The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: PAC 12 Predictions

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The PAC is back! The once great conference may not have heavyweight football programs like Oregon and USC, but it has some teams that are sure to bring an exciting product to the field. Last week, I took a look at each Mountain West school and made final record predictions for each team. This week, we are going to move over to the new-look PAC 12 and predict how each of its eight football playing members will perform this fall. Let’s take a look.

The Good (Bowl Eligible)

Boise State (10-2, 6-1 in the PAC 12)

The Broncos are the early favorites and understandably so. The Broncos return third-year starter Maddux Madsen and have the deepest backfield in the conference. However, this team is far from perfect and there is the potential for one of the teams below to take the top spot. The Broncos lack experience on the defensive side of the ball, where they will be relying heavily on new talent in the secondary and on the defensive line. This team is talented and the coaching staff seems optimistic, but there are some concerns as to how this team will gel early in the season with their first two games against Oregon and Memphis.

San Diego State (8-4, 5-2 in the PAC 12)

The Aztecs are coming off of a season where they showed significant improvement. They will be solid in the trenches and should have one of the best rushing attacks in the West. However, there are still concerns at the quarterback position and a tough out-of-conference schedule that features UCLA and James Madison leaves some room for concern. If the Aztecs can win three or four of their OOC games, they should be among the favorites for a spot in the playoff.

Washington State (8-4, 5-2 in the PAC 12)

The Cougars have a new coaching staff and a lot of new faces. But I am a Kirby Moore believer and I think Washington State has a solid chance to compete for a conference championship. The acquisition of UC Davis transfer quarterback Caden Pinnick was one of the biggest transfer portal moves in the conference. I do have some concerns on the defensive side of the ball, but I think the Cougars could have a really good football team this season.

Fresno State (7-5, 4-3 in the PAC 12)

Matt Entz looks like he is getting this program back on track. This team showed flashes of greatness last fall, but inconsistency at the quarterback position and running the ball kept the Bulldogs from reaching their full potential. I think the Bulldogs will continue to make steps in the right direction, but I think they are a year away from contending for a title.

Oregon State (6-6, 3-4 in the PAC 12)

This team has too much talent to repeat the catastrophic season they had last fall, but it is hard to predict how this year will go with a new coach and an inexperienced roster. New head coach JaMarcus Shepherd knows what it takes to win on the biggest stage and made some impressive moves in the transfer portal. As a result, I expect the Beavers to return to a bowl game, but they aren’t quite ready to contend with the Boise State’s of the world.

Utah State (6-6, 3-4 in the PAC 12)

I’m not going to lie, I’m concerned about this team and I think losing Bryson Barnes isn’t being talked about enough. However, I do believe that Bronco Mendenhall is arguably the best coach in the conference and a losing season isn’t likely. But when you look at this roster, they just don’t have the talent of many of the teams listed above. Can a returning McCae Hillstead be one of the top quarterbacks in the conference? I have my doubts.

The Bad

Colorado State (4-8, 2-5 in the PAC 12)

Jim Mora Jr. is a good football coach, but he inherited a program that was in shambles after the in-season firing of former head coach Jay Norvell. The Rams have a tough schedule and are relying on transfers (many that followed Mora Jr. from Connecticut), which is a gamble. As a result, I expect the Rams to finish near the bottom of the PAC 12 in their first year in the conference. Don’t give up on Mora Jr., though. He will eventually get this program heading in the right direction.

The Ugly

Texas State (3-9, 1-7 in the PAC 12)

The leap from the Sun Belt to the PAC 12 will be a rough one for the Bobcats. But don’t fret, Texas State fans. Your coaches are recruiting at a high level and have an excellent shot to make a big turnaround in 2027. The lack of consistency last season and no impact guys in the transfer portal have me a bit concerned. Someone has to finish last, and while it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bobcats won a few more games, they don’t have the resume of the teams above.

How do you feel about the prediction for your team? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos