The phrase "Pac 10 dominance" and USC go hand-in-hand when it comes to football. Head coach Pete Carroll has built a football dynasty comparable to any of the great college programs of the past. Not surprisingly, the Trojans go into the season as the heavy favorite in the Pac 10 once again, boasting odds of -300 to win the league crown. No other team across the country is priced so high in their respective conference. Is it justified? Can anyone topple the Trojan-empire? Perhaps you"ll be surprised as you read our Pac 10 conference preview and project the eventual standings.
USC has won 11 or more games in seven straight seasons. Keeping that streak alive won"t be easy after losing an NCAA-high 11 players in the 2009 NFL draft. With sophomore Aaron Corp and true freshman Matt Barkley competing to replace Mark Sanchez at quarterback, look for head coach Pete Carroll (88-15 record at USC) to lean on his deep stable of tailbacks (C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight) and his Taylor Mays-led defense a little heavier in the early part of the season. If that formula works and if USC"s all-new starting linebacking corps of Michael Morgan (strongside), Chris Galippo (middle) and Malcolm Smith (weakside) is as good as Carroll thinks they are, then the Trojans will keep rolling. Oregon and California appear to have the horses to push the Trojans, though. Thanks to the return of eight starters (including quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount), first-year Oregon head coach Chip Kelly has the makings of another explosive offense. The Ducks" linebacking corps of Spencer Paysinger, Casey Matthews and Eddie Pleasant is also top-shelf. Cal has one of the best running back in the Pac-10 (Jahvid Best) and the defense returns seven starters, including all-league caliber guys in end Cameron Jordan and cornerback Syd"Quan Thompson. Oregon State has a proven head coach (Mike Riley) and a future NFL running back (Jacquizz Rodgers) and should play in an attractive bowl game, as should UCLA. Arizona coach Mike Stoops is on the hot seat after posting just one winning season in five years, while Washington hired Steve Sarkisian, one of Carroll"s right-hand men at USC, to resurrect its once-proud program.
2009 PREDICTED FINISH
1. USC
2. Oregon
3. California
4. Oregon State
5. UCLA
6. Arizona State
7. Stanford
8. Arizona
9. Washington
10. Washington State
Arizona: +3000
Arizona State: +1800
California: +450
Oregon: +450
Oregon State: +800
Stanford: +2500
UCLA: +900
USC: -300
Washington: +5000
Washington State: +5000
StatFox Steve"s Take: The race for the Pac 10 title would seem to be a foregone conclusion when you analyze the PAC 10 odds. I"d like to issue a couple thoughts of caution however. First, USC has become the betting public"s darling team, and is priced accordingly. Secondly, the Trojans face one of the more difficult conference schedules of recent memory, making trips to Washington, California, Oregon, and Arizona State. California and Oregon are next in line in the Pac 10 in terms of odds-on-favorites. Thirdly, HC Carroll loses his QB and eight defensive starters for "09. Clearly, one would have to question the value of -300. The Ducks would be a far more rewarding option, should they be fully healthy come late September.
ARIZONA WILDCATS
Where: Tucson, AZ
Head Coach: Mike Stoops, 6th year
2008 Record: 8-5 SU, 8-5 ATS
Facility: Arizona Stadium
Offense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 7
Defense: 4-3 - Starters Returning: 7
Lettermen Returning: 51
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: +15.3 (#13 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: +13.2 (#17 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 52 (#22 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 43.92 (#31 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 8-5, 19-18 (51%)
Overall ATS: 8-5, 19-16 (54%)
at Home ATS: 6-1, 11-7 (61%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 2-4, 8-9 (47%)
vs Conference ATS: 5-4, 16-11 (59%)
as Favorite ATS: 6-4, 8-9 (47%)
as Underdog ATS: 2-1, 10-7 (59%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 36.6 (16) - 21.3 (33)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 402.4 (33) - 313 (24)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 5.71 (37) - 4.97 (38)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 4.09 (65) - 4.15 (77)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 7.7 (27) - 5.81 (13)
Turnover Differential: +0.46 (30)
2009 OUTLOOK: Arizona got head coach Mike Stoops off the hot seat with a solid eight-win season, capped by a 31-21 victory over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. It was the first time the Wildcats went bowling since 1998 and with 14 starters back in the fold they"re aiming to back it up with another winning campaign. However, an offense that averaged 36.6 points per game is sure to miss quarterback Willie Tuitama and all-time leading pass catcher Mike Thomas.
OFFENSE: In two years as coordinator, Sonny Dykes has brought Arizona"s offense to another level. The unit has turned a corner, averaging 33 points per game after a dreadful showing in 2006 (17 ppg). Though seven starters return, he"ll have to add some wrinkles to keep opponents from focusing on junior running back Nic Grigsby. Replacing the productivity of Tuitama, the Las Vegas Bowl MVP who threw for more than 3,000 yards as well as 23 touchdowns with only eight interceptions, and Thomas (74 catches, 825 yards) is a monumental task. The depth chart at quarterback is led by sophomore Matt Scott, who served as Tuitama"s backup and attempted just 11 passes. Scott"s mobility could be the difference in beating out sophomore Nick Foles, a transfer from Michigan State, for the starting job. At 6-5, 235 pounds, Foles has a strong arm to go with his big frame. With Thomas gone, the Wildcats will look to wideouts Terrell Turner and Delashaun Dean and tight end Rob Gronkowski to pick up where they left off. Turner, a senior, has 93 catches the past two seasons and Dean, a junior, has 90. Gronkowski is nothing short of a beast. He had a team-high 10 touchdowns and thrives as a blocker. Up front, paving the way for Grigsby (1,153 yards, 13 touchdowns) will be seniors Blake Kerley at center, Mike Diaz at guard and Adam Grant at tackle.
DEFENSE: Seven starters return to a defense that for the most part was lights out in the second half of games, yielding only 111 points. Overall, Arizona gave up just 21.3 points per game. The front four remains intact with juniors Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore at end and senior Earl Mitchell and junior Kaniela Tuipulotu in the middle. Reed is primed to take another step forward after notching eight sacks and forcing three fumbles among his 37 tackles. Elmore had four sacks. Mitchell, a converted tight end, bolstered the run defense with 40 stops and figures to be even better with 13 games of experience under his belt. Solving the Wildcats through the air hasn"t been easy for the competition the past two years. However, their defense has picked off 31 passes and allowed only 29 passing scores. Senior cornerback Devin Ross (50 tackles, 13 pass breakups, three interceptions) anchors the secondary along with senior free safety Cam Nelson (67 tackles), who has made 25 straight starts. Redshirt freshman Trevin Wade and sophomore Robert Golden have the inside track on the other starting spots. Senior linebackers Sterling Lewis and Xavier Kelley are both capable of leading the team in tackles, and senior Vuna Tuihalamaka appears ready to make an impact. Kelley had 15 tackles in the bowl victory.
PREDICTION: The Wildcats haven"t entered a season with this much confidence since Stoops" arrival in 2004, but they"ll be hard-pressed to match last year"s victory total. The schedule doesn"t get tough until the second week of November, but they"ll need to do damage in the first two months with Pac-10 rivals California, Oregon, Arizona State and USC down the stretch.
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
Where: Tempe, AZ
Head Coach: Dennis Erickson, 3rd year
2008 Record: 5-7 SU, 4-7 ATS
Facility: Sun Devil Stadium
Offense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 6
Lettermen Returning: 46
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: +0.2 (#62 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: -0.5 (#68 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 48 (#31 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 43.33 (#33 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 5-7, 22-16 (58%)
Overall ATS: 4-7, 17-19 (47%)
at Home ATS: 2-4, 10-9 (53%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 2-3, 7-10 (41%)
vs Conference ATS: 4-5, 13-14 (48%)
as Favorite ATS: 3-2, 14-8 (64%)
as Underdog ATS: 1-5, 3-11 (21%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 22.8 (84) - 22.7 (45)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 309.4 (100) - 335.2 (44)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 4.86 (94) - 4.82 (27)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 2.9 (112) - 3.54 (28)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 6.69 (74) - 6.18 (29)
Turnover Differential: +0.42 (33)
2009 OUTLOOK: After winning 10 games and a share of the Pac-10 title in 2007, the Sun Devils took two steps back and failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in five years. A sixgame midseason losing streak, capped by a heartbreaking 27-25 loss at Oregon State, proved too much to overcome for head coach Dennis Erickson"s club. But with 13 starters back between both sides of scrimmage, plus one of the nation"s best kickers, Arizona State has what it takes to flip last year"s record around.
OFFENSE: The ground attack needs improvement and the passing game will be under the direction of a new quarterback, so the Sun Devils have their share of question marks. A year ago they excelled through the air (220.3 yards per game, 17 touchdowns) but struggled with the run (89.1, 7). Gone is 43-game starting signal-caller Rudy Carpenter, whose departure left the unit in the hands of senior Danny Sullivan. In spot duty, Sullivan was ordinary in completing 15 of 43 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. He brings good size (6-4, 226), arm strength and a firm grasp of the system. Agile sophomore Samson Szakacsy is No. 2 on the depth chart. An exciting crop of receivers is led by Chris McGaha, Kyle Williams and Kerry Taylor. The sure-handed McGaha, a senior, has 112 career catches for 1,569 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Kyle Williams (19.2 yards per catch, four touchdowns) can stretch a defense, while Taylor figures to top his 27-catch, 405- yard sophomore campaign. Senior Dimitri Nance led the team in rushing yards with 410, but that"s a number the Sun Devils would like to see double. Sophomore Ryan Bass could develop into a factor. Arizona State boasts a hefty line that"ll average 305 pounds. Senior left tackle Shawn Lauvao is a difference maker and sophomore guard Zach Schlink (6-4, 331) a likely future star.
DEFENSE: The Sun Devils played relatively well defensively with only a couple of miserable performances—a 54-20 loss at Oregon on the last Saturday of October and a 31-10 loss at Arizona in the finale. One area where improvement is necessary is the pass rush, and fortunately end Dexter Davis is back for his senior year after posting 27.5 sacks in his first three seasons, including 11 of the unit"s 21 in 2008. Tackle Lawrence Guy comes off a freshman All-American season that saw him register 44 tackles and a pair of sacks, and he stood out in the spring after adding 20 pounds of muscle. Junior Saia Falahola will start alongside Guy, while sophomore James Brooks and junior-college transfer Dean Deleone vie for the nod at left end. The linebacker corps has a good mix of veteran leaders and promising young talent. Seniors Travis Goethel (back-to-back 71- tackle seasons), Mike Nixon (team-best 90 tackles, five interceptions) and Gerald Munns represent the heart and soul of the defense. Sophomores Shelley Lyons, Oliver Aaron, Colin Parker, Derrall Anderson and Brandon Magee will all contribute. The secondary is set at cornerback but must break in new starters at safety. The keys to the pass defense are corners Omar Bolden and Terell Carr. The duo combined for 95 tackles and three picks.
PREDICTION: Avenging last year"s conference losses will determine whether or not Arizona State goes bowling. Over the last five games, the Sun Devils will face four rivals (California, USC, Oregon and Arizona) that beat them last year, along with UCLA. If they can go at least 2-3 down the stretch, a bowl invite will be in the mail.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
Where: Berkeley, CA
Head Coach: Jeff Tedford, 8th year
2008 Record: 9-4 SU, 9-4 ATS
Facility: Memorial Stadium
Offense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 7
Defense: 4-3 - Starters Returning: 8
Lettermen Returning: 53
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: +12.7 (#20 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: +12.4 (#19 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 54 (#16 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 42.92 (#41 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 9-4, 26-13 (67%)
Overall ATS: 9-4, 19-19 (50%)
at Home ATS: 7-0, 12-7 (63%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 2-4, 7-12 (37%)
vs Conference ATS: 7-2, 13-14 (48%)
as Favorite ATS: 8-3, 17-15 (53%)
as Underdog ATS: 1-1, 2-4 (33%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 32.6 (27) - 19.9 (24)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 376 (46) - 315.2 (27)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 5.87 (29) - 4.43 (9)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 5.57 (6) - 3.21 (15)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 6.2 (88) - 5.82 (15)
Turnover Differential: +1 (13)
2009 OUTLOOK: The Golden Bears are seeking an eighth straight winning season under Jeff Tedford, who has nearly twice as many wins (59) as he does losses (30) during his head coaching tenure in Berkeley. They won all seven of their home games and finished 9-4 overall, capped by a 24-17 victory over Miami (Fla.) in the Emerald Bowl. California brings back 15 starters, including a bonafide Heisman Trophy candidate in junior tailback Jahvid Best. Though he missed spring practice after undergoing foot and elbow surgeries, Best (1,826 yards from scrimmage, 16 touchdowns) is expected to be 100 percent come Sept. 5.
OFFENSE: A unit that posted an average of 32.6 points per game and produced nearly as many rushing yards (2,421) as passing yards (2,467) will be under the direction of a new coordinator in Andy Ludwig and possibly a new quarterback as well. Tedford and Ludwig, also the quarterbacks coach, didn"t think junior Kevin Riley, sophomore Brock Mansion or freshman Kevin Sweeney separated themselves during spring practice and will wait until the fall to stamp the depth chart. Of the three, Riley has the most experience with nine starts over the past two years (7-2 record). He threw for 1,360 yards and 14 touchdowns with six interceptions in 2008. Considering the uncertainty at quarterback, it"s nice to have a prolific tailback like Best as an option. He"s the returning leading rusher in the country (third in the NCAA at 131.7 yards per game). Adding to the ground attack is sophomore Shane Vereen, who gained 715 yards and scored four times. Nobody on last year"s roster caught more passes than the 29 hauled in by Nyan Boateng, who needs to step up even more as a senior. Best and Vereen had 27 catches apiece out of the backfield, but they don"t stretch defenses. That"s the job of Boateng, Verran Tucker, Alex Lagemann and Jeremy Ross. Anchoring the front five is tackle Mitchell Schwartz and guard Mark Boskovich.
DEFENSE: The Golden Bears closed last season with three strong defensive efforts and will look for the momentum to carry over thanks to the return of eight starters, including first-team All-Pac-10 senior cornerback Syd"Quan Thompson, to lead the conference"s most-talented secondary. Cal allowed just a dozen passing scores and picked off 24 errant throws. Thompson intercepted four passes and deflected 14 others, in addition to making 70 tackles. Junior Darian Hagan (56 tackles, three picks) returns to the other corner spot, and seniors Marcus Ezeff (66 stops) and Brett Johnson (43) man the safety spots. Losing all but one starter at linebacker is a concern, so the run defense can"t be expected to match last year"s numbers of 1.2 touchdowns per game and 3.2 yards per carry. Longtime defensive coordinator Bob Gregory will count on Eddie Young to lead the group not only on gamedays but also on the practice field. Young and fellow senior Devin Bishop will start on the outside, with upstart junior Mike Mohamed and sophomore Mychal Kendricks on the inside. Setting the tone up front are ends Tyson Alualu (62 tackles, six sacks) and Cameron Jordan (47, 4). Sandwiched between them is junior nose tackle Derrick Hill.
PREDICTION: Two stiff tests await Cal after it opens with three non-conference games. A trip to Eugene to take on Oregon, followed by a visit from USC, is sure to outline the Pac-10 picture. The defense has talent everywhere and as long as Best is at full strength, a repeat of last year"s 9-4 finish is more likely than not.
OREGON DUCKS
Where: Eugene, OR
Head Coach: Chip Kelly, 1st year
2008 Record: 10-3 SU, 7-6 ATS
Facility: Autzen Stadium
Offense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 5
Defense: 4-3 - Starters Returning: 5
Lettermen Returning: 43
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: +13.7 (#17 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: +15.4 (#13 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 60 (#5 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 48.25 (#2 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 10-3, 26-13 (67%)
Overall ATS: 7-6, 21-16 (57%)
at Home ATS: 3-3, 10-7 (59%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 4-3, 11-9 (55%)
vs Conference ATS: 5-4, 14-12 (54%)
as Favorite ATS: 6-4, 16-11 (59%)
as Underdog ATS: 1-2, 5-5 (50%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 41.9 (7) - 28.2 (79)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 484.8 (7) - 389.6 (83)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 6.57 (12) - 4.9 (32)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 6.22 (1) - 3.09 (12)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 7.12 (53) - 6.63 (53)
Turnover Differential: +0.38 (35)
2009 OUTLOOK: Mike Bellotti"s 14-year stint as Oregon"s head coach came to an end during the offseason when he stepped down to become the school"s athletic director. The Ducks won 116 games under Bellotti, losing 55, and made a dozen bowl appearances. Replacement-inwaiting Chip Kelly inherits a team coming off a double-digit win season and with a good deal of talent, but the loss of six players taken in the NFL draft will be felt. The offense figures to thrive, so if the defense picks up where it left off in the spring it"s sure to be a successful season in Eugene.
OFFENSE: If Oregon comes anywhere close to matching what it did last year offensively, watch out! Kelly runs the show, and his spread scheme proved impossible to stop more often than not with the two-headed monster of Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount coming out of the backfield and Jeremiah Masoli under center. The Ducks scored a whopping 545 points (41.9 per game) and racked up more than 280 yards rushing per contest. Kelly will maintain more than just a hand in the unit, and he"ll be calling Blount"s and Masoli"s numbers plenty. Blount, a senior, rushed for a school single-season record 17 touchdowns and 1,002 yards after joining the program as one of the nation"s most sought after junior-college backs. The 6-2, 240- pound bulldozer and Johnson (1,201 yards) became just the second Oregon tandem to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Nobody predicted Masoli"s emergence, and it"ll be interesting to see what he can do for an encore after passing for 13 touchdowns, rushing for 10 and earning Holiday Bowl MVP honors four months after facing a redshirt season. Junior Justin Roper, who led the Ducks to a bowl win as a freshman and started the first three games before injuring his knee, will push Masoli for playing time. Junior Jeff Maehl (39 catches) is the top wideout and senior tight end Ed Dickson is one of the nation"s best at his position. Dickson has 78 receptions over the past two seasons and his blocking skills will come in handy with the front five in a state of flux.
DEFENSE: A quick-strike offense means the defense can expect to spend more than its share of minutes on the field, and the Ducks have some concerns on the stop unit with just one returnee up front—senior left end Will Tukuafu. With a dozen sacks over the past two seasons, and not much experience alongside him, Tukuafu can expect his counterparts to get some blocking help from a tight end to keep him at bay. Building depth in all areas is one of Kelly"s goals and that"ll be easiest to achieve in a secondary led by senior free safety T.J. Ward and senior cornerback Walter Thurmond. Ward was the Ducks" leading tackler with 101, and Thurmond made 103 stops in 2007 and 66 last season while tying for the team lead in interceptions with five. Junior Talmadge Jackson appears ready to step in and start at cornerback opposite Thurmond, but replacing Patrick Chung at strong safety presents a big challenge. Coordinator Nick Aliotti will be counting on juniors Spencer Paysinger (95 tackles) and Casey Matthews (67) to lead a promising group of linebackers bolstered by the addition of junior-college standout Bryson Littlejohn.
PREDICTION: No matter who paces the sideline for the Ducks, they"ll always enjoy one of the best home-field advantages in college football. They were 5-1 at Autzen Stadium last year and some of their tougher conference rivals (USC, California and Oregon State) come calling in 2009. Kelly"s offense will make his debut season one to remember.
OREGON STATE BEAVERS
Where: Corvallis, OR
Head Coach: Mike Riley, 7th year
2008 Record: 9-4 SU, 9-4 ATS
Facility: Reser Stadium
Offense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 3
Lettermen Returning: 55
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: +7.5 (#30 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: +11.1 (#20 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 49 (#29 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 43.08 (#38 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 9-4, 28-12 (70%)
Overall ATS: 9-4, 24-14 (63%)
at Home ATS: 4-2, 11-6 (65%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 5-2, 13-8 (62%)
vs Conference ATS: 6-3, 17-10 (63%)
as Favorite ATS: 6-3, 15-7 (68%)
as Underdog ATS: 3-1, 9-7 (56%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 30.5 (32) - 23.1 (47)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 407.1 (30) - 312.2 (23)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 5.66 (45) - 5.02 (44)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 4.22 (58) - 3.76 (46)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 7.23 (43) - 6.64 (56)
Turnover Differential: +0.08 (59)
2009 OUTLOOK: For the second year in a row, Oregon State closed as one of the nation"s hottest teams by winning seven of its last eight to finish 9- 4. The Beavers pulled a huge upset of then- No. 1 USC on the last Saturday of September and capped the year off by taking a puzzling all-defensive Sun Bowl, 3-0, over Pittsburgh. Oregon State, 5-0 in bowls under head coach Mike Riley, can be successful again but needs some non-starters from a year ago to step up and reinforce a defense returning only a handful of experienced players.
OFFENSE: There"s no doubt Corvallis is Mr. Rodgers" neighborhood. That"s brothers James and Jacquizz Rodgers, of course, the Beavers" dynamic offensive duo who gave opponents plenty of reason to sweat. They accounted for 2,515 yards (Jacquizz had 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite missing the bowl game due to injury). Jacquizz Rodgers is coming off one of the best freshman seasons in conference history. He missed nearly three full games with a shoulder injury, yet still became the Pac-10"s all-time leading freshman rusher with 1,253 yards. He proved ready for primetime in just his fourth collegiate game, rushing for 186 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-21 win over the Trojans. James Rodgers, a junior triple-threat coming off a broken collarbone, had 51 receptions for 607 yards and four scores, 46 carries for 408 yards and five touchdowns and 818 yards and a touchdown on kickoff returns. Junior Darrell Catchings figures to start at wideout opposite the elder Rodgers, and senior tight ends Howard Croom and John Reese could see more passes thrown their way. The Beavers boast a pair of experienced quarterbacks in seniors Lyle Moevao (11-4 record in 15 career starts) and Sean Canfield (7-4). Moevao got the bulk of the action a year ago and was solid in throwing for 2,534 yards and 19 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. Senior Gregg Peat, junior Alex Linnenkohl and sophomore Mike Remmers return to an offensive line that permitted only 21 sacks.
DEFENSE: For a second straight year the Beavers closed with a monster defensive effort. In 2007 they held Maryland to 19 yards on the ground in the Emerald Bowl victory. And on New Year"s Eve in 2008, Oregon State held Pittsburgh to 89 yards passing. Coordinator Mark Banker finds himself in a familiar spot—only three starters return. He"ll look to incumbents Keaton Kristick, Keith Pankey and Stephen Paea for production and leadership and will rotate a lot of bodies to keep the Beavers fresh late in games. Kristick, a senior, could be one of the top linebackers in the Pac-10 after totaling 84 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Juniors Pankey (44 tackles) and Paea (five sacks) appear primed to elevate their games to the next level. Sophomore David Pa"aluhi emerged down the stretch and should fill the void at middle linebacker, while senior Ben Terry and sophomore Kevin Frahm figure to start at end. The starting secondary was gutted and will take time to jell. Senior Tim Clark has six career starts at cornerback and junior safety Suaesi Tuimaunei has two starts under his belt, giving the group a pinch of experience. Senior cornerback Patrick Henderson is the only player on the roster to record an interception last season.
PREDICTION: Can the Beavers overcome the loss of eight starters on defense for a second straight season? That"s the burning question given some of the conference"s explosive offenses. A rather soft September schedule will help the stop unit mesh, and the Rodgers brothers are sure to give opponents fits. Eight wins is a possibility.
STANFORD CARDINAL
Where: Stanford, CA
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh, 3rd year
2008 Record: 5-7 SU, 7-5 ATS
Facility: Stanford Stadium
Offense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 8
Defense: 4-3 - Starters Returning: 7
Lettermen Returning: 50
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: -1.2 (#73 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: +1.5 (#60 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 42 (#51 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 45.58 (#19 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 5-7, 10-26 (28%)
Overall ATS: 7-5, 15-21 (42%)
at Home ATS: 5-0, 8-10 (44%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 2-5, 7-11 (39%)
vs Conference ATS: 6-3, 11-16 (41%)
as Favorite ATS: 2-1, 3-3 (50%)
as Underdog ATS: 5-4, 12-18 (40%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 26.3 (54) - 27.4 (72)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 351.8 (66) - 379.6 (77)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 5.44 (59) - 5.6 (83)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 4.89 (20) - 4.3 (84)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 6.38 (84) - 7.05 (73)
Turnover Differential: -0.17 (74)
2009 OUTLOOK: The Cardinal was in line to qualify for a bowl game in its second season under head coach Jim Harbaugh but closed with a threegame losing streak. A defense that allowed an average of 27.4 points per game was torched for 117 points over the last three contests by Oregon, USC and California after posting a shutout against Washington State. The search for consistency continues and Harbaugh will count on 15 returning starters to help Stanford contend for a bowl invitation.
OFFENSE: It was all about the running game and 2009 will be no different if senior quarterback Tavita Pritchard doesn"t improve. The Cardinal produced 2,395 yards rushing, up more than 1,000 from the previous season, and 26 of its 37 touchdowns came on the ground. After rushing for a single-season record 1,136 yards on 210 carries, senior running back Toby Gerhart is likely to find himself among the school"s top five rushing leaders by Thanksgiving. He enjoyed a Pac-10 best eight 100-yard games last season and blasted into the end zone for 15 touchdowns. Senior Jeremy Stewart is Gerhart"s backup. He carried just 14 times after gaining 343 yards in 2007. Most of the key pieces up front return. Junior Chase Beeler is moving from left guard to center, junior Andrew Phillips from right guard to left guard, senior Chris Marinelli (6- 7, 298) is back at right tackle, and senior Matt Kopa is set to take over at left tackle. It all can"t be about the running game though. The pressure is on Pritchard to get the job done. He has 19 starts under his belt—with a record of 7-12—and a rather ugly touchdown-to-interception ratio of 15-to-22. Junior Alex Loukas returns as the backup. The leading receiving targets are juniors Ryan Whalen (41 catches, 508 yards) and Doug Baldwin (four touchdowns).
DEFENSE: The Cardinal ranked in the bottom half of the conference in most defensive categories, including seventh in total (379.6 yards per game) and rushing defense (152.9) and ninth in passing defense (226.7). The unit did manage 34 sacks, tied for 11th in the country, including nine in a non-conference win over San Jose State. The unit"s seven returning starters are spread out, providing much-needed balance. Three-fourths of the starting secondary is back, including three-year starter Bo McNally at strong safety. McNally led the team in tackles each of the last two seasons. Senior Kris Evans (67 tackles, two interceptions) is a gamer at cornerback and junior Sean Wiser (60 tackles) returns at free safety. Continued success in the trenches is likely with senior ends Erik Lorig and Tom McAndrew, senior tackles Ekom Udofia and Brian Bulke, junior tackles Sione Fua and Matt Masifilo, and junior end Tom Keiser (teamhigh six sacks) forming a deep and experienced group. As a whole, the linebackers should be steady but not spectacular. Senior middle man Clinton Snyder has all the tools and will set the tone. He has 237 tackles and 13 sacks in 36 career games. Contributions from seniors Will Powers and juniors Nick Macaluso and Chike Amajoyi is crucial.
PREDICTION: A strong start is crucial to Stanford"s bowl chances. Its toughest three games—at Oregon, USC, and at California— all take place in the month of November for a second straight year. It"s imperative for Pritchard to raise his level of play and provide balance to the offense. If he does, a bowl game will be within reach when the schedule turns for the homestretch.
UCLA BRUINS
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Head Coach: Rick Neuheisel, 2nd year
2008 Record: 4-8 SU, 7-5 ATS
Facility: Rose Bowl
Offense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 9
Defense: 4-3 - Starters Returning: 6
Lettermen Returning: 45
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: -11.3 (#107 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: -8.7 (#102 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 40 (#59 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 45.67 (#18 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 4-8, 17-21 (45%)
Overall ATS: 7-5, 24-13 (65%)
at Home ATS: 5-2, 15-5 (75%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 2-3, 9-8 (53%)
vs Conference ATS: 5-4, 18-8 (69%)
as Favorite ATS: 2-0, 9-7 (56%)
as Underdog ATS: 5-5, 15-5 (75%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 17.7 (109) - 29 (86)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 283.3 (112) - 337.4 (47)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 4.19 (117) - 5.11 (50)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 2.62 (118) - 4.43 (89)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 5.56 (105) - 6.06 (24)
Turnover Differential: -0.83 (106)
2009 OUTLOOK: UCLA"s offense sputtered in the first year of Rick Neuheisel"s second stint as head coach and took much of the blame for its 4- 8 finish, including a disappointing 3-6 mark in the Pac-10. The Bruins scored an average of just 17.7 points per game and totaled only 41 points in the opening quarter, but improvement should come with nine starters returning to orchestrate Norm Chow"s system. If senior quarterback Kevin Craft—pressed into action for all 12 games after incumbent Ben Olson went down—can get the offense into the end zone consistently, UCLA will qualify for a bowl game.
OFFENSE: The immediate struggles under Chow came as a surprise, but it didn"t help that Craft was thrown into the fire with just a few weeks notice. The junior-college transfer completed 232 of 417 passes for 2,341 yards and seven touchdowns with a school singleseason record 20 interceptions. Six of those picks were brought back for scores and Craft simply can"t afford to be as careless. Also in the quarterback mix is junior Chris Forcier and redshirt freshman Kevin Prince. The good news is the top three wideouts in terms of receptions—senior Terrence Austin (53 catches), sophomore Taylor Embree (40) and junior Dominique Johnson (34)—are back in the fold, along with senior tight end Ryan Moya, who made 38 grabs and led the Bruins with three scores. The Bruins averaged only 82.8 yards rushing per game and their running back corps is young and unproven. Competition during spring practice was fierce as sophomore Derrick Coleman (284 yards) and junior Christian Ramirez tried to impress the coaching staff. A host of others, including redshirt freshmen Johnathan Franklin and Milton Knox, can"t be counted out. The front line returns six players who started at least five games, including versatile senior Nick Ekbatani. He and sophomore Jeff Baca are expected to start at guard and spearhead the run-blocking efforts.
DEFENSE: The Bruins return six starters to a unit that allowed more yards rushing (2,037) than passing (2,012) and 29 points per game. Fourth-year assistant coach Chuck Bullough takes over as defensive coordinator but isn"t changing the scheme, which features a traditional four-man front. A pair of starters return to each area of the field, including shutdown senior cornerback Alterraun Verner and senior middle linebacker Reggie Carter. Both could be destined to play at the next level. For his career, Verner has 207 tackles, eight interceptions and three touchdowns. Of Carter"s team-high 83 tackles, 20 came in the loss to BYU. Free safety Rahim Moore, who started every game as a true freshman, also returns to the secondary with all the tools. He made 60 tackles and picked off three passes. Another sophomore, Tony Dye, tops the depth chart at strong safety. Flanking Carter is senior Kyle Bosworth on the weak side and sophomore Akeem Ayers on the strong side. Bosworth missed all but two games with a knee injury after registering 74 tackles in 2007, while Ayers made 40 stops. Sophomore Steve Sloan has starting experience and provides depth. Setting the tone up front will be junior tackle Brian Price and senior end Korey Bosworth (7.5 sacks).
PREDICTION: The Bruins will be better on offense and their defense doesn"t figure to take a step back. Getting Oregon, California and Arizona State at home after losing to all three on the road by a combined 106-53 score bodes well for UCLA"s chances of finishing above the .500 mark in the conference and playing beyond its Nov. 28 regular-season finale at USC.
USC TROJANS
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Head Coach: Pete Carroll, 9th year
2008 Record: 12-1 SU, 8-5 ATS
Facility: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Offense: Multiple - Starters Returning: 9
Defense: 4-3 - Starters Returning: 3
Lettermen Returning: 58
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: +28.5 (#2 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: +29.7 (#3 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 69 (#3 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 45.25 (#20 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 12-1, 34-5 (87%)
Overall ATS: 8-5, 22-17 (56%)
at Home ATS: 5-1, 11-7 (61%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 3-4, 11-10 (52%)
vs Conference ATS: 4-5, 11-16 (41%)
as Favorite ATS: 8-5, 21-16 (57%)
as Underdog ATS: 0-0, 1-1 (50%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 37.5 (14) - 9 (1)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 454.7 (11) - 221.8 (2)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 6.63 (10) - 3.61 (1)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 5.05 (16) - 2.73 (3)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 8.7 (8) - 4.57 (1)
Turnover Differential: +0.54 (26)
2009 OUTLOOK: The USC freight train with head conductor Pete Carroll isn"t slowing down. The Trojans have enjoyed more success than any other college football program in the country since 2002 with seven straight Associated Press Top 4 finishes, BCS bowl games, Pac-10 titles and 11-win seasons. USC has an amazing eight-year record of 88-15 and a pair of national championships (2003-04) to show for it. Only a dozen starters return from last year"s 12-1 squad, but with 39 coming back from the two-deep, it should be another banner season.
OFFENSE: The early departure of Mark Sanchez (3,207 yards, 34 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 65.8 completion percentage) to the NFL means the Trojans have a new starting quarterback for the third time in as many seasons. Junior Mitch Mustain has experience— eight wins under his belt as a starter at Arkansas in 2006—giving him the inside track to be the lead man. Mobile sophomore Aaron Corp sits No. 2 on the depth chart. Only Sanchez, who threw four touchdown passes and ran for one in the 38-24 Rose Bowl victory over Penn State, and wide receiver Patrick Turner (741 yards, 10 touchdowns) are gone from last year"s first-team offense that was largely responsible for the unit"s 37.5-point-per-game average. Turner will be missed, but a deep group of targets spearheaded by junior wideouts Damian Williams (869, 9) and Ronald Johnson (570, 8) will force opponents to respect the vertical game. The Trojans didn"t have a 1,000-yard rusher but punished the competition with a collection of speedy and powerful backs who amassed 2,533 yards and 27 scores. Bad news for the rest of the Pac-10—more than 90 percent of the ground attack returns, including senior Stafon Johnson (705 yards, nine scores) and juniors Joe McKnight (659, 2) and C.J. Gable (617, 8), along with the entire starting front five. Junior center Kristofer O"Dowd anchors a line sure to benefit from senior right guard Jeff Byers" sixth year of eligibility.
DEFENSE: USC"s defense won"t be as dominant after a heavy loss of personnel. Eight starters are gone from a unit that led the country in scoring (117 points allowed) and pass defense and ranked second in total defense. An early test comes Sept. 12 at Ohio State. The Trojans held the Buckeyes to just a field goal in last year"s 35-3 blowout. The unquestioned leader and the biggest name on the roster is senior free safety Taylor Mays, a two-time All-American and projected top 10 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. The hard-hitting Mays is a four-year starter with 180 tackles for his career. Also returning to the secondary is senior cornerback Josh Pinkard, a three-year starter, and seniors Will Harris and Kevin Thomas, who in the spring gained momentum for the vacant strong safety and cornerback spots, respectively. Replacing NFL-bound Ray Maualuga, Clay Matthews, Brian Cushing and Kaluka Maiava at linebacker is a monumental task. A dozen replacement candidates battled throughout the spring, including juniors Michael Morgan and Malcolm Smith and promising sophomore Chris Galippo. A near overhaul of the front four is another concern. Junior nose tackle Christian Tupou started all but three games, but the jury is out on everyone else.
PREDICTION: USC has to come down from the clouds at some point and after losing Sanchez and eight defensive starters perhaps this season is it. But don"t hold your breath. The Trojans are practically a lock for double digits in wins and another BCS bowl game.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Where: Seattle, WA
Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian, 1st year
2008 Record: 0-12 SU, 1-11 ATS
Facility: Husky Stadium
Offense: Power Spread - Starters Returning: 8
Defense: 4-3 - Starters Returning: 10
Lettermen Returning: 46
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: -25.3 (#118 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: -19 (#117 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 27 (#99 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 47.08 (#4 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 0-12, 9-28 (24%)
Overall ATS: 1-11, 13-23 (36%)
at Home ATS: 1-6, 6-14 (30%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 0-5, 7-9 (44%)
vs Conference ATS: 0-9, 8-19 (30%)
as Favorite ATS: 0-2, 2-7 (22%)
as Underdog ATS: 1-9, 11-16 (41%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 13.3 (118) - 38.6 (117)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 263.2 (117) - 451.8 (112)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 4.02 (118) - 6.61 (117)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 2.84 (113) - 5.69 (118)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 5.37 (113) - 8.1 (112)
Turnover Differential: -1.42 (117)
2009 OUTLOOK: The once-proud Huskies have officially hit rockbottom. They became the first team in Pac-10 history to finish 0-12, and they were outscored by a mind-boggling 304 points in the process. Washington won just 11 of 48 games under Tyrone Willingham, who was replaced by former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Avoiding a third consecutive last-place finish in the conference won"t be easy, although returning almost 90 percent of last year"s starters gives Sarkisian a decent foundation.
OFFENSE: A year after averaging 29.2 points per game, Washington failed to crack 20 points in all but two games and put up merely 13.2 per outing. The offense coughed up the football 27 times. The return of quarterback Jake Locker, who missed the final eight games of his sophomore campaign due to a broken thumb, puts the Huskies many steps ahead of where they ended last season. In 2007, Locker was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year after setting a conference single-year record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 986. He scored 14 touchdowns and passed for 14 as well. He also was picked off 15 times. Backup Ronnie Fouch gained valuable experience in Locker"s absence as a redshirt freshman, but was in over his head, finishing with four touchdowns and 13 interceptions. If pressed into action again, Fouch should be more productive. D"Andre Goodwin was one of the few bright spots, catching 60 passes for 692 yards. He"ll start along with sophomore Alvin Logan. All five players who started at least one game at tailback returns, including sophomores Terrance Dailey (338 yards) and Willie Griffin (219). Junior Brandon Johnson tied with Locker with three ground scores. The keys up front are senior left tackle Ben Ossal and junior right tackle Cody Habben.
DEFENSE: Sarkisian brought along former USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt to be his assistant head coach and guide a stop unit that gave up 38.6 points per game, but lost only one starter to graduation. Holt knows the competition, however, he"s not dealing with anything like the personnel he had with the Trojans. Half of the 16 sacks the Huskies posted in 2008 came from Daniel Te"o-Nesheim. The senior end also had 65 tackles, including 11.5 for loss. If senior Darrion Jones and sophomore Alameda Ta"amu can raise their level of play, perhaps the group won"t be pushed around like it was in each of the past two seasons. The talent at linebacker runs deep, led by junior Mason Foster and senior Trenton Tuiasosopo. Foster"s 105 tackles led the team by a mile, and a dozen of those came behind the line of scrimmage. Tuiasosopo made 71 stops, senior Donald Butler had 69, and 2007 tackle leader E.J. Savannah is back in the fold after missing all of last year. The foursome gives the Huskies a reasonable chance to significantly improve a run defense that yielded more than 240 yards per game and 33 touchdowns. In the secondary, junior ball-hawking safety Nate Williams (76 tackles) and senior safety Tripper Johnson are leaders, and sophomore Quinton Richardson is a promising cornerback.
PREDICTION: Two, possibly three wins. LSU, Idaho and Notre Dame comprise the non-conference slate, and as long as the Huskies can get the middle game of the three it"ll certainly help Sarkisian"s monumental rebuilding task. While the Pac-10 grind is sure to be rugged, look for the Huskies to steal at least one victory along the way.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
Where: Pullman, WA
Head Coach: Paul Wulff, 2nd year
2008 Record: 2-11 SU, 4-8 ATS
Facility: Martin Stadium
Offense: Spread - Starters Returning: 8
Defense: 4-3 - Starters Returning: 6
Lettermen Returning: 41
Key Strength Ratings
2008 Scoring Differential: -31.2 (#120 of 120)
2008 StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: -30.5 (#120 of 120)
2009 StatFox Power Rating: 19 (#114 of 120)
2009 Schedule Strength: 46.58 (#8 of 120)
SITUATIONAL RECORDS - 2008 - 3 Year Total
Straight Up: 2-11, 13-24 (35%)
Overall ATS: 4-8, 16-20 (44%)
at Home ATS: 2-4, 8-10 (44%)
Away/Neutral ATS: 2-4, 8-10 (44%)
vs Conference ATS: 3-6, 13-14 (48%)
as Favorite ATS: 0-0, 5-5 (50%)
as Underdog ATS: 4-8, 11-15 (42%)
2008 TEAM STATS & NCAA RANKS (of 120)
Points Scored - Allowed: 12.7 (119) - 43.8 (119)
Total YPG Gained - Allowed: 241.1 (119) - 443.4 (109)
Yards Per Play Gained - Allowed: 3.86 (119) - 6.51 (112)
Yards Per Rush Gained - Allowed: 2.75 (117) - 5.78 (120)
Yards Per Pass Gained - Allowed: 5.26 (114) - 7.76 (101)
Turnover Differential: -1.92 (120)
2009 OUTLOOK: Up is the only way Washington State can go after a horrendous two-win season that saw it outscored by an average of more than 30 points per game. The Cougars failed to score in three games and managed just a field goal in two others, while seven of their opponents put up at least 45 points (amazingly, four scored 63 or more). Only a double-overtime win over rival Washington kept Paul Wulff"s rookie year as head coach from being a total disaster.
OFFENSE: Injuries were only part of the problem on offense, who scored merely 165 points and averaged an embarrassing 8.5 per game against Pac-10 foes. Four quarterbacks combined to throw six touchdown passes and 21 interceptions, and no player on the roster scored more than three times. Wulff and offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy plan to employ the no-huddle with senior quarterback Kevin Lopina getting first crack at calling the shots. Lopina made eight starts a year ago, and not one was memorable for the right reasons. He didn"t throw a single touchdown pass and was picked off 11 times. Sophomore Marshall Lobbestael (571 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions) is coming off a knee injury but could emerge atop the depth chart before too long. Standout wide receiver Brandon Gibson departed, leaving speedy junior Jeshua Anderson (33 receptions) as the No. 1 target. Kevin Norrell made six starts at wideout as a freshman and will be more productive in his second season. Senior running back Dwight Tardy (teambest 481 yards) has decent hands, and along with sophomore Logwone Mitz (441) gives the ground attack a chance to do some good. Six linemen with starting experience return, including a pair who made all 13 starts in junior right tackle Micah Hannam and senior center Kenny Alfred.
DEFENSE: As if the defense"s performance in 2007 wasn"t horrible enough, the unit plunged to new depths. Washington State ranked last in the Pac-10 in scoring defense for a second year in a row, allowing a whopping 43.8 points per game, up from 32.4, and gave up more than 60 points four times. Moreover, opponents rushed for 3,219 yards (247.6 per game) and 50 touchdowns. The good news—if any—is the Cougars return eight players who started at least three games, including sack-leader Toby Turpin to the front four. Turpin, a junior, had three of the unit"s 16 sacks and could develop into a force by the time he graduates. Senior left end Kevin Kooyman is the only other starter on the line with experience, so it would be no shock to see the group pushed around by the competition once again. Linebackers Louis Bland (55 tackles), Andy Mattingly (44) and Myron Beck can make plays, but depth behind them is suspect. Mattingly, a senior, had a monster sophomore campaign with 91 tackles and a teamhigh eight sacks. In the secondary, senior Xavier Hicks is back at strong safety after a 78-tackle season. Junior free safety Chima Nwachukwu (57 stops), junior cornerback Romeo Pellum (65) and promising sophomore corner Tyrone Justin also return.
PREDICTION: Though it won"t take much for the Cougars to be more competitive than last year, there"s no reason to believe 2009 won"t be a serious struggle. Improvement in turnover margin (minus-25) will go a long way in helping them stay in games, but there"s no sure victory on a 12-game slate that includes non-conference tilts against Hawaii, SMU and Notre Dame.
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