Washington, Stanford top the Star's Week 1 Pac-12 power rankings

Star's four-man crew likes Washington, Stanford

The favorite to win the Pac-12 this year is no secret. Washington returns the conference's most experienced quarterback and one of the country's premier defenses.

Which team — if any — can compete with the Huskies remains in question.

Every week this college football season, the Star's panel of Ryan Finley, Michael Lev, Justin Spears and Dominic Baciocco will vote to establish the Pac-12 power rankings. Baciocco will compile the votes and hash out the weekly rankings. 

Bear with us while we attempt to sort through a plethora of quarterback talent, a handful of first-year coaches and two perennial Heisman contenders:

1. Washington Huskies

Last year: Second in Pac-12 North, lost in Fiesta Bowl (10-3, 7-2 Pac-12)

This week: at No. 9 Auburn (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta), 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Analysis: Jake Browning wasn't flashy in 2017, finishing eighth in the Pac-12 in passing yards per game. Granted, his accuracy was off the charts and he enters 2018 with three years of starter's experience under his belt. It's safe to say Browning is poised to be one of the league's best signal-callers as a senior, to go along with one of the nation's most potent defensive fronts. The Huskies return nine starters from a defense that led the Pac-12 a year ago. Washington is the conference's best chance at a spot in the College Football Playoff this year.

2. Stanford Cardinal

Last year: First in Pac-12 North, lost in Alamo Bowl (9-5, 7-2 Pac-12)

This week: San Diego State, 6 p.m. Friday

Analysis: Stanford features the conference's top Heisman contender in senior running back Bryce Love. He's plenty enough to justify the Cardinal holding down the No. 2 spot in this week's rankings. Love broke out for 2,118 yards to lead the Pac-12 during his junior season. He added 19 touchdowns, good for second in the conference only to Washington's Myles Gaskin (21). While K.J. Costello was the team's third-string quarterback a year ago, the junior enters 2018 as the starter after helping lead Stanford to the Pac-12 title game. If the Cardinal defense can rev up the pressure, the north could quickly become a two-horse race.

3. USC Trojans

Last year: First in Pac-12 South, lost in Cotton Bowl (11-3, 8-1 Pac-12)

This week: UNLV, 1 p.m. Saturday

Analysis: The good: USC finally won the Pac-12 championship when it beat Stanford in last year's title game. The bad: The Trojans lost quarterback and No. 3 NFL draft pick Sam Darnold, and will roll out true freshman JT Daniels in Week 1. Daniels has massive upside — the five-star prospect was Gatorade National Player of the Year before reclassifying to play in 2018. But Daniels is just 18 years old and might get a good pop or two come Pac-12 play. Daniels will be the first true freshman to start at USC since fellow Mater Dei High School grad Matt Barkley in 2009. The Trojans' offensive line is made up mostly of returning seniors, so Daniels should be able to stay upright and get his feet wet against UNLV before heading off to play at Stanford and at Texas. Hang on: It might be one of those up-and-down years in Los Angeles.

4. Oregon Ducks

Last year: Fourth in Pac-12 North, lost in Las Vegas Bowl (7-6, 4-5 Pac-12)

This week: Bowling Green, 5 p.m. Saturday

Analysis: First-year head coach Mario Cristobal is no stranger to the Ducks' offense. He was Willie Taggart's offensive coordinator before Taggart left for the head gig at Florida State in the offseason. Because of his familiarity with the roster, Cristobal should have Oregon and junior quarterback Justin Herbert clicking out of the gate. A big question mark on offense, though, is who will back up Herbert, who missed five games last year with a shoulder injury. The Ducks were 6-2 in games Herbert started — and just 1-4 without him. This year's Ducks could very well go only as far as their junior QB brings them. Luckily for Cristobal and Herbert, the Oregon offensive line is ripe with experience and should be one of the better fronts in the conference.

5. Utah Utes

Last year: Fifth in Pac-12 South, won Heart of Dallas Bowl (7-6, 3-6 Pac-12)

This week: Weber State, 5 p.m. Thursday

Analysis: Coach Kyle Whittingham's challenge to second-year starter Tyler Huntley was simple: Don't get hit. The Utes surrendered the fourth most sacks in the Pac-12 a year ago, with their signal caller getting taken down 38 times in 13 games. Still, Wittingham is pleased with how his junior quarterback has progressed. “He’s playing with more confidence," Wittingham said during Tuesday's Pac-12 coaches conference call. "He’s making better decisions. He’s really just improved every facet of his game." That's bad news for the rest of the Pac-12. Utah had to replace four starters on the offensive line and from the sound of it, that might not be such a bad thing.

6. Arizona Wildcats

Last year: Third in Pac-12 South, lost in Foster Farms Bowl (7-6, 5-4 Pac-12)

This week: BYU, 7:45 p.m. Saturday

Analysis: The offensive line will remain in flux at least until senior Layth Friekh returns in Week 3. Cody Creason will hold down the fort until then, as the Wildcats' only other lineman with any real starting experience. The line is certainly a concern, as it will be pegged with perhaps the most important — and at times perplexing — jobs in the Pac-12: keeping Khalil Tate upright. Creason talked about that challenge on Tuesday: "It doesn't really matter who the quarterback is, you always want to protect him. But having a player like Khalil ... it definitely puts a little extra emphasis on, like, you better not let him get hit." Tate made it difficult for defenders to get a hand on him a year ago, anyway, and his quickness is the leading reason he's a Heisman Trophy candidate heading into the season. The line will have to do its job to help Tate develop as a passer, and if the young defense continues to mature, Arizona should have no problem winning more games than in 2017.

7. Cal Golden Bears

Last year: Fifth in Pac-12 North (5-7, 2-7 Pac-12)

This week: North Carolina, 1 p.m. Saturday

Analysis: If there is one program our panel can agree is poised to make a leap in the Pac-12 this year, it's Justin Wilcox's Golden Bears. Cal has had only one winning season in the past six, and Wilcox expects to make it two out of seven with newly-minted starting quarterback Ross Bowers. Wilcox talked up Bowers' development and improvement in decision-making on a conference call Tuesday. To help, Cal has the feet of senior Patrick Laird, who's a sneaky pick to threaten Love for the conference rushing title. Wilcox's team could turn some heads this year, especially with a favorable schedule including home games with Washington, Oregon and Stanford.

8. Colorado Buffaloes

Last year: Sixth in Pac-12 South (5-7, 2-7 Pac-12)

This week: at Colorado State, 6:30 p.m. Friday

Analysis: The most glaring deficiency the Buffaloes and sixth-year head coach Mike MacIntyre have is the void left by running back Phillip Lindsay. A lot of that weight will be transferred to quarterback Steven Montez, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He was also the Buffaloes' second-leading rusher behind Lindsay. Virginia Tech grad transfer Travon McMillian will take over for Lindsay. McMillian rushed for 2,153 yards in three seasons with the Hokies. In comparison, Lindsay had 1,474 on the ground last year. It'll be a void the Buffaloes should feel early and often.

9. UCLA Bruins

Last year: Fourth in Pac-12 South, lost in Cactus Bowl (6-7, 4-5 Pac-12)

This week: Cincinnati, 4 p.m. Saturday

Analysis: The Bruins' biggest addition in the offseason came on the sidelines. Chip Kelly takes over a UCLA program desperate to take the next step. But it might have to wait a little bit longer: Kelly has yet to name a starting quarterback days before the opening kickoff, and while the former Oregon coach doesn't see that as a setback, a team that ranked in the middle of the Pac-12 in offense sure could use a leader. With star quarterback Josh Rosen departed to the NFL, it's up to Kelly to quickly establish the Bruins' next QB between Devon Modster, Wilton Speight and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Good luck, coach.

10. Arizona State Sun Devils

Last year: Second in Pac-12 South, lost in Sun Bowl (7-6, 6-3 Pac-12)

This week: UTSA, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Analysis: You play to win the game, right? Unfortunately for first-year college coach Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils, it won't happen much in 2018 — if you ask our panel. It's worth noting Edwards' schedule in his first year back in the coaching business. The Sun Devils host No. 11 Michigan State in Week 2, and have to travel to Washington, USC and Oregon in Pac-12 play. That's a tall order for any team. However, ASU will get to do it with one of the conference's premier passers in Manny Wilkins. John Humphrey's season-ending Achilles' tear hurts depth a bit, but as long as Wilkins has deep threat N’Keal Harry, the Sun Devils will put up points. Edwards returns eight defensive starters, and if sophomore corner Chase Lucas can hold down the secondary, teams may find it hard to keep up.

11. Washington State Cougars

Last year: Third in Pac-12 North, lost in Holiday Bowl (9-4, 6-3 Pac-12)

This week: at Wyoming, 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Analysis: Our panel agrees: Mike Leach's Cougars will take a step back in 2018. Let's look at the reasoning. Washington State lost its leader and the league's all-time leading passer in quarterback Luke Falk, who's currently taking snaps with the Tennessee Titans. Leach also loses two starting offensive lineman and three leading tacklers, including consensus All-American Hercules Mata’afa. It seems like a rebuilding year for a team that's had three consecutive seasons of eight or more wins, ranking as high as No. 8 in the country a year ago.  Leach says four of his quarterbacks could conceivably start in Week 1. That decision may very well determine if it’s a rebuild year — or if Wazzu makes a fourth straight bowl game.

12. Oregon State Beavers

Last year: Sixth in Pac-12 North (1-11, 0-9 Pac-12)

This week: at No. 5 Ohio State, 9 a.m. Saturday

Analysis: The sports world would probably love an upset on Saturday, when the Beavers play Urban Meyer-less Ohio State. Fat chance: The Beavers, coming off another year in the Pac-12 cellar, emit few reasons for optimism. A glimmer of hope might be with newly-named starter Jake Luton. The senior started four games last year before a spine fracture cut his season short. He completed 83 of 135 passes for 853 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions in his short stint at the helm. “I think he brings some things because he has experience from last year. He worked really hard in the offseason," first-year head coach Jonathan Smith said of his quarterback. Sounds like everyone is down on Oregon State's chances expect the Beavers.