2009 Pac-10 Football Preview: Is The USC Dynasty Over?

(Photo by Jeff Golden/Getty Images)

It appears the Pac-10 Conference might finally be up for grabs. After nearly a decade of dominance, USC and Head Coach Pete Carroll may have more questions than answers this season.

We all remember the Mark Sanchez press conference just a few short months ago. The one in which the former Trojan quarterback announced he was leaving early for the NFL. And the one in which Pete Carroll looked as if someone had not only stolen his ice cream cone, but also kicked him in the privates while doing so.

Flash forward to the end of fall camp where Carroll finds himself naming a true freshman as his replacement for Sanchez. Sure, a very highly touted freshman in Matt Barkley, but also the first true freshman to ever be named No.1 QB at USC...I repeat...ever.

Throw in the fact the Trojans are replacing both coordinators (OC Steve Sarkisian and DC Nick Holt both bolted for the University of Washington) and just three defensive players with legitimate starting experience and the race for the Pac-10 Title in 2009 could be a real one, and it could play out a little bit differently.

First off, it's not enough to simply predict how teams are going to finish by simply labeling them an '8-4 team' or a '7-5 bowl team.' In order to forecast the Pac-10 standings you have to navigate your way through the schedule, game by game, week by week. The ebbs and flows of the schedule will dictate many of the wins and losses.  

And in the Pac-10, it's about the schedule first. Just ask Washington about having to follow up an 0-12 season with a season-opening tilt with LSU, as well as early games against USC and at Notre Dame.

And second, you consider returning starters. Most importantly, and don't let USC's recent history fool you, it's most often been about a returning quarterback, preferably a senior.

California and the 0-12 Huskies are the ONLY Pac-10 teams returning their opening game quarterbacks from a year ago—and they each spent significant time on the sidelines, either due to injury (UW's Jake Locker) or coach's decision (Cal's Kevin Riley).

Three schools appear to be going with freshmen (either true or redshirt): USC's Matt Barkley, UCLA's Kevin Prince, and Stanford's Andrew Luck.

Three other schools are leaning toward senior signal callers who have some starting experience but have either been waiting in the wings, or on the trainer's table: Oregon State's Sean Canfield, Arizona State's Danny Sullivan, and Washington State's Kevin Lopina.

Arizona looks to be going with two quarterbacks, sophomores Matt Scott and Nick Foles.

And that leaves Oregon...

WEEK 1, SEPT. 5

The first week, and the season, actually kicks off Thursday night, September 3rd, with Oregon heading to Boise State to battle the Broncos on the blue turf.

Oregon will have junior Jeremiah Masoli back under center. Masoli started 10 games for the Ducks last season, and brings bruising runner LeGarrette Blount (and his Pac-10 leading 17 TDs) with him.

The conference, a woeful 19-38 in road games a year ago, will also be attempting to shore up some inefficiencies on defense. 

No team returns more than four to their front seven. And not one Pac-10 defensive lineman or linebacker was named to any of the major preseason All-American teams. 

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