The first season of the newly formed Pac-12 is fast approaching. And, frankly, it can't get here fast enough for some members.
More talk about the season might mean less talk about the offseason.
It has gotten ugly out West. Oregon is under scrutiny for its controversial relationship with Texas-based scout Willie Lyles. USC tailback Marc Tyler was suspended for making inappropriate comments to TMZ, comments that implied he played for pay. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck grew a beard.
Oregon insists it has done nothing wrong. Tyler said he made a bad joke. Luck had no good explanation but thankfully lost the beard.
With camps open, members of the Pac-12 finally can focus on a season in which two teams (Colorado and Utah) are coming in and three coaches (UCLA's Rick Neuheisel, Arizona State's Dennis Erickson and Washington State's Paul Wulff) are in danger of leaving if their teams don't succeed.
Next comes the three-month process of determining which teams will win the North and South divisions.
The only sure thing is that it won't be USC, which is ineligible because of NCAA sanctions stemming from the Reggie Bush case.
Oregon and Stanford, which both finished in the top five of last season's final rankings, are expected to battle it out in the North.
The South race appears wide open, though the popular choice to prevail is Arizona State.
That certainly would give Erickson some security.
Unlike other conferences, which play championship games at a neutral site, the Pac-12 title game will be held on the campus of the team with the best conference record.
But if the participating teams have identical conference records, things could get ugly.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Stanford QB Andrew Luck. He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season and is the favorite to win it this year. Stanford is 20-5 in games he has started. He has a great passing arm with good touch and the ability to read defenses. Last season, he passed from 3,338 yards and 32 touchdowns with only eight interceptions while earning All-America recognition. He's a more than adequate runner, too.
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Arizona State LB Vontaze Burfict. He was heralded as a tremendous prospect when he first arrived at Arizona State, and he hasn't disappointed. In fact, the only knock is that he draws too many penalties. Can a linebacker be too mean? Burfict has vowed to play more under control, which will make him even better. A punishing hitter with great power and range, Burfict posted 90 tackles last season and was named all-conference.
BREAKOUT OFFENSIVE STAR: California WR Keenan Allen. As a true freshman last season, he made a significant contribution to the Bears' offense with 46 catches for 490 yards. This season, he could emerge as a star. Allen has experience to go along with good size (he's 6-foot-3, 205 pounds), excellent hands and game-breaking speed. He also has a terrific rapport with new Bears quarterback Zach Maynard -- his half-brother.
BREAKOUT DEFENSIVE STAR: UCLA DE Datone Jones. He was expected to have a big season in 2010 but was sidelined by a fractured foot suffered last summer. He's healthy now and eager to make up for lost time. He can be a disruptive force, posting 11 tackles for loss and four sacks as a sophomore in '09.
BEST OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER: Washington TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins. UW coach Steve Sarkisian likes to use the tight end, and he now has a big one in Seferian-Jenkins, a 6-7, 250-pound freshman who was one of the key signees in an an impressive 2011 recruiting class. Seferian-Jenkins, who had 126 receptions in his high school career, was the nation's No. 2 tight end prospect. He'll be an inviting target in the middle of the field for new Huskies starting QB Keith Price.
BEST DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER: Utah FS Keith McGill. The Utes need help in the secondary, and McGill, a junior college transfer, can provide it immediately. McGill was a JUCO All-American at Cerritos College (Calif.), where he had seven interceptions last season. He's a great athlete with a knack for making big plays.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER ON THE SPOT: Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler. Arizona State has high hopes for this season, but the Sun Devils will need better play from the quarterback. Osweiler started two late-season games, both wins, after Steven Threet was hurt. If Osweiler plays at a high level, the Sun Devils could win the Pac-12. If he struggles, it could be another disappointing fall in Tempe.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER ON THE SPOT: Arizona CB Trevin Wade. He earned all-conference acclaim as a sophomore, but he had an off year as a junior in 2010. He even lost his starting job for a couple of games. He reportedly has improved his work habits. He'd better: The Wildcats have young corners who could take his job.
