Sam Darnold, USC Trojans Football
The 2017 college football season has reached the halfway point in the Pac-12, and it’s time to hand out midseason awards and make a few predictions for the second half of the year. After seven weeks of action, every Pac-12 team has at least one loss. While one-loss teams have made the CFB Playoff, the margin for error for the Pac-12’s contenders the rest of the way is pretty small. Simply, if Washington or USC wants to make the CFB Playoff, they have to run the table the rest of the way and can’t afford another loss. Even though the defeat at Arizona State was a setback, the Huskies still have the necessary pieces to win the Pac-12. However, the loss of standout left tackle Trey Adams is significant. Stanford appears to be the biggest challenger to Washington in the North, but Washington State shouldn’t be overlooked despite a bad performance at California. In the South, USC is a heavy favorite to claim the division title. The Trojans lost at Washington State but scored a key victory against Utah last Saturday. Games against Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA remain in the second half, along with a trip to Notre Dame in Week 8. The Wildcats might be the most intriguing team to watch over the next six weeks of action. Behind quarterback Khalil Tate, Arizona has won two in a row and faces USC, Washington State, Oregon and Arizona State in the second half of 2017.
Editors Mitch Light and Steven Lassan and contributor Kyle Kensing offer their up their picks for midseason awards and second-half predictions in the Pac-12.
Pac-12 Midseason Awards and Second-Half Predictions
Offensive Player of the Year
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Bryce Love RB, Stanford | Bryce Love RB, Stanford | Bryce Love RB, Stanford |
Defensive Player of the Year
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Hercules Mata'afa DL, Washington State | Hercules Mata'afa DL, Washington State | Uchenna Nwosu LB, USC |
Freshman of the Year (Offense)
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Tyler Vaughns WR, USC | Stephen Carr RB, USC | Tyler Vaughns WR, USC |
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Freshman of the Year (Defense)
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Thomas Graham CB, Oregon | Jaelan Phillips DL, UCLA | Thomas Graham CB, Oregon |
Coach of the Year
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Justin Wilcox California | Mike Leach Washington State | Justin Wilcox California |
Coordinator of the Year
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Alex Grinch DC, Washington State | Alex Grinch DC, Washington State | Clancy Pendergast DC, USC |
Best Coordinator Hire of 2017
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Tim DeRuyter DC, California | Jim Leavitt DC, Oregon | Jim Leavitt DC, Oregon |
Newcomer of the Year (JUCO or Transfer)
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Darren Carrington WR, Utah | Darren Carrington WR, Utah | Darren Carrington WR, Utah |
Biggest Surprise Through Seven Weeks
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
California | Khalil Tate QB, Arizona | Khalil Tate's History-Making Two-Game Stretch for Arizona |
Must-See Game of Second Half
Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
Washington at Stanford | Washington at Stanford | Washington at Stanford |
Projected Order of Finish
| Steven Lassan | Mitch Light | Kyle Kensing |
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South |
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Pac-12 Title |
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| over | over | over |
