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ESPN Projects USC, Not Washington Huskies, As Team To Beat In PAC-12

By Bret Stuter

Nov 25, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; A couple of Washington Huskies fans pose for a photo before a game against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; A couple of Washington Huskies fans pose for a photo before a game against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite winning the PAC-12 and competing in the NCAA playoffs, ESPN Projects Washington Huskies behind USC in ESPN Power Rankings

ESPN covers the nation, and dabbles in virtually any and everything related to sports. So it’s too high of a standard to expect their coverage to get everything right every time.   But. the Washington Huskies have done everything a team can do to earn the respect of the NCAA.  Landing in the NCAA playoffs and winning the PAC-12 Conference Title handily should be enough.  After all, what do the Washington Huskies need to do to be considered a national powerhouse?

Seemingly much more, in ESPN’s eyes.  In the PAC-12 Power Ranking, Kyle Banagura succumbed to the allure of one more nationally ranked recruiting class to project USC as the team to beat in the PAC-12 Conference this year.

Not surprisingly, the national media seems to overvalue the USC Trojans annually.  That is the same USC which always seems to recruit far better than their season record.  In fact, the disparity of national media attention prompted us to distinguish between good fit versus good show.

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Top Class Does Not Top Results

USC has outranked the UW recruiting class in each of the past three years by a significant margin.  And each of the past three years, the Washington Huskies have played very close to the record of USC, until last season.  The Huskies ended the season 12-2 and claimed the PAC-12 Title.

But  it’s seems to have mattered very little.   Head Coach Chris Petersen is playing his team now, players he has recruited.  While they may not rank as highly as individual players, they each fit into the grand scheme of Petersen’s scheme like pieces into a jigsaw puzzle.

USC is a good football program.  The school attracts plenty of marquis names to their school.  But in the end, that talent fails at moving the team trajectory.  In the end, it’s not the blue blood aristocracy of the NCAA, but rather the blue collars, which translates into wins.

YOU SHOULD ALSO READ: Washington Huskies 2018 Recruiting Class – Twin Barrelled QB Shotgun

The University of Washington may not make the power ranking elite of the ESPN Power Rankings. But you can bet they will compete for the PAC-12 Championship this year.  And if they face USC in that title game, blue bloods will learn the might of blue collars.

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