College Football Preview- The Conference to Watch

2010 Conference to Watch

The Pac-10

The Pac 10 has never really been revered as a “power conference” especially after the decline of the mighty Trojans. In 2009, the Pac proved to be a strong conference with competition and depth coming from even the most unlikely of places. Although there is no team ranked in the Top 10 this preseason, the Pac 10 is far from mediocre and has quite a few teams and players to keep your eye on. First we have USC post NCAA sanctions under the direction of Lane Kiffin. Regardless, of all the current controversy, the Trojans still should be able to finish with 8-10 wins this year. But they aren’t the only team making readjustments. This year Oregon had its own off-season controversy with legal battles, drug possession, several suspensions and most notably ousted top tier QB, Jeremiah Masoli. There was a hot battle for who would be the new man under center this season, and the Ducks are confidant that they have found their guy, in Darren Thomas, now its a matter of recovering from their off the field drama to regain the Pac 10 crown.

But the true buzz around the Pac 10 is centered around the battle for the top quarterback in college football. Jake Locker from University of Washington and Andrew Luck from Stanford University have been ranked the #1 and #2 QBs in the game this year and both are projected to be first round draft picks and Heisman hopefuls. Scouts have been drooling at the mouth all summer about the raw talent these guys have so it will be exciting to see if they live up to the hype.

Post the "worshipped QB" era of Tebow, McCoy and Bradford; everyone is looking for the next top tier quarterbacks, who will be setting the standard and calling the shots. The difference between these two and their golden boy predecessors is that much of their hype is based around what they can produce post college and how high they are ranked as potential draft picks. And, neither Stanford nor Washington will have a shot at the big BCS Bowl trophy this year. But with both of these sharp shooters taking the snaps, the Pac-10 has some great players that can make some big plays this season.