Pac-12 North
– Pac-12 Weekly Schedule, Top Games To Watch
– Pac-12 2021 Pre-Spring Rankings & Breakdown
Cal Golden Bears
The Bears had almost no luck whatsoever in 2020, and once again the schedule is just tough enough to keep Justin Wilcox’s team from having a special season. As long as the Bears can take care of home – and that might have to include wins against Nevada and USC – they should go bowling even with road games at Oregon and Washington.
2018: 7-6 2019: 8-5 2020: 1-3
Realistic Best Case Record: 8-4
Realistic Worst Case Record: 5-7
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 4 Nevada
Sept. 11 at TCU
Sept. 18 Sacramento State
Sept. 25 at Washington
Oct. 2 Washington State
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 15 at Oregon
Oct. 23 Colorado
Oct. 30 Oregon State
Nov. 6 at Arizona
Nov. 13 USC
Nov. 20 at Stanford
Nov. 27 at UCLA
– Full Schedule Analysis
Oregon Ducks
If a team can be disappointing as the Pac-12 champion, Oregon was it. However, the talent is in place to do a whole lot more and be a factor in the College Football Playoff race as long as the team doesn’t brain-cramp along the way. Going to Ohio State doesn’t help, and traveling to Washington is a problem, but there’s no Arizona State or USC from the South.
2018: 9-4 2019: 12-2 2020: 4-3
Realistic Best Case Record: 11-1
Realistic Worst Case Record: 8-4
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 10-2
Sept. 4 Fresno State
Sept. 11 at Ohio State
Sept. 18 Stony Brook
Sept. 25 Arizona
Oct. 2 at Stanford
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 15 Cal
Oct. 23 at UCLA
Oct. 30 Colorado
Nov. 6 at Washington
Nov. 13 Washington State
Nov. 20 at Utah
Nov. 27 Oregon State
– Full Schedule Analysis
Oregon State Beavers
In a year when so many teams are loaded with talented veteran, Oregon State loses just enough to take a step back. Going to Purdue to start the season isn’t a plus, and having to go to both USC and Oregon hurts. There will be an upset or two along the way, but there will be just enough misfires to struggle for six wins.
2018: 2-10 2019: 5-7 2020: 2-5
Realistic Best Case Record: 7-5
Realistic Worst Case Record: 2-10
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 5-7
Sept. 4 at Purdue
Sept. 11 Hawaii
Sept. 18 Idaho
Sept. 25 at USC
Oct. 2 Washington
Oct. 9 at Washington State
Oct. 16 OPEN DATE
Oct. 23 Utah
Oct. 30 at Cal
Nov. 6 at Colorado
Nov. 13 Stanford
Nov. 20 Arizona State
Nov. 27 at Oregon
– Full Schedule Analysis
Stanford Cardinal
Team: good. Schedule: absolutely brutal. The Cardinal have the distinction of playing an all-Power Five schedule including a trip to Vanderbilt and date with Kansas State in Arlington. To make matters worse, they play USC on the road and have to play Notre Dame again. On the positive side, Oregon and Washington are at home.
2018: 9-4 2019: 4-8 2020: 4-2
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Record: 4-8
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 4 Kansas State (in Arlington)
Sept. 11 at USC
Sept. 18 at Vanderbilt
Sept. 25 UCLA
Oct. 2 Oregon
Oct. 8 at Arizona State
Oct. 16 at Washington State
Oct. 23 OPEN DATE
Oct. 30 Washington
Nov. 5 Utah
Nov. 13 at Oregon State
Nov. 20 Cal
Nov. 27 Notre Dame
– Full Schedule Analysis
Washington Huskies
Jimmy Lake has a strong team coming back in his second season, and it’s going to get challenged early with a trip to Michigan in Week 2. The Pac-12 season starts out reasonably well, Oregon comes to Seattle, and best of all, there’s no USC or Utah – probably the two best teams from the South.
2018: 10-4 2019: 8-5 2020: 3-1
Realistic Best Case Record: 10-2
Realistic Worst Case Record: 7-5
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 9-3
Sept. 4 Montana
Sept. 11 at Michigan
Sept. 18 Arkansas State
Sept. 25 Cal
Oct. 2 at Oregon State
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 UCLA
Oct. 22 at Arizona
Oct. 30 at Stanford
Nov. 6 Oregon
Nov. 13 Arizona State
Nov. 20 at Colorado
Nov. 26 Washington State
– Full Schedule Analysis
Washington State Cougars
It’ll be an interesting team for Nick Rolovich’s second season. The skill guys are great, the O line should be fine, and the schedule is relatively manageable with two easy non-conference games and a home date with BYU. Oregon and Washington are on the road, but six of the first eight games are in Pullman.
2018: 11-2 2019: 6-7 2020: 1-3
Realistic Best Case Record: 8-4
Realistic Worst Case Record: 5-7
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 4 Utah State
Sept. 11 Portland State
Sept. 18 USC
Sept. 25 at Utah
Oct. 2 at Cal
Oct. 9 Oregon State
Oct. 16 Stanford
Oct. 23 BYU
Oct. 30 at Arizona State
Nov. 6 OPEN DATE
Nov. 13 at Oregon
Nov. 19 Arizona
Nov. 26 at Washington
– Full Schedule Analysis
Pac-12 South
– Pac-12 Weekly Schedule, Top Games To Watch
– Pac-12 2021 Pre-Spring Rankings & Breakdown
Arizona Wildcats
Jedd Fisch was a great get with terrific early returns as the new head coach, but he’s got a lot of work to do. There’s going to be a defense under this coaching staff, but where are the sure-thing wins? The Wildcats will be underdogs against everyone but Northern Arizona.
2018: 5-7 2019: 4-8 2020: 0-5
Realistic Best Case Record: 7-5
Realistic Worst Case Record: 1-11
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 3-9
Sept. 4 BYU (in Las Vegas)
Sept. 11 San Diego State
Sept. 18 Northern Arizona
Sept. 25 at Oregon
Oct. 2 OPEN DATE
Oct. 9 UCLA
Oct. 16 at Colorado
Oct. 22 Washington
Oct. 30 at USC
Nov. 6 Cal
Nov. 13 Utah
Nov. 20 at Washington State
Nov. 27 at Arizona State
– Full Schedule Analysis
Arizona State Sun Devils
Lost in the Herm Edwards era so far is how the team hasn’t quite been able to rock yet. This might be the season with QB Jayden Daniels and a great D to work around. If ASU can get by BYU, the non-conference slate is a breeze, USC is a home game, and there’s no Oregon from the North.
2018: 7-6 2019: 8-5 2020: 2-2
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Record: 5-7
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 8-4
Sept. 2 Southern Utah
Sept. 11 UNLV
Sept. 18 at BYU
Sept. 25 Colorado
Oct. 2 at UCLA
Oct. 8 Stanford
Oct. 16 at Utah
Oct. 23 OPEN DATE
Oct. 30 Washington State
Nov. 6 USC
Nov. 13 at Washington
Nov. 20 at Oregon State
Nov. 27 Arizona
– Full Schedule Analysis
Colorado Buffaloes
There’s hope after a strong first season under Karl Dorrell, but 2021 has one big issue – the schedule is a bear. The team should be fine – it’s a young group with a whole lot of promise – but the Buffs don’t catch too much of a break in conference play, and playing Minnesota and Texas A&M doesn’t help.
2018: 5-7 2019: 5-7 2020: 4-2
Realistic Best Case Record: 7-5
Realistic Worst Case Record: 3-9
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 4-8
Sept. 3 Northern Colorado
Sept. 11 Texas A&M (in Denver)
Sept. 18 Minnesota
Sept. 25 at Arizona State
Oct. 2 USC
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 Arizona
Oct. 23 at Cal
Oct. 30 at Oregon
Nov. 6 Oregon State
Nov. 13 at UCLA
Nov. 20 Washington
Nov. 26 at Utah
– Full Schedule Analysis
UCLA Bruins
By far this should be the best UCLA team yet under Chip Kelly. There’s experience, talent, the lines are strong, and … the schedule is a problem. Getting LSU as a non-conference game doesn’t help, and missing Oregon State and Washington State – likely the two lightest teams – from the North hurts. There’s can’t be a slip anywhere to have any hope of getting to six wins.
2018: 3-9 2019: 4-8 2020: 3-4
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Record: 4-8
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Aug. 28 Hawaii
Sept. 4 LSU
Sept. 11 OPEN DATE
Sept. 18 Fresno State
Sept. 25 at Stanford
Oct. 2 Arizona State
Oct. 9 at Arizona
Oct. 16 at Washington
Oct. 23 Oregon
Oct. 30 at Utah
Nov. 6 OPEN DATE
Nov. 13 Colorado
Nov. 20 at USC
Nov. 27 Cal
– Full Schedule Analysis
USC Trojans
The team might have lost a ton of talent, but there’s enough in place to be in the Pac-12 title hunt again. The Trojans might have to go to Notre Dame, Arizona State and Colorado, but there’s no Oregon or Washington from the North – Merry Christmas. There will be a few losses along the way – there’s just enough missing to be a problem – but it’ll be a good year. Not amazing, but good.
2018: 5-7 2019: 8-5 2020: 5-1
Realistic Best Case Record: 11-1
Realistic Worst Case Record: 6-6
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 9-3
Sept. 4 San Jose State
Sept. 11 Stanford
Sept. 18 at Washington State
Sept. 25 Oregon State
Oct. 2 at Colorado
Oct. 9 Utah
Oct. 16 OPEN DATE
Oct. 23 at Notre Dame
Oct. 30 Arizona
Nov. 6 at Arizona State
Nov. 13 at Cal
Nov. 20 UCLA
Nov. 27 BYU
– Full Schedule Analysis
Utah Utes
The Utes never really got their season going thanks to a late start and time needed to put everything together. Watch out this season with former Baylor QB Charlie Brewer likely working be hind a killer offensive front. There are just enough landmines to keep this from being a special year, but the talent is there to win the South.
2018: 9-5 2019: 11-3 2020: 3-2
Realistic Best Case Record: 10-2
Realistic Worst Case Record: 6-6
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 8-4
Sept. 2 Weber State
Sept. 11 at BYU
Sept. 18 at San Diego State
Sept. 25 Washington State
Oct. 2 OPEN DATE
Oct. 9 at USC
Oct. 16 Arizona State
Oct. 23 at Oregon State
Oct. 30 UCLA
Nov. 5 at Stanford
Nov. 13 at Arizona
Nov. 20 Oregon
Nov. 26 Colorado
– Full Schedule Analysis
2021 Early College Football Predictions, Schedules
ACC | American Athletic | Big Ten
Big 12 | C-USA | Independents
MAC | Mountain West | Pac-12
SEC | Sun Belt