Pac-12 releases 2022 preseason media poll, predicted order of finish

Pac-12 Media Days get underway on Friday, and expectations are getting set for the 2022 year. Ahead of the event, the league announced the preseason media poll on Thursday.

Utah played in the Rose Bowl last year after winning the Pac-12 Championship and the Utes are predicted to win the league again, receiving 26 of 35 possible first-place votes. Oregon came in second in the poll despite receiving fewer first-place votes than USC. Both programs underwent high-profile coaching changes this offseason and made some big-time additions via the transfer portal.

Here’s the full Pac-12 preseason media poll.

1. Utah (26 first-place votes)
2. Oregon (2)
3. USC (5)
4. UCLA
5. Oregon State
6. Washington
7. Washington State
8. Stanford
9. Cal
10. Arizona State
11. Arizona
12. Colorado

Utah had a huge 2021 season, going 10-4 overall and defeating Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship to advance to the Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State. Cameron Rising is back for his second season after transferring from Texas and made a big splash in the portal on defense, bringing in Mohamoud Diabate from Florida after he led the Gators in sacks.

But Oregon and USC two of the highest-profile offseasons in college football. After Mario Cristobal left the Ducks to become the new head coach at Miami, Dan Lanning is in as the Oregon coach. He got to work in the portal, landing former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix and former Colorado safety Christian Gonzalez. Oregon also has the No. 12 recruiting class coming in this year, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking.

USC, now under the leadership of head coach Lincoln Riley, was arguably the biggest winner in the portal this offseason. The Trojans brought in the game’s top two transfers — Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison — as part of a group that includes four top-40 portal entrants, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.