Here are the top storylines to look out for during Kickoff Week in the Pac-12.
Evaluating the latest crop of Pac-12 quarterbacks We saw Davis Webb make his first Pac-12 start for California -- tossing four touchdowns and rushing for another. But he's just the first of quite a few QB debuts. Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, USC and Utah will be joining the Golden Bears in the "Fresh-Face Quarterbacks Club." Chances are all of those debuts won't go as swimmingly as Webb's. Or will they? Game on, Mr. Max Browne.
High expectations for Christian McCaffrey: After setting the NCAA record for the most all-purpose yards in a season (3,864) the Heisman runner-up begins 2016 with a new quarterback and a rebuilt offensive line. Last season he was the only FBS player to lead his team in rushing and receiving. Head coach David Shaw said expectations have never been higher for McCaffrey. Said Shaw: "I love how steady he is, regardless of what the outside world tries to put on his shoulders because he only carries his own expectations."
Pac-12 vs. SEC dominates the nonconference slate: Two key showdowns this week could have major implications on the College Football Playoff landscape. First up is USC vs. Alabama. You might have read a little something about that this week. The other is UCLA at Texas A&M. In a fun, ironic twist, both Pac-12 teams will be going against former coaches -- Lane Kiffin is now the offensive coordinator for Alabama and former UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone has the same gig with Texas A&M. Kiffin recruited Browne, the new USC starting QB, and Mazzone worked last season with Josh Rosen.
There are few easy games on the schedule for either Los Angeles team. The Bruins and Trojans boast two of the top three most difficult nonconference slates, according to ESPN's FPI. USC is No. 1 (Alabama, Utah State, Notre Dame) and the Bruins are No. 3 (at Texas A&M, vs. UNLV, at BYU). Seven of UCLA's first eight opponents played in a bowl game last season and four won at least nine games. Not to be a one-upper, but 11 of the Trojans' 12 opponents went to a bowl game last season and four won at least 10 games including three they face in September -- Alabama, Stanford, and Utah.
Brady Hoke to the rescue?: The former Michigan head coach is bringing a new 4-down front to Eugene in an effort to improve a defense that was worst in the Pac-12 last season in points allowed (37.5 points per game). The Ducks probably won't get too much of a test in Week 1 against UC-Davis. But with 11 Power-5 teams on the schedule -- including Virginia in Week 2 and a trip to Nebraska in Week 3 -- there won't be time for growing pains. Last year was the first time in eight seasons the Ducks failed to win at least 10 games, and a lot of that responsibility fell on the defense.
Fresh schemes and fresh faces: Oregon isn't the only school tinkering with its scheme. Teams tinker with their offenses and defenses to fit the personnel they have coming in or coming back. Playing to your strengths is Football 101. Arizona and UCLA will have entirely different looks on one side of the ball. The Wildcats will debut a new defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Marcel Yates. Head coach Rich Rodriguez said he "blew up" the old approach. UCLA is moving from Mazzone's spread to a more pro-style-centric attack that should accentuate Rosen's strengths.
As for fresh faces, We saw Cal freshman Melquise Stovall haul in the first of what will likely be many career touchdown receptions against Hawaii. He finished with four catches for 61 yards. We’ll be looking for a couple of other true freshmen receivers -- Arizona State's N'Keal Harry and UCLA’s Theo Howard -- to also make an early impact.