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"&lt;p&gt;\r\nHow They'll Finish\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tNorth\r\n\t\t\tSouth\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tTEAM\r\n\t\t\tRecord\r\n\t\t\tTEAM\r\n\t\t\tRECORD\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tOregon\r\n\t\t\t12-1 (8-1)\r\n\t\t\tUCLA\r\n\t\t\t10-3 (7-2)\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tStanford\r\n\t\t\t10-2 (7-2)\r\n\t\t\tAriz. St.\r\n\t\t\t9-3 (6-3)\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tOregon St.\r\n\t\t\t9-3 (6-3)\r\n\t\t\tUSC\r\n\t\t\t9-3 (6-3)\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tWash.\r\n\t\t\t9-4 (5-4)\r\n\t\t\tArizona\r\n\t\t\t7-5 (4-5)\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tWash. St.\r\n\t\t\t6-6 (3-6)\r\n\t\t\tUtah\r\n\t\t\t6-6 (4-5)\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tCal\r\n\t\t\t3-9 (1-8)\r\n\t\t\tColorado\r\n\t\t\t4-8 (1-8)\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conference championship:&lt;/strong&gt; Oregon defeats UCLA\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\tOffensive MVP\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tMarcus Mariota, QB, Oregon\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;2013 stats:&lt;/strong&gt; 3,665 passing yards, 31 TD, four interceptions; 860 rushing yards, 9 TD\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;2014 projected stats:&lt;/strong&gt; 3,578 passing yards, 34 TD, six interceptions; 1,006 rushing yards, 11 TD\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\tThis is a no-brainer: When Mariota is healthy, he\u2019s the best player in the conference, and maybe the best player in the country. A preseason Heisman favorite, the junior has packed on a few more pounds of muscle -- in late July he said he was up to 220 pounds -- which should make him even tougher to bring down when he takes off. Mariota will need to find a new favorite receiving target, but he can do so much damage with his feet that defenses should be very worried.\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;STAFF: Mariota makes SI.com's Preseason All-America Team&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\tDefensive MVP\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tMyles Jack, LB, UCLA\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;2013 stats:&lt;/strong&gt; 75 tackles, one interception, seven tackles for loss, one sack, two fumble recoveries\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;2014 projected stats:&lt;/strong&gt; 98 tackles, two interceptions, 11 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\tA trendsetter in 2013 because of his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball, expect Jack to make a big leap defensively for the Bruins. He\u2019ll still get used on offense occasionally, but with the departure of linebackers and leading tacklers Anthony Barr and Jordan Zumwalt (both to the NFL), Myles should see a significant uptick in his defensive stats. He was good enough his freshman year to be named offensive and defensive freshman of the year last season; don\u2019t be surprised if this season he becomes more known for delivering hits than taking them.\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;SCHNELL: Do-it-all Jack looks to lead UCLA to new heights&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\tImpact Freshman\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tAdoree\u2019 Jackson, WR/CB, USC\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;2013 stats (high school):&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;66 carries, 639 yards, five TD; 38 catches, 812 yards, seven TD; 36 tackles, six interceptions, (three returned for touchdowns), three touchdowns on returns\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;2014 projected stats:&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;27 catches, 216 yards, one TD; 22 tackles, one kick returned for a touchdown\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\tHe\u2019s spent the majority of practice (so far) at corner, but coach Steve Sarkisian has said Jackson is so talented he\u2019ll get reps at receiver, too. At Serra High in Gardena, Calif. -- the same place former All-American receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee prepped -- Jackson was a star on offenses and defense and a state champion in the long jump. He\u2019ll play immediately, maybe on both sides, and will likely return kicks, too.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\tCoach on the Hot Seat\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tSonny Dykes, Cal\r\n\r\n\tDykes probably isn\u2019t going anywhere at the end of 2014, but after a disastrous inaugural campaign, he can\u2019t afford to go, say, 3-9 in his second year. That\u2019ll be tough, though, considering the Bears\u2019 non-conference schedule includes games against Northwestern and BYU. Coaches often get at least three years to fix a broken program, but the athletic director who hired Dykes is gone. He needs to figure it out fast.\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&lt;strong&gt;RICKMAN: 10 coaches on the hot seat in 2014&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u200B\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Three key nonconference games&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michigan State at Oregon, Sept. 6 (FOX)&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Perhaps the premier nonconference game in the country, this matchup will have plenty of College Football Playoff implications. It could be the best front seven Mariota &amp;amp; Co. will face all year, though the Ducks are heavily favored at home. Michigan State returns six offensive starters, including quarterback Connor Cook, but has to replace three offensive linemen. It\u2019s not easy to win in Eugene, but if we learned anything from Michigan State\u2019s 2013 run to the Rose Bowl trophy, it\u2019s that Mark Dantonio\u2019s squads aren\u2019t intimidated by much.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;STAPLES: These pivot-point games will shape the 2014 season&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;UCLA at Texas, Sept. 13 (FOX)&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This game was enticing when it was scheduled in 2011, and it still is now -- but for different reasons. Charlie Strong is trying to revive a tradition-rich program and doing it with a somewhat depleted roster after numerous dismissals; UCLA is on the rise, eager to break into the upper echelon of college football. If Brett Hundley and the Bruins can get a win in Arlington, expect UCLA to become an even trendier pick for the CFP.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Notre Dame at Arizona State, Nov. 8 (TBD)&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can bet Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly has had this game circled on his calendar since last season's matchup, which the Irish won 37-34. Kelly threw a pick-six with 1:08 remaining last year that killed the Sun Devils\u2019 chances, and you know he\u2019s been thinking all offseason about avenging his performance.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Three key conference games&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Oregon at UCLA, Oct. 11 (TBD)&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Many believe this will be a preview of the conference title game, with the Ducks and Bruins favorites for their respective division championships. It will also be a matchup of the Pac-12\u2019s two Heisman favorites in Mariota and Hundley. The Ducks thumped UCLA 42-14 in last year\u2019s matchup; expect a much closer game in Pasadena.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ELLIS: Your week-by-week guide to College Football Playoff-defining games&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Stanford at Oregon, Nov. 1 (TBD)&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This has become the de facto conference championship in the last couple years, with Stanford playing spoiler to the Ducks\u2019 Pac-12 and BCS hopes two seasons in a row. The Cardinal must replace two key players (linebackers Shane Skov and Trent Murphy) who helped bottle up Oregon\u2019s blur offense, but Mariota at full strength makes a big difference. &amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;USC at Washington State, Nov. 1 (TBD)&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a rematch of the game that started the Trojans\u2019 messy 2013 season, Mike Leach and his pass-happy offense -- quarterback Connor Halliday is trying to improve on his school-record 4,597 passing yards -- will go for two in a row over USC. Expect a more mature Cody Kessler to stay cool(er) under pressure and a rowdy Pullman crowd to help keep this game close.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Five key questions&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u200B&lt;strong&gt;When will everyone stop doubting Stanford?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;For the fourth time in five years, Oregon was picked to win the Pac-12. But what about the Cardinal, the only team to solve Oregon\u2019s speedy offense and beat Oregon two years in a row? Stanford coach David Shaw says he doesn\u2019t pay attention to slights from fans or media, but you know his players see it, hear it and are sick of it. Maybe if the Cardinal make it three in a row, they\u2019ll get some love in the 2015 preseason conference poll.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How will Chris Petersen fare away from Boise State?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;After years of speculation, two Fiesta Bowl wins, five conference titles and a 92-12 record, the wizard of Boise finally packed up and headed to a Power 5 conference. The pressure is on to win more than the last two coaches who left Boise State (Dirk Koetter and Dan Hawkins were fired by Arizona State and Colorado, respectively, after mediocre tenures) but the cupboard is full in Seattle. Most aren\u2019t wondering if Petersen can turn Washington into a powerhouse; it\u2019s how quickly he can do it.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;INSIDE READ: New Washington coach Petersen brings unique approach&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Can anyone in the South truly challenge the North?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;The Pac-12 is arguably the best conference, top to bottom, but we\u2019re still waiting for someone from the South to give someone from the North -- namely, Oregon or Stanford -- a run for the conference championship. UCLA seems primed for the task if Hundley and Jack can live up to the hype. In Tempe, coach Todd Graham has declared Arizona State\u2019s motto for 2014 to be \u201Cunfinished business.\u201D USC\u2019s roster is still stocked with five-star talent. We\u2019ll have to wait to see if any of this adds up to a South team taking home the Pac-12 title.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What\u2019s Steve Sarkisian\u2019s ceiling in Year 1 at USC?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;He\u2019s finally home, though not all the Trojan faithful are happy about it. Still, Sarkisian has proven himself to be a terrific recruiter, and USC isn\u2019t short on talent. The Trojans have a loaded schedule with nonconference games against Fresno State, Boston College and Notre Dame, plus conference matchups with Stanford and UCLA. Sarkisian\u2019s teams never quite lived up to expectations at Washington, but if he can win a few big games in 2014, the USC fan base should completely buy in.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;In a conference loaded with QB talent, which signal caller will become a surprise superstar?&lt;/strong&gt; An eye-popping 10 quarterback starters return this season, with Mariota and Hundley (understandably) grabbing most the attention. But don\u2019t let Arizona State\u2019s Kelly (3,635 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 608 rushing yards with nine touchdowns) or Washington State\u2019s Halliday slip under the radar. Washington sophomore Cyler Miles, who started one game in 2013 and looked solid, is the natural successor to Keith Price and a potential standout \u2026 if he can stay on the field and out of trouble.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SCHNELL: Mariota, Hundley lead deep crop of Pac-12 passers&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/08/18/pac-12-college-football-preview>