![]() But any improvement on defense can mean the difference between winning and losing in the high-scoring league. Sure, there will be a lot of changes at key positions in Chip Kelly’s offense to iron out as well, notably the departure of longtime starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. What will the defense look like under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn? He’ll have ample opportunities to make his presence known against the high-octane passing attacks he’ll see in the Pac-12. Though the former five-star recruit took some time to develop, he’s coming off his best season in which he recorded 3½ sacks and 7.5 total tackles for loss. The former South Carolina Gamecock arrives in Eugene with plenty of potential. Will Jordan Burch be the Ducks’ next great rush end? He wasn’t ready for spring drills but should be back for the fall, and he’ll be a welcome presence for returning quarterback Cam Rising. Kuithe, meanwhile, decided to return for a sixth season with the Utes. But when Brant Kuithe went down with a knee injury, all Kincaid did was put together an All-America type season. It’s easy to forget, but the Utes’ do-everything tight end was supposed to be part of a platoon last year. Any improvement from the coverage team could help the Huskies take the next step and play for the conference title because the offense should be in great shape with Michael Penix Jr. Those two both made significant progress in the spring, and they were joined by experienced newcomers Jabbar Muhammad and Thaddeus Dixon. Elijah Jackson was banged up much of the season, and freshman classmate Jaivion Green was thrown to the wolves at times. ![]() Pass coverage was a problem area against the Pac-12’s top offenses. Will there be more plays from the cornerbacks? SURPRISE STORIES: Who can mimic TCU's run to College Football Playoff? 2. SPRING POWER RANKING: Big Ten| SEC| ACC | Big 12 We do know that Alex Grinch, Lincoln Riley’s hand-picked DC who accompanied him from Oklahoma, is well aware his side of the ball needs to demonstrate progress this year with the goal of reaching the College Football Playoff likely decided by how Grinch's group performs. We won’t really know if matters have improved until we see true game action. The problem was getting carved up for nearly five yards per attempt on the ground and allowing a third-down conversion rate of just a shade under 43%. The defense did get its share of takeaways, but that wasn’t the issue last year. This is mostly because Caleb Williams led the first team offense on just one series, and it took exactly three plays to move 75 yards to the end zone. The school’s spring game recap will tell you officially that the defense won. ![]() Here’s how we rank the programs, with the most important question each will face with spring drills concluded. ![]() Like it or not, the conference’s best chance to end its playoff drought likely rests with one of the schools with a foot out the door. More schools could follow if the league doesn't get its television contract in order. The undercurrent to all the pending realignment, of course, is the league’s football futility in the playoff era. UCLA and Southern California will be off to the Big Ten next summer. The upcoming 2023 football season will be the last year we’ll see the league as it is currently configured. Whether the Pac-12 Conference is as healthy as ever, in the midst of its death throes, or most likely somewhere between, one thing is undeniable.
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