2015-16 College Football Preview: PAC 12 (North Division)

We're quickly coming to the end of the 2015-16 Ultimate Sports Blog's College Football Preview, but first...we must take a look at the division that's ran the PAC-12 since it's inception. The PAC-12 North! I don't know what it is about the PAC-12 North, but since the conference expanded and added a championship game, the title has been won by a North team (Oregon or Stanford) every time. Will this year be more of the same? Can someone sneak up and dethrone Stanford or Oregon from the top of the division? Read on to find out......

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 College Football Preview

PAC 12

North Division

1. Stanford Cardinal

2014 Record: 8-5 (5-4)


Head Coach: David Shaw (42-12 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 66 (229.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 72 (158.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 80 (27.2 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 2 (16.4 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Kevin Hogan (2,792 passing yards, 65.9% completions, 19 TD's, 8 INT's)

Rushing - Remound Wright (135 carries, 601 rushing yards, 11 TD's)

Receiving - Ty Montgomery (61 receptions, 604 receiving yards, 3 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Kevin Hogan (QB), Christian McCaffery (RB), Devon Cajuste (WR), Michael Rector (WR), Austin Hooper (TE), Graham Shuler (C), Johnny Caspers (RG), Joshua Garnett (LG), Kyle Murphy (LT), Solomon Thomas (DE), Harrison Phillips (DT), Peter Kalambayi (LB), Blake Martinez (LB), Kevin Anderson (LB), Ronnie Harris (CB), Zach Hoffpauir (FS), Alex Robinson (P)


Top Incoming Players: Bryce Love (RB), Cameron Scarlett (RB), Reagan Williams (RB), Trenton Irwin (WR), J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (WR), Nick Wilson (OL), Brian Chaffin (OL), Jordan Fox (LB), Gabe Reid (LB), Mustafa Branch (LB), Frank Buncom (DB), Ben Edwards (DB), Quenton Meeks (DB), Justin Reid (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. @ Northwestern
vs. UCF
vs. @ USC
vs. @ Oregon State
vs. Arizona
BYE WEEK
vs. UCLA
vs. Washington
vs. @ Washington State
vs. @ Colorado
vs. Oregon
vs. California
vs. Notre Dame
BYE WEEK


PAC 12 Title Game: vs. UCLA (L)

Early Prediction: 10-3 (8-1)

2. Oregon Ducks

2014 Record: 13-2 (8-1)


Head Coach: Mark Helfrich (24-4 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 10 (312.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 22 (234.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 4 (45.4 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 31 (23.6 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Marcus Mariota (4.454 passing yards, 68.3% completions, 42 TD's, 4 INT's)

Rushing - Royce Freeman (252 carries, 1,365 rushing yards, 18 TD's)

Receiving - Byron Marshall (74 receptions, 1,003 receiving yards, 6 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Royce Freeman (RB), Thomas Tyner (RB), Byron Marshall (WR), Dwayne Stanford (WR), Bralon Addison (WR), Evan Baylis (TE), Cameron Hunt (RG), Tyrell Crosby (RT), Tyler Johnstone (LT), DeForest Buckner (DE), Christian French (DE), Alex Balducci (DL), Rodney Hardrick (LB), Joe Walker (LB), Tyson Coleman (LB), Reggie Daniels (S), Aidan Schneider (K), Ian Wheeler (P)


Top Incoming Players: Travis Jonsen (QB), Vernon Adams (QB), Taj Griffin (RB), Alex Ofodile (WR), Kirk Merritt (WR), Malik Lovette (WR), Jacob Breeland (TE), Zach Okun (OL), Shane Lemeieux (OL), Canton Kaumatule (DL), Jonah Moi (DL), Drayton Carlberg (DL), Ugo Amadi (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Eastern Washington
vs. @ Michigan State
vs. Georgia State
vs. Utah
vs. @ Colorado
vs. Washington State
vs. @ Washington
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Arizona State
vs. California
vs. @ Stanford
vs. USC
vs. Oregon State
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 10-2 (8-1)

3. Washington Huskies

2014 Record: 8-6 (4-5)


Head Coach: Chris Petersen (8-6 all-time at Washington, 100-18 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 89 (200.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 42 (188.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 57 (30.2 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 40 (24.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Cyler Miles (2,397 passing yards, 66.6% completions, 17 TD's, 4 INT's)

Rushing - Dwayne Washington (132 carries, 697 rushing yards, 9 TD's)

Receiving - Jaydon Mickens (60 receptions, 617 receiving yards, 4 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Dwayne Washington (RB), Dante Pettis (WR), Jaydon Mickens (WR), Joshua Perkins (TE), Dexter Charles (LG), Travis Feeney (LB), Kevin King (CB), Sidney Jones (CB), Budda Baker (FS), Cameron Van Winkle (K), Korey Durkee (P)


Top Incoming Players: Jake Browning (QB), Myles Gaskin (RB), Chico McClatcher (WR), Isaiah Renfro (WR), Andre Baccellia (WR), Michael Neal (TE), Henry Roberts (OL), Trey Adams (OL), Benning Potao'e (DL), Jason Scrempos (DL), D.J. Beavers (LB), Ben Burr-Kirven (LB), Tevis Bartlett (LB), Kyler Manu (LB), Austin Joyner (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. @ Boise State
vs. Sacramento State
vs. Utah State
vs. California
BYE WEEK
vs. @ USC
vs. Oregon
vs. @ Stanford
vs. Arizona
vs. Utah
vs. @ Arizona State
vs. @ Oregon State
vs. Washington State
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 7-5 (4-5)

4. California Golden Bears

2014 Record: 5-7 (3-6)


Head Coach: Sonny Dykes (6-18 all-time at Cal, 28-33 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 6 (346.0 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 87 (149.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 11 (38.3 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 123 (39.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Jared Goff (3,973 passing yards, 62.1% completions, 35 TD's, 7 INT's)

Rushing - Daniel Lasco (210 carries, 1,115 rushing yards, 12 TD's)

Receiving - Kenny Lawler (54 receptions, 701 receiving yards, 9 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Jared Goff (QB), Daniel Lasco (RB), Bryce Treggs (WR), Stephen Anderson (WR), Kenny Lawler (WR), Jordan Rigsbee (RG), Chris Borrayo (LG), Steven Moore (LT), Todd Barr (DE), Mustafa Jalil (DT), Jalen Jefferson (LB), Hardy Nickerson (LB), Michael Barton (LB), Darius White (CB), Cedric Dozier (CB), Stefan McClure (FS), Cole Leininger (P)


Top Incoming Players: Trey Turner (QB), Lonny Powell (RB), Carlos Strickland (WR), Jaylinn Hawkins (WR), Austin Aaron (WR), Greyson Bankhead (WR), Brandon Singleton (WR), Semisi Uluave (OL), Ryan Gibson (OL), DeVante Wilson (DL), Russell Ude (DL), Antoine Albert (DB), Derron Brown (DB), Malik Psalms (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Grambling State
vs. San Diego State
vs. @ Texas
vs. @ Washington
vs. Washington State
vs. @ Utah
BYE WEEK
vs. @ UCLA
vs. USC
vs. @ Oregon
vs. Oregon State
vs. @ Stanford
vs. Arizona State
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 6-6 (3-6)

5. Washington State Cougars

2014 Record: 3-9 (2-7)


Head Coach: Mike Leach (12-25 all-time at Washington State, 96-68 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 1 (477.7 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 128 (39.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 48 (31.8 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 117 (38.6 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Connor Halliday (3,873 passing yards, 67.3% completions, 32 TD's, 11 INT's)

Rushing - Jamal Morrow (87 carries, 351 rushing yards, 0 TD's)

Receiving - Vince Mayle (106 receptions, 1,483 receiving yards, 9 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Jamal Morrow (RB), River Cracraft (WR), Gabe Marks (WR), Riley Sorenson (C), Eduardo Middleton (RG), Gunnar Eklund (LG), Cole Madison (RT), Joe Dahl (LT), Destiny Vaeao (DT), Kache Palacio (LB), Jeremiah Allison (LB), Darius Lemora (LB), Charleston White (DB), Taylor Taliulu (FS), Quentin Breshears (K)


Top Incoming Players: Tyler Hilinski (QB), James Williams (RB), Thomas Toki (DL), Jeremiah Mitchell (DL), T.J. Fehoko (DL), Aaron Porter (LB), Treshon Broughton (DB), Shalom Luani (DB), Kameron Powell (DB), Hunter Dale (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Portland State
vs. @ Rutgers
vs. Wyoming
BYE WEEK
vs. @ California
vs. @ Oregon
vs. Oregon State
vs. @ Arizona
vs. Stanford
vs. Arizona State
vs. @ UCLA
vs. Colorado
vs. @ Washington
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 4-8 (2-7)

6. Oregon State Beavers

2014 Record: 5-7 (2-7)


Head Coach: Gary Andersen (0-0 all-time at Oregon State, 45-31 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 32 (275.4 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 113 (118.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 89 (25.7 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 98 (31.6 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Sean Mannion (3,164 passing yards, 62.3% completions, 15 TD's, 8 INT's)

Rushing - Storm Woods (121 carries, 766 rushing yards, 5 TD's)

Receiving - Victor Bolden (72 receptions, 798 receiving yards, 2 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Storm Woods (RB), Victor Bolden (WR), Jordan Villamin (WR), Caleb Smith (TE), Josh Mitchell (C), Isaac Seumalo (RG), Gavin Andrews (LG), Dustin Stanton (RT), Sean Harlow (LT), Jaswha James (DE), Lavonte Barnett (DT), Larry Scott (CB), Garrett Owens (K)


Top Incoming Players: Seth Collins (QB), Tim Cook (RB), Taylor Thomas (RB), Deltron Sands (RB), Paul Lucas (WR), Tuli Wily-Matagi (TE), LEo Fuimaono (OL), Christian Folau (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Weber State
vs. @ Michigan
vs. San Jose State
vs. Stanford
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Arizona
vs. @ Washington State
vs. Colorado
vs. @ Utah
vs. UCLA
vs. @ California
vs. Washington
vs. @ Oregon
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 3-9 (1-8)

PAC 12 North Division's Potential NFL Talent:

(These are guys playing in the conference this year who are already on NFL team's radars)

Jared Goff - QB (Cal)

Kevin Hogan - QB (Stanford)

Daniel Lasco - RB (Cal)

Thomas Tyner - RB (Oregon)

Devon Cajuste - WR (Stanford)

Kenny Lawler - WR (Cal)

Gabe Marks - WR (Washington State)

Bryce Treggs - WR (Cal)

Pharaoh Brown - TE (Oregon)

Austin Hooper - TE (Stanford)

Joshua Perkins - TE (Washington)

Graham Shuler - C (Stanford)

Isaac Seumalo - OG (Oregon State)

Joshua Garnett - OG (Stanford)

Chris Borrayo - OG (Cal)

Tyler Johnstone - OT (Oregon)

Kyle Murphy - OT (Stanford)

DeForest Buckner - DE (Oregon)

Michael Barton - LB (Cal)

Peter Kalambayi - LB (Stanford)

Blake Martinez - LB (Stanford)

Joe Walker - LB (Oregon)