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Sammie Stroughter is back for one more year to try to help out the quarterbacks in the passing game.The Beavers had the best run defense in the country last year, but they have a lot of guys that need to be replaced.
It doesn’t help that they have the second toughest schedule in the Pac 10.
OSU opens at Stanford and Penn State before getting Hawaii and USC at home. Then there is a tough game at Utah.
The good news is that most of the teams around them (ASU, Cal and Oregon) head to Corvallis.
7. Washington (6-6, 4-5)
I think this year will be the year Tyrone Willingham will breakthrough and go to a bowl game, but just barely.
Jake Locker had a solid freshman season, especially as a runner (986 yards). However, he needs to improve on his 14-15 TD/INT ratio and 47 percent completion percentage.
The skills positions were shot with graduation, so it will be up to Locker to do much of the work on offense.
There should be an improvement on the defensive side of the ball, which will take some pressure off Locker.
The schedule is absolutely brutal.
The Huskies open with a trip to Oregon before hosting BYU and Oklahoma at home.
Last year I said they would beat Boise State and they did. This year I am saying that they will be a top-15 BYU team.
It does get a little easier from there (except for a trip to USC).
The interesting match-up of the year is when Notre Dame pays a visit to Seattle.
8. UCLA (5-7, 4-5)
The beginning of the Rick Neuheisel era won’t be an easy one.
Ben Olson is going to have to stay healthy for a change for the Bruins to be bowl eligible.
Kahlil Bell will help out on the ground, but it won’t be enough, especially without a proven receiver.
The defense has carried the Bruins the past few years, and that will probably happen again.
It will be up to the offense to keep the defense off the field.
UCLA also has itself a tough schedule with an opening visit from Tennessee, followed by a game at BYU.
The Bruins need to sweep the following three-game homestand (Arizona, Fresno State and WSU to have any shot at a bowl bid.
9. Stanford (3-9, 2-7)
Even though the Cardinal is better than last year, it will be hard to get to that four-win mark again.
There is solid depth in the backfield, but the passing game looks to be a question mark once again this year.
Many players return on defense, which is what Stanford will have to depend on this year.
The first three and last three games of the year are daunting for the Cardinal.
They open with OSU, and at ASU TCU. They finish at Oregon, USC and then at Cal.
It appears to be another tough year at Stanford, but things look brighter in the future.
10. Washington State (4-9, 1-8)
With the struggles the past few years, many people forget that this team won 10 games three straight seasons from 2001-03.
The problem is they haven’t been to a bowl game since. This won’t be the year that changes.
Wazzu will turn to senior QB Gary Rogers to lead the way in his first starting time. Having Brandon Gibson to throw to will be a big help.
The defense struggled quite a bit last year, but should be quite a bit better.
There isn’t much hope on the schedule, outside of a visit from Portland State. A trip to Baylor will be for some serious bragging rights.
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