah punched them out 35-21. The Sun Devils were never the same after that.)
10/8 vs. Washington (Washington is rebuilding, so this PAC-12 games looks winnable for ASU.)
11/25 @ Arizona (The "Territorial Cup" game is always a draw on the west coast. Hopefully, Herm Edwards will be around to see it this year.)

Bottom line: It's official. After 2 years of supporting Arizona State in their quest for the PAC-12 title, I'm abandoning ship. If the NCAA doesn't strike down ASU this season, then the lack of talent and returning experience will. The Sun Devils might have enough to go bowling, but there are too many variables saying that they'll crash and burn.

It is going to be interesting to see what happens with ASU and the NCAA.

The only thing that has come out that I'm aware of is the hosting recruits during the covid dead period, which seem relatively minor. But with the way players and coaches are abandoning ship, it feels like there's more to the story. Maybe a lot more.

Or maybe hosting recruits during the covid dead period is bigger than I think it is.