After the defections of multiple programs to other conferences, the Pac-12 will be a shadow of itself in the upcoming campaign. Only the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars remain, playing a Mountain West-heavy schedule to keep the conference alive for another year. What do the Pac-12 season predictions tell us about the fortunes of the two teams in 2024?
Pac-12 Season Predictions for 2024
It’s never too early to preview the season ahead, and FanDuel has posted the current odds for projected regular-season wins from the two Pac-12 programs. Do the Beavers of Cougars hold the advantage heading into the 2024 campaign?
Pac-12 Season Predictions – Regular-Season Win Totals
- Oregon State: 7.5 wins
- Washington State: 7.5 wins
The only constant in life is change, and college football is no different. You have to be prepared to embrace it, or you can be left behind, and as every other program flittered to other conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC), Oregon State and Washington State were left out in the cold. The results were far-reaching, and not just in terms of conference alignment.
The Pac-12 season predictions portray the results of that change. Oregon State was establishing itself as a competent power in college football, with two-year results as good as any in program history. However, instead of preparing for a tilt at a Power Five title and a playoff push under Jonathan Smith, they’re faced with rebuilding the program after an abundance of departures.
Trent Bray’s ascent to the head coach position offers some element of continuity at a difficult time for the program, and that could prove pivotal in hitting the 7.5-win total suggested by the early Pac-12 season predictions. The Mountain West-heavy schedule also helps, although they’ll face two heavy hitters from that conference in the Boise State Broncos and UNLV Rebels.
The roster lost some of its top players this offseason. Starting QB D.J. Uiagalelei and promising youngster Aidan Chiles both fled to Power Five programs, as did star RB Damien Martinez. Standout guard Joshua Gray remains, easing the transition for the offensive line. Meanwhile, highly sought-after CB Kobe Singleton chose the Beavers, breathing some life into the secondary.
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The side effects of the Pac-12 demise apply equally to Washington State. Like the Beavers, the Cougars also lost their starting quarterback, with Cam Ward transferring to the Miami Hurricanes rather than returning to Pullman. While both QB situations are suboptimal, Washington State’s is measurably worse, which could be the difference-maker between the two.
Furthermore, the Cougars lost their most productive playmakers on both sides of the ball, including the defensive duo of Ron Stone and Brennan Jackson, who had double-digit tackles-for-loss last fall. However, there is a greater element of consistency with the coaching staff than their conference foe, retaining both head coach Jake Dickert and OC Ben Arbuckle.
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