The preseason All-Pac-12 football teams were announced on Tuesday. Of course USC had several selections and was represented on both the first and second teams, but the Trojans’ representation on the first team was not as substantial or pervasive as some had expected.
We will give you the full first team below, but there’s one significant story to be told: USC’s offensive line did not have one player on the first team. There is undeniably prime offensive line talent throughout the Pac-12. Oregon State has a high-quality offensive line, as does Utah. The Beavers and Utes certainly deserve to have representation there, and we’re not going to suggest or imply they don’t. The idea that OSU and Utah deserve more first-team selections than USC does is not particularly objectionable or controversial. Oregon State won 10 games last year with basically no quarterback because its offensive line was truly elite. If the Beavers had an above-average quarterback in 2022, they probably would have made the Pac-12 Championship Game.
What we are noting is not that Oregon State and Utah had more selections than USC on the offensive line; we’re noting that USC had zero first-team selections.
Really? Really?
Fine: USC’s offensive line just got a huge source of motivation going into the season. Josh Henson doesn’t really have to say a whole lot to his position group. Those guys have top-grade bulletin board material. They will relish road-grading every defensive line they see this year.
Okay, enough preamble. Let’s open the envelope and disclose the preseason All-Pac-12 First Team, part of the final All-Pac-12 teams of USC’s existence in the Pac-12 Conference: