WhatIfSports 2016 Pac-12 preview: Projected standings and game-by-game predictions
Which team will be crowned Pac-12 champions? WhatIfSports.com played every game of the 2016 season 101 times to generate game-by-game predictions for each Pac-12 team, as well as projected conference standings.
All games were played using WhatIfSports' college football simulation engine, which uses its highly sophisticated algorithms to simulate every play of the game. The conference standings table displays the most likely outcome for each team, whereas the team-by-team schedules display absolute records.
| 2016 Pac-12 Projected Conference Standings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| North | W | L | Overall Record |
| Stanford Cardinal | 7 | 2 | 10-2 |
| Washington Huskies | 6 | 3 | 9-3 |
| Oregon Ducks | 5 | 4 | 8-4 |
| Washington State Cougars | 5 | 4 | 8-4 |
| California Golden Bears | 4 | 5 | 7-5 |
| Oregon State Beavers | 2 | 7 | 3-9 |
| South | W | L | Overall Record |
| UCLA Bruins | 6 | 3 | 8-4 |
| USC Trojans | 5 | 4 | 7-5 |
| Utah Utes | 5 | 4 | 8-4 |
| Arizona State Sun Devils | 4 | 5 | 6-6 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 3 | 6 | 5-7 |
| Colorado Buffaloes | 2 | 7 | 4-8 |
SEE ALSO: SEC Preview, Big 12 Preview, Big Ten Preview, ACC Preview
Three Storylines
Oregon Comes Down to Earth
After seven straight seasons of double-digit win totals, Oregon slipped to 9-4 last year, ending the season with an overtime loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl. Is the setback an aberration or is the Oregon program heading in the wrong direction? The Ducks begin the year ranked 24th in the AP poll, their lowest preseason ranking since 2007 and their first outside the Top 10 since 2010.
Can Christian McCaffrey Do It Again?
McCaffrey's 2015 season was one of the best in the history of college football. He broke Barry Sanders' 27-year-old record for all-purpose yards, compiling 3,496 yards. Sanders totaled 3,249 yards during his 1988 Heisman season. McCaffrey was denied the Heisman Trophy last year, finishing second in voting to Alabama's Derrick Henry.
College Football Is Back in the State of Washington
The Washington Huskies haven't won 10 games since an 11-1 season in 2000, but voters have the Huskies ranked 14th in the AP preseason poll. Meanwhile, across the state in Pullman, the Washington State Cougars won nine games in 2015, the program's most since a 10-3 season in 2003.
Three Players to Watch
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
Smith-Schuster led the Pac-12 in reception yardage in 2015, hauling in 89 receptions for 1,454 yards and 10 scores. He'll be working with a new quarterback this year though, as Cody Kessler will be suiting up for the Cleveland Browns.
RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
McCaffrey's 2015 season by the numbers: 337 rush attempts for 2,019 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns; 45 receptions for 645 yards (14.3 yards per catch) and five touchdowns; 37 kickoff returns for 1,070 yards (28.9 yards per return) and one touchdown; 15 punt returns for 130 yards (8.7 yards per return) and one touchdown; 2-for-3 passing for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
RB Royce Freeman, Oregon
Freeman is the latest in a line of talented running backs at Oregon. He followed up a freshman campaign in which he ran for 1,365 yards with an even better sophomore year. Freeman's 1,836 rushing yards were fourth-most in the country last season. He showed some talent as a receiver as well, catching 26 passes for 348 yards.
Three Games to Watch
Stanford @ Washington: Friday, September 30
If preseason rankings hold true, this late-September matchup between Stanford and Washington could go a long way in determining the winner of the North division. It would be unwise to count out Oregon, and Washington State is an up-and-comer, but the Cardinal and Huskies appear to be the teams to beat.
Stanford @ Oregon: Saturday, November 12
Stanford and Oregon have produced a number of memorable games, most recently last season's 38-36 thriller in which unranked Oregon upset No. 7 Stanford and spoiled the Cardinal's College Football Playoff hopes. The rematch in Eugene this season will be must-see theater and will showcase the conferences two best running backs in McCaffrey and Freeman.
USC @ UCLA: Saturday, November 19
The two LA-based schools are the favorites in the Pac-12 South. UCLA was 5-4 in conference play last year, but brings back talented quarterback Josh Rosen. The Bruins will be one of six USC opponents ranked in the preseason Top 25, a group headlined by No. 1 Alabama.
To view a team's game-by-game predictions, select the school below:
Arizona | Arizona State | California | Colorado | Oregon | Oregon State | Stanford | UCLA | USC | Utah | Washington | Washington State
| 2016 Arizona Wildcats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | BYU Cougars | 45.5 | 27.6-29.4 |
| 2 | Grambling State Tigers | 95.0 | 47.4-9.3 |
| 3 | Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | 67.3 | 35.1-27.4 |
| 4 | Washington Huskies | 38.6 | 28.0-30.9 |
| 5 | @UCLA Bruins | 44.6 | 27.1-30.3 |
| 6 | @Utah Utes | 36.6 | 24.8-27.9 |
| 7 | USC Trojans | 40.6 | 29.7-31.6 |
| 9 | Stanford Cardinal | 34.7 | 27.1-32.9 |
| 10 | @Washington State Cougars | 40.6 | 30.1-34.2 |
| 11 | Colorado Buffaloes | 59.4 | 29.2-26.8 |
| 12 | @Oregon State Beavers | 65.3 | 30.6-26.0 |
| 13 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 51.5 | 30.4-29.2 |
| 2016 Arizona State Sun Devils | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | 95.0 | 47.9-7.9 |
| 2 | Texas Tech Red Raiders | 56.4 | 32.0-30.5 |
| 3 | @UTSA Roadrunners | 64.4 | 30.9-24.8 |
| 4 | California Golden Bears | 49.5 | 29.5-29.7 |
| 5 | @USC Trojans | 44.6 | 27.4-30.0 |
| 6 | UCLA Bruins | 41.6 | 25.8-29.8 |
| 7 | @Colorado Buffaloes | 65.3 | 29.1-25.0 |
| 8 | Washington State Cougars | 48.5 | 32.4-33.5 |
| 9 | @Oregon Ducks | 48.5 | 30.8-31.9 |
| 11 | Utah Utes | 50.5 | 24.4-25.5 |
| 12 | @Washington Huskies | 42.6 | 26.4-28.5 |
| 13 | @Arizona Wildcats | 48.5 | 29.2-30.4 |
| 2016 California Golden Bears | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | @Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | 71.3 | 33.3-25.4 |
| 2 | @San Diego State Aztecs | 49.5 | 29.6-28.9 |
| 3 | Texas Longhorns | 49.5 | 28.6-28.7 |
| 4 | @Arizona State Sun Devils | 50.5 | 29.7-29.5 |
| 5 | Utah Utes | 44.6 | 27.0-28.6 |
| 6 | @Oregon State Beavers | 60.4 | 30.1-25.0 |
| 8 | Oregon Ducks | 50.5 | 30.4-30.8 |
| 9 | @USC Trojans | 38.6 | 29.2-32.2 |
| 10 | Washington Huskies | 51.5 | 29.4-30.9 |
| 11 | @Washington State Cougars | 40.6 | 31.2-33.9 |
| 12 | Stanford Cardinal | 41.6 | 28.8-31.9 |
| 13 | UCLA Bruins | 47.5 | 28.6-31.9 |
| 2016 Colorado Buffaloes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Colorado State Rams | 60.4 | 30.6-28.0 |
| 2 | Idaho State Bengals | 95.0 | 44.1-6.7 |
| 3 | @Michigan Wolverines | 24.8 | 23.0-31.2 |
| 4 | @Oregon Ducks | 36.6 | 26.5-31.4 |
| 5 | Oregon State Beavers | 60.4 | 27.9-25.2 |
| 6 | @USC Trojans | 34.7 | 25.9-30.6 |
| 7 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 34.7 | 25.0-29.1 |
| 8 | @Stanford Cardinal | 26.7 | 23.6-32.2 |
| 10 | UCLA Bruins | 37.6 | 24.7-29.3 |
| 11 | @Arizona Wildcats | 40.6 | 26.8-29.2 |
| 12 | Washington State Cougars | 40.6 | 28.8-31.5 |
| 13 | Utah Utes | 31.7 | 22.8-26.1 |
| 2016 Oregon Ducks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | UC Davis Aggies | 95.0 | 54.6-6.7 |
| 2 | Virginia Cavaliers | 55.4 | 30.7-28.6 |
| 3 | @Nebraska Cornhuskers | 56.4 | 31.5-29.2 |
| 4 | Colorado Buffaloes | 63.4 | 31.4-26.5 |
| 5 | @Washington State Cougars | 46.5 | 33.6-33.1 |
| 6 | Washington Huskies | 46.5 | 29.8-31.6 |
| 8 | @California Golden Bears | 49.5 | 30.8-30.4 |
| 9 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 51.5 | 31.9-30.8 |
| 10 | @USC Trojans | 45.5 | 31.4-31.3 |
| 11 | Stanford Cardinal | 47.5 | 30.7-32.4 |
| 12 | @Utah Utes | 58.4 | 29.2-28.0 |
| 13 | @Oregon State Beavers | 70.3 | 32.5-26.3 |
| 2016 Oregon State Beavers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | @Minnesota Golden Gophers | 43.6 | 25.6-26.8 |
| 3 | Idaho State Bengals | 95.0 | 44.9-7.5 |
| 4 | Boise State Broncos | 30.7 | 25.6-29.9 |
| 5 | @Colorado Buffaloes | 39.6 | 25.2-27.9 |
| 6 | California Golden Bears | 39.6 | 25.0-30.1 |
| 7 | Utah Utes | 34.7 | 23.1-27.2 |
| 8 | @Washington Huskies | 28.7 | 22.6-30.5 |
| 9 | Washington State Cougars | 39.6 | 28.6-33.0 |
| 10 | @Stanford Cardinal | 18.8 | 23.1-33.4 |
| 11 | @UCLA Bruins | 30.7 | 25.6-32.4 |
| 12 | Arizona Wildcats | 34.7 | 26.0-30.6 |
| 13 | Oregon Ducks | 29.7 | 26.3-32.5 |
| 2016 Stanford Cardinal | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Kansas State Wildcats | 55.4 | 28.0-24.9 |
| 3 | USC Trojans | 64.4 | 31.0-28.4 |
| 4 | @UCLA Bruins | 57.4 | 30.6-27.3 |
| 5 | @Washington Huskies | 54.5 | 29.7-29.3 |
| 6 | Washington State Cougars | 61.4 | 34.0-29.7 |
| 7 | @Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 54.5 | 30.0-28.6 |
| 8 | Colorado Buffaloes | 73.3 | 32.2-23.6 |
| 9 | @Arizona Wildcats | 65.3 | 32.9-27.1 |
| 10 | Oregon State Beavers | 81.2 | 33.4-23.1 |
| 11 | @Oregon Ducks | 52.5 | 32.4-30.7 |
| 12 | @California Golden Bears | 58.4 | 31.9-28.8 |
| 13 | Rice Owls | 80.2 | 34.0-24.7 |
| 2016 UCLA Bruins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | @Texas A&M Aggies | 43.6 | 27.0-28.8 |
| 2 | UNLV Rebels | 72.3 | 32.4-25.5 |
| 3 | @BYU Cougars | 57.4 | 28.4-26.3 |
| 4 | Stanford Cardinal | 41.6 | 27.3-30.6 |
| 5 | Arizona Wildcats | 55.4 | 30.3-27.1 |
| 6 | @Arizona State Sun Devils | 58.4 | 29.8-25.8 |
| 7 | @Washington State Cougars | 59.4 | 32.2-30.3 |
| 8 | Utah Utes | 52.5 | 25.8-27.2 |
| 10 | @Colorado Buffaloes | 62.4 | 29.3-24.7 |
| 11 | Oregon State Beavers | 69.3 | 32.4-25.6 |
| 12 | USC Trojans | 40.6 | 30.4-31.7 |
| 13 | @California Golden Bears | 52.5 | 31.9-28.6 |
| 2016 USC Trojans | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | @Alabama Crimson Tide | 37.6 | 24.5-27.8 |
| 2 | Utah State Aggies | 65.3 | 32.3-27.5 |
| 3 | @Stanford Cardinal | 35.6 | 28.4-31.0 |
| 4 | @Utah Utes | 56.4 | 28.1-26.2 |
| 5 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 55.4 | 30.0-27.4 |
| 6 | Colorado Buffaloes | 65.3 | 30.6-25.9 |
| 7 | @Arizona Wildcats | 59.4 | 31.6-29.7 |
| 9 | California Golden Bears | 61.4 | 32.2-29.2 |
| 10 | Oregon Ducks | 54.5 | 31.3-31.4 |
| 11 | @Washington Huskies | 40.6 | 28.0-29.8 |
| 12 | @UCLA Bruins | 59.4 | 31.7-30.4 |
| 13 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 50.5 | 30.9-30.7 |
| 2016 Utah Utes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Southern Utah Thunderbirds | 95 | 46.5-9.1 |
| 2 | BYU Cougars | 49.5 | 24.5-24.7 |
| 3 | @San Jose State Spartans | 66.3 | 29.2-24 |
| 4 | USC Trojans | 43.6 | 26.2-28.1 |
| 5 | @California Golden Bears | 52.5 | 28.6-27 |
| 6 | Arizona Wildcats | 63.4 | 27.9-24.8 |
| 7 | @Oregon State Beavers | 65.3 | 27.2-23.1 |
| 8 | @UCLA Bruins | 47.5 | 27.2-25.8 |
| 9 | Washington Huskies | 32.7 | 23.5-26.1 |
| 11 | @Arizona State Sun Devils | 49.5 | 25.5-24.4 |
| 12 | Oregon Ducks | 41.6 | 28-29.2 |
| 13 | @Colorado Buffaloes | 68.3 | 26.1-22.8 |
| 2016 Washington Huskies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 78.2 | 33.3-23.8 |
| 2 | Idaho Vandals | 85.1 | 35.6-21.7 |
| 3 | Portland State Vikings | 95.0 | 49.4-6.5 |
| 4 | @Arizona Wildcats | 60.4 | 30.9-28.0 |
| 5 | Stanford Cardinal | 45.5 | 29.3-29.7 |
| 6 | @Oregon Ducks | 53.5 | 31.6-29.8 |
| 8 | Oregon State Beavers | 71.3 | 30.5-22.6 |
| 9 | @Utah Utes | 67.3 | 26.1-23.5 |
| 10 | @California Golden Bears | 48.5 | 30.9-29.4 |
| 11 | USC Trojans | 58.4 | 29.8-28.0 |
| 12 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 56.4 | 28.5-26.4 |
| 13 | @Washington State Cougars | 60.4 | 32.3-29.1 |
| 2016 Washington State Cougars | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opponent | Win% | Avg Score |
| 1 | Eastern Washington Eagles | 95.0 | 51.9-7.7 |
| 2 | @Boise State Broncos | 54.5 | 32.7-31.0 |
| 3 | Idaho Vandals | 79.2 | 37.2-26.4 |
| 5 | Oregon Ducks | 52.5 | 33.1-33.6 |
| 6 | @Stanford Cardinal | 38.6 | 29.7-34.0 |
| 7 | UCLA Bruins | 40.6 | 30.3-32.2 |
| 8 | @Arizona State Sun Devils | 51.5 | 33.5-32.4 |
| 9 | @Oregon State Beavers | 60.4 | 33.0-28.6 |
| 10 | Arizona Wildcats | 59.4 | 34.2-30.1 |
| 11 | California Golden Bears | 59.4 | 33.9-31.2 |
| 12 | @Colorado Buffaloes | 59.4 | 31.5-28.8 |
| 13 | Washington Huskies | 39.6 | 29.1-32.3 |
