If you want to be top dog, you have to knock off the king. Utah has been overlooked countless times, but you can't overlook a program that is trying to three-peat.

The talent and coaching is here, will they get over the hump in the Pac's swan song?

This is the team the entire country will be pulling for. It would be cathartic and the equivalent of a Shakespearean tragedy to see the Beavers come out on top this year.

The Huskies could be in any of the top spots in the conference. As long as Penix is dealing, the Huskies are going to be contenders on a national scale.

Bo Nix is back and the Ducks will look to make amends for a year that came undone in November.

Chip and the Bruins want to continue building off last season's 9-4 record. Can they take the next step and compete for the title?

Jake Dickert is going to want to steer the Cougars thru off season uncertainty. Regarding the regular season, WSU might be a dark horse team or ultimate spoiler in a highly contested Pac.

Arizona has seen continual improvement with Jedd Fisch. The goal this year should be bowl eligibility in Tucson.

Call me a skeptic on neon Deion and the flashiness of the Buffs. I think the talent will be there, but will the coaching? Sanders had a talent advantage at Jackson State and couldn't win it all on the HBCU level. How will he fare on a playing field against teams with superior or equal talent?

Kenny Dillingham the prodigal son has returned to a cratered ASU program. The rebuild might be messy for a first time coach, but is there a better place to rise from the ashes than Phoenix?

No clue on where things stand in Berkeley. What at one time looked like a promising tenure, Wilcox needs to turn it around in his 7th season.

How mighty Stanford have fallen. Season 1 of the post Shaw era starts. Troy Taylor comes in after working some magic at Sacramento State down the road. Can he right the ship in Palo Alto?

It's bittersweet doing this one last season. Hopefully we get a great final season of Pacific 12 Football.