Ranking the 20 Best Pac-12 Football Matchups in 2012

It would be very easy to just call it USC vs. Oregon in the 2012 Pac-12 Football Championship Game on November 30, 2012, with the only intrigue being whether the game will be played in Los Angeles or Eugene.

However, there are several potentially fascinating games on the 2012 schedule that deserve a look and some conversation. With four new head coaches sprinkled into the mix and the unknown quantity that they bring to the conference this year, there could be some compelling storylines that we are overlooking.

Building up to the No. 1 best matchup, let's take a peek at some games worth watching.

No. 20: Arizona State at Arizona, November 23

This game will have absolutely no impact on the conference race but will determine—at least for anyone living in the state of Arizona—which school made the best new coaching hire.

It's my guess that Todd Graham is going to look more like a turkey on this day-after-Thanksgiving game than Rich Rodriguez.

No. 19: Nebraska at UCLA, September 8

This matchup made the list only because of how ugly it will be. You know, like watching a train wreck—it's so horrible you can't take your eyes off it.

We beseech you, UCLA, please try your best to hold up the honor of the Pac-12 against the Big Ten (or Big Whatever).

No. 18: Utah at Colorado, November 23

If Utah is still alive in the South Division—stranger things have happened—this game could be huge. Don't forget that the Buffs beat the Utes last year 17-14 in Salt Lake City.

Imagine how much the lowly Buffs would enjoy ruining the Pac-12 championship game for the rival Utes in Boulder.

No. 17: UCLA at Washington State, November 10

It's Dad's Weekend in the Palouse. Dads write checks. What better way to show the dads that the Cougars program is heading in the right direction than by beating up on a southern California team?

This will be the game that proves to any remaining Jim Mora fans that his hiring was the worst of the four new head coaching hires.

It might also be the game where Mora says to himself, "Pullman, Washington in November? What the heck was I thinking when I took this job?"

No. 16: Oregon at Oregon State, November 24

Yes, Oregon will win.

But it is the Civil War, and it is in Corvallis this year. Oregon will also most likely have a lot on the line for this final conference game.

That has, however, been true several times in the past few years, and it didn't slow the Ducks down. It won't this year either.

No. 15: September 29 Bye Week for USC and Utah

OK, this isn't technically a matchup, but it is interesting on several levels.

Both USC and Utah have this week open before their Thursday, October 4 game in Salt Lake City. That game could be for all the South Division marbles.

Both teams will have time to heal, if necessary, and prepare for each other. It will surely be a televised game, and Utes fans will have plenty of time to psych themselves up.

For some reason, it feels like this bye week works in Utah's favor. If I were the Trojans, I would circle this week on the calendar to get down to business and really focus.

No. 14: Utah at Oregon State, October 20

This is homecoming weekend at OSU, and nobody likes to lose their homecoming game.

Plus, the revenge factor after last year's 27-8 pathetic loss in Salt Lake City will ratchet up the stakes of this one for the Beavers.

Utah, please listen to my next two words: Trap. Game.

No. 13: USC at Washington, October 13

USC will get a couple extra days of preparation for this game after its Thursday game with Utah the previous week. I suspect it might need this bonus time.

Yes, the Trojans handled the Huskies easily in 2011, but that game was in Los Angeles. USC has three key games on the road this year—Stanford, Utah and this one—and it needs to prove it is a "business trip" kind of team.

In addition to the competition between the two former USC assistant coaches, I wonder if Layla Kiffin and Stephanie Sarkisian, once close friends, look forward to this game or not.

No. 12: Stanford at Notre Dame, October 13

If Stanford has any hope of staying on the national scene post-Andrew Luck, the Cardinal need to win this game.

Stanford beat the Irish last November 28-14 in Palo Alto. If it can go to South Bend without Luck and get a win, it will speak volumes.

A win by Stanford will also help the cause of Pac-12 pride and could seriously impact the strength of schedule for Oregon and USC.

We need this one, Cardinal.

No. 11: Washington State at BYU, September 1

A win here to kick off the Mike Leach era at Wazzu would bring a smile to athletic director Bill Moos and induce shivers in the rest of Pac-12 land.

BYU's only losses in 2011 were to Texas (by one point—yikes!), Utah and TCU. That's a good year of college football, people.

If WSU can go to Provo and get out of town with a victory in Week 1, we will all know that this team will be trouble on any given week in the Pac-12. Believe it.

No. 10: Stanford at Cal, October 20

Yes, the Big Game in October.

Aside from flummoxing my friends Richard and Wanda, this early Big Game between the Bay Area rivals could make things messy in the North Division.

As with the Civil War between rivals Oregon and Oregon State, one can't ever be totally sure what will happen in the Big Game. In 2012, I think it could go either way and might have an impact on the conference standings.

No. 9: Oklahoma State at Arizona, September 8

This is an important early game for Larry Scott and the Pac-12 conference. If Arizona competes well against the Cowboys—notice I didn't say "wins"—it would show some Pac-12 strength.

Coming off the most successful season in Oklahoma State history (12 wins, first BCS berth and an exciting win over Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl), the Cowboys will be loaded for bear.

I'm guessing that Rich Rodriguez would love to make a statement early on. This is his chance.

No. 8: Wisconsin at Oregon State, September 8

How cool would it be if Wisconsin lost to both Oregon and Oregon State in the same year? It's not impossible to consider.

Without Russell Wilson at QB and the Badgers playing at Reser Stadium, it feels like the Beavers have a chance in this game.

A win by the Beavers over Wisconsin would impact strength of schedule for the Pac-12 overall. It would also most definitely right the ship for Beaver Nation.

Do it, Beavers, do it.

No. 7: USC at Stanford, September 15

This Pac-12 opener for both teams will tell us a lot.

Will USC be a good road team?

Is there life after Andrew Luck?

Did Matt Barkley make the right decision?

Is the Stanford band still obnoxious?

No. 6: Oregon vs. Washington State (in Seattle), September 29

You are all going to think I'm crazy, but this game scares the hell out of me.

Why are we playing this home game for WSU in Seattle instead of Pullman? Answer: so Wazzu athletic director Bill Moos can have his team perform in front of potential donors on the other side of the state.

Do you think Moos—former AD at Oregon, by the way—may have circled this game on his new coach's calendar and said, "Let's try real hard to win this one, OK, Mike?"

Yes, Oregon beat WSU last year in Eugene, but it was not a blowout. Add to that Mike Leach is a killer—metaphorically speaking, of course.

If you look up "trap game" in the dictionary, there may very well be a photo of this game.

No. 5: Washington at LSU, September 8

Even though it's safe to say that I generally hate the Huskies on principle, I would have the entire team to dinner at my house if it would help them beat LSU the second week of the season.

Even though LSU stunk up the BCS National Championship Game, I believe you could still make the case that it will be ranked No. 1 by Week 2 of the 2012 season. Think what fun an upset like this in Week 2 could mean to the entire season.

Think what it would do for Pac-12 stature. Think how far it could go to shutting up the "SEC is God" talk.

A mid-tier Pac-12 team beating the best the SEC can throw at us. It could be a beautiful thing.

No. 4: Stanford at Oregon, November 17

On paper, this one looks easy for the Ducks.

After all, they gave the Cardinal a good whipping last year at their place with everything on the line and with Andrew Luck at the helm.

I fear that Darron Thomas' departure for the NFL evens this one up a little bit.

The only thing I know for sure in this game is that it will be cold. Possibly cold and wet. Possibly a night game in the cold and wet.

May the best team win.

No. 3: USC at Utah, October 4

Although we tend to think of Utah as one of the new kids, it is not chopped liver—especially at home.

Especially on a Thursday night, in a most likely ESPN-televised game. Especially against what will almost certainly be a Top Five-ranked team.

With a potential South Division crown on the line, the Trojans had better give this one some serious thought. We will have a feel from this game of whether USC is a good road team or not. I also think the Utes will be 4-0 going into this one with a real head of steam.

Watch out, Trojans.

No. 2: Oregon at USC, November 3

Probably—and I do say "probably"—this will be the only Pac-12 game that really matters this year.

Will it be a matchup of the nation's No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams when it's played?

Will all the Oregon fans who stayed away from the Rose Bowl travel south for this one? Is it big enough for you?

Will the Duck try to mount Traveler?

Will Erin Andrews do a better interview with Chip Kelly than with Lane Kiffin?

Should USC pop the cork on the champagne to celebrate Darron Thomas leaving for the NFL?

Will Kelly lose to Kiffin two years in a row? The answer to this question is no.

Tune in on November 3 for answers to all the other questions.

No. 1: Pac-12 Championship Game, November 30

I'm going out on a limb here and saying that this game will be a repeat of No. 2, only this time in Eugene instead of Los Angeles.

Winner most likely gets a January date in Miami. I know that very nice, well-meaning people in the Big Ten, SEC and other important conferences across the land may take issue with that statement.

Tough.