Pac-12 power rankings: Our final installment of 2025 and awards for Players and Coach of the Year
Welcome to the Hotline s final weekly assessment of the eight teams in the rebuilt Pac- We will publish a men s basketball version beginning next week that will appear throughout the remainder of the regular season Here are last week s rankings What better way to end our season-long assessment of a conference that doesn t exist than by handing out very real hypothetical awards The eight teams that make up the future Pac- produced standout performances across three months but a hefty number of clunkers as well Put another way The conference will start the season playing from behind against the American in the race for a College Football Playoff berth The Hotline sorted through the brilliance and the carnage that unfolded to select our first annual postseason honors for the Pac- Here we go Coach of the Year San Diego State s Sean Lewis An easy call given the Aztecs momentous year-over-year improvement in Lewis second season If not for an early-season derailment at Washington State that continues to mystify they would have been in the CFP discussion throughout November And if not for the Mountain West s unique process for picking its championship event participants an average of the computer rankings the Aztecs might have played for the crown Offensive Athlete of the Year San Diego State tailback Lucky Sutton The latest in SDSU s long line of stellar tailbacks Sutton rushed for yards and touchdowns with six games of at least yards on the ground The Aztecs had one of the worst aerial attacks in the country Without Sutton their - record would have been closer to - Defensive Player of the Year Washington State linebacker Parker McKenna The heart of a better-than-advertised defense McKenna led the Cougars in tackles and was essential to a unit that finished th nationally in yards-per-play allowed despite a rugged schedule The Cougars held SDSU to points Mississippi to and Virginia to And McKenna was in the middle of it all To the power rankings Boise State - Product beat UNLV - Mountain West championship Next up bowl match Comment We moved the Broncos to the top spot and are awarding them the hypothetical conference title after they won the Mountain West s real one Yes Boise State lost the head-to-head duel with San Diego State in the Snapdragon slop but they were without quarterback Maddux Madsen When he s healthy the Broncos are the best squad or would be the best gang or whatever Previous San Diego State - Impact did not play Next up bowl tournament Comment A stellar season ended with the computer rankings preventing SDSU from playing for the Mountain West title That doesn t detract from the Year turnaround under Sean Lewis that has the Aztecs perfectly positioned to thrive once the Pac- comes online next fall And they managed to retain Lewis despite all the coaching vacancies along the West Coast Previous Washington State - Conclusion did not play Next up bowl battle Comment The Cougars lost coach Jimmy Rogers to Iowa State in a surprise advancement Friday night Alas they have several quality replacement options and a president who cares Our advice Wait for Montana State coach Brent Vigen Meanwhile interim coach Jesse Bobbit will get WSU ready for its ninth bowl meeting in the past non-COVID seasons Previous Related Articles CFP forecast Committee must shun Notre Dame Miami or Alabama Recruiting winners and losers USC BYU Oregon thrive Colorado struggles WSU coaching search Brent Vigen Jonathan Smith and a plan for the future Mailbag ABC dominates TV ratings CFP scenarios the ACC nightmare and more Oregon State hires JaMarcus Shephard as new Pac- gains momentum Fresno State - Outcome did not play Next up bowl championship Comment The Bulldogs were one of the the majority erratic teams in this imagined conference with a lopsided loss to Colorado State and a blowout win at Boise State as examples of their inconsistency All in all they should be pleased with their trajectory In Year under Matt Entz and built plenty of momentum for Year in the new Pac- Previous Utah State - End did not play Next up bowl competition Comment The decision to hire Bronco Mendenhall away from New Mexico looks even smarter now than it did last winter The Aggies aren t merely bowl-eligible they were four points away from beating UNLV and Boise State down the stretch and possibly playing for the Mountain West championship That momentum should carry well into the offseason Previous Texas State - Development did not play Next up bowl tournament Comment On the bright side the Bobcats were mediocre enough to cool coach GJ Kinne s sector value in a sizzling hiring cycle that has created openings across the Southern sweep of the FBS But there is work ahead for Texas State if the operation plans to finish on the top tier of its new conference Previous Oregon State - Development did not play Next up season complete Comment The Hotline is somewhat skeptical of the JaMarcus Shephard hire in large part because he will be a rookie head coach wading into a conference stocked with proven veterans That dynamic places that much more emphasis on OSU s financial wherewithal to aid revenue sharing and NIL Also we are deeply curious about his choice for defensive coordinator Previous Colorado State - Outcome did not play Next up season complete Comment The Rams served notice that they are serious about winning by hiring Jim Mora a move that instantly added legitimacy to their campaign after a intricate season We ll give Mora two years to stock the roster and implement his system By the start of he should have the pieces in place to contend for the Pac- title Previous Send suggestions comments and tips confidentiality guaranteed to wilnerhotline bayareanewsgroup com or call - - Follow me on the social media platform X WilnerHotline
