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Preseason SuperWest Football Power Rankings

Our senior writers have submitted their picks and we've compiled them into a composite ranking


  By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports

August 31, 2022



Having published our Preseason Pac-12 Power Rankings, we now present our SuperWest Power Rankings, with the addition of BYU, Boise State, and San Diego State.

Our senior writers and broadcasters have submitted their votes, which we’ve compiled into a composite ranking, and their individual rankings appear in a table at the bottom.

Last year, BYU and San Diego State went a combined 7-0 against Pac-12 teams, handing Utah two of its four losses.

Boise State did not face a Pac-12 team in 2021, but is 8-4 against the Conference of Champions since 2010.

I have ranked all three Group of 5 teams in the Top 10, as have four of our other writers, while a fifth writer ranked only SDSU just outside it at 11th.

These rankings are sure to generate discussion, but nothing is set in stone; you can expect them to change every week.

Be sure to check our individual game picks in my weekly previews, published each Thursday.

Our Pac-12 Power Rankings are published each week on Tuesdays.

But enough small talk. Here are our Preseason SuperWest Power Rankings.


1. Utah
The Utes enter the year seeking to defend their Pac-12 Conference title and contend for the Playoff.

With what might be the strongest offensive and defensive line combination in the West, Kyle Whittingham’s team has the firepower on both sides of the ball to compete with the best.

Quarterback Cameron Rising’s mobility makes the Utes the early-season favorite to—at the very least—return to a New Year’s Six bowl game.


2. Oregon
Under-valued by some, Oregon is set to prove the doubters wrong. Consistently elite recruiting has created a roster that is able to compete with the top programs in all of College Football.

Oregon Ducks Logo Pac-12The Ducks figure to rise and fall on the play of Bo Nix but should remain in the running to make the Playoff well into the season.

Never underestimate Oregon Football: Dan Lanning’s team is dangerous.


3. USC
Don’t get it wrong, USC is good, but not necessarily elite. Coming off a 4-8 season, some of the media expectations for this year are arguably out of whack.

usc logo The problems along the defensive front were not addressed via the transfer portal, and the offensive line isn’t exactly stellar.

Still, the Trojans have a shocking amount of talent at the offensive skill positions and should roll over the teams they are supposed to beat.


4. BYU
Past performance does not necessarily indicate future results. Sure, the Cougars beat Utah last year before Cam Rising took over, toppled an average Arizona State team in Provo, and beat a broken USC team in late November.

And while the record against the Pac-12 opponents is impressive, the elite teams in the Conference of Champions have reloaded with stronger talent via the transfer portal.

Comparatively, BYU’s transfer class would have been ranked eighth in the Pac-12 and its recruiting class would have slotted in at sixth.


5. UCLA
Led by a veteran quarterback and one of the top running backs in the country, UCLA is set for its best season in nearly a decade.

A soft schedule makes a 10-win year a very real possibility, while the termination of Jerry Azzinaro could turn out to be a godsend.

The successful implementation of a new defensive scheme could make UCLA a dark-horse candidate for a New Year’s Six bowl berth.


6. Oregon State
A strong offensive line sets Oregon State apart from the teams in the middle of the Pac-12.

Jonathan Smith’s run-first offensive system should continue to thrive this season with Chance Nolan once again running the scheme.

The system produced the No. 4 scoring offense in the league last year and shouldn’t miss a beat in 2022.


7. Boise State
The Broncos went 7-5 last season but enter the year with high expectations.

Led by former Oregon defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, Boise State is predicted by some to win as many as nine games.

The matchup on the road against Oregon State to open the year should be a bellwether of how high BSU’s ceiling really is.


8. San Diego State
Former Virginia Tech quarterback, California-native, and ex-Duck QB Braxton Burmeister leads the Aztecs coming off a historic 12-win season.

Opening the year against a revitalized Arizona team for the inaugural game at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego State has some rebuilding to do.

Still, the SDSU defense was one of the top units in the country last season and should once again be the strength of the team.


9. Washington State
The first year of the Coug Raid could produce some surprising results.

Quarterback Cam Ward is one of the top transfers in College Football and should take full advantage of a WSU defense with a propensity to generate turnovers.

The new offense combined with the defensive genius of head coach Jake Dickert might make Wazzu stronger than many think.


10. Washington
Kalen DeBoer’s offensive system is schematically elite. The question is whether he has the personnel to execute it effectively in his first season.

Washington football pac-12The Dawgs have the talent at wide receiver to get the job done, but there’s an open question at quarterback.

Indiana transfer Michael Penix Jr. has been named the starter and should play well enough to lead UW to a bowl game.


11. California
The Chase Garbers era is over, but Purdue transfer quarterback Jack Plummer has been brought in to command the offense.

His execution of Bill Musgrave’s system could be the difference between Cal reaching a bowl game or missing out on the postseason.

With plenty of young talent ready to explode, the Bears are arguably being overlooked.


12. Stanford
At this point in the season, Stanford is in a “prove it” position.

With arguably one of the top QB/WR/TE combinations in the Pac-12, the Tree might be substantially better than some are giving them credit for.

But until David Shaw’s offensive system takes advantage of the talent on his roster, the Cardinal will remain low in many rankings.


13. Arizona
Potentially underrated, Arizona enters the season with a drastically changed roster.

Arizona football Pac-12Jedd Fisch put together a strong transfer and recruiting class, essentially upgrading his offensive skill positions across the board.

But with concerns along the offensive line and linebacker corps, the jury remains out on UA’s ceiling.


14. Arizona State
Herm Edwards lost a plethora of talent to the transfer portal, but also brought several key new faces into the fold.

Florida quarterback transfer Emory Jones has been named the starter, while Wyoming running back Xazavian Valladay should thrive under Edwards’ offensive principles.

But with questions in the wide receiver room and defensive secondary, ASU could find itself on the borderline of making a bowl game.


15. Colorado
Outside motivation is a dangerous fuel, and the Buffs have plenty of it.

Every day since the beginning of the summer, Colorado’s players have seen the projections for their team.

The disrespect shown has undoubtedly caused hours upon hours of extra preparation that could manifest itself in a string of upsets to open the year.


How our Senior Football Writers and Broadcasters Voted





Dane Miller



Jack Follman



Stephen Vilardo



Nick Bartlett





Steve Ritchie





Spencer McLaughlin
1
UtahUtahUSCUSCUtahUtah
2
OregonOregonUtahUtahOregonOregon
3
UCLAUSCOregonOregonBYUUCLA
4
USCBYUUCLABYUUSCUSC
5
BYUUWBYUUCLAOSUBYU
6
BSUUCLABSUSDSUBSUOSU
7
SDSUOSUWSUOSUUCLABSU
8
OSUWSUSDSUBSUUWWSU
9
WSUCalOSUUWSDSUSDSU
10
UWBSUCalWSUWSUUW
11
CalSDSUUWStanfordStanfordASU
12
ASUStanfordArizonaArizonaCalStanford
13
ArizonaArizonaASUASUArizonaCal
14
StanfordColoradoStanfordCalASUArizona
15
ColoradoASUColoradoColoradoColoradoColorado