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ASU Football: Pac-12 Week One Power Rankings

ByKillian Mcclatchey|
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies is awarded the Pac-12 Championship game trophy after they beat the Colorado Buffaloes at Levi's Stadium on December 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies is awarded the Pac-12 Championship game trophy after they beat the Colorado Buffaloes at Levi's Stadium on December 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Our ASU football preview continues with our football coverage team conducting their Pac-12 Week One power rankings with USC and Washington leading the pack.

ASU Football reporters Alec Henden, Ethan Schmidt, Hunter Robinson, Jordan Kaye, Killian McClatchey, Sam Ficarro and Zach Pekale are ready for the season to kick off and for this year we’ll be doing weekly power rankings. Each of our reporters has put down their picks for the preseason and the average number of votes for each determined their initial position in the rankings.

  1. USC Trojans

A near consensus number one in the group with the Trojans receiving six of seven first place votes despite losing pieces on both sides of the ball and not having a bye week this season.

AH: 1 ES: 2 HR: 1 JK: 1 KM: 1 SF: 1 ZP: 1

  1. Washington Huskies

The defending Pac-12 Champions received the most second place votes as Jake Browning returns to lead the powerful offense up in Seattle. The Huskies are the favorite to repeat in the North.

AH: 2 ES: 1 HR: 2 JK: 2 KM: 2 SF: 2 ZP: 2

  1. Stanford Cardinal

The Cardinal are already 1-0 after ripping Rice apart in Australia to start the season this past weekend. It looked as if Keller Chryst will be the starter and Bryce Love used his play to remind people that Stanford is more than just Christian McCaffrey.

AH: 3 ES: 3 HR: 5 JK: 5 KM: 3 SF: 3 ZP: 3

  1. Washington State Cougars

The first team that had some big variation between the team here at Devils In Detail. The Cougars have Luke Falk returning to lead Mike Leach’s air raid offense, the Cougars will put up points, but the defense remains a question mark.

AH: 6 ES: 6 HR: 4 JK: 3 KM: 5 SF: 3 ZP: 7

  1. Utah Utes

A surprising move at QB for the Utes as Tyler Huntley was announced the starter over incumbent Troy Williams. The new offensive coordinator Troy Taylor and the coaching staff had to have seen something that they liked. The defense should be a strong suit per usual for the Utes.

AH: 7 ES: 5 HR: 6 JK: 4 KM: 7 SF: 4 ZP:5

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  1. UCLA Bruins

Josh Rosen returns under center with a fully healthy shoulder that sidelined him for a majority of last season. While the Bruins may not have the same appearance as their cross-town rivals but they do have talent on both sides of the ball. Whether or not they bounce back is another question.

AH: 5 ES: 10 HR: 3 JK: 6 KM: 6 SF: 9 ZP: 6

  1. Colorado Buffaloes

The defending champs in the south have a “new” face under center in Steven Montez, who will be starting full time for the first time. He does have standout RB Phillip Lindsay to rely on behind him. The defense, especially the secondary has holes to fill following multiple players being drafted.

AH: 4 ES: 4 HR: 7 JK: 8 KM: 10 SF: 6 ZP: 8

  1. Oregon Ducks

Willie Taggart takes over in Eugene and inherits Justin Herbert, Royce Freeman and the rest of the weapons on offense for the Ducks. A new look and a healthier group of starters is a breath of fresh air for UO after a rough season last year.

AH: 8 ES: 11 HR: 9 JK: 9 KM: 4 SF: 7 ZP: 4

  1. Arizona State Sun Devils

ASU comes into the season with Manny Wilkins holding the starting spot at QB with transfer Blake Barnett right on his heels. While the offense should be good with Kalen Ballage, Demario Richard and N’Keal Harry leading the way. The defense will be a huge concern as two starting players in the secondary are no longer with the team in Kareem Orr and Armand Perry.

AH: 11 ES: 8 HR: 8 JK: 7 KM: 8 SF: 8 ZP: 9

  1. Oregon State Beavers

The Beavers opened the season on week zero by giving up 50-plus points to Colorado State in an ugly loss. While RB Ryan Nall impressed with a big TD run, the Beaver defense obviously has work to do going forward.

AH: 9 ES: 9 HR: 11 JK: 10 KM: 9 SF: 12 ZP: 10

  1. California Golden Bears

The Golden Bears have new faces all over the field, new QB, new receivers and a new head coach in Justin Wilcox. The running game should be solid with two returning players. But defensively is where the worries lie for the Golden Bears.

AH: 10 ES: 7 HR: 12 JK: 12 KM: 11 SF: 11 ZP: 11

Next: ASU Football: Linebacker Abraham Thompson reflects on his JUCO career

  1. Arizona Wildcats

Rich Rodriguez and co. have a lot of work to do this season. Low expectations and losing top defensive player Scooby Wright III to the draft. Returners on offense should help, but the lackluster performance last season puts them last in the conference.

AH: 12 ES: 12 HR: 10 JK: 11 KM: 12 SF: 10 ZP: 12

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