After a tumultuous offseason that saw the Pac-12 splinter apart, they are finally receiving their due praise for an excellent brand of football. A conference that was once left for dead can now boast an incredible six teams ranked within the top 18 of the AP Poll, including three in the top 10.
The Pac-12 has enjoyed a fantastic season, but will it be enough to break into the College Football Playoff field for the first time since 2017? Do they have an argument as the best conference in college football through the season's first five weeks?
The head coach of the Oregon Ducks joined College Football Gametime to discuss the success of the conference in its final season, and what has led to the sudden rise.
"You know, I think there's a real argument there," Lanning said about comparing the Pac-12 alongside the rest of the country and how far the conference has come. "Of our remaining games, we play five more ranked opponents. I think that just speaks to the quality of talent right now and the quality of teams in this league."
The great equalizer, if you will, has been the emergence of the transfer portal in college football. There has never been more movement in this sport, and that has certainly been to the betterment of the Pac-12.
Just looking at the quarterback position, six of the top seven players - in terms of production - are transfers. Michael Penix Jr. transferred to Washington from Indiana, Shedeur Sanders transferred to Colorado from Jackson State, Caleb Williams transferred to USC from Oklahoma, Bo Nix transferred to Oregon from Auburn, Cameron Ward transferred to Washington State from Incarnate Word, and D.J. Uiagalelei transferred to Oregon State from Clemson.
"I was talking to a coach the other day about what's adjusted, what's changed, in the last couple of years to do that," Lanning said. "The [Transfer] Portal is probably a big part of that. There's a lot of talent and great players, who were in the SEC, that are now in the Pac-12 -- and some great players in other conferences that are now in the Pac-12. I think that has leveled the playing field out a little bit."