Pac-12 Football Predictions For 2022 Season Entering Spring
Mar 11, 2022, 4:45 PM
Quarterback Cameron Rising #7, defensive end Mika Tafua #42 and wide receiver Britain Covey #18 of the Utah Utes celebrate the team's 38-10 victory over the Oregon Ducks to win the Pac-12 Conference championship game at Allegiant Stadium on December 3, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Pac-12 Conference is loaded for a run to try and finally reach the College Football Playoff and end the long drought.
Contenders are re-loading with talent, while others are bringing in new coaches to try and take the Pac-12 football crown in Las Vegas. Some teams are already in spring football practices, while others are ramping up.
With the transfer portal being a big part of college football, we’ll do another one of these after spring and during fall camp, so here is the first Pac-12 football predictions for the 2022 season as spring ball arrives.
Pac-12 Football Predictions For 2022 Season: Spring Edition
Arizona State Sun Devils
2021 record: 8-5, 6-3 (2nd in South)
2022 prediction: 3-9, 1-8
Wins: vs. NAU, vs. Eastern Michigan, vs. UW
Losses: @ OK State, vs. Utah, @ USC, @ Stanford, @ CU, vs. UCLA, @ WSU, vs. OSU, @ Arizona
Quick thought: Arizona State is a disaster. Nearly the entire coaching staff has either left or was fired. Their starting QB just left the program. On top of that, they signed the lowest recruiting class in the Pac-12. It’s going to be a tough year in Tempe and I think it’s the last season under Herm Edwards.
Counting down the days to @ASUFootball Spring Ball 22 😈🔱 pic.twitter.com/i8tXaso211
— Sun Devil Equipment (@SunDevilEquip) March 4, 2022
Arizona Wildcats
2021 record: 1-11, 1-8 (last in South)
2022 prediction: 5-7, 4-5
Wins: vs. NDSU, @ Cal, vs. CU, vs. WSU vs. ASU
Losses: @ SDSU, vs. Mississippi State, vs. Oregon, @ UW, vs. USC, @ Utah, @ UCLA
Quick thought: Jedd Fisch has hit the ground running and is bringing talent to Tucson. The Wildcats signed the second-best recruiting class in the Pac-12 and No. 21 in the nation. They also brought in Washington State QB Jayden de Laura from the transfer portal. The rebuild might not take as long as we all thought at Arizona.
Spring Practice starts March 2‼️
Get your first look at the 2022 Arizona Wildcats, all practices are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! We will see you there. #ItsPersonal | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/LP6wIiXgLo
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) February 25, 2022
California Golden Bears
2021 record: 5-7, 4-5 (4th in North)
2022 prediction: 5-7, 3-6
Wins: vs. UC Davis, vs. UNLV, @ WSU, @ CU, vs. Stanford
Losses: @ Notre Dame, vs. Arizona, vs. Oregon, @ USC, vs. UW, @ OSU, vs. UCLA
Quick thought: It’s hard to figure out what direction Cal is heading. They dealt with COVID issues throughout the 2021 season. Former Ute Xavier Carlton is a big pickup for Justin Wilcox. Their recruiting class in the lower half of the Pac-12. The QB situation is a little dicey despite bringing in Purdue transfer Jack Plummer. Time will tell but I think at this point, Cal is a middle of the pack program with Wilcox’s seat warming up.
Enjoying the Bay Area weather and putting in work #GoBears pic.twitter.com/Cu2c7QI3Xy
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) March 10, 2022
Colorado Buffaloes
2021 record: 4-8, 3-6 (5th in South)
2022 prediction: 3-9, 2-7
Wins: @ Air Force, vs. ASU, @ UW
Losses: vs. TCU, @ Minnesota, vs. UCLA, @ Arizona, vs. Cal, @ OSU, vs. Oregon, @ USC, vs. Utah
Quick thought: It’s been a roller coaster ride for Karl Dorrell in his first two seasons as the head coach. They saw players suffer season-ending injuries and others going into the transfer portal. Dorrell went out and signed 24 players in his 2022 recruiting class, which is ranked fifth in the conference and 47th in the country. Former Pac-12 Player of the Year Jarek Broussard is off to Michigan State. Time will tell how well Dorrell has done to fill the gaps on his roster.
.@qperry6 always providing that 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 ⚡️#GoBuffs | #CUlture pic.twitter.com/gANyMr1ybA
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) March 10, 2022
Oregon Ducks
2021 record: 10-4, 7-2 (1st in North)
2022 prediction: 10-2, 8-1
Wins: vs. EWU, vs. BYU, @ WSU, vs. Stanford, @ Arizona, vs. UCLA, @ Cal, @ CU, vs. UW, vs. Utah, @ OSU
Losses: vs. Georgia
Quick thought: Dan Lanning has picked up where Mario Cristobal left off when it comes to recruiting. Lanning signed the third-best recruiting class in the Pac-12 and No. 24 in the nation. They also brought in six transfers from power-5 programs. It’s a great situation for a first-year head coach, who just helped Georgia win a National Championship.
✅ Spring Football Practice 1 #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/9mucnQw30E
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) March 11, 2022
Oregon State Beavers
2021 record: 7-6, 5-4 (3rd in North)
2022 prediction: 7-5, 5-4
Wins: vs. BSU, @ Fresno State, vs. Montana State, @ WSU, vs. CU, vs. Cal, @ ASU
Losses: vs. USC, @ Utah, @ Stanford, @ UW, vs. Oregon
Quick thought: Jonathan Smith has his program trending in the right direction after taking the Beavers to a bowl game. The 2022 signing class is in the middle of the pack and top 60 in the nation. There hasn’t been much movement in the portal so player development will be critical if the Beavers want to take the next step.
let’s do it again tomorrow pic.twitter.com/bCpJvHMach
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) March 10, 2022
Stanford Cardinal
2021 record: 3-9, 2-7 (last in North)
2022 prediction: 7-5, 5-4
Wins: vs. Colgate, vs. USC, @ UW, vs. OSU, vs. ASU, vs. WSU, vs. BYU
Losses: @ Oregon, @ Notre Dame, @ UCLA, @ Utah, @ Cal
Quick thought: After a bad season in 2021, Stanford is looking like a team on the rise in 2022 with the best recruiting class in the conference and No. 18 in the country. They also bring back a quarterback with experience. Now, the question is how quick can the recruits transition to the next level.
Put in work this session 😤#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/F2q95Ts4kD
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) March 7, 2022
UCLA Bruins
2021 record: 8-4, 6-3 (3rd in South)
2022 prediction: 9-3, 6-3
Wins: vs. Bowling Green, vs. Alabama State, vs. South Alabama, @ CU, vs. UW, vs. Stanford, @ ASU, vs. Arizona, @ Cal
Losses: vs. Utah, @ Oregon, vs. USC
Quick thought: The Bruins had their best season under Chip Kelly in 2021. With DTR returning at quarterback and a good chunk of their talent, on top of bringing in 10 transfers, the Bruins could be a really good team in the Pac-12 this season.
Tuning Up for Spring Ball 🔋 #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/aZotyBIX33
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) March 7, 2022
USC Trojans
2021 record: 4-8, 3-6 (4th in South)
2022 prediction: 9-3, 7-2
Wins: vs. Rice, vs. Fresno State, @ OSU, vs. ASU, vs. WSU, @ Arizona, vs. Cal, vs. CU, @ UCLA
Losses: @ Stanford, @ Utah, vs. Notre Dame
Quick thought: USC made a splash hire by bring Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma. Riley also brought a really good recruiting class with him and some transfers, including Caleb Williams, Travis Dye, Austin Jones, among others. If Riley can piece everything together in fall camp, USC could be a Pac-12 title contender.
Together🤝#FightOn✌️ pic.twitter.com/I9Cl5kFiG8
— USC Football (@USC_FB) March 8, 2022
Utah Utes
2021 record: 10-4, 8-1 (1st in South, Pac-12 Champs)
2022 prediction: 11-1, 8-1
Wins: @ Florida, vs. SUU, vs. SDSU, @ ASU, vs. OSU, @UCLA, vs. USC, @ WSU, vs. Arizona, vs. Stanford, @ CU
Losses: @ Oregon
Quick thought: After a historic season in 2021, Utah is set up for another historic campaign in 2022 with Cam Rising returning at quarter. The offense is filled with playmakers, including two future NFL tight ends returning. Their defense is stacked with talented young players that have made strides in their development.
Snow SZN 🥰 pic.twitter.com/MV5X34Va3z
— University of Utah (@UUtah) March 10, 2022
Washington Huskies
2021 record: 4-8, 3-6 (5th in North)
2022 prediction: 4-8, 2-7
Wins: vs. Kent State, vs. Portland State, @ Cal, vs. OSU
Losses: vs. Michigan State, vs. Stanford, @ UCLA, @ ASU, vs. Arizona, @ Oregon, vs. CU, @ WSU
Quick thought: A new coaching staff is looking to rebuild the mess at Washington. The 2022 signing class was second-to-last in the Pac-12 but have brought in some intriguing transfers, including Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr., Pitt LB Cam Bright and ASU WR Junior Alexander.
FINISH 💪😤#BowDown #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/0WDyfdvoOH
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) March 11, 2022
Washington State Cougars
2021 record: 7-6, 6-3 (2nd in North)
2022 prediction: 5-7, 3-6
Wins: vs. Idaho, vs. CSU, vs. Cal, vs. ASU, vs. UW
Losses: @ Wisconsin, vs. Oregon, @ USC, vs. OSU, vs. Utah, @ Stanford, @ Arizona
Quick thought: Washington State is beginning their new era with Jake Dickert without starting QB Jayden de Laura. Also, RB Max Borghi is not returning and they are bringing in 19 signees from the ninth ranked recruiting class in the country. It will take some time to get WSU back to being competitive but Dickert has shown that he can handle adversity.
A beautiful day to be.#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/LSKVkD1up8
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) March 11, 2022
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
