2023-2024 Pac-12 overview: Who challenges new-look Buffs?
The past few months have been a flurry of what feel like “firsts” for the CU football program. Some of these firsts include a coach with infamous notoriety once on and now off the field, the Buffs being a top destination for recruits and transfers from across the country, as well as championship aspirations.
The last time the Buffs rose to national prominence was during the 1990 season when they were a part of the Big Eight conference. A lot has changed for CU since then, including joining the Pac-12 in 2010. The conference boasts six teams ranked in the College Football Playoff (CFP) top 25 during the 2022-2023 season. Those teams include Utah, Oregon, USC, Oregon State, Washington, and UCLA.
The Buffs were able to lock up players at key positions for the 2023-24 season in order to compete, with a No. 21 ranked recruiting class paired with a top five ranked transfer class according to 247sports.
Some of the big names coming to CU include transfer QB Shedeur Sanders and five-star CB Travis Hunter from Jackson State, and high school recruits RB Dylan Edwards and five-star CB Cormani McClain. These names just start to scratch the surface of the talent Coach Prime can accumulate. That being said, the Buffs have some tough competition in order to prove their worth in the Pac-12.
These are the teams that pose the biggest threat to the Buffs Pac-12 championship run:
USC Trojans
It comes as no surprise that USC is one of the teams to beat in the Pac-12. Coming off an 11-3 finish to a strong 2022-23 campaign, Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are the most established threat to the Buffs’ rise in the Pac-12.
They have a potential number one overall pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner in QB Caleb Williams, who is a dynamic player that creates a multitude of seemingly impossible plays for his team. USC is returning the lion’s share of their roster, but is losing top receiver Jordan Addison to the draft. Taking his place is the No. 1 ranked WR from the 2023 recruiting class, Zacharia Branch. It’s no doubt that time will tell who emerges from the WR room for USC, but we do know that the Lincoln Riley-led Trojans will be a tough test for Coach Prime and the Buffs.
Oregon Ducks
The uniforms aren’t the only aspect of Oregon’s team that catches the eye. The Ducks finished the 2022-23 season with an impressive 10-3 record capped with a Holiday Bowl win against North Carolina.
Bo Nix is expected to return–the dual-threat quarterback ranked third in both passing touchdowns (29) and rushing touchdowns (14) in the Pac-12 last season. Running back Bucky Irving will be back as well. He is a playmaker that helped Oregon to its impressive finish after ranking third in the conference with 81.4 yards per game.
The 6’3”, 210 pound No. 2 ranked wide receiver in the 2023 recruiting class, Jurrion Dickey, gives Nix a big target going into 2023. The Ducks’ past success and returning talent will prove to be a challenge to the Buffs.
Washington Huskies
Not enough can be said about the Huskies’ stellar 11-2 finish in 2022-23. The large reason for this was because of QB Michael Penix Jr., WR Rome Odunze, and WR Jalen McMillan – all returning for the 2023-24 season.
Washington had their fair share of statistical dominance in the conference. Penix Jr. was the main contributor to a much-improved offense as he sat atop the Pac-12 passing leaders on a yards per game basis. His main targets benefitted from this as we saw Odunze rank No. 1 (95.4) and McMillan No. 5 (84.5) in receiving yards per game. The Huskies only trailed USC in points per game in the conferencewith 39.7. With another successful season on the horizon, the Huskies look to challenge Coach Prime in his first year.
Utah Utes
Utah has been a consistently good team for the past few seasons now, only finishing below nine wins once in the last five full seasons. While Cameron Rising hasn’t been the flashiest player, he has been more than serviceable for the Utes–a trend that should continue into the 2023-24 season.
While the Utes ranked second in the Pac-12 in rush yards per contest (217.6), they ranked tenth in pass yards per game (249.2). Junior RB Tavion Thomas has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, which leaves a void to be filled in the Utes’ backfield. While offensive questions are there, stable quarterback play and past success are reasons the Utes remain threatening to the Buffs and the conference.
Oregon State Beavers
The Beavers’ running attack and stout defense was the main reason for their success last season. Freshman RB Damien Martinez was a mid-season revelation for the Beavers as he went on a six-game streak of 100-yard rushing games. Shortening the game with a strong running attack complimented by a defense letting up the least amount of points and yards per game in the Pac-12 is a recipe for success.
This year, they’re getting help at the quarterback position in Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei. While he has struggled over the past couple seasons at Clemson, Uiagalelei has all the physical gifts to capitalize on opportunities created by Oregon State’s run game. The Beavers look to contend with the top of the conference as they head into the new season.
Honorable mention: UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins opened eyes last season as they ranked No. 3 in points per game (39.2) and led the league in rush yards per game (237.2). This was mainly due to dual-threat QB Dorian Thomspon-Robinson and RB Zach Charbonnet elusive running ability. They miss out on this list because of the aforementioned playmakers being lost to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Even though UCLA is likely to take a step back, their future is far from gloomy. They have managed to recruit five-star QB Dante Moore and four-star WR Jeremiah McClure who are bound for big things. Moore is likely to go through some growing pains helming the Bruins’ offense, but the foundation will be set for years to come.
These key recruits paired with a No. 6 ranked transfer class is a profound reason why the Bruins are a team to watch.
Takeaways
The Pac-12 is primed for big things this upcoming season as CU hopes to enter the contention sweepstakes and the six top 25 finishers are loading up to double-down on their past successes. The arms race for the conference title will be the first test for Coach Prime and the Buffs as they look towards the College Football Playoff.
It will be a tough road for Colorado as expectations, a new scheme, and a difficult schedule all play a factor. Coach Prime had success at the FCS level, and some of the players he has brought over are a definite upgrade, but it’s yet to be seen how that stacks up against FBS competition. The Buffs will be challenged by a schedule that includes tough out-of-conference games like Nebraska and national championship runner-up TCU. Speculation is an easy thing to focus on surrounding this electrifying offseason, but one thing that is known is that this season will be full of excitement for the Buffs faithful.
