The 2021 Pac-12 Conference football season was the 43rd season of Pac-12 football taking place during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on August 28, 2021, and ended with the 2021 Pac-12 Championship Game on December 3, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
The Pac-12 was a Power Five conference under the College Football Playoff format along with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big 12 Conference, Big Ten Conference, and the Southeastern Conference. The 2021 season was the eleventh for the twelve Pac-12 teams to be divided into two divisions of six teams each, named North and South.
Preseason 2021 Pac-12 Spring Football and number of signees on signing day:
North Division California – 21 Oregon – 23 Oregon State – 15 Stanford – 17 Washington – 16 Washington State – 23
South Division Arizona – 26 Arizona State – 17 Colorado – 19 UCLA – 17 USC – 26 Utah – 22
Recruiting classes + Rankings Team ESPN Rivals Scout & 24/7SigneesArizona – 657826Arizona State25645217California21412821Colorado – 626419Oregon83623Oregon State – NR10915Stanford – 474117UCLA – 333117USC108726Utah – 283322Washington – 373616Washington State – 506123
Pac-12 Media Days The Pac-12 conducted its 2021 Pac-12 media days at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, in Hollywood, California, on July 27, 2021 (Pac-12 Network).
The teams and representatives in respective order were as follows:
Pac-12 Commissioner – George Kliavkoff Arizona – Jedd Fisch (HC), Stanley Berryhill (WR), Anthony Pandy (LB) Arizona State – Herm Edwards (HC), Jayden Daniels (QB), Chase Lucas (DB) California – Justin Wilcox (HC), Chase Garbers (QB), Kuony Deng (LB) Colorado – Karl Dorrell (HC), Dimitri Stanley (WR), Nate Landman (LB) Oregon – Mario Cristobal (HC), Alex Forsyth (OL), Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE) Oregon State – Jonathan Smith (HC), Avery Roberts (LB), Jaydon Grant (DB) Stanford – David Shaw (HC), MIchael Wilson (WR), Thomas Booker (DE) UCLA – Chip Kelly (HC), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB), Qwuantrezz Knight (DB) USC – Clay Helton (HC), Kedon Slovis (QB), Drake London (WR) Utah – Kyle Whittingham (HC), Britain Covey (WR), Devin Lloyd (LB) Washington – Jimmy Lake (HC), Jaxson Kirkland (OL), Trent McDuffie (DB) Washington State – Nick Rolovich (HC)†, Max Borghi (RB), Jahad Woods (LB) † Washington State Head Coach Nick Rolovich did not attend the conference, and instead participated remotely.
Preseason Media polls The preseason polls were released on July 27, 2021. Since 1992, the credentialed media has gotten the preseason champion correct just five times. Only nine times has the preseason pick even made it to the Pac-12 title game. Below are the results of the media poll with total points received next to each school and first-place votes in parentheses. For the 2021 poll, Oregon was voted as the favorite to win both the North Division, as well as the Pac–12 Championship and USC was voted as the favorite to win the South Division.
+North 1 Oregon 238(38) 2 Washington 138(2) 3 California 140 4 Stanford 137 5 Oregon State 71 6 Washington State 65 +South 1 USC 223(27) 2 Utah 183(6) 3 Arizona State 170(6) 4 UCLA 135(1) 5 Colorado 88 6 Arizona 41 Media poll (Pac-12 Championship) 1 Oregon 27 2 USC 10 3 Utah 3
Preseason awards
All−American Teams AP 1st TeamAP 2nd TeamWCFF 1st TeamWCFF 2nd TeamTSN 1st TeamTSN 2nd TeamESPNCBS 1st TeamCBS 2nd TeamCFN 1st TeamCFN 2nd TeamCFN HMPFF 1st TeamPFF 3rd TeamPFF HM Thomas Booker, Stanford, DE Max Borghi, Washington State, RB Jarek Broussard, Colorado, RB Jayden Daniels, Arizona State, QB Greg Dulcich, UCLA, TE Nathan Eldridge, Oregon State, C Nick Ford, Utah, C Paul Grattan, UCLA, G Ben Griffiths, USC, P Drake Jackson, USC, DE Jaxson Kirkland, Washington, OL Brant Kuithe, Utah, TE Sataoa Laumea, Utah, G Devin Lloyd, Utah, LB Jermayne Lole, Arizona State, DT Drake London, USC, WR Abraham Lucas, Washington State, T Trent McDuffie, Washington, S Cade Otton, Washington, TE Isaiah Pola-Mao, USC, S Noah Sewell, Oregon, LB Kedon Slovis, USC, QB Chris Steele, USC, CB Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon, DE Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington, DE Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington, LB Dohnovan West, Arizona State, G Mykael Wright, Oregon, CB
Individual awards Award Head coach/Player School Position Link Lott TrophyNate LandmanColoradoLBKayvon ThibodeauxOregonDEThomas BookerStanfordDEQuentin LakeUCLADBDevin LloydUtah LBEdefuan UlofoshioWashingtonLBDodd TrophyJimmy LakeWashingtonHCMaxwell AwardJayden DanielsArizona StateQBAustin JonesStanfordRBDorian Thompson-RobinsonUCLAQBKedon SlovisUSCQBCharlie BrewerUtahQBBednarik AwardChase LucasArizona StateCBCameron GoodeCaliforniaLBNate LandmanColoradoLBKayvon ThibodeauxOregonDEAvery RobertsOregon StateLBDrake JacksonUSCDEEdefuan UlofoshioWashingtonLBTrent McDuffieWashingtonCBDavey O'Brien AwardCharlie BrewerUtahQBJayden DanielsArizona StateQBKedon SlovisUSCQBDorian Thompson-RobinsonUCLAQBDoak Walker AwardMax BorghiWashington StateRB Jarek BroussardColoradoRBTravis DyeOregonRBAlex FontenotColoradoRBKeaontay IngramUSCRBAustin JonesStanfordRBVavae MalepeaiUSCRBSean McGewWashingtonRBC. J. VerdellOregonRBMichael WileyArizonaRBFred Biletnikoff AwardMax BorghiWashington StateRBJohnny Johnson IIIOregonWRTahj WashingtonUSCWRMichael WilsonStanfordWRJohn Mackey AwardCade OttonWashingtonTEGreg DulcichUCLATEBenjamin YurosekStanfordTEJake TongesCaliforniaTETeagan QuitorianoOregon StateTECole FotheringhamUtahTEBrady RussellColoradoTERimington TrophyJosh McCauley ArizonaOLDohnovan WestArizona StateOLMichael SaffellCaliforniaOLAlex ForsythOregonOLNathan EldridgeOregon StateOLLuke WattenbergWashingtonOLBrian GreeneWashington StateOLButkus AwardDrake JacksonUSCLBNate LandmanColoradoLBDevin LloydUtahLBAvery RobertsOregon StateLBMerlin RobertsonArizona StateLBNoah SewellOregonLBZion Tupuola-FetuiWashingtonLBEdefuan UlofoshioWashingtonLBOutland TrophyHenry BainivaluWashingtonGNathan EldridgeOregon StateCAlex ForsythOregonCJaxson KirklandWashingtonTJermayne LoleArizona StateDTAbraham Lucas Washington StateTWalter RouseStanfordTDohnovan WestArizona StateTBronko Nagurski TrophyThomas BookerStanfordDE Drake JacksonUSCDETyler JohnsonArizona StateDENate LandmanColoradoLBDevin LloydUtahLBTrent McDuffieWashingtonCBChris SteeleUSCCBKayvon ThibodeauxOregonDEEdefuan UlofoshioWashingtonLBLou Groza AwardJadon ReddingUtahPKPaul Hornung AwardBritain CoveyUtahWRTravell HarrisWashington StateWRKyle PhilipsUCLAWRNikko RemigioCaliforniaWRWuerffel TrophyBryce WolmaArizonaTEJackson HeArizona StateRBMichael SaffellCaliforniaOLNate LandmanColoradoLBJaydon GrantOregon StateCBIsaiah SandersStanfordQBShea PittsUCLALBMo HasanUSCQBMika TafuaUtahDERace PorterWashingtonPWalter Camp AwardJayden DanielsArizona StateQBKedon SlovisUSCQBKayvon ThibodeauxOregonDEManning AwardJayden DanielsArizona StateQBChase GarbersCaliforniaQBKedon SlovisUSCQBEarl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardZeriah BeasonOregon StateWRCharlie BrewerUtahQBJarek BroussardColoradoRBVictor CurneWashingtonOLKellen DieschArizona StateOLAlex FontenotColoradoRBElijah HigginsStanfordWRKeaontay IngramUSCRBBrant KuitheUtahTEMcKade MettauerCaliforniaOLK.D. NixonUSCWRMichael WileyArizonaRBRay Guy AwardBen GriffithsUSCPMichael Turk‡Arizona StatePRace PorterWashingtonPRyan SanbornStanfordPPolynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardDonovan LaieArizonaOLJermayne LoleArizona StateDLMerlin RobertsonArizona StateLBKekoa CrawfordCaliforniaWRMo IosefaCaliforniaLBMalaesala Aumavae-LauluOregonOLMase FunaOregonDLNoah SewellOregonLBPopo AumavaeOregonDLIsaiah Pola-MaoUSCDBKana'i MaugaUSCLBTuli TuipulotuUSCDLMika TafuaUtahDLNephi SewellUtahLBSataoa LaumeaUtahOLSimi MoalaUtahOLTennessee PututauUtahDLViane MoalaUtahDLHenry BainivaluWashingtonOLSam TaimaniWashingtonDLTuli LetuligsenoaWashingtonDLUlumoo AleWashingtonOLZion Tupuola-FetuiWashingtonLB Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Jayden DanielsArizona StateQBChase GarbersCaliforniaQB Anthony BrownOregonQB Dorian Thompson-RobinsonUCLAQB Kedon SlovisUSCQB Charlie BrewerUtahQBDylan MorrisWashingtonQBJarrett GuarantanoWashington StateQB ‡Arizona State's Michael Turk announced his intention to transfer after the media voting window ended.
Preseason All Pac-12
First Team Position Player Class Team First Team Offense QB Kedon Slovis Jr. USC RB Jarek Broussard RSo. Colorado Max Borghi Jr. Washington State WR Drake London Jr. USC (2) Kyle Philips RJr. UCLA TE Cade Otton Jr. Washington OL Jaxson Kirkland Sr. Washington (2) Abraham Lucas RSr. Washington State (2) Dohnovan West Jr. Arizona State Nick Ford Jr. Utah Alex Forsyth Jr. Oregon First Team Defense DL Kayvon Thibodeaux So. Oregon (2) Mika Tafua Jr. Utah (2) Thomas Booker Sr. Stanford Jermayne Lole Sr Arizona State (2) LB Drake Jackson Jr. USC (3)Devin Lloyd Jr. Utah (3) Nate Landman Sr. Colorado (2) DB Mykael Wright So. Oregon (3) Trent McDuffie So. Washington (3) Chase Lucas RSr. Arizona State (3) Chris Steele Jr. USC (4) First team special teams PK Jadon Redding So. Utah (4) P Michael Turk‡ RSr. Arizona State (4) AP Thomas Booker Sr. Stanford (2) RS Britain Covey Jr. Utah (5) †California's Michael Saffell announced his medical retirement after the media voting window ended. ‡Arizona State's Michael Turk announced his intention to transfer after the media voting window ended.
Second Team Position Player Class Team Second Team Offense QB Jayden Daniels Jr. Arizona State (5) RB C. J. Verdell Jr. Oregon (4) Rachaad White RSr. Arizona State (6) WR Johnny Johnson III Sr. Oregon (5) Britain Covey Jr. Utah (6) TE Greg Dulcich RJr. UCLA (2) OL Nathan Eldridge Sr. Oregon State Sataoa Laumea RFr. Utah (7) Michael Saffell† RSr. California Kellen Diesch GS Arizona State (7) Sean Rhyan Jr. UCLA (3) Second Team Defense DL Tyler Johnson RJr. Arizona State (8) Nick Figueroa RSr. USC (5) Tuli Tuipulotu So. USC (6) Terrance Lang Jr. Colorado (3) LB Noah Sewell Fr. Oregon (6) Edefuan Ulofoshio So. Washington (4) Avery Roberts RJr. Oregon State (2) DB Isaiah Pola-Mao RSr. USC (7) Mekhi Blackmon Jr. Colorado (4) Evan Fields Sr Arizona State (9) Verone McKinley III So. Oregon (7) Second team special teams PK Lucas Havrisik Sr. Arizona P Ben Griffiths RJr. USC (8) AP D.J. Taylor RFr. Arizona State (10) RS D.J. Taylor RFr. Arizona State (11)
All Pac–12 Honorable Mention (received votes from four or more members of the media): Arizona: Arizona State: DeaMonte Trayanum (RB) California: Luc Bequette (DL), Kuony Deng (LB), Cameron Goode (LB), Elijah Hicks (DB), Josh Drayden (DB) Colorado: Dimitri Stanley (WR), Carson Wells (LB), Isaiah Lewis (DB) Oregon: Travis Dye (RB), Mycah Pittman (WR), T. J. Bass (OL), Oregon State: Joshua Gray (OL), Isaac Hodgins (DL) Stanford: Austin Jones (RB), Michael Wilson (WR), Walter Rouse (OL), Kyu Blu Kelly (DB), Ryan Sanborn (P) UCLA: Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB), Brittain Brown (RB), Alec Anderson (OL), Sam Marrazzo (OL), Otito Ogbonnia (DL), Caleb Johnson (LB), Qwuantrezz Knight (DB), Quentin Lake (DB), Stephen Blaylock (DB), Nicholas Barr-Mira (PK) USC: K.D. Nixon (WR), Andrew Vorhees (OL), Parker Lewis (PK), Damon Johnson (AP/RS) Utah: Brant Kuithe (TE), Viane Moala (DL), JaTravis Broughton (DB), Clark Phillips III (DB), Keegan Markgraf (AP/RS) Washington: Luke Wattenberg (OL), Henry Bainivalu (OL), Kyler Gordon (DB), Peyton Henry (PK), Kyler Gordon (AP/RS) Washington State: Travell Harris (WR), Renard Bell (WR), Liam Ryan (OL), Brennan Jackson (DL), Jahad Woods (LB), Jaylen Watson (DB)
Head coaches
Coaching changes There was one coaching change before the 2021 season. On December 12, 2020, Kevin Sumlin was fired from Arizona after three seasons. Jedd Fisch was hired to serve as the new head coach on December 23, 2020. On September 13, 2021, Clay Helton was fired as head coach of USC. Donte Williams was named interim head coach. On October 18, 2021, Nick Rolovich was fired as head coach of Washington State. Jake Dickert was named interim coach.