The Future of Pac-10 Football: Which Teams will Lead the Conference?

The Pac-10 is a wild conference and has become very unpredictable these past few years.

When I think Pac-10, I think "Oregon, Washington, and USC". When East Coast bias thinks of the Pac-10, they think "USC".

But, recently Oregon has been getting on the radar these past few years. I, a hardcore Oregon fan, surround most of my knowledge around the Pac-10, from basketball to football to track.

The Pac-10 has always been a college sports power house conference. But only one school is actually considered a power house program (remember, we are talking about football). USC has seven National Titles under their belts and 33 Rose Bowl appearances with 24 Rose Bowl wins.

Washington has 14 Rose Bowl appearances, UCLA, and Stanford each have 12; Cal has eight; Oregon has five; Washington State has four; Oregon State has three; Arizona State has two; and Arizona has zero Rose Bowl appearances.

The Listing above shows how lopsided the Rose Bowl appearances have been, heavily favoring USC.

So yes, USC does deserve the title "college football's power house program". But when will other schools in the Pac-10 obtain that title?

I believe there are only three schools in the Pac-10 that can reach the national championship in the next five years, and only one that can reach the title "college football's power house" in the next 10-20 years.

Oregon, Oregon State, and Stanford have the best chance, besides USC, to make it into the national championship in the next five years.

Oregon

Oregon has been pulling recruits in lately and their recruiting classes get better and better every year. Their current roster has a great chance of making it to the national championship game within the next three years. Oregon will lead the Pac-10 this decade with the most Rose Bowl appearances and possibly a few national championship appearances. With this last season being Chip Kelly's first year as head coach and to make it to the Rose Bowl, just wait for the years to come.

Oregon State

Oregon State is lacking one thing at the moment, a solid quarterback. If the Beavers can get a good quarterback and get him fast, they will be a top contender in the Pac-10 for the Rose Bowl and may possibly surprise you all and be led to the Championship Game on the back of the Rodgers brothers. You may think I’m crazy but do not under estimate the Beavers.

Stanford

Stanford is losing Gerhart and may not be the best team next year. That is why I have them at the bottom of the three. One thing I have been seeing from Stanford the past few years is that they fight, and fight to the finish. They can win games and win them well. I see Stanford pulling off a few great seasons this decade.

But which of these three teams do I think can reach that "power house" title?

Oregon

The Oregon Ducks have shown the country they can be hostile. They have all the pieces: a great team, a great coach, a great tradition, and an hostile environment as a home field advantage. I see Chip Kelly really doing something amazing with this Oregon program. Frankly, you cannot argue the fact that he has gotten off to a great start.

Now, I am not saying Oregon will become a "power house", I am saying that out of the Pac-10, besides USC, Oregon has the best chance of being that next great Pac-10 program. No one can argue the fact that the Ducks are a high caliber team in the race for the national championship.

The Pac-10 is due for another dominant program, and Oregon seems to be the perfect fit out of the nine possible schools to be the next "power house" of college football programs.