Todd is honored to get published on the 'Q'

I received an opportunity on FanIQ to give my argument why the Pac-10 will be the best conference in all of college football. Several people have given me their "thumbs up" on it. Let me know what you think. Here it is, if you don't want to have to visit FanIQ (below).

Why is the Pacific-10 Conference the best in all of college football? I can tell you why in just three words… experience and depth.

Southern Cal, for one, has not only survived brutal Pac-10 slates in recent years, but has done so in convincing fashion. Teams in our conference typically beat up on each other year in, and year out, but the Trojans always seems to emerge unscathed. Plus, they’ve further proven their worth, by appearing in a few national title games in this decade alone. USC has also received all 39 first-place votes in this year’s Pac-10 Preseason Media poll.

Throughout our conference, the Pac-10 has some of the most experienced teams, top to bottom. According to ESPN, of the 240 starters from last year’s teams, 165 starters return to their respective programs. That’s nearly 69 percent of the returning starters! There’s a wealth of talent, especially at key positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, safety, and cornerback. Even Pac-10 coaches are among some of the best in the nation, and have had great prior success, like USC’s Pete Carroll, Arizona State’s Dennis Erickson, Oregon’s Mike Bellotti, and California’s Jeff Tedford.

Position depth is also a factor. At quarterback, USC and UCLA are at least two-deep on their rosters, in terms of solid talent. At running back, Oregon features lots of versatility with Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson. UCLA has arguably the best receiving corps in the Pac-10, if not one of the best in the nation. The best offensive tandem in the conference is Cal quarterback Nate Longshore and his wideout, DeSean Jackson. And either Oregon State or UCLA could boast that they have the best overall defense in the conference.

Offensively, the Pac-10 can compete with (and surpass) anyone in the nation, as four teams are ranked in the top 25, in terms of total offense in 2006: Oregon (#9 in NCAA), Cal (#12), USC (#21), and Washington State (#25). Defensively in 2006, the Pac-10 also performed well: UCLA (#9 – rushing defense), USC (#11 – scoring defense), Oregon State (#29 – rushing defense).

Basically, if you like teams with wide-open offenses and punishing defenses, the Pac-10 gives you that, and more. Head-to-head and game-by-game, our conference’s teams can challenge any other conference’s team any day. To me, that’s why I know the Pac-10 is the best, in all of college football. And, look for a Pac-10 team (hint: USC) to fight for a spot in the BCS National Championship Game again this year.

Bring on the season!