2024 will be the first year of the new Pac-12 after teams departed the conference following the 2023 season. It is a tumultuous time for the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars as the two remaining teams, with plenty of comings and goings in their respective programs.
The transfer portal has hit both teams, but how do they stack up in the preseason 2024 Pac-12 Power Rankings?
2024 Pac-12 Power Rankings
In ranking terms, the Pac-12 offers an easy selection; who do we think is better out of Oregon State and Washington State?
Coaching, players, and schedule are considered to determine who sits at the top of the Pac-12 power rankings.
2) Washington State Cougars
It has been a rough offseason for Washington State, who haven’t been able to keep up in the transfer portal or recruiting markets in the new look conference. 18 players have headed out of the door in Pullman after the Pac-12’s demise.
The headline departure is QB Cam Ward, who became one of the top signal callers in college football with the Cougars.
Despite the exits, head coach Jake Dickert has added some exciting young talent to the roster that should allow them to compete against their 2024 opponents. Games against the Washington Huskies and Oregon State look difficult, but the Cougars will believe they can beat the other teams on their schedule.
If new QB arrivals Evan Chuba and Zevi Eckhaus – who will compete for the starting job – can step up, the 2024 season may not be as sobering for Washington State as originally thought.
1) Oregon State Beavers
There are big changes in Corvallis ahead of the 2024 season, starting with their head coach. With former HC Johnathan Smith leaving to take the reigns at Michigan State, Trent Bray gets promoted from defensive coordinator to lead the Beavers in the 2024 season.
While Bray offers some consistency among their coaching staff, the departure of 12 players in the transfer portal has hit Oregon State hard.
No transfer portal departure impacts the Beavers more than DJ Uiagalelei, who heads to Tallahassee to join the Florida State Seminoles.
With Uiagalelei and backup Aidan Chiles leaving, there appears to be an open competition between Gevani McCoy, who transferred in from Idalho, and Gabarri Johnson, who arrives in Corvallis from Missouri.
With some exciting new additions, the 2024 season shows signs of promise for Oregon State. However, at the moment, it is based on pure talent.
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If the Beavers can start hot in 2024 and prove the doubters wrong, they can be better than anyone expected this season.
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!