as difficult as it is for us to stomach, the PAC-12 is better when USC is good ...

[Jarid in Cedar]

I agree with pretty much everything, but I would say that before we can talk about keeping pace, we have to catch up. The south power rankings right now (power rankings in terms of perception?):

1) USC
2) UCLA
3) ASU
4) Zona
5) Utah
6) CU

We have to catch up a little. Right now, we worry about the USC, Stanford, Oregon games, but really it's the Arizona teams that should have a target on their back for us.

If you are ranking the teams this year, I can't argue. But if you are viewing things through a 10-15 year prism, we are miles ahead of Arizona.

[sancho]

If you are ranking the teams this year, I can't argue. But if you are viewing things through a 10-15 year prism, we are miles ahead of Arizona.

What if you are ranking since the start of the Pac-12?

Or what if you are ranking based on public/media expectations over the next few years?

[Jarid in Cedar]

What if you are ranking since the start of the Pac-12?

Or what if you are ranking based on public/media expectations over the next few years?

For the first 2 years of the Pac-12, I would go:

1. USC
2. UCLA
3. ASU
4. Utah
5. Arizona
6. Colorado

We are 13-12 and 7-11 in conference. Arizona is 12-13 and 6-12 in conference. 1-1 head to head with each team winning on the road. If the top 3 don't change, then the winner of the Utah-Arizona game this year will have the edge in perception/expectations moving forward.

[LA Ute]

FWIW, from the USC newsletter that I get:

Haden's outlook for the 2013 football season...

If you told me all 67 of our currently healthy and eligible scholarship guys will remain healthy, we could have a really good season. Injuries will happen, as they do in football, so depth is going to be the biggest question for us. I am optimistic though. I think our defense is really going to be a lot better from what I have seen. When I evaluated last season, everyone talks about offensive issues, but it was really defense. We lost games scoring 51 and 36 points. New defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast has a different style, and with an influx of impact freshman on defense, I expect us to improve on that side of the ball.

[sancho]

FWIW, from the USC newsletter that I get:

It works out alright for us, but relative to other schools, USC really got hosed on their sanctions.