Stanford has ruled supreme in the Pac-12 each of the past two seasons, but Oregon is picked to return to the top of the Pac-12 mountain in 2014. Oregon has been picked to finish first in the Pac-12 North Division, receiving 37 first-place votes in a media poll, and to win the Pac-12, receiving 24 out of a possible 39 votes.
Oregon ran away with first-place votes in the division voting. Two-time defending Pac-12 champion Stanford received just two first-place votes in the north. Washington, Oregon State, Washington State and California followed in the Pac-12 North Division predictions, respectively. UCLA ended up running away with the Pac-12 South Division votes as well. The Bruins, among the more trendy College Football Playoff contenders this offseason, received 37 of 39 first-place votes in the South. USC and defending division champion Arizona State each received one. The Trojans are predicted to finish in second place in the south, followed by Arizona State, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.
In a rematch of the first Pac-12 Championship Game in conference history, Oregon is predicted to once again top UCLA, receiving 24 votes to UCLA’s 13. Stanford and USC each received one Pac-12 championship vote from the media at Pac-12 media day. Oregon is also widely considered one of the top contenders for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Here are the Pac-12 predictions, as released by the Pac-12 Wednesday.
NORTH DIVISION
1. Oregon (37) 232
2. Stanford (2) 192
3. Washington 142
4. Oregon State 125
5. Washington State 87
6. California 41
SOUTH DIVISION
1. UCLA (37) 231
2. USC (1) 181
3. Arizona State (1) 163
4. Arizona 119
5. Utah 82
6. Colorado 43
PAC-12 TITLE GAME CHAMPION: Oregon (24 votes)
Others receiving votes: UCLA (13), Stanford (1), USC (1)