By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
Just like that, the common season is over.
It’s been a wild experience for groups within the West. With surprises all year long, the second season of realignment didn’t disappoint.
From Arizona’s success to BYU’s run to the Massive 12 Championship Sport, there are many sudden outcomes to level to.
However how do all of the groups stack up on the finish of the 12 months? That’s the final word query with no simple solutions.
Right here’s how I view the High 10 Groups within the West on the finish of the common season.
1. Oregon (8-1, 11-1) ◄►
The whole season has led up up to now. Oregon has been No. 1 in these rankings each single week for the reason that preseason.
By returning to the Playoff, the Geese have met expectations. However now the rubber hits the street.
The knock on Oregon’s program is that it might probably’t win the “large” video games. Nicely, the following sport UO performs is the definition of a “large” sport. Final 12 months, the Geese received destroyed within the first spherical of the Playoff. That may’t occur once more.
Oregon must advance. In any other case, this system may be hitting a ceiling.
2. BYU (8-1, 11-1) ◄►
BYU deserves to be within the Playoff. An influence convention crew that finishes 11-1 with the one defeat approaching the street towards a crew at the moment ranked No. 5 within the Playoff ballot ought to obtain an invitation.
To depart them out would sign that manufacturers matter greater than resumes. The unlucky actuality is that it’s true: The Playoff Committee values tv scores over every little thing.
Are you able to think about the strain ESPN is placing on these committee members? Disney’s monetary well-being is linked to the industrial advert gross sales from these video games, and the SEC groups, together with Notre Dame, pull in additional viewers.
BYU is preventing your complete system.
3. Utah (7-2, 10-2) ◄►
Style factors went out of the window on the finish of the 12 months for Utah.
The Massive 12 will not be revered by the nationwide media or the Playoff Committee; in any other case, the slim margins of victory to complete the 12 months would have been extra impactful.
Because it stands, the Utes might drop one other spot or two within the Playoff rankings, which might be comparatively meaningless as a result of this system is simply too far-off from the at-large cut-off to matter.
The larger image, nonetheless, is that Utah has discovered itself within the Massive 12. Ending the 12 months 10-2 with the lone losses coming to the highest groups within the Convention, the Utes introduced their return.
4. USC (7-2, 9-3) ◄►
Rome wasn’t inbuilt a day. USC completed the 12 months 9-3 with respectable wins over Michigan and Iowa, together with a notable street victory towards Nebraska.
The one questionable loss was the two-point defeat at Illinois, a sport that the Trojans ought to have gained.
The outcomes this season set the muse for the long run. There’s nonetheless work to be completed, as evidenced by the double-digit losses to Notre Dame and Oregon.
But, there are causes for cautious optimism in L.A. heading into subsequent 12 months.
5. Arizona (6-3, 9-3) ▲1
Bhire Brennan has Arizona getting ready to historical past. With a dominating victory over ASU in Tempe, the Wildcats are one win away from a 10-win season.
UA has simply 4 10-win seasons in class historical past, coming in 1993, 1998, 2014, and 2023.
Projected to obtain an invite to the Vacation Bowl, this 12 months has the prospect to be one of many all-time greats. The protection is elite, Noah Fifita is setting program data, and the tradition that’s been instilled is robust.
On prime of that, recruiting is popping off, and the idea in Arizona soccer is returning.
6. Arizona State (6-3, 8-4) ▼1
The Territorial Cup was a catastrophe for Arizona State. The 5 turnovers and 7 factors scored have been brutal.
Besides, the season was a average success. Accidents derailed the progress and compelled the fanbase into “what if” situations.
But, the wins over Texas Tech, Iowa State, and TCU are all respectable.
Dropping a star quarterback is sort of inconceivable to beat. Mix that with a number of missed weeks from a star large receiver, and it’s a small miracle that ASU ended up 8-4 with three wins over FBS groups above .500.
7. Washington (5-4, 8-4) ◄►
Washington’s place within the new school soccer panorama was crystallized this season. The Dawgs completed the common season with only one win towards FBS groups with a profitable report.
Jedd Fisch continues to be constructing, and the momentum is robust. However a dose of actuality is required for a fanbase that also has expectations of creating the Playoff.
Proper now, Washington is one tier above common within the Massive Ten. The loss to Wisconsin stands out, and the margins of defeat to Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon can’t be ignored.
This isn’t the 2023 season. And lots of the former Pac-12 groups are outpacing UW within the new period.
8. UNLV (6-2, 10-2) ▲1
Well, the computer systems preferred UNLV sufficient to place the Rebels within the Mountain West Championship Sport.
The outcome doesn’t make sense from a head-to-head standpoint, with losses to each New Mexico and Boise State. However from the eye-test standpoint, UNLV’s look within the championship is official.
The Rebels are enjoying their greatest soccer of the 12 months, and so they have a gifted roster. You don’t win 10 video games within the common season except you’re elite. And the 2 losses got here towards opponents with a mixed report of 17-7.
In different phrases, UNLV has no invalidating blemishes on its resume.
9. Boise State (6-2, 8-4) ▲1
The Broncos made the Mountain West Championship Sport by the pores and skin of their enamel.
The victories over UNLV and New Mexico possible performed important roles within the pc rankings that in the end determined the matchup.
The street win at Utah State to complete the 12 months shouldn’t be neglected, both, and doubtless impacted the metrics greater than some may understand.
However on the finish of the day, Boise State is internet hosting the championship with a 10-win season nonetheless up for grabs.
10. California (4-4, 7-5) ▲NR
That one was for JW.
The Cal Bears ended the common season in typical Cal trend with a shocking victory over a ranked SMU crew.
Nick Rolovich’s interview after the sport confirmed the place the credit score was due: Justin Wilcox. The tradition he inbuilt this system, the coaches he introduced in, and the gamers he recruited are why California gained.
The Bears will end the 12 months with two nice victories over ranked ACC opponents. If not for the disasters towards Stanford and San Diego State, Wilcox would nonetheless be in Berkeley.
Dropped Out: SDSU
Miller covers Faculty Basketball and Faculty Soccer in addition to Formulation 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
