Does the 5-0 record in the bowls mean the Pac 10 will get more national respect?
Not necessarily, but the league certainly deserves more national attention.
The Pac 10 had a tremendous bowl season with Arizona beating BYU, Oregon State beating Pitt, Oregon beating Oklahoma State, California beating Miami, and USC beating Penn State, and now the league will try to parlay that into more national respect. However, that will only come with winning big non-conference games in the regular season.
The 5 Biggest Pac 10 Spring Storylines
1. The USC quarterback situation. There are some major quarterback battles for several Pac 10 teams, but none will impact the national title chase more than the fight between Mitch Mustain, Aaron Corp, and Matt Barkley.
2. Will UCLA have an offense? Getting more production out of the quarterback, whomever that?ll be, will be job one. There are more options this year, so if Kevin Craft isn?t far better, the Bruins will go with a new starter.
3. Can Jake Locker handle the new offense? Washington will need its star quarterback to work well right away with new head coach Steve Sarkisian.
4. Is Kevin Riley ready? He?s been the on-again, off-again main man for the California offense over the last few years, and now he?ll have to show that he can make the team his or else he?ll be looking over his shoulder at Brock Mansion.
5. Can Oregon keep up the running game? After ripping up Oregon State in the regular season finale and following it up by dominating Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl, the Ducks need to replace four starters up front and loses RB Jeremiah Johnson.
The Spring Pac 10 Team Rankings
1. USC
2. California
3. Oregon
4. Arizona State
5. Arizona
6. Oregon State
7. UCLA
8. Stanford
9. Washington
10. Washington State
The Pre-Spring Call For Player Of The Year
1. Jahvid Best, RB California
2. Taylor Mays, S USC
3. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB Oregon State
4. Jeremiah Masoli, QB Oregon
5. Jake Locker, QB Washington
