Pac-12 Football Schedule 2012: Grading Every Team's Conference Schedule

The Pac-12 finally released its full conference schedule, and I'm here to grade each team's schedule. The teams will be presented in alphabetical order and by division, with the Pac-12 North first.

During grading, I will take strength of schedule into account, as well as strength of team. The higher the number of possible wins, the higher the grade will be.

I know that you Pac-12 fans have been waiting for this one. If it helps, my educated guess is that there were a lot of details to hash out, as this marks the first time in Pac-12 history that every game will be nationally televised.

California Golden Bears

Conference opener: Cal at USC on September 22.

Arizona State at Cal on September 29.

UCLA at Cal on October 6.

Cal at Washington State on October 13.

Stanford at Cal on October 20.

Cal at Utah on October 27.

Washington at Cal on November 2.

Oregon at Cal on November 10.

Cal at Oregon State on November 17.

The only conference members missing from Cal's schedule are Colorado and Arizona. This schedule is rough, and five of the teams it lost to in 2011 are returning in 2012.

Overall Grade: C

Strength of schedule is great, and the likelihood of a bowl game in 2012 is high.

Oregon Ducks

Conference opener: Arizona at Oregon on September 22.

Oregon at Washington State on September 29.

Washington at Oregon on October 6.

BYE WEEK

Oregon at Arizona State on October 18.

Colorado at Oregon on October 27.

Oregon at USC on November 3.

Oregon at Cal on November 10.

Stanford at Oregon on November 17.

Oregon at Oregon State on November 24.

Oregon will be returning some top-notch talent and has a good chance of running the table. The biggest challenge will be the road game against USC, as USC is returning Matt Barkley. (Stanford will lose a healthy dose of talent to the NFL, so I think Oregon should handle it fairly well.)

Overall grade: A

The schedule is tough enough to earn a spot in the BCS title game if the Ducks go undefeated, but that USC game is a question mark for that possible loss.

Oregon State Beavers

Conference opener: Oregon State at UCLA on September 22.

Oregon State at Arizona on September 29.

Washington State at Oregon State on October 6.

Utah at Oregon State on October 20.

Oregon State at Washington on October 27.

Arizona State at Oregon State on November 3.

Oregon State at Stanford on November 10.

California at Oregon State on November 17.

Oregon at Oregon State on November 24.

Oregon State is coming off a three-win season. I don't see a bowl game for it in 2012, and the Stanford and Oregon games aren't going to help in that regard.

Overall grade: F

Stanford Cardinal

Conference opener: USC at Stanford on September 15.

BYE WEEK

Stanford at Washington on September 27.

Arizona at Stanford on October 6.

Stanford at Notre Dame on October 13.

Stanford at Cal on October 20.

Washington State at Stanford on October 27.

Stanford at Colorado on November 3.

Oregon State at Stanford on November 10.

Stanford at Oregon on November 17.

Stanford at UCLA on November 24.

Stanford will be fine next year as far as getting to a bowl. However, I don't see a BCS bowl for the Cardinal in 2012. I could be wrong, but with Oregon returning its offense mostly intact, I don't see Stanford making it past the Ducks for the Pac-12 championship this time around.

Overall grade: B

The schedule is tough, and the conference opener against USC is going to be tough. At least it's at home, right?

Washington Huskies

Conference opener: Stanford at Washington on September 27.

Washington at Oregon on October 6.

USC at Washington on October 13.

Washington at Arizona on October 20.

Oregon State at Washington on October 27.

Washington at Cal on November 2.

Utah at Washington on November 10.

Washington at Colorado on November 17.

Washington at Washington State on November 23.

After losing a record-breaking bowl game to a Robert Griffin III-led Baylor Bears team, this schedule could very well put Washington back into a bowl in 2012. It has the offense to accomplish that; it's really just a matter of execution.

Overall grade: C

If Washington can keep its offense on the field, it'll go bowling again.

Washington State Cougars

Conference opener: Colorado at Washington State on September 22

Oregon at Washington State on September 29.

Washington State at Oregon State on October 6.

Cal at Washington State on October 13.

BYE WEEK

Washington State at Stanford on October 27.

Washington State at Utah on November 3.

UCLA at Washington State on November 10.

Washington State at Arizona State on November 17.

Washington at Washington State on November 23.

Washington State is coming off a four-win season with two losses coming by three points. If the Cougars can keep their offense going in 2012, they could very well turn those two losses into victories and a bowl game this year.

Overall grade: D

Washington State can go to a bowl game, but there are a lot of "ifs."

Arizona Wildcats

Conference opener: Arizona at Oregon on September 22.

Oregon State at Arizona on September 29.

Arizona at Stanford on October 6.

BYE WEEK

Washington at Arizona on October 20.

USC at Arizona on October 27.

Arizona at UCLA on November 3.

Colorado at Arizona on November 10.

Arizona at Utah on November 17.

Arizona at Arizona State on November 23.

Arizona is coming off a four-win season also, but there is little evidence to support a surge into the bowl season. Rivalry weekend is likely its last game in 2012.

Overall grade: F

I could be surprised, but it doesn't look like an "up" year for the Wildcats.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Conference opener: Utah at Arizona State on September 22.

Arizona State at Cal on September 29.

BYE WEEK

Arizona State at Colorado on October 13.

Oregon at Arizona State on October 20.

UCLA at Arizona State on October 27.

Arizona State at Oregon State on November 3.

Arizona State at USC on November 10.

Washington State at Arizona State on November 17.

Arizona State at Arizona on November 23.

Arizona State lost a bowl game to Boise State in 2011, and it will likely return to the postseason next year, as a one-point loss to UCLA on the road will likely turn into a victory at home in 2012.

Overall grade: C

It's going to be a tough road, but the Sun Devils can make it happen if they focus.

Colorado Buffaloes

Conference opener: Colorado at Washington State on September 22.

UCLA at Colorado on September 29.

BYE WEEK

Arizona State at Colorado on October 13.

Colorado at USC on October 20.

Colorado at Oregon on October 27.

Stanford at Colorado on November 3.

Colorado at Arizona on November 10.

Washington at Arizona on November 17.

Utah at Arizona on November 23.

Coming off a three-win season and ranking below 100th in three of the four major categories does not speak well of the upcoming season for the Buffaloes.

Overall grade: F

2012 is not the year of the Buffalo.

UCLA Bruins

Conference opener: Oregon State at UCLA on September 22.

UCLA at Colorado on September 29.

UCLA at Cal on October 6.

Utah at UCLA on October 13.

BYE WEEK

UCLA at Arizona State on October 27.

Arizona at UCLA on November 3.

UCLA at Washington State on November 10.

USC at UCLA on November 17.

Stanford at UCLA on November 24.

UCLA will not be able to take advantage of the USC sanctions in order to get into the Pac-12 championship game this year. Ending the season with a shocking loss to Illinois in the postseason will likely motivate this crew to get back into a bowl.

Overall grade: C

The Oregon Ducks are missing from the schedule, and that should make the schedule easy enough to get to that 6-6 bowl-eligible mark.

USC Trojans

Conference opener: USC at Stanford on September 15.

Cal at USC on September 22.

BYE WEEK

USC at Utah on October 4.

USC at Washington on October 13.

Colorado at USC on October 20.

USC at Arizona on October 27.

Oregon at USC on November 3.

Arizona State at USC on November 10.

USC at UCLA on November 17.

USC is back out from under NCAA sanctions in 2012. The return of Matt Barkley promises a great year at USC. With Stanford losing so much to the NFL, USC should open the conference schedule with a road win.

Overall grade: A

USC defeated Oregon on the road this year, and the home-field advantage should ensure another Trojan victory. Look for USC in the Pac-12 championship game in 2012.

Utah Utes

Conference opener: Utah at Arizona State on September 22.

BYE WEEK

USC at Utah on October 4.

Utah at UCLA on October 13.

Utah at Oregon State on October 20.

Cal at Utah on October 27.

Washington State at Utah on November 3.

Utah at Washington on November 10.

Arizona at Utah on November 17.

Utah at Colorado on November 23.

Utah pulled off a tough win against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2011 postseason. Also, Stanford and Oregon are both conspicuously absent from the Utah schedule.

Overall grade: C

With a comparable schedule to their eight-win 2011 schedule, these guys should hit the bowl season again.