College Football 2006: The Pac-10

While USC has dominated the Pac-10 in recent years, the Trojans, despite tons of blue-chip talent, will be hard-pressed to keep hold of the conference title this season.

The Trojans have young up-and-coming talent all through the roster, but to expect a team to lose Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Dominique Byrd and Deuce Lutui and not be affected by it is nonsense.

The main challenger to the USC throne is California. Head coach Jeff Tedford has a loaded squad that may be his best, as far as offensive and defensive balance goes, in his tenure. If the Golden Bears can find a quarterback to run new offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar's spread option offense, this could be the year the Trojans are dethroned in the Pac-10.

Overall, the conference seems to be a little weaker than in past seasons. Question marks abound with every team, even the favorites. And as we all know, defense in the conference has been almost non-existent.

Cal and USC appear to be the most balanced, but Arizona State and Oregon could challenge as well. Also, UCLA could be a darkhorse if the defense can improve. Here is a look at the Pac-10 for 2006.

Pac-10 Standings:

1. California - The Golden Bears have been breathing down the neck of USC since the arrival of Jeff Tedford and this could be the year California finally catches up. Running backs Marshawn Lynch (1,246 yards, 10 TDs) and Justin Forsett (999 yards, six touchdowns) return to lead on offense that averaged 33 ppg last season. Throw into the mix the return of Cal's top four receivers and you can see why Golden Bear fans are optimistic for 2006. The offensive line lost three starters, but redshirt sophomore Mike Tepper is the real deal at tackle. The defense returns seven starters, including all-conference linebacker Desmond Bishop and DT Brandon Mebane. The loss of CB Tim Mixon to a knee injury hurts, but the one big question mark rests at quarterback where inconsistent starter Joe Ayoob is battling sophomore Nate Longshore. If either can become a reliable quarterback, Cal will be in a BCS bowl.

2. USC - The Trojans have gone 54-10 in five years under Pete Carroll, including a 12-1 mark last year that ended in the loss to Texas for the national championship. And while SC is still a top ten team, too much has been lost to be considered a serious national title contender. The offense will be led by John David Booty, who has the unenviable task of replacing Leinart. One thing in his favor is the receiving combo of Dwayne Jarrett (91-1,274-16) and Steve Smith (60-957-5), the best in the Pac-10. The offensive line returns studs in LT Sam Baker and C Ryan Kalil, but the running game is a huge question mark with four freshman and a converted linebacker (Ryan Powdrell) in the mix. The defense returns only five starters, but one of them is all-conference DE Lawrence Jackson. MLB Rey Maualuga is a future star. USC is still talented, but all the losses will catch up to them this season.

3. Arizona State - Nine starters return on an offensive unit that averaged 37 ppg in 2006. Sophomore Rudy Carpenter (2,165, 17 TDs, two picks) won the quarterback job from Sam Keller in a heated, much publicized battle. Keller left school and is headed to Nebraska because of it. Despite the loss of Derek Hagan, Carpenter still has Mackey candidate Zach Miller and wideout Rudy Burgess to throw to. Keegan Herring (870 yards) returns at tailback. The defense was the Achilles' Heel of the Sun Devils last season and will look to improve with the addition of three transfers: DE Tranell Morant from Florida; DT Michael Marquardt from BYU and DE Loren Howard from Northwestern.

4. Oregon - Head coach Mike Belotti and his Ducks must replace the loss of QB Kellen Clemens and big DT Haloti Ngata, tough tasks indeed. Dennis Dixon gets the first crack at starting QB and he'll have returning starters James Finley (57-571) and Cameron Colvin to throw to. Promising sophomores Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson will run behind an offensive line that returns all five starters. The Oregon defense returns six starters from a unit that led the Pac-10 in 2005, but the loss of Ngata, the run stuffing bull, will be hard to replace. David Faaeteete gets the chance. A tough schedule has Oregon facing USC, Cal and Arizona State on the road.

5. UCLA - The Bruins could be the surprise of the conference if it can shore up a defense that gave up and amazing 232 ypg on the ground! UCLA lost offensive stalwarts Drew Olson, Maurice Drew and Marcedes Lewis to the pros, but the Bruins have athletic replacements at the skill positions, starting with Chris Markey (561 yards) and Kahlil Bell (310 yards) at tailback. Ben Olson is a 23-year old redshirt sophomore who was the top high school QB in the nation back in 2001 and five of the top six receivers are back. The rebuilding of the defense started in the winter when Dewayne Walker was hired away from the Redskins. He brings a no-nonsense, blitzing style to the Bruins attack. If the defense, which is strong in the secondary, can get any kind of solid play from its front seven, UCLA could be a force in the Pac-10 for 2006.

6. Arizona - The Wildcats return 16 starters and look to improve greatly from last seasons 3-8 mark. The key to Arizona's success starts with signal caller Willie Tuitama. The sophomore took over the starting job in the final month of the season and passed for 1,105 yards and nine scores, while leading the Wildcats to a 2-2 mark. Mike Thomas (52-771-5)returns as Tuitama's favorite target. The big question mark on offense is at running back. Mike Bell and Gilbert Harris have graduated and no clear-cut starter emerged in the spring. The defense should be better as nine starters are back. If Tuitama improves from last season and the 'Cats develop a running game, Arizona and coach Mike Stoops could be going bowling.

7. Oregon State - The Beavers are the Jekyll and Hyde of the conference. Head coach Mike Riley has the talent to finish high in the Pac-10 and earn a bowl berth, but his team plays way under their talent level at critical times. Nine starters return on offense, including top running back Yvenson Bernard (1,321 yards, 13 TDs). Mike Hass is gone, but Anthony Wheat-Brown (40-400-3) is more than ready to step up into the number one receiver role. The big problem is the inconsistency of starting QB Matt Moore. The former UCLA Bruin threw for 2,711 yards and 11 TDs last season, while completing nearly 60 percent of his passes. On the downside to those stats was the 19 interceptions he threw. That inconsistency caused the Beavers to drop four of their last five games and finish 5-6. The defense has some problems, especially in the secondary, but the real key to the season is the play of Moore.

8. Stanford - Trent Edwards (1,934 yards, 17 TDs) is one of the top returning quarterbacks in the Pac-10, but he has trouble staying healthy, which causes head coach Walt Harris to have nightmares. Even though the Cardinal return 10 starters on offense, the running game was non-existent (92 ypg) last season and throughout spring practice, Harris had most of the offensive positions open to competition. The defensive picture is even less promising and it should be another long season for Harris and Stanford. Edwards is the only reason the Cardinal will stay in games.

9. Washington State - The Cougars can match offensive output with anybody and head coach Bill Doba will have to have those kind of shootouts if he wants his team to earn victories in 2006. Pass, pass, pass will be the buzzword in Pullman as Alex Brink (2,891 yards, 24 TDs) is back throwing to wideout Jason Hill (62-1,097-13) once again. Jerome Harrison took his 1,900 yards rushing to the pros so Doba is going with a running back by committee approach. The defense, despite seven returning starters, was atrocious last season, giving up 32 ppg, and allowing 289 yards passing a game.

10. Washington - It will be another long year for Huskie fans as Ty Willingham has to work with a spotty quarterback in Isaiah Stanback, a rebuilt offensive line and the transfer of deep threat wide receiver Craig Chambers. The defense gets back eight starters, but they accounted for only 17 turnovers last season, worst in the Pac-10, and the secondary gave up 276 yards through the air. Ouch!


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