UCLA vs. Oregon: What's Each Team's Outlook in 2012?

The first Pac-12 Championship Game isn't receiving nearly as much hype as the other conference games are. In fact, if you're just the casual college football fan, you might not even know that the game is being played tonight. 

That's because the UCLA Bruins are a sub-par 6-6 and they just recently lost 50-0 to USC. They wouldn't even be in the conference championship if it wasn't for USC breaking NCAA rules.

While the Oregon Ducks are likely going to pound UCLA in this game, that doesn't stop us from looking forward to next season. The Bruins can really build off of just participating in the conference championship game alone. If they can play well they can build some momentum heading into next season.

Here are the outlooks for both teams heading into next season.

Oregon Ducks

Oregon will still be the Oregon Ducks regardless of who returns next season. They will still have a great team, with a decent recruiting class and playing in a watered-down Pac-12.

Running back LaMichael James may or may not be back as he may forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft. A majority of the defense will be back along with quarterback Darron Thomas and speedster De'Anthony Thomas.

Chip Kelly is a fantastic coach with a great offensive mind that will always get the most out of his players. As long as he has the weapons and he is the head coach, I like the Ducks chances of remaining in the BCS and national championship hunt.

UCLA Bruins

UCLA is really hard to predict because they just lost their head coach and nobody knows who the replacement is going to be. The recruiting class is not good at all and they don't really have a real quarterback to choose from.

Wide receiver Nelson Rosario is a senior this season which isn't good considering he was the Bruins top receiver this year with over 1,000 receiving yards. On the bright side they do have running back Johnathan Franklin returning who has been majority of the Bruins offense this season. And only four defensive starters won't be returning for the Bruins next year.

UCLA does have an okay team returning next season, but a lot of it depends on who the head coach will be to determine their success.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]