Ten teams left the Pac-12, forcing Oregon State and Washington State to dance alone. That brings the 2024 Pac-12 Power Rankings to one question: Which team is better?
According to FanDuel, the Beavers and Cougars each have 7.5 win totals in Mountain West-heavy schedules. While I wouldn’t bet money on either hitting the over, one is more likely than the other.
2024 Pac-12 Power Rankings
2) Washington State Cougars
The Cougars saw a mass exodus of talent via the portal, losing 27 players and adding just 12. Among them was uber-talented starting QB Cam Ward, who will be a Miami Hurricane in 2024. Head coach Jake Dickert has his work cut out for him in Year 3, with redshirt sophom*ore John Mateer (19 career pass attempts) and Bryant transfer Zevi Eckhaus battling for the QB1 job.
Mateer is an unknown but has some enticing tools, and Eckhaus played well against FCS competition last season: 63% completion rate, 2,907 yards, 28 TDs, and seven INTs. Either way, the Cougars enter the 2024 season with one of the more concerning QB rooms in the country.
The outlook isn’t much brighter for the rest of the roster, with punter Nick Haberer arguably being Washington State’s best player.
Leading rusher Djouvensky Schlenbaker posted a 33-146-0 rushing line last season. Oregon transfer Kris Hutson is the WR2 after falling down the Ducks’ depth chart and catching just one pass. The offensive line is solid on the interior but well below average on the bookends.
Defensively, disruptive EDGEs Brennan Jackson and Ron Stone Jr. are gone, as are DBs Jaden Hicks and Sam Lockett III, who were the only players with multiple INTs in 2023. In short, the Cougars lost their top possession flippers after having a -6 turnover differential. Even kicker Dean Janikowski made just 66.7% (10 of 15) of his field goals last season.
The return of DT David Gusta, LBs Kyle Thornton and Taariq Al-Uqdah, and DB Kapena Gushiken provide optimism, as do the additions of Utah Tech EDGE Syrus Webster and Akron DB Tyson Durant.
Nevertheless, it’s difficult to envision much improvement on Wazzu’s 5-7 record this year, especially with bouts against Texas Tech, Washington, Boise State, Fresno State, and Oregon State on tap.
1) Oregon State Beavers
Following three straight losing seasons to begin his tenure, Jonathan Smith turned Oregon State into a Pac-12 competitor, owning a 25-13 record and three bowl appearances over the last three years. Yet, he saw the writing on the wall for the conference and jumped ship for the leading role at Michigan State, taking several coaches and players with him.
Perhaps the most impactful athlete joining the head coach in East Lansing is highly touted QB Aidan Chiles. His loss hurts even more with starter DJ Uiagalelei departing for Florida State earlier in the offseason.
That leaves a three-way battle between Ben Gulbranson, Gevani McCoy (Idaho), and Gabarri Johnson (Missouri). Gulbranson should have the leg up over the transfers, as he has been with the program since 2020 and has a 7-2 record as a starter with the program.
McCoy threw 41 TDs across two seasons in the FCS, and former four-star recruit Johnson didn’t see action in his lone season with the Tigers. There’s talent in the room, but the coaching staff needs to peg a starter soon.
Despite 1,000-yard rusher Damien Martinez taking his talents to Miami, the Beavers brought Jam Griffin back from Ole Miss, added Colorado’s Anthony Hankerson, and revamped the offensive line with C Van Wells and OT Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan. G Joshua Gray returns as the best player in the conference, and OT Jacob Strand has received rave reviews out of Corvallis.
KEEP READING: Top 25 Returning Pac-12 Players
Defensive coordinator Trent Bray was promoted to head coach and should have the unit humming once again, especially with the addition of Liberty CB Kobe Singleton.
While an early season contest with Oregon looms, the Beavers’ schedule does not include any obvious losses, and kicking off the year against Idaho State should only boost their confidence. The Pac-12 isn’t dead yet, and Oregon State has a comfortable lead in the two-team race.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top 10 returning players, the 2024 college football season schedule, and much more!
