Is it too late for the Pac-12 to stick together?
As Associated Press preseason No. 18 Oregon State quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei put the finishing touches on a sublime debut against San Jose State, he ensured the Pac-12's last season as we know it would get off to a perfect start.
With Oregon State winning today, the Pac-12 improves to 13-0 on the season (with USC being 2-0).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 3, 2023
This marks the first time every team in the Pac-12 won its season opener since 1932. pic.twitter.com/Cv14I7wBJn
Per @OptaSTATS the @pac12 now has the most wins without a loss through Week 1 of any FBS conference since at least 1980
— Jim Thornby (@jthornby) September 3, 2023
2023 Pac-12 13-0
2006 Big Ten 11-0
2011 Big 12 10-0
2005 Big Ten 10-0
2012 Big 12 9-0
Not bad for a conference no network wanted to pay. But enjoy your overpriced and unwatchable Northwestern and Indiana Big Ten games, Fox.
The Pac-12 was 12-0 in Week 1 and is 13-0 overall, with No. 6 USC also claiming a win over San Jose State in Week 0.
Uiagalelei, a former five-star Clemson recruit, was 20-of-25 for 239 yards and five total touchdowns in a 42-17 route on Sunday.
It was just one of several blowouts at the hands of the Pac-12. Overall, the Pac-12 has outscored its opponents 604-244, an average score of 46.1-21.3.
No. 15 Oregon's 81-7 win over FCS Portland State was the largest blowout, followed by USC's 66-14 demolition of Mountain West's Nevada. No. 10 Washington dismantled Boise State 56-19, which tied with Cal's 58-21 win over North Texas as the third-largest blowout in the Pac-12 in Week 1.
No. 14 Utah (vs. Florida) and unranked Colorado (vs. TCU) scored the only wins against Power Five opponents, with the Buffaloes' thrilling 45-42 win over No. 17 TCU being the only one against a ranked opponent. It was also tied for the closest margin of victory with Arizona State, which held on to beat FCS Southern Utah 24-21 on Saturday.
This season is the end of the Pac-12 as we've historically known it (if it doesn't fold entirely). At the end of the season, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are moving to the Big Ten; Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are headed to the Big 12; and Stanford and Cal are going to the ACC.
The conference fell apart when it couldn't land an acceptable media rights deal. ESPN originally offered $30 million per school per year, which the conferences balked at, instead asking for $50 million.
Who could blame them based on Week 1's results?
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