Stanford picked to win Pac-12 in preseason media poll

In other words, a first-place vote receives six points, a second-place vote five points and so on.

Pac-12 Football Media Days are underway, and for the first time in school history, Stanford football is picked to win the Pac-12 title, even though the Cardinal have won three of the last four conference crowns.

As it turned out, though no one could have predicted the midseason coaching turmoil for the Trojans, the media were correct in their prediction that USC would win the South. Washington, UCLA and Utah also received votes as title game winners.

Mike Yam of the Pac-12 Networks joins host Lindsay Schnell on the SI College Football Podcast ahead of Pac-12 media days. USC was second (12 first-place, 173 points) followed by Utah (2, 127), Arizona (87), Arizona State (85) and Colorado (63). Southern Cal received 5 votes, Washington got 4 votes, UCLA got 3 votes, and Utah received 1 vote.

For fans in the Pac-12 North one team has been the thorn in Oregon’s side in the recent past. The Bruins face Texas A&M and BYU in non-conference action.

20 of the 33 writers polled picked Stanford to win the Pac-12 Championship Game, which will be held Friday, December 2 at 6 p.m. PT at Levi’s Stadium. The Wildcats don’t have to play OR, but the get Washington and Stanford from the North – at least those two are at home.

“Looking at the incredible depth from top to bottom in our conference, I’m confident no other conference has as many good teams as the Pac-12 this season”, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said.

Stanford was picked to win the North Division and repeat as conference champion behind versatile running back Christian McCaffrey, the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season.

Arizona is fourth in the South, leading Arizona State and Colorado.

With quarterback Baker Mayfield among seven returning starters on offense, the Sooners got 24 of 26 first-place votes in the preseason media poll released Thursday.