The 2022 Pac-12 Conference football season was the 44th edition of Pac-12 football during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on September 1, 2022, and ended with the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game on December 2, 2022, 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 2022 season was the first since the conference expanded to 12 teams in 2011 in which Pac-12 teams were not split into divisions. On May 18, 2022, the NCAA Division I Council approved a rule change that gave conferences complete freedom in choosing the participants in their championship games. On that same day, the Pac-12 announced that effective immediately, the championship game would feature the top two teams in the conference standings. The 2022 schedule, which was based on the conference's former North–South divisional model, did not change; the Pac-12 stated that it was reviewing multiple scheduling models for future seasons.
The Utah Utes’ participation in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship was decided by strength-of-schedule tiebreaker. Oregon, Utah, and Washington finished the regular season in a 3-way tie for 2nd place. Each team has a tied common opponent record and there was a tie for the next highest seed common opponent.
Preseason 2022 Pac-12 Spring Football and number of signees on signing day:
Arizona – 22 Arizona State – 17 California – 21 Colorado – 20 Oregon – 23 Oregon State – 16 Stanford – 21 UCLA – 12 USC – 26 Utah – 18 Washington – 10 Washington State – 25
Recruiting classes + Rankings Team ESPN Rivals 24/7 On3 Recruits SigneesArizona —22203022Arizona State 25 ―8611017California2159575221Colorado ― 41485820Oregon 866643223Oregon State ― 54505716Stanford ―18161921UCLA ―53472912USC 1050583126Utah ―37353918Washington23 94957010Washington State ― 65607625
Pac-12 Media Days The Pac-12 conducted its 2022 Pac-12 media day on July 29, 2022, at the Novo Theater, LA Live (Pac-12 Network).
The teams and representatives in respective order were as follows:
Pac-12 Commissioner –George Kliavkoff Arizona – Jedd Fisch (HC), Jacob Cowing (WR) & Christian Young (DB) Arizona State – Herm Edwards (HC), LaDarius Henderson (OL) & Kyle Soelle (LB) California – Justin Wilcox (HC), Matthew Cindric (OL) & Daniel Scott (S) Colorado – Karl Dorrell (HC), Casey Roddrick (OG) & Robert Barnes (ILB) Oregon – Dan Lanning (HC), Alex Forsyth (OL) & D. J. Johnson (OLB) Oregon State – Jonathan Smith (HC), Luke Musgrave (TE) & Alex Austin (DB) Stanford – David Shaw (HC), Tanner McKee (QB) & Kyu Blu Kelly (CB) UCLA – Chip Kelly (HC), Jon Gaines II (OL) & Stephan Blaylock (DB) USC – Lincoln Riley (HC), Caleb Williams (QB) & Shane Lee (LB) Utah – Kyle Whittingham (HC), Cameron Rising (QB) & Clark Phillips III (CB) Washington – Kalen DeBoer (HC), Jaxson Kirkland (OL) & Alex Cook (DB) Washington State – Jake Dickert (HC), Cam Ward (QB) & Ron Stone Jr. (DL)
Preseason Media polls The preseason polls was released on July 28, 2022. 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.
1Utah 384 (26) 2Oregon 345 (2) 3USC 341 (5) 4UCLA 289 5Oregon State 246 6Washington 212 7Washington State 177 8Stanford 159 9California 154 10Arizona State 123 11Arizona 86 12Colorado 58 Media poll (Pac-12 Championship) 1 Utah 26 2 Oregon 2 3 USC 5
Preseason awards
All−American Teams
AP 1st TeamAP 2nd TeamAS 1st TeamAS 2nd TeamWCFF 1st TeamWCFF 2nd Team ESPNCBS 1st TeamCBS 2nd TeamCFN 1st TeamCFN 2nd Team PFF 1st TeamPFF 2nd Team SN 1st Team SN 2nd Team Andrew Vorhees, OL, USCCaleb Williams, QB, USCClark Phillips III, DB, Utah Edefuan Ulofoshio, DL, WashingtonJaxson Kirkland, OT, WashingtonJordan Addison, WR, USCJustin Flowe, LB, OregonKyle Ostendorp, P, ArizonaKyu Blu Kelly, CB, StanfordMario Williams, WR, USCNoah Sewell, LB, OregonSataoa Laumea, OG, UtahT. J. Bass, OG, OregonZion Tupuola-Fetui, DL, Washington
Individual awards
Lott TrophyKyon BarrsArizonaDLJr. Daniel ScottCaliforniaSSr.Noah SewellOregonLBSo.Levani DamuniStanfordJr.Nick FigueroaUSCDL Graduate Zion Tupuola-FetuiWashingtonDEJr. Dodd TrophyKyle WhittinghamUtah HC —Maxwell AwardJacob CowingArizonaWRJr. Tanner McKeeStanfordQBDorian Thompson-RobinsonUCLASr.Zach CharbonnetRBJordan AddisonUSCWRJr.Caleb WilliamsQBSo.Cameron RisingUtah Jr.Tavion ThomasRB Cam WardWashington StateQBSo.Davey O'Brien AwardXazavian ValladayArizona State Jr. Cameron RisingUtahDoak Walker AwardDamien MooreCaliforniaRBJr. Alex FontenotColoradoSr.Byron CardwellOregonSo.Deshaun FenwickOregon StateJr.E. J. SmithStanfordZach CharbonnetUCLASr.Travis DyeUSCAustin JonesBiletnikoff AwardJacob CowingArizonaWRJr. Jake BoboUCLA GraduateJordan AddisonUSCJr.
John Mackey AwardBrady RussellColoradoTESr.Terrance FergusonOregon Jr.Luke MusgraveOregon StateBenjamin YurosekStanford Michael Ezeike UCLA GraduateMalcolm EppsUSC Sr.Dalton KincaidUtahSr.Devin CulpWashingtonJr.Rimington TrophyMatthew CindricCaliforniaOLSr.Alex ForsythOregon Jake LevengoodOregon State Jr.Drake NugentStanfordSr.Brett NeilonUSC Sr.Butkus AwardMerlin RobertsonArizona StateLBSr.Justin FloweOregon Fr.Noah SewellSo.Levani DamuniStanfordSr.Carl Jones Jr.UCLADarius MuasauMohamoud DiabateUtahEdefuan UlofoshioWashington Jr.Daiyan HenleyWashington StateSr.Jim Thorpe AwardKyu Blu KellyStanfordDBSr.Clark Phillips IIIUtah So.Cole BishopBronko Nagurski Trophy Brandon DorlusOregonDEJr.Noah SewellLBSo.Kyu Blu KellyStanfordCBOmar SpeightsOregon StateLBJr.Tuli TuipulotuUSCDTClark Phillips IIIUtah CBSo.Junior TafunaDTRon Stone Jr.Washington StateDE Jr.Outland TrophyKyon BarrsArizonaDLJr.T. J. BassOregonGSr.Alex ForsythCMarco BrewerOregon StateG Jr.Braeden DanielsUtah TJr.Junior TafunaDTSo.Drake NugentStanfordCSr.Junior TafunaUtah DTSo.Andrew VorheesUSCG Sr.Tuli TuipulotuDTJr.Jaxson KirklandWashingtonTSr.
Lou Groza AwardTyler LoopArizonaPKSo.Ray Guy AwardKyle OstendorpArizonaPJr.Jamieson SheahanCaliforniaSr.Ryan SanbornStanfordSr.Paul Hornung Award Jack CollettoOregon StateLB Sr.Kazmeir AllenUCLARB Sr.Brenden RiceUSCWRJr.Wuerffel TrophyJordan MorganArizonaOLJr.Matthew CindricCaliforniaSr.Trey PasterLBJr.Joshka GustavColoradoSo.Alex AustinOregon StateDBJohn HumphreysStanfordWRJr.Patrick FieldsDBSr.Tanner McKeeQBJr.Chase GriffinUCLACaleb WilliamsUSCSo.Dalton KincaidUtahTESr.Alex CookWashingtonDBTravion BrownWashington StateLBJr.Walter Camp AwardNoah SewellOregon So. Jordan AddisonUSCWRJr.Caleb WilliamsQBSo.Tavion ThomasUtahRB Jr.Bednarik AwardNoah SewellOregon LBSo.Omar SpeightsOregon StateJr.Kyu Blu KellyStanfordCBSr.Tuli TuipulotuUSCDTJr.Clark Phillips IIIUtah CBSo.Zion Tupuola-FetuiWashingtonDEJr.Ron Stone Jr.Washington State Jr.Lombardi AwardAlex ForsythOregonCSr.Brandon DorlusDEJr.Noah SewellLBSo.Andrew VorheesUSCG Sr.Tuli TuipulotuDTJr.Braeden DanielsUtahOTJr.Jaxson KirklandWashingtonSr.Ron Stone Jr.Washington StateDE Jr.Patrick Mannelly Award Slater Zellers CaliforniaLS Sr. Karsten BattlesOregonSr.Jack Landherr IVUCLASimon SamarzichWashington StateJr.Earl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardLaDarius HendersonArizona StateOLSr. J. Michael SturdivantCaliforniaWR Fr.Alex FontenotColoradoTB GraduateDamien MartinezOregon StateRBFr.Elijah HigginsStanfordWRSr.Kam BrownUCLAJr.Malcolm EppsUSCTE GraduateCourtland FordOLJr.Brant KuitheUtahTESr.Ja'Lynn PolkWashingtonWRFr.Cameron WardWashington StateQBSo.Polynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardJonah SavaiinaeaArizonaOLFr.Tetairoa McMillanWR Tiaoalii SaveaDLSo.Merlin RobertsonArizona StateLBSr.Muelu IosefaCaliforniaJr.Jaydn OttRBFr.Jalen SamiColoradoDLSo.Popo AumavaeOregonSr.Taki TaimaniJr.Malaesala Aumavae-LauluOLSr.Mase FunaLBJr.Noah SewellSo.Taliese FuagaOregon StateOLFr.Levani DamuniStanfordLBSr.Ale KahoUCLA Sr.Atonio MafiOLDarius MuasauLBSr.Siale TaupakiOL Jr.Jay ToiaDLSo.Brandon PiliUSC Sr.Stanley Ta’ufo’ou Jr.Tuli TuipulotuJr.Sataoa LaumeaUtahOLSo.Malone MataeleCBJr.Johnny MaeaOLTennessee PututauDLSo.Junior TafunaDevaughn VeleWRUlumoo AleWashingtonDLJr.Henry BainivaluOLSr.Troy FautanuSo.Tuli LetuligasenoaDLJr.Zion Tupuola-FetuiMa'ake FifitaWashington StateOL So.Manning AwardDorian Thompson-RobinsonUCLAQBSr.Cameron RisingUtahJr.Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardJack PlummerCaliforniaQB Sr.Brendon LewisColorado So.Bo NixOregonSr.Chance NolanOregon State Jr.Tanner McKeeStanford Jr.Dorian Thompson-RobinsonUCLA Sr. Cameron RisingUtahJr.Dylan MorrisWashingtonSo. Ted Hendricks Award
Preseason All Pac-12 Sources:
First Team Position Player Class Team First Team Offense QB Caleb Williams So.USC RB Zach Charbonnet Jr.UCLA Tavion Thomas Jr.Utah WR Jordan Addison Jr.USC (2) Mario Williams So.USC (3) TE Brant Kuithe Jr.Utah (2) OL Jaxson Kirkland Sr.Washington Braeden Daniels Jr.Utah (3) Alex Forsyth Sr.Oregon T. J. Bass Sr.Oregon (2) Andrew Vorhees RS Sr.USC (4) First Team Defense DL Tuli Tuipulotu Jr.USC (5) Brandon Dorlus Jr.Oregon (3) Ron Stone Jr. RS Jr.Washington State Van Fillinger So.Utah (4) LB Noah Sewell So.Oregon (4) Omar Speights So.Oregon State Jackson Sirmon So.California DB Clark Phillips III So.Utah (5) Kyu Blu Kelly Sr.Stanford Cole Bishop So.Utah (6) Daniel Scott RS Sr.California (2) First team special teams PK Dean Janikowski RS So.Washington State (2) P Kyle OstendorpJr.Arizona AP Travis Dye GS.USC (6) RS D.J. Taylor RS So.Arizona State
Second Team Position Player Class Team Second Team Offense QB Cameron Rising So.Utah (7) RB Travis Dye GSUSC (7) Byron Cardwell So.Oregon (5) WR Jacob Cowing Jr.Arizona (2) Jake Bobo GSUCLA (2) TE Benjamin Yurosek Jr.Stanford (2) OL Joshua Gray RS Fr.Oregon State (2) Brett Neilon RS Sr.USC (8) Sataoa Laumea So.Utah (8) Brandon Kipper RS Jr.Oregon State (3) LaDarius Henderson Sr.Arizona State (2) Second Team Defense DL Zion Tupuola-Fetui Jr.Washington (2) Junior Tafuna So.Utah (9) Kyon Barrs Jr.Arizona (3) Brett Johnson RS Jr.California (3) LB Merlin Robertson GSArizona State (3) Justin Flowe RS Fr.Oregon (6) Darius Muasau Sr.UCLA (3) DB Christian Gonzalez So.Oregon (7) Jaydon Grant RS Jr.Oregon State (4) Rejzohn Wright Jr.Oregon State (5) Mekhi Blackmon RS Sr.USC (9) Second team special teams PK Camden Lewis Jr.Oregon (8) P Luke Loecher Rs Jr.Oregon State (6) AP Jack Colletto RS Jr.Oregon State (7) RS Gary Bryant Jr. Jr.USC (10)
All Pac–12 Honorable Mention (received votes from four or more members of the media): Arizona: Christian Roland-Wallace (DB) Arizona State: Xazavian Valladay (RB), Kyle Soelle (LB) California: Damien Moore (RB), Matthew Cindric (OL), Ben Coleman (OL), Oluwafemi Oladejo (LB), Lu-Magia Hearns III (DB), Dario Longhetto (PK), Nick Alftin (AP/ST) Colorado: Frank Filip (OL), Terrance Lang (DL), Jalen Sami (DL), Isaiah Lewis (DB), Nikko Reed (RS) Oregon: Ryan Walk (OL), Popo Aumavae (DL), Bennett Williams (DB), Jamal Hill (DB), Seven McGee (AP/ST) Oregon State: Jake Levengood (OL), Everett Hayes (PK) Stanford: Tanner McKee (QB), E. J. Smith (RB), Elijah Higgins (WR), Branson Bragg (OL), Walter Rouse (OL), Levani Damuni (LB), Ryan Sanborn (P), Casey Filkins (RS) UCLA: Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB), Jon Gaines II (OL), Stephan Blaylock (DB) USC: Gary Bryant Jr. (WR), Nick Figueroa (DL), Solomon Byrd (DL), Korey Foreman (LB), Xavion Alford (DB), Brenden Rice (RS) Utah: Devaughn Vele (WR), Dalton Kincaid (TE), Mohamoud Diabate (LB), JaTravis Broughton (DB) Washington: Jalen McMillan (WR), Edefuan Ulofoshio (LB), Carson Bruener (LB), Giles Jackson (AP/ST) Washington State: De'Zhaun Stribling (WR), Brennan Jackson (DL), Daiyan Henley (LB), Armani Marsh (DB), Derrick Langford (DB), Nick Haberer (P)
Head coaches
Coaching changes