2018 Pac-12 Football Media Day: Preseason Poll Results and Open Thread

The Pac-12 Conference has announced the results of the annual preseason media poll and the media doesn’t appear to think that Chip Kelly can overcome UCLA’s challenges to have a very good season.

That’s because the Bruins are picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 South. UCLA garnered 116 points in the poll including 2 first-place votes.

Southern Cal was picked to finish first with 225 points including 22 first-place votes while Utah was a close second with 209 points including 14 first-place votes. Arizona was picked to finish third with 178 points including 3 first-place votes. Colorado was fifth with 80 points and 1 first-place vote. Arizona State received the least love with just 72 points.

In the North, Washington is the clear favorite with 249 points. The Huskies also received 40 of the 42 first-place votes while Stanford and Oregon each received one first-place vote. Stanford was picked to finish second with 198 points and the Ducks were third with 178 points. UC Berkeley received 108 points to land in fourth place while Washington State picked up 98 points. Oregon State received the fewest points of any Pac-12 school with just 48 points.

Washington is the overwhelming favorite to win the Pac-12 Championship Game as well. The Huskies were selected by 37 of the 42 votes. The two voters who chose Stanford and Oregon to win the North also thought the North winner would win the title game.

Meanwhile, only three voters thought a Pac-12 South school would win the championship game. Two of those three voters selected Southern Cal to win the title while one of UCLA’s two first-place voters thought the Bruins could win it.

In the 57 years that the conference has had a preseason media poll, the media has been correct 30 times. But, they haven’t been as accurate lately. Only three of the last eleven polls have accurately predicted the Conference Champion.

Where do you think UCLA will finish in the Pac-12 South this season? Take our poll and offer your explanation in the comments below.

Go Bruins!