The PAC-10 has long been a victim to the the east coast bias when it comes to being ranked as one of the better conferences in the country. Last season was no different as the Florida Gators of the SEC faced off with Oklahoma of the Big-12 for the national championship. With no disrespect to the prefect season by the Utah Utes, the Trojans were still the best team in the country. The Trojans won their bowl game and the rest of the conference went 4-0 in post season. Not only did The Trojans have won 11 or more games in seven straight seasons and will need their highly-touted recruits to step up in the place of a slew of NFL playing graduates to win that many again. Incoming Oregon head coach Chip Kelly has the talent returning to have another explosive offense and another double-digit win season is not out of the question. California is stacked with talent once again but need to learn how to win the big game if they are ever to be taken as a serious threat in the conference. UCLA will be in the second year of head coach Rich Neuheisel's tenure that includes Norm Chow, one of the best offensive coordinators in the history of college football. Never count out head coach Dennis Erickson at Arizona State of challenging for the conference title. Stanford will need a fast start and an upset win in November if they are to get to a bowl game this season. Washington hired USC's offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to help resurrect a once proud and dominant program. Five of the teams in the conference come back with 15 or more starters this season.

USC Trojans (12 returning starters)

The Trojan freight train does not look to be slowing down at all despite losing a NCAA leading 11 players to the NFL draft last season. The offense returns nine starters, including an offensive line made up of juniors and seniors to protect the inexperienced quarterback position. Five of the six top rushers will be back and will be called on earlier to take the pressure of whichever quarterback starts. (Aaron Corp, Matt Barkley or Matt Mustain.)

Most programs would definitely feel the loss of eight starters on their defense but the Trojans are in a league by themselves when it comes to reloading with quality players. Since 2002, they have won seven straight titles, finished fourth or higher in the standings, played in a BCS game and have won two championships. The schedule calls for four road games against potentially ranked teams against Ohio State, Oregon Notre Dame and Cal. Head Coach Pete Carroll always takes on the best and wins anyway. The Trojans will be right in the hunt for another national championship.

Oregon Ducks (9 returning starters)

The Ducks are coming off an impressive season that saw head coach Mike Bellotti step down to become athletic director. In comes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to take over arguably the second best program in the conference. The offensive has plenty of experience at quarterback and have a 1000 yard rusher back in LeGarrette Blount. Blount also set the school record with 17 rushing touchdowns in part-time duty. The offensive line has only on returning starter and will need to gel quickly with a trip to Boise State to star the season.

The defense will need to fill six spots on defense but looked good in spring camp. The schedule calls for seven home games this season that includes visits from USC, CAL and Oregon State. The Ducks are an impressive 20-5 at Autzen Field over the last four seasons. This program won 116 games under Bellotti but will have to really play well within the conference if they are to win double-digit games for their new skipper..

California Bears (15 returning starters)

The Bears come back stocked with 15 returning starers and have the potential to knock of the Trojans at home on October 3rd. Last year the Bears won all seven home games and have been 18-2 at Memorial Stadium over the last three seasons. The offense will be led by Heisman candidate Jahvid Best. Last year Best has 1826 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 touchdowns. The offense returns starting quarterback Kevin Riley and his top two targets are back from last season.

Head Coach Jeff Tedford has a record of 59-30 in his first seven seasons at Cal and has won five of the six bowls that have played in. Tedford and his Bears have not been able to beat the Trojans over the last five seasons and will have to do it here if they are to play in a BCS bowl. The non-conference schedule is winnable with Maryland at home, E. Washington on the road and Minnesota coming to Berkeley.

Oregon State ( 10 returning starters)

The Beavers may have been been the best 9-4 team in the country after beating USC 27-21 and winning seven of their last eight games which included a bowl victory over Pittsburgh. The Beavers lose eight players to the NFL from last years teams but have the talent to get back to another bowl game. The offense will be run by senior quarterback Lyle Moevao. The catalyst of of the offense will the PAC-10 Player of the Year Jacquizz Rodgers. Rodgers rushed for 1253 yards on the season despite missing two games as a true freshman.

The defense will once again have to replace eight starters from the previous season but has a very soft schedule with four easy games before playing at Arizona State. Head Coach Mike Reilly has won five straight bowl games with the Beavers and should be playing for the sixth bowl victory at the end of the season.

UCLA Bruins (16 returning starters)

Despite a 4-8 season in his first year at UCLA, head coach Rick Neuheisel has a career record of 70-38. Neuheisel has the best offensive coordinator in Norm Chow to run the offense and quickly named red shirt freshman Kevin Prince the starting quarterback. The passing game will be drastically improved from a team that threw just nine touchdowns and was intercepted 21 times last year. The offense averaged just 17.7 points per game. With nine returning starters the offense should improve immediately.

The Bruins were much better defensively than the 29 points they gave up a game. They only allowed 337 yards per game and will have seven starters back that should put up better numbers than last season. The Bruins were -10 in turnovers and lost 44 starts by injured players last season. The schedule calls for sweet- revenge home games against Oregon, Cal, and Arizona State after getting destroyed by the three teams last year by a combined score 106-53.
 

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