Pac-12 Football: Ranking the Best Programs of the 2000s

A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images

As the Pac-12 moves into a new era with the addition of Colorado, it's a good time to look back over the last decade and rank how each team from the conference performed from 2000-2009.

And yes, we'll be looking at how the Buffaloes and Utes did as well.

Of course, the popular stigma surrounding the conference during the 2000s is that the conference was USC plus nine other teams. But just how true is that? How do these teams stack up over the years?

Read on and find out.

No. 12: Stanford Cardinal

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The 2000s were a decade that Stanford would probably like to forget.

At 47-69, the Cardinal had the worst record in the conference. They went to only two bowl games and didn't win either of them.  They finished in the top 25 only once. There really isn't anything for Stanford to hang its hat on here.

But as bad as the last decade was for Stanford, this decade is shaping up quite nicely. 

No. 11: Arizona Wildcats

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Arizona went 49-69 in the 2000s, which was actually better than Washington. But unlike the Huskies, the Wildcats really didn't accomplish anything of note during that entire decade.

Arizona only went to two bowl games during the 2000s and only finished in the top 25 once. Not exactly things to brag about.

No. 10: Washington Huskies

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The 2000s was a decade of up and downs for the Huskies.

Mostly downs.

While Washington does have a Rose Bowl win to their credit, they are also the only team in the conference to have a winless season. 

No. 9: Colorado Buffaloes

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Colorado started the decade pretty strong. After all, they did win the Big 12 in 2001 and went to the Fiesta Bowl. 

But the Dan Hawkins era at Colorado was a unqualified failure. Between 2006 and 2009, Colorado went 16-33

Colorado has some work to do if they want to be competitive in their new conference.

No. 8: Washington State Cougars

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

It would be hard to tell by looking at Washington State today, but there was a time when the Wildcats were actually good.

As a matter of fact, they had three top 10 finishes, a Pac-10 championship and a BCS Bowl appearance in the 2000s.

One thing's for sure: That success didn't carry through the decade. The Cougars finished the '00s 57-63.

No. 7: Arizona State Sun Devils

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

And now we have the first team to break 0.500 for the decade. The Sun Devils had some decent seasons, including two top 25 seasons. But no BCS Bowls and only a single shared Pac-10 championship doesn't give much for the Sun Devils to brag about.

Little wonder why Dennis Erickson is on the hot seat.

No. 6: UCLA Bruins

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

UCLA made consistent appearances in bowl games, but they were pretty mediocre. They only beat their hated rival USC once the entire decade and only won three of their eight bowls in the 2000s. 

No. 5: California Golden Bears

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The 2000s were a pretty good decade for the Golden Bears. While they didn't make it to a BCS Bowl, they did have a share of a Pac-10 championship, finished in the top 25 three times, including a top 10 finish, and put together a 71-50 record for the decade.

No, that's a not top tier performance, but it's not bad either.

No. 4: Oregon State Beavers

Tom Hauck/Getty Images

Oregon State did more than just upset USC. They also won a Pac-10 championship, won the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and even had a top 10 finish.

Not bad at all.

But the Beavers are best known in the 2000s for frustrating the Trojans. And I gotta say, it was fun to watch.

No. 3: Utah Utes

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Even though this will be Utah's first year in the Pac-12, the Utes accomplished more than most of their new conference rivals while still in the Mountain West.

Utah won two BCS Bowls, something only USC can top. They finished in the top 25 four times and in the top 10 twice.

So if the 2000s were any indication, the Utes should do just fine in their new conference.

No. 2: Oregon Ducks

Tom Hauck/Getty Images

Those who said that the Pac-10 was USC plus nine must have forgotten about the Oregon Ducks.

While the Ducks couldn't accomplish what the Trojans did in the 2000s, their resume is still pretty impressive. Oregon had a 87-38 record, nine bowl appearances including two in BCS Bowls, six top 25 finishes and four in the top 10. 

Little wonder that they've taken over as top dogs...err...Ducks of the Pac-12 after the fall of the Trojans.

No. 1: USC Trojans

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Even with the whole Reggie Bush brouhaha, USC is the obvious choice for team of the 2000s.

Despite having 14 wins taken away in 2004 and 2005 thanks to Mr. Bush, the Trojans have more wins than anyone else in the conference at 88-25. They are also the only Pac-12 member to have won a national championship in the 2000s even if you don't count the tainted 2004 title.

They also have the only Heisman Trophy winner of the decade in Matt Leinart, not counting Reggie Bush.

They made almost yearly appearances to BCS games often with the national championship on the line. No one else in the conference can touch the Trojans' record.